The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently revealed that Austin Eguavoen will replace Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles coach as the interim manager.
Gernot Rohr's five-year reign as coach of the Super Eagles came barely a month to the African Cup of Nations. Austin Eguavoen is expected to lead the Nigerian team to the tournament. The 56-year-old is back in the position he held back in 2010 after Lars Lagerback's sacking in 2010.
Eguavoen will work alongside Salisu Yusuf (chief coach), Paul Aigbogun (assistant coach), Joseph Yobo (assistant coach), Dr. Terry Eguaoje (assistant coach) and Alloy Agu (goalkeeper coach).
Here are five things to know about Super Eagles interim boss Austin Eguavoen.
1. Former Super Eagles defender
Augustine Eguavoen played for the Nigerian national team. He was the captain of the Nigerian team that lifted the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. He was also part of Clemens Westerhof's team that featured in the country's first-ever appearance at the 1994 Fifa World Cup. He made 49 appearances for Nigeria.
2. Played for African Continental Bank Football Club Lagos
Eguavoen began his football career at African Continental Bank Football Club in Lagos in 1985 before moving to Gent in Belgium, Europe. African Continental Bank Football Club Lagos was sponsored by the African Continental Bank and was one of the founding members of the Nigerian Premier League in 1972.
3. Began his coaching career in Malta
He began his sojourn into a football coaching career in Malta with Sliema Wanderers. He was appointed coach of the club in the 2000–01 season and guided the club to a second-place finish in the Maltese Premier League
4. Former coach of the Super Eagles
In June 2005, Eguavoen was appointed as the coach of the Nigeria national team. Alongside him in his coaching staff was Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu. His spell with the team was brief, it came to an end in 2007, and he moved to South Africa a year later to head Black Leopards as a coach.
5. Has coached many clubs in the NPFL
Austin Eguavoen has managed a number of clubs in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). He has had stints with Enyimba International, Sharks FC, coach Nigeria National League side COD United, Bendel Insurance FC, Gombe United FC, and Sunshine Stars.
His only trophy as a coach was the Federation Cup, which he won with Enyimba in 2009.