Austin Eguavoen Dismisses Rumors Of Potential Super Eagles Managerial Takeover

Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, coach Augustine Eguavoen has expressed deep distaste over reports in sections of the media on Wednesday that he was being tipped, alongside Coach Ladan Bosso to take over the job of coaching the Super Eagles for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations should Coach Eric Chelle fail to qualify the team for next year’s FIFA World Cup finals.

“I feel very hurt by these baseless rumors because I really have no idea where they are coming from.

“I have a very good working relationship with Coach Eric Chelle, and I have absolutely no interest in taking over the squad. I am praying for him to succeed.

“This was how the same speculators created schism and disaffection between myself and Gernot Rohr and José Peseiro, when these gentlemen coached the Super Eagles at different periods.

“It is uncalled-for. We all need to work together to see the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup and win the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations championship in Morocco.”

Meanwhile, Eric Chelle is preparing his Super Eagles to go up against the Crocodiles of Lesotho in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in the South African city of Polokwane on Friday evening.

Game day minus 1. All focus, all hunger; we fight till the finish 💪🏽!#SoarSuperEagles #Naija4theWin pic.twitter.com/ZAAK0jhfnF

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 9, 2025

The clash is the penultimate matchday of the series, with Nigeria needing all three points and favor from elsewhere to stand in good stead heading into the final matchday, when they host present group leaders Benin Republic at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

With three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, Nigeria must go guns-blazing for their remaining two games, starting with the encounter with the Crocodiles on neutral ground on Friday.