AUSTIN Eguavoen will be returning to his role as the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation Federation immediately, he has announced.
The former Nigeria captain was appointed as the interim head coach of the Super Eagles less than a month to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the plan was for him to leave the role after the tournament.
Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro has already been named as Rohr’s permanent successor, with the first task of guiding the Super Eagles through the Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs.
However, after the impressive start to the AFCON in Cameroon where the Super Eagles won all their three group fixtures, there were calls for Eguavoen to get the job on a permanent basis, and the Nigeria Football Federation was said to be considering that option.
But the Super Eagles were knocked out of the AFCON by a Covid-decimated Tunisian team on Sunday, and Eguavoen revealed he would be returning to his initial role.
“What happens next is that I’m the interim coach and Technical Director of the NFF, I will go back to my position and allow the federation make a decision on the way forward,” Eguavoen said during his post-match press conference after the 1-0 defeat to Tunisia on Sunday night.
Despite being the outright favourites based on their form going into the round of 16 encounter in Garoua, the Super Eagles were outfought and outsmarted by the Tunisians, who had won just one of their three group games.
Tunisia scored early in the second half as Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye failed to make a routine save, and their hopes of recovery were dashed when Alex Iwobi was harshly sent off by referee Senegalese Maguette Ndiaye barely five minutes after replacing Kelechi Iheanacho.
Eguavoen praised his players and pointed the finger at the officiating as a major reason for his side’s surprising defeat.
“The boys fought hard and gave their all, but officiating wasn’t fair. Congratulations to Tunisia,” Eguavoen, who coached the Super Eagles to the semi-finals at the 2006 AFCON, added.
“I have told the boys to pick up and ensure they qualify Nigeria for the World Cup.”
The Super Eagles face their bitter rivals Ghana in the World Cup playoffs in March.
