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Tag: Augustine Eguavoen

  • BREAKING: NFF reconstitutes Super Eagles’ technical crew, rejects Peseiro, retains Eguavoen

    BREAKING: NFF reconstitutes Super Eagles’ technical crew, rejects Peseiro, retains Eguavoen

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reconstituted the technical crew of the Super Eagles and retained Augustine Eguavoen as interim manager.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NFF made this known in a statement on Monday, drafting former Nigeria World Cup star and former U20 Boys’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke as immediate assistant to Eguavoen.

    “The NFF Board has approved a recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee retaining Augustine Eguavoen as Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim) while Emmanuel Amuneke becomes the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles. Salisu Yusuf will be the 2nd Assistant Coach/Chief Coach of the CHAN team and Joseph Yobo will be 3rd Assistant while Aloysius Agu remains the Goalkeepers’ Trainer,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi announced.

    The reconstitution comes after the Super Eagles’ outing at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, and ahead of the potentially –explosive FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana next month.

    Sanusi added: “We acknowledge and appreciate the interest that Mr Jose Peseiro has shown in Nigeria Football during our very cordial discussions and have absolutely no doubt about his capacity. We believe that perhaps in the future, there could be an opportunity to work with him. However, in view of the positive performance of the Super Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations which has given hope to Nigerians and boosted our confidence in the present coaching crew to qualify us for the World Cup in Qatar, we have decided to accept the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee to retain the Eguavoen-led coaching crew and strengthen it with the addition of Emmanuel Amuneke.”

    NEW SUPER EAGLES COACHING CREW

    Augustine Eguavoen – Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim)

    Emmanuel Amuneke – Chief Coach/1st Assistant

    Salisu Yusuf – 2nd Assistant/Chief Coach, CHAN

    Joseph Yobo – 3rd Assistant

    Aloysius Agu – Goalkeepers’ Trainer

  • AFCON 2021: We didn’t deserve to lose to Tunisia, Eguavoen says

    AFCON 2021: We didn’t deserve to lose to Tunisia, Eguavoen says

    Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen on Sunday said his team did not deserve to lose against Tunisia in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 games.

    Newsmen reports that title favourites Nigeria crashed out of the AFCON on Sunday in Garoua, Cameroon after a 0-1 loss to Tunisia.

    The North Africans now advance to the competition’s quarter-finals where they will take on the Stallions of Burkina Faso on the same Stade Roumde Adjia pitch in Garoua.

    Eguavoen, while speaking at the post-match press conference, blamed bad officiating for his team’s ouster from the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

    He added that his players fought a good fight. “We tried to come back after the Tunisia goal, and we chased the game. But then we got a red card.

    “It was clear that the officiating wasn’t fair,” the coach said.

    He however disclosed that he had told the players to quickly put the loss behind them and face the job at hand in March.

    ”I have told the players to pick up and ensure they qualify Nigeria for the World Cup,” Eguavoen said.

    He however pointed out that it was always very difficult when you play against a tactical side like Tunisia, especially when the officiating was not fair.

    “I won’t criticise the referee because they are masters of the game, but Alex Iwobi’s red card wasn’t fair. The foul wasn’t an intentional one,” the coach added.

    The Super Eagles will now look forward to the 2022 FIFA World Cup African Zone playoffs in March against Ghana.

  • AFCON: Eguavoen stops Pinnick, other guests from seeing Super Eagles in dressing room

    AFCON: Eguavoen stops Pinnick, other guests from seeing Super Eagles in dressing room

    Coach Augustine Eguavoen has stopped President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and other guests from seeing the Super Eagles in their dressing room.

    Eguavoen made this known ahead of the Super Eagles encounter against Tunisia at a press conference, where he stressed the measure was to ensure his players are not distracted.

    Against Egypt and Sudan, Pinnick was in the dressing room at half time to motivate the Super Eagles, but Eguavoen has said the half-time break is needed for the players and coaches to discuss tactics.

    “We talked about timing and I am still talking about it. It’s our culture – motivation is good. Guests can have short discussions with the team at the restaurant and not inside the dressing room.

    “Against Egypt was the only time when the NFF president and the Air Peace president came to see the team and it was five minutes. In the second and third games, no one came to see the team. I don’t think this will happen tomorrow (Sunday),” Eguavoen said.

    TNG reports the Super Eagles at the Stade Roumdé Adjia, will play Tunisia at 8 pm today.

  • AFCON: We won’t underrate Tunisia despite obvious challenge – Eguavoen

    AFCON: We won’t underrate Tunisia despite obvious challenge – Eguavoen

    Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Augustine Eguavoen, says his team will not underrate their opponents during their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 fixture on Sunday.

    Sunday’s game between Nigeria and Tunisia will take place at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon from 8 p.m.

    The Tunisian camp had been somewhat ravaged by positive COVID tests and there were no indications yet as to whether some star players, including Wahbi Khazri, will return for the game.

    Eguavoen however told newsmen during a pre-match press conference on Saturday in Garoua that in spite of the Carthage Eagles’ challenges his team would remain focused on the job ahead.

    “Yes, Tunisia may have struggled during the group stage, but don’t forget that they are a powerhouse when it comes to African football.

    “So, we (will) go out there to play (well) against Tunisia tomorrow (Sunday). We are not going to underrate them and they are not going to underrate us as well.

    “We (will) go into the game with the same approach, and same aggression (as we have done before) because we have a target set for ourselves and this is the process.

    “To get in there we have to work hard, work extra hard. Our opponents are technically very good and very organised. But things have not really been going well for them and we understand that.

    “But tomorrow (Sunday) may just be different. So, we will not just take our legs off the pedal,” he said.

    The coach disclosed that his team was well prepared and have been working hard in all areas and aspects of the game ahead of the match.

    “In this competition, the standard is so high (so much) that everybody prepares both defensively and offensively.

    “We can’t tell where the goals will come from. It could either be from free-kicks, the penalty kick spot or from corner-kicks.

    “We work on those things. The other time, Semi Ajayi came close, Taiwo Awoniyi also came close and we have also not conceded from those set-pieces either.

    “But, hopefully, we will do that tomorrow (on Sunday). We are working on those things. But we have not just been working on penalty kicks. We are working all round,” he said.

    On his selection of starting players for the game, Eguavoen said there was no reservation or preferential treatment for any player, adding that whoever was called upon would give his best.

    “We are here with 27 players. Everyone is here to play. But we can’t use more than 11 players to start tomorrow.

    “So, whoever is called upon will give his best. I always tell the boys to give 100 percent. No reservation or preference for players.

    “I always tell them, `if you are tired during games, simply signify to the bench and we will do the needful’,” he said.

  • Eguavoen named Group Stage Best Manager of 2021 AFCON

    Eguavoen named Group Stage Best Manager of 2021 AFCON

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen has been named Group Stage Best Manager of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Eguavoen was named Group Stage Best Manager after winning all three Group D fixtures in the tournament.

    The Super Eagles brushed Egypt, displaced Sudan and demolished Guinea Bissau to top the group.

    Billed to play Tunisia in the round of 16, Nigeria garnered six (6) goals and conceded just one (1) in the group stage of the 2021 AFCON.

    TNG reports Super Eagles topped Group D with maximum 9 points.

    Meanwhile, Guinea’s Ilaix Moriba has been named Group Stage Best Young Player for his stunning performances.

    Also, Egypt’s shot-stopper, Mohammed el Shenawy was named group stage’s Best Goalkeeper and Vincent Aboubakar of host Cameroon took the group stage best player award

    TNG reports Aboubakar currently tops the goal chart of the ongoing 2021 AFCON with 5 goals.

  • 2021 AFCON: What Buhari, Eguavoen said after Super Eagles’ group stage performance

    2021 AFCON: What Buhari, Eguavoen said after Super Eagles’ group stage performance

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Wednesday defeated Guinea Bissau to win all their three Group D matches and advanced to the knockout phase of the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports goals from Sadiq Umar (56th minute) and William Ekong (77th minute) gave the Super Eagles a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau in their final Group D fixture.

    The win and advancement to the knockout phase have drawn accolades from President Muhammadu Buhari, who commended the Super Eagles for keeping hope alive by winning all their group matches.

    The president, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Wednesday in Abuja saluted the Eagles for advancing to the second round of the tournament in grand style.

    The president urged the Austin Eguavoen-led team to maintain and even surpass the terrific form that made them leaders in the group stage, as ”Nigeria hopefully looks forward to a total of seven emphatic wins in this competition.”

    According to him, the positive reputation of good sportsmanship the traveling fans, sportswriters and the football team have demonstrated in Cameroon will continue to enliven the importance of sports.

    He said this was particularly football, as an enabler of development, peace, tolerance, friendship and cooperation.

    The president wished the Super Eagles the very best.

    He pledged that his administration would continue to support the efforts of international, regional and national football organisations to use the sport as a tool to build a better and peaceful world.

    Meanwhile, Coach Augustine Eguavoen says people are once again beginning to respect the Super Eagles following their performance at the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

    Eguavoen told newsmen during his post-match conference that a lot of people felt that Nigeria was not good enough to win the tournament because of the team’s performance in the last few months.

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Wednesday in Garoua advanced in style to the knockout phase of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

    They beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 at the Stade Roumde Adjia to become the only side at this 33rd edition of the competition to win all their three group games.

    Winners of groups A, B and C who had advanced earlier failed to win all their three games.

    “But again it is the same set of players who performed brilliantly well prior to the AFCON, the last one in Egypt and also a year or couple later.

    “All of a sudden, things didn’t go well as they were supposed to for some reason and that’s why people were trying to write Nigeria off.

    “For the first game, nobody gave us a chance but we did the job collectively,” said the coach.

    He said he told the players to express themselves and be committed, “you don’t have any other country to play for, it’s only Nigeria and you know how passionate our people are when it comes to football.

    “And then, that game was gone. We had to put it behind us and then focus on the next game. Went ahead to beat Sudan and then put it behind us and then focus on the next game.

    “Now, people are thinking and starting to respect Nigeria.”

    He, however, said the team would not allow the praises get to their head, adding that they would continue to respect their opponents in the tournament.

    “We will always respect our opponents, we will play them with full strength and we will play them the way we play with anybody.

    “For instance, if you see today’s game and like I said before, Guinea-Bissau is a very strong team. They were no pushovers at all,” said Eguavoen.

    He added that he expected a tough game because the Guinea-Bissau team was physically and technically very strong.

    “So, they gave us a run for the money, but at the end of the day we were able to get those two goals and I am very satisfied with the performance.

    “The most credit must go to the players for doing everything we told them to do,” he said.

  • AFCON: Eguavoen warns Super Eagles against complacency

    AFCON: Eguavoen warns Super Eagles against complacency

    Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has warned his players against complacency and taking their chances in front of goal in subsequent matches of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

    The coach said this at a press conference after Nigeria booked a spot in the second round with a comfortable 3-1 win over their hapless Sudanese counterpart.

    Eguavoen however said the team did not play at the same high tempo, especially in the second half and that gave the Sudanese the comeback for the consoletry goal.

    “No game comes easy, We knew it was going to be tough and tried as much as possible to be ready for any opponent that comes our way.

    “So it’s a little bit difficult to say whether we were complacent in the Sudan game or not but we will discuss this with the boys going forward,” he said.

    The coach also stressed on the need for the team to always take their chances in front of goal and defend as a unit to avoid unnecessary pressure and conceding cheap goals.

    “I think we are strong enough with our bench but sometimes scoring goals is abit of problem, we waste chances in front of goal.

    ”Against Egypt we missed a couple of seaters, against Sudan also, so that was what gave the Sudanese hope that they can survive, it’s a threat, so we need to work on this,” he said.

    The coach however assured of making some changes in the final group match against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, so as to give players who have not tested action some game time.

    “Obviously, we will make changes for the last group game against Guinea-Bissau.

    “We have depth in the team and it’s a good opportunity for the other players to play, we will play to win the game and I trust the players to do a great job,” he added.

    Nigeria currently top group D with six points from their opening two games, after beating Egypt and Sudan.

    Egypt are second with three points, while Sudan and Guinea-Bissau have one point each.

    The Super Eagles will take on Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday in their last group match.

  • 2021 AFCON: Awaziem yet to recover from ankle injury – Coach Eguavoen

    2021 AFCON: Awaziem yet to recover from ankle injury – Coach Eguavoen

    Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, on Friday said Chidozie Awaziem had not recovered from an ankle injury.

    Thenewsguru reports that the Super Eagles had their last training session at the practice pitch of the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua on Friday before their game against Sudan.

    Eguavoen, while fielding questions from newsmen, clarified that Awaziem was nursing an ankle complaint that would see him miss Saturday’s clash against the Falcons of Jediane at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua.

    TNG also reports that the Alanyaspor central defender has not been spotted in public since the final workout of the Super before they took on Egypt.

    He also missed the team’s last two training sessions, fueling speculations in some quarters that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

    Eguavoen expressed the hope that Awaziem would join his teammates in training.

    “Hopefully soon, that is beyond my control. I think if the medical staff were here now they will certify him fit to be back on the pitch.

    “Awaziem is still down, he has an ankle injury as I know and he is going to be back very, very soon,” he said.

    The former Porto star was not at the stadium during Nigeria’s opening game against Egypt on Tuesday, Jan. 11 and was also not part of the team’s training session on Friday (today).

    Meanwhile, CD Leganes central defender, Kenneth Omeruo has been given a clean bill of health to face the Sudanese.

    He participated fully in the training session after his injury-enforced substitution in the closing minutes of the match against Egypt.

    Table-toppers Super Eagles on three points face Sudan on one point on Saturday from 5.00 p.m.

    Egypt, who currently sit at the bottom of Group D table with no point, will be looking for redemption when they take on Guinea Bissau from 8.00 p. m.