Former Super Eagles skipper Sunday Oliseh has expressed his backing for Augustine Eguavoen, who presently acts as the temporary coach of Nigeria’s senior squad, Betandsured.com reveals.
The Nigerian senior side recently clinched the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations berth and will be among nations competing in the competition.
Discussing the obstacles the Super Eagles confront in their bid for advancement, Oliseh applauded Eguavoen’s guidance and encouraged Nigerians to unite behind him.
“Austin Eguavoen is an intelligent person. He is not naive. And I also wish to emphasize that he has my full endorsement. Because he is someone I hold in high regard. He is someone I toiled with, achieving pride for our homeland. He is a trustworthy and upright person. Moreover, he is my fellow citizen, so he has my absolute backing,” Oliseh mentioned to News Central.
Highlighting Nigeria’s present standing in the qualifiers, Oliseh recognized the enormity of the job ahead but compared it to a similar challenge during his footballing era.
He stated: “The hurdle ahead is a tough one, but it is achievable. We can still secure qualification. Naturally, we need to attain some ideal outcomes. Of course, we require that. We are four points behind, and it’s not like we are the sole team. There [are] two or three other teams with equivalent points, which complicates things when you face them. However, that notwithstanding, it’s not unattainable if you’re Nigerian. We had to do that in 2002 to qualify for the World Cup when I was captain. We were five points down, and we had to genuinely push hard with nearly the same number of matches.”
Oliseh further clarified that the troubles confronting the Super Eagles are not Eguavoen’s doing and lauded him for stepping up to guide the squad through its present difficulties.
“The scenario we find ourselves [in], Eguavoen is not to blame whatsoever. He is attempting to fix what existed before his arrival. If you are a Nigerian, the least you can do for your country is to back the person at the helm. Whether you admire him or not, he is not representing just himself; he represents you and everyone at home. So, give him the emotional encouragement,” he concluded.