February 05, (THEWILL) – Although the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to formally announce any appointments for Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amunike as the substantive handlers of the senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, there have been no shortage of claims that Eguavoen will take charge of the team going forward.
The implication is that when the Super Eagles file out against the Black Stars of Ghana in their double-header Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs in March, the name of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro may be missing from the technical bench of the Nigerian team.
This comes from sources with insider information about the decision-making of the NFF, who have decided to retain Eguavoen, its Technical Director, as the Super Eagles’ substantive coach, with Amuneke as his assistant.
THEWILL recalls that Eguavoen led the squad to the still ongoing TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. After Nigeria’s shocking round of 16 loss to Tunisia, the former Nigeria international stated he would return to his post as technical director.
According to the initial plan of events, Peseiro, who was appointed before the AFCON began was to accompany the team to Cameroon as an observer and then take on the role proper ahead of the country’s World Cup qualifying playoffs. The news is that Sunday Dare, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, stepped in and change things.
Dare is said to have met with NFF officials, during which the minister suspended Peseiro’s scheduled appointment and ordered the Federation to draft the pair of Eguavoen and Amuneke instead of the Portuguese.
The meeting also reported to have resolved to offer Eguavoen a two-year contract in this capacity with a raise in his salary from the current N3 million, without any precise disclosure of the new salary.
How this will sit with Peseiro is a question that will dog the actions of the Ministry and the Federation. His response may determine how it will play if the facts of these reports become a reality. He may demand some compensation for the change of arrangements but that is left to be seen and dependent on what actually comes to pass.
This move is one that will satisfy the domestic and continental clamour for the elevation of domestic coaches as the drive in Africa to be coached by Africans continues. It will also be a boost for continuity even if there is a segment of the football-loving populace that was unconvinced about the 56-year-old’s technical sharpness from the AFCON experience.
Eguavoen’s competence will be weighed again in the playoffs against the Black Stars and the stakes are as high as they can ever be. The winner over the two legs will head to Qatar later this year to compete in the global showpiece alongside four other African nations.
Ghana, a three-time World Cup side, is seeking to make a comeback after failing to qualify for the 2018 event, which was hosted by Russia.
Nigeria, who had previously competed in the tournament six times, was eliminated in the first round after coming third in a group that included Croatia, Argentina, and Iceland.
The games will take place between March 24 and March 29, 2022, with specific dates and kick-off times to be determined after CAF consults with the respective associations.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
