The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be the centre of attraction once again when they take on neighbours Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday evening.
The previous encounter is one Nigerian fans will not want to remember having been beaten by the Cheetahs 2-1 in Abidjan during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.
It was a game that cost former international Finidi George his job as head coach after just two competitive games, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have still not been able to find a permanent replacement, following the failed attempt to land German coach Bruno Labbadia.
Another ex-international, Austin Eguavoen, has come in to take the mantle temporarily but his selection has not instilled confidence in some fans, with more fingers being pointed at the NFF for their lack of vision and direction.
While fans have the right to be disappointed with how things have turned, Eguavoen’s temporary appointment is not as bad as it seems.
It has to be said first that any manager taking charge of the Super Eagles during the World Cup qualifiers as his first official assignment is a task that will be difficult to navigate with how high the stakes are. After all, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick pointed out how important it was for Nigeria to be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, owing to the bilateral relationship that exists between the two countries.
The irony is that the Eagles failed to qualify for the Mundial after losing to bitter rivals Ghana in the qualification playoffs. Another irony is that Eguavoen was the manager in charge of that two-legged tie and it left a bitter taste in the mouth of Nigerian fans having been considered the better team on paper.
That probably explains why Eguavoen’s appointment has not been met with much joy but as previously stated, it is not all doom. This is the 59-year-old’s fourth stint with the senior national team all of which, bar his first stint, was on a caretaker basis.
His first stint saw him lead the Super Eagles to the bronze medal at the 2006 AFCON in Egypt before taking charge briefly in 2010 after Swedish coach Lars Lagerback was sacked following Nigeria’s exit from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Eguavoen would go ahead to lead the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations following the departure of Gernot Rohr, who has since been appointed as Benin coach.
🇳🇬 Nigeria host Benin 🇧🇯 in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. On the 7th of September, by 5:00 PM (WAT)
🚨 Can the Super Eagles soar against The Cheetahs? 🤔
📺 Tune in to find out: https://t.co/Eh7Ayt4X3h#AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/4O4Dr0NbXQ— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) September 3, 2024
Despite Eguavoen’s in and out of the Super Eagles dugout, he has a decent record at AFCON. As mentioned earlier, he led Nigeria to bronze at the 2006 AFCON, getting a 100% record in the group stage containing Ghana, Zimbabwe and Senegal. He also led them to a shootout victory over 2004 champions Tunisia in the quarter-finals before losing to Ivory in the semi-finals. He was however able to win the bronze medal match against Senegal.
At the 2021 AFCON, it was another 100% record in the group stage, beating Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau but unfortunately lost to Tunisia in the round of 16.
Lookman 🔥
Osimhen 🔥
Boniface 🔥
Who will shine against Benin?
🇳🇬🆚🇧🇯
Share your opinion in the comment section.⤵️#AFCON2025 #AFCONQualifiers pic.twitter.com/FE3JC45hYm— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) September 5, 2024
Eguavoen clearly has what it takes to handle the job on African football’s biggest stage. The only thing is that he has not handled it entirely at the qualification level but that should not deter him from succeeding, as two teams will qualify automatically from each group in the qualifiers, compared to the World Cup qualifiers where only the top team is guaranteed a spot at the tournament.
What’s more is that Eguavoen has a full-strength squad at his disposal, especially in attack where reigning African Player of the Year victor Osimhen is back after missing the World Cup qualifiers due to injury. Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi is also in the squad likewise Nantes star Moses Simon and captain William Troost-Ekong. This clearly gives the coach an arsenal to start the 2025 AFCON qualifiers on the strongest possible note.
There are a section of Nigerian fans who prefer to have a Nigerian coach rather than a foreigner who would demand a lot in wages that the NFF might not be able to fulfil. Eguavoen’s presence should therefore bring some confidence.
He will not be doing it alone in the dugout as he has the support of Remo Stars coach Daniel Ogunmodede as well as NPFL-title-winning and Enugu Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu.
This is a cast of brilliant coaches and such is what is needed to grow the faith in these crop of tacticians, all products of Nigeria’s talented football landscape.
What is needed next is the support from the fans and of course the NFF, so that they can put the country where it belongs among Africa’s finest.
