Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has declared his unwavering support for Augustine Eguavoen, who currently leads the Nigerian national team on an interim basis.
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Eguavoen, a former defender, has already guided the Super Eagles to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Oliseh, speaking with News Central, expressed confidence in Eguavoen’s abilities and praised his character and contributions to Nigerian football.
“Austin Eguavoen is a smart guy. He is not stupid. And I also want to say that he has my full support because he is somebody I respect a lot,” Oliseh said. “He is somebody I struggled with, bringing glory to our fatherland. He is an honest and decent guy. Furthermore, he is my compatriot, so he has my full support.”
A Tough Road Ahead for World Cup Qualification
The next challenge for Eguavoen and the Super Eagles is the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
The road has been rocky so far, with Nigeria yet to secure a win in their group, drawing three games and losing one. This leaves them with a daunting task of overcoming a four-point deficit to qualify.
Oliseh acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but remained optimistic, drawing parallels to Nigeria’s successful qualification campaign for the 2002 World Cup.
“The task ahead is a difficult one, but it is not impossible. We can still qualify. Of course, we need to get some perfect results,” Oliseh noted.
“There are two or three teams with the same points, which makes it more difficult when you are playing these teams. But that, notwithstanding, is not undoable if you are a Nigerian.”
“We had to do that in 2002 to go to the World Cup when I was captain. We were five points behind, and we had to really work hard with almost the same amount of games.”
Eguavoen’s Leadership and Legacy
Augustine Eguavoen’s leadership has earned praise from many, including former teammates and fans.
Having played a key role in the Super Eagles’ past successes as a defender, he has translated his on-field understanding of the game to coaching. His qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is a testament to his capabilities.
However, the World Cup qualifiers present a sterner test. As Oliseh pointed out, overcoming such challenges requires discipline, determination, and a belief in the team’s ability to rise above setbacks.
The Path Forward
The Super Eagles must capitalize on their remaining matches to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Eguavoen at the helm and the support of Nigerian football legends like Sunday Oliseh, the team’s campaign continues to inspire hope.
The journey may be tough, but as Oliseh stated, “It is not undoable if you are a Nigerian.”
