By Kayode John
Former Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, believes interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has what it takes to lead the national team as the substantive coach.
Eguavoen took charge of the Super Eagles for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against the Republic of Benin and Rwanda. Nigeria recorded a 3-0 victory over the Cheetahs at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, but the team was forced to a 0-0 draw by the Amavubi in Kigali.
The assertion by Oboabona, who won the 2013 AFCON with the Super Eagles in South Africa, comes hours after the rumoured turnaround of Bruno Labbadia as the new coach, following the German tactician’s post on social media on Wednesday.
“He (Eguavoen) is a coach that has the quality, everything it takes because I’ve played under him before. He is a very good coach,” Oboabona told Brila FM on Thursday.
“But in the aspect of the NFF, they know the kind of things they want and I don’t know the kind of communication between the NFF and Eguavoen, but for me, I think Eguavoen is capable, he has everything but they have to give him the support.
“Without support, there is nothing even a good coach can do. But with support, things will work out.”
Labbadia, who was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on August 27, as a replacement for Finidi George, pulled out of the deal days later.
The NFF blamed “stringent regulations of German tax authorities” for the decision of the former Bayern Munich striker.
But on Wednesday, Labbadia on his Instagram handle, sent the rumour mill agog. He wrote: “New chapter,” and accompanied it with the Nigerian flag.
