Austin Eguavoen, the interim coach for Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, recently spoke to the media about his new role. Eguavoen, who has been serving as the team’s technical director since 2020, clarified that he did not actively seek or lobby for the coaching position. His acceptance of the role was driven by a sense of duty and a desire to contribute to the sport.
Eguavoen, a prominent figure in Nigerian football with a history of coaching the national team during three different periods, including a notable stint in 2021 when he stepped in after Gernot Rohr’s dismissal, emphasized that his new role was not something he pursued. Instead, he was approached by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and felt obligated to step up.
In his comments on NFF TV, Eguavoen stated, “I’m a member of the federation, working as the technical director. When a situation like this comes, you can say no. It’s a task I have to perform. It’s a duty that falls under my responsibility. And the fact that the hierarchy of the federation feels I can salvage the situation—why not?”
He further elaborated, “But one thing should be clear to the public: I didn’t ask for this, I didn’t lobby for this, I didn’t apply for this; it’s God’s favour. It’s something I think I owe to football. Football gave me fame, name, and I think I should give back to football and, of course, the federation, my employers.”
Eguavoen stressed that he accepted the role because it was part of his responsibilities and because he was requested by his employers. He noted that, under the current circumstances, it was necessary for him to take on this task.
