NFF Names Augustine Eguavoen Interim Super Falcons Coach for 2028 Olympic Qualifiers

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen as interim head coach of the Super Falcons ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2028 Olympic Games qualifying campaign.

Eguavoen will take charge of the senior women’s national team for the Falcons’ two-legged second-round qualifier against Comoros in October, while the NFF continues its search for a substantive head coach. The federation confirmed the appointment on Tuesday.

The appointment represents a return to the national-team dugout for Eguavoen, popularly known as “Cerezo,” who has previously managed the Super Eagles on several occasions.

He also led Nigeria to a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, giving him considerable experience of high-level international football.

Eguavoen will not work alone.

The NFF has appointed Christopher Danjuma, head coach of NWFL side Nasarawa Amazons, as an assistant. Danjuma has extensive experience with Nigeria’s women’s national teams and previously led the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa will serve as goalkeeper trainer, while former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf will also join the coaching team as an assistant. Yusuf earned 68 international caps for Nigeria and represented the country at the Olympics, Women’s World Cup and Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The arrangement is understood to be temporary, with the NFF still looking for a permanent successor to lead the Falcons beyond the Olympic qualifying assignment.

Nigeria’s first Olympic qualifying test under Eguavoen will come against Comoros.

The first leg is scheduled for October 9, with the return leg on October 13. Both matches are scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.

Nigeria entered the second round automatically as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the African qualifying competition.

Comoros, meanwhile, earned their place after producing one of the most remarkable results of the opening round, defeating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate. They won the first leg 17-0 before completing the rout with a 13-0 victory in the return fixture.

That emphatic performance means the Falcons cannot afford to underestimate their opponents despite Nigeria’s vastly greater pedigree in African women’s football.

The 2028 Olympic women’s football qualification tournament will be played through five knockout rounds, with two African nations eventually earning tickets to the Los Angeles Games.

Nigeria are among Africa’s most successful women’s teams and will be looking to return to the Olympic stage after missing the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The second-round tie against Comoros therefore carries significant importance for the Falcons as they begin the long road to Los Angeles.

Should Nigeria progress, the next round is scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027. The African qualification process will eventually culminate in a fifth round in November-December 2027, when the continent’s two Olympic representatives will be determined.

For Eguavoen, the immediate task is clear: steady the Falcons, prepare the team for the October double-header and ensure Nigeria takes another step towards the 2028 Olympic Games