Sunday Oliseh appears to be staying true to his promise of showing full support for Augustine Eguavoen as he defends the Super Eagles interim coach from recent criticisms.
Eguavoen has come under fire from fans after Nigeria lost to Rwanda in their final 2025 AFCON qualifier game last Monday.
The 2-1 defeat, which was their first setback in the AFCON qualifying series, proved inconsequential as the Super Eagles maintained the top spot with 11 points and had already guaranteed their spot in the continental championship in Morocco before the game.
Eguavoen took over as interim coach after a winless run of three games in the World Cup qualifiers, leaving Nigeria in fifth on the World Cup group standings.
His arrival ushered in a turnaround, with the three-time African Champions winning three of their AFCON qualifier games, including a walkover against Libya, securing qualification into the continental championship.
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Oliseh responds to Eguavoen’s critics
Oliseh has emphasized that Eguavoen is not to blame for the Super Eagles’ issues and commended him for stepping in to help them through their current predicament. He urged Nigerians to focus on the positives and offer their support to the coach.
“The situation we found ourselves [in], Eguavoen is not responsible at all, the former Juventus star said, speaking to News Central
“He is trying to salvage what has been there before he came. If you are Nigerian, the best you can do for your fatherland is to support the person in charge.
“If you like or you don’t like him, he is not representing his own family; he is representing you at home. So, give him the moral support.”
With Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes hanging in the balance, the team cannot afford any further slip-ups if they are to keep their dreams alive.
Eguavoen, however, is yet to be confirmed as the permanent coach of the Super Eagles, and it remains unclear whether he will still be at the helm when Nigeria resumes their World Cup qualifying campaign against Rwanda in March 2025.
