As Nigeria grapples with World Cup qualification challenges, interim coach Augustine Eguavoen voices readiness to stay the course while urging decisive leadership.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed his willingness to guide the team through the remainder of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, provided the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) entrusts him with the task. However, the former international defender has stressed the need for swift and strategic decision-making regarding the team’s management.

Speaking to Kennis FM, Eguavoen said, “If I am called upon to manage the Super Eagles through the WCQ series, I don’t know what I will say. But all hands must be on deck. We want to qualify for the World Cup. March is just around the corner, and if we have to act, we need to act fast.”

Having successfully led Nigeria to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Eguavoen has proven his capabilities. Yet, the NFF has indicated plans to appoint a foreign coach to oversee the team’s World Cup qualification campaign. With the qualifiers resuming in March 2025, Eguavoen highlighted the urgency of appointing a permanent manager.

“That person should come in quickly, settle down, and we could collaborate, tweak strategies, and discuss the way forward,” he explained. “The earlier this is done, the better for everyone.”

The Super Eagles face a daunting task in their quest for a spot in the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Nigeria currently lags behind Rwanda, Benin, and South Africa in their group, where only the top team earns automatic qualification.

Having missed out on Qatar 2022, the pressure to return to the global stage has intensified. As March approaches, the clock is ticking for the NFF to make a pivotal decision.