Olympic qualifiers: NFF names Eguavoen Falcons interim coach

Augustine Eguavoen will take temporary charge of Nigeria’s Super Falcons as they begin the race for a place at the 2028 Olympic Games.

The former Super Eagles head coach will lead Nigeria in both October qualifiers against Comoros while the Nigeria Football Federation continues its search for a substantive coach. Christopher Danjuma, head coach of Nigeria Women’s Football League side Nasarawa Amazons, will assist him.

Olatunji Baruwa, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, will handle goalkeeping duties. Former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf will also join the coaching staff. Yusuf won 68 international caps and represented Nigeria at four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, three Women’s World Cups and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Eguavoen has managed Nigeria at the highest international level and led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Danjuma previously worked with Nigeria’s women’s national teams and led the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

The 10-time African champions will play both legs of the second-round tie against Comoros at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and October 13, 2026. Nigeria received a bye as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the competition. Comoros advanced after beating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate.

Nigeria must progress through four rounds of two-legged knockout ties to claim one of Africa’s two Olympic places. If the Falcons eliminate Comoros, they will face the Democratic Republic of Congo or Morocco in the third round, scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027.