Football stakeholders have expressed mixed feelings over the appointment of Augustine Eguavoen as Super Eagles’ interim coach following the sack of Gernot Rohr by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday.
The stakeholders spoke to LEADERSHIP Sports in separate interviews on Tuesday.
Former chairman of Gombe State Football Association (FA), Ahmed Gara Gombe, described Eguavoen’s appointment as another disaster waiting to happen, saying he lacked the technical prowess and pedigree to lead Super Eagles to a successful campaign at the next month Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Eguavoen, who’s appointment was announced on Sunday night, following the sacked of erstwhile head coach, Gernot Rohr, is to work with Salisu Yusuf (chief coach), Paul Aigbogun, Joseph Yobo and Terry Eguaoje (assistant coaches), Aloysius Agu (goalkeeper trainer, while former Eagles captains Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Garba Lawal were appointed to provide technical and ambassadorial support for the crew.
However, Gara who expressed joy over the sacking of Gernot Rohr said the combination of Eguavoen, Salisu Yusuf, Paul Aigbogun, Joseph Yobo and Terry Eguaoje will lead Super Eagles to further backward.
“Rohr was not even qualified to manage Super Eagles. But the appointment of Eguavoen alongside other coaches to handle the Super Eagles is the biggest of all disasters waiting to happen for Nigeria’s national team.
“None of the coaches has the technical prowess and pedigree to manage Super Eagles. Eguavoen led Gombe United to relegation and one of the coaches had a case in court. It will be a distraction to the team. So, I see these confused coaches compounding Super Eagles’ woe and lead the team further backward,” Gara.
Assistant secretary general of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) and former Warri Wolves gaffer, Mansur Abdullahi, canvassed support for Eguavoen and his technical crew, saying he is eminently qualified to lead Super Eagles’ to AFCON 2021 in Cameroon.
“Nigerians should be patient with NFF and support Eguavoen to succeed. His appointment as interim coach of the Super Eagles is the best thing NFF can do for now and Nigerians need to understand with them.
“Eguavoen has been there before twice and he did well. He is coming in as the technical director of NFF to perform his duty. So, it is the same technical crew that is still in place because Salisu Yusuf is there as chief coach, as well as Paul Aigbogun, Joseph Yobo and Terry Eguaoje who are assistant coaches.“
