Austin Eguavoen has been officially retained as Super Eagles interim coach, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced.
The former Super Eagles defender was initially appointed to oversee the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations campaign ahead of the arrival of Jose Peseiro.
However, the deal with the Portuguese has apparently fallen through and Eguavoen has been given the mandate to continue as interim head until at least after the Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs.
The NFF confirmed on Monday night that it had reconstituted the Super Eagles technical crew, with Eguavoen staying on as Interim Technical Adviser.
The body has also recruited another former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Amuneke as Eguavoen’s first assistant. Amuneke, who was in the Super Eagles squad to the 1994 AFCON along with Eguavoen, was not in the crew to Cameroon, where the team crashed out in the round of 16.
Former Zamalek and Barcelona star Amuneke once handled the Flying Eagles and was head coach of Tanzania, helping them to qualify for the 2019 AFCON, their first since 1980.
He is a also a member of both the FIFA and CAF Technical Study Groups.
“The NFF Board has approved a recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee retaining Augustine Eguavoen as Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim) while Emmanuel Amuneke becomes the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles,” NFF Secretary General Dr Mohammed Sanusi said.
“Salisu Yusuf will be the 2nd Assistant Coach/Chief Coach of the CHAN team and Joseph Yobo will be 3rd Assistant while Aloysius Agu remains the Goalkeepers’ Trainer.”
The technical crew’s first task is to prosecute the World Cup playoffs against bitter rivals Ghana in March, with the first leg in Kumasi and return fixture in Abuja. Both games will be played between 21 March and 29 March, with the winners proceeding to Qatar.
Sanusi explained that the pursuit of Peseiro was halted due to the decent performances of the Super Eagles in Cameroon, especially in the first round where they defeated Sudan, Guinea-Bissau and eventual finalists Egypt.
Sanusi added: “We acknowledge and appreciate the interest that Mr Jose Peseiro has shown in Nigerian football during our very cordial discussions and have absolutely no doubt about his capacity. We believe that perhaps in the future, there could be an opportunity to work with him.
“However, in view of the positive performance of the Super Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations which has given hope to Nigerians and boosted our confidence in the present coaching crew to qualify us for the World Cup in Qatar, we have decided to accept the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee to retain the Eguavoen-led coaching crew and strengthen it with the addition of Emmanuel Amuneke.”
NEW SUPER EAGLES COACHING CREW
Augustine Eguavoen – Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim)
Emmanuel Amuneke – Chief Coach/1st Assistant
Salisu Yusuf – 2nd Assistant/Chief Coach, CHAN
Joseph Yobo – 3rd Assistant
Aloysius Agu – Goalkeepers’ Trainer
