Eguavoen’s Herculean match

CAN Nigerian football turn around adversity to good fortune as the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers get underway on September 7 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State? The question is necessary given the stopgap appointment of Austin Eguavoen a week to the Group D double-header against Benin Republic on Saturday and Rwanda away on September 10. With determination, patriotism, and a huge dose of luck, the Super Eagles can overcome the odds in these matches.

It is an understatement to say that the national team is in disarray. After an interminably long gap, the Ibrahim Gusau-led Nigeria Football Federation appointed German Bruno Labbadia as the Eagles coach on August 27.

The appointment was received with relief. First, it came less than two weeks before the AFCON qualifiers. Second, the Eagles have performed woefully in the post-2023 AFCON era. Appointing a new coach after the infamous resignation of Finidi George in June, was greeted by muted applause.

But the joy was short-lived. Within five days, Labbadia abruptly resigned, throwing the Eagles in a lurch and odium on the pretentious NFF and the Ministry of Sports.

To cover its shame, the NFF quickly re-appointed Eguavoen. The task is Herculean. Nigeria lost to Benin for the first time in June, a 2-1 dampener that further jeopardised the Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Benin are not to be taken lightly, if only because they, too, have players in Europe and are coached by Gernot Rohr, the German who led the Eagles to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Eagles will also battle Libya and Rwanda in the group by a stroke of fate, with the top two sides qualifying for Morocco 2025. Nigeria and Rwanda are in the same World Cup group.

Despite these setbacks, the Eagles can pull off a surprise. In 1992, Denmark players were not prepared to play in the European Championships because they did not qualify. Many of the players had booked their holidays.

At the last minute, UEFA disqualified Yugoslavia because of the war that broke up the country and promoted Denmark. The Danes, who had only nine days to prepare, stunned the entire continent by beating Germany 2-0 in the final.

Therefore, Eguavoen and the players should channel their inner Denmark against Benin and Rwanda, getting over the confusion instigated by the federation.

Whatever the results in the coming days, it is impossible to overlook the crass ineptitude and mediocrity on view at the Glass House and the Sports Ministry. The duo has concocted a putrid mess of football administration. After Jose Peseiro’s exit in February, they have found it difficult to appoint a substantive coach. That is a hallmark of incompetence.

With this, there is a prospect that the Eagles might not qualify for the next World Cup. After the failure to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, missing consecutive finals will be a calamity.

For now, the football administration is in a shambles. To prepare for the two separate qualifiers, the administrators should wake up. Before the new NFF board is appointed, there should be a rigorous selection process devoid of the current politics of mediocrity.

The NFF should make up its mind on a Nigerian or a foreign coach. Morocco, the first African team to reach the semifinals of the World Cup, is being managed by Walid Regragui, a national. The late Stephen Keshi led the Eagles to the 2013 Nations Cup title. Dutchman Clemens Westerhof led Nigeria to the 1994 Nations Cup and their World Cup debut at USA ’94.

So, the bottom line is competence. This should not be compromised.

President Bola Tinubu should review the appointment of the Sports Minister if he is desirous of progress.