Nigeria interim coach Eguavoen denies reports of exit

Nigeria interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has denied reports he will quit following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles, three-time winners, had a 100% record in the group stage in Cameroon, but fell 1-0 to Tunisia in the round of 16 on Monday.

Eguavoen, who’s the technical director at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), took charge of the national team after long-serving coach Gernot Rohr was sacked just a month before the tournament began.

“I came here as an interim manager because of what’s been played out,” Eguavoen, 56, told BBC Sport Africa.

“Our former coach was relieved of his duties and it was just weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations.

“As technical director, anywhere in the world that is what is obtainable. If there is a vacancy, it is the technical director that steps in before the coach has been appointed.

“So that’s why you see me taking this role and an interim man.

“Some of our journalists sometimes they change words, which is not too good. But we will manage it.”

Nigeria have appointed Jose Peseiro to replace Rohr at the end of December, but the Portuguese only travelled to Cameroon with the Super Eagles as ‘an observer’.

However, Eguavoen is not sure whether he will lead the side in their two-legged 2022 World Cup play-off against Ghana in March.

“That I cannot answer,” he said.

“The only thing that I can tell you is I’m still the technical director of the federation and I am happy with that.”