AFCON 2025: Super Eagles have what it takes to qualify — Eguavoen

Super Eagles interim manager, Austin Eguavoen says the Super Eagles have all it takes to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to hold in Morocco.

Nigeria is in Group D alongside Benin Republic, Rwanda and Libya.

Eguavoen who spoke with NFF TV ahead of Saturday’s 2025 AFCON qualifying match against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Uyo, said he was optimistic that the Super Eagles would scale through.

“Nigeria is a nation, in terms of football, alot of countries respect and the 2025 AFCON Qualifier is no different.

“I am very confident that we will scale through these two games and beyond.

“We have the materials, players, personnel and support. We have everything,” he said.

He said that there was a need to remind the players of their achievement at the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where they finished as runners-up in the tournament.

He also called on Nigerians to rally round the team to ensure it began its campaign on a bright note.

“The only thing we have to remind these players about is that they were almost African champions a few months ago; it’s not even up to a year yet.

“So, what went wrong? It is still the same players. We will do everything we have to do as the technical crew and of course, the federation.

“Nigerians will also rally round them, but they (the players) are the ones whose duty it is to turn the table around.

“I have spoken to them and we will still be having some series of meetings before the game proper and I am very confident that they will go out there and make the nation proud,” he said.

Eguavoen, however, cautioned that it was very important for the Super Eagles to respect every opponent in the qualifier as they were no minnows in football any more.

“We will treat our opponents with utmost respect, no doubt about that, because in football, if you disrespect or look down on any team, then you will have problems.

“So, we will play them with great respect, but this is our home and we have no choice but to ensure we begin our AFCON qualifying campaign with a victory on Saturday,” Eguavoen said.

After Saturday’s encounter, the Super Eagles are scheduled to fly to Kigali on Sunday for Tuesday’s Matchday 2 clash with the Amavubi of Rwanda.

Eguavoen denies quitting as interim coach of Super Eagles

JUST IN: Eguavoen steps down as NFF terminates contracts of entire technical crew of Super Eagles

Austin Eguavoen has denied stepping down as the interim coach of the Super Eagles after the two 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Eguavoen was appointed by the NFF to take charge of the two games following the inability of the federation to secure the services of German coach, Bruno Labbadia.

The 59-year-old led Nigeria to a 3-0 win over the Benin Republic in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last Saturday before being held to a goalless draw in the second game against Rwanda on Tuesday.

After Tuesday’s goalless draw in Kigali, London reports broke out that Eguavoen stepped down as interim coach but the gaffer has denied the reports ahead of next month’s AFCON qualifiers double header against Libya.

“It’s quite unfortunate that people just trigger something that is not correct. And the situation we are in now, we don’t need negative stories,” Eguavoen said on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja in a media chat.

“I only talked about sitting down with the hierarchy of the federation after these two games and we will see how to go about prosecuting the next games.

“But when I saw that story I was worried. Whatever people are reading out there aren’t correct. I’m still very much in charge. I’m the Technical Director of the NFF, saddled with the responsibility of taking the Super Eagles at this moment,” he said.

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Murdered Ugandan Olympic athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei to be buried September 14

The funeral for Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died in Kenya after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, will be held on September 14 in her home country.

The 33-year-old, who competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month, succumbed to severe burns on Thursday, September 5, four days after being doused with petrol and set alight at her home in western Kenya.

Doctors said she had suffered burns to more than 80 per cent of her body after the attack on Sunday last week.

The attack was carried out by Cheptegei’s Kenyan partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who also suffered serious burns and is being treated in hospital.

“The burial date of Rebecca Cheptegei has been set for September 14, in Kongasis sub-county in Bukwo district (eastern Uganda),” Beatrice Ayikoru, secretary general of the Uganda Olympic Committee and a member of the funeral organising committee, told AFP.

Bukwo is the location of Cheptegei’s family home and lies on the border with Kenya about 380 kilometres (240 miles) northeast of the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Last week Friday, the city of Paris said it would honour Cheptegei, who came 44th in her Olympic marathon debut in August, by naming a sports venue after her.