Nff Turns To Eguavoen As Super Falcons Chase Olympic Qualification

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Augustine Eguavoen as interim head coach of the Super Falcons ahead of the team's 2028 Olympic Games qualifying fixtures against Comoros in October.

 

While the football governing body continues its search for a permanent coach, Eguavoen will lead the women's national team when they take on Comoros over two legs at the Remo Stars Stadium on October 9 and 13. 

 

Eguavoen's Main Assignment 

 

Despite the short time frame, the experienced tactician and his backroom staffs of Christopher Danjuma and Ayisat Yusuf are expected to see off Comoros, and guide Nigeria into the third round of qualifying.

 

Having failed to qualify for the 2027 World Cup, the Super Falcons will be eager to secure a place at the 2028 Olympics to lift the mood of their fans.

 

Possible Permanent Replacement 

 

Reports making headlines in the Nigerian media suggest that the NFF is considering several former coaches for the substantive role, including Thomas Dennerby and Florence Omagbemi.

 

Asked whether he would like to manage the Super Falcons again, the Swedish tactician did not rule out a possible return.

 

Though he neither confirmed nor denied reports of a return to Nigerian football, he reiterated his love for the team.

 

“The only thing I can say is that I always have the Super Falcons close to my heart,” he told AllNigeriaSoccer.

 

During his tenure between January 2018 and September 2019, Dennerby won the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations title in Ghana and guided the Super Falcons to the knockout stage of the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

 

Florence Omagbemi, the other name being considered, also guided the Super Falcons to the 2016 WAFCON title.

 

It remains unclear who will eventually become the permanent successor to Justin Madugu, who was dismissed alongside his technical crew in August 2026 after the Super Falcons were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italoye Ibukun