Augustine Eguavoen, a former international and the NFF’s technical director, has been managing the Super Eagles in an interim capacity since September 2024.
Under his leadership, the team successfully qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, the NFF has decided to pursue the appointment of an expatriate coach to bring fresh perspectives to the three-time African champions.
Amaju Pinnick expressed confidence in this transition, stating, “Any moment from now, I am sure they will announce an enterprising coach.” He made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television.
The Super Eagles will face off against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March. Although the team has had a challenging start to the qualifiers, with three draws and one defeat, Pinnick remains optimistic about their chances of earning a spot in the World Cup.
The Super Eagles are currently fifth in Group C, four points behind the joint leaders—Rwanda, Benin Republic, and South Africa.
Noting the resolve of the NFF and the players, Pinnick said, “I speak to the president of the NFF regularly, and I know he is committed to qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup. It will be tough, but we are determined to do our best.”
He added, “While I don’t want to raise expectations unduly, we will certainly strive to reach our highest potential and see if we can turn things around. We believe that with hard work and determination, we can achieve our goals.”
Note that the Super Eagles are set to play away against Rwanda in their next qualifying match in March.
