The social media was stampeded on Sunday as news flew in confirming the sack of Super Eagles gaffer, Coach Gernot Rohr after 64 months of his existence as the head coach of the Nigeria National team.
There was a division between the fans as some supported the move by NFF while others condemned it to be a wrong timing following the limited number of days remaining before the kickoff of AFCON 2021.
The news was however followed by the announcement of former Super Eagles Star Augustine Eguaveon as the interim manager of the team.
Eguaveon’s appointment has been the second time the 56-year old will be in charge of the Nigeria National team.
The former Enyimba boss was at the helms when Nigeria defeated Senegal to clinch bronze in Egypt in 2010.
But that was the worst outing of the Super Eagles in that competition signaling his poor approach on big occasions, one of the problems of former boss Gernot Rohr.
Nigeria was the first country in Africa to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but couldn’t scale through their group consisting of Iceland, Croatia, and Argentina who were at that time struggling for form on their own.
The Super Eagles lost to both Croatia and Argentina with just a 2-0 win over Iceland, coming home with just three points.
The squad filled with stars who were competing in the best leagues in Europe and elsewhere cannot make it from the group stage of the World Cup. Sad.
The trends of new World football seem like winding off the era of coaches who existed ten years ago unless they adapt to the new style and approach.
But the remainder of the newly appointed coach of the Super Eagles draws a big question mark to that effect.
Eguaveon managed the likes of Obafemi Martins, Osaze, Mikel Obi, and many other stars in their prime, but the beautiful Nigerians are looking out for were not there at the big stage.
Nigerians launched an attack on the former boss following a series of poor displays by the Super Eagles, one of the reasons for his sacking something the new management must be aware of.
In Eguaveon’s last game as the coach of the Eagles, Eurosport reported “the game lacked the skill and flair both sides had so ably demonstrated earlier on in the tournament and in the end the third-place playoff was nothing more than a damp squib.”
Nigeria prepares for similar competition with a similar man at the helms but a different set of players.
It is unknown the approach the tactician will deploy for the Eagles but Nigerians are anticipating good football.
