Eguavoen Named Interim Super Falcons Coach Ahead Of 2028 Olympic Qualifiers

Eguavoen Named Interim Super Falcons Coach Ahead of 2028 Olympic Qualifiers Former Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has been appointed interim coach of the Super Falcons as Nigeria begins preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifying campaign. The Nigeria Football Federation NFF has handed Eguavoen temporary responsibility for the senior women’s national team as the federation continues its search for a permanent head coach. Eguavoen takes charge following the departure of Justine Madugu, who left his position after Nigeria’s disappointing campaign that saw the Super Falcons miss out on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The former Nigeria international will lead the Falcons for their upcoming Olympic qualifying fixtures against Comoros in October, with the immediate objective of keeping Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the Los Angeles 2028 Games alive. Eguavoen, who currently serves as the NFF’s technical director, is one of the most experienced Nigerian coaches to have worked with the country’s national teams. He previously coached the Super Eagles on several occasions, including during Nigeria’s 2006 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, when the team finished third. He has also had multiple spells in charge of the men’s senior national team. The NFF has assembled an experienced technical team to support him during the Olympic qualifying assignment. Christopher Danjuma, the coach of Nigeria Women’s Football League side Nasarawa Amazons, has been appointed as one of Eguavoen’s assistants. Danjuma has extensive experience with Nigeria’s women’s national teams and previously guided the Falconets at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf has also joined the coaching team. Yusuf represented Nigeria at multiple major tournaments, including the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2008 Olympic Games. Olatunji Baruwa, a former goalkeeper trainer with the Super Eagles, will handle goalkeeping duties for the Falcons. He has previously worked with several of Nigeria’s national teams. The temporary coaching arrangement comes at a crucial moment for the Super Falcons, who are looking to recover from a difficult period and rebuild confidence ahead of the Olympic qualifying campaign. Nigeria has a strong history in women’s football at the Olympic Games, having appeared at several previous editions. Qualification for Los Angeles 2028 would provide the Falcons with an opportunity to return to the global stage after missing the Paris 2024 tournament. For Eguavoen, the assignment represents a different challenge from his previous work with the men’s national team. He will be expected to quickly establish stability within the squad, identify the best available players and prepare the team for a potentially demanding qualification battle. The NFF is expected to continue its search for a substantive head coach while Eguavoen and his technical team focus on the immediate Olympic qualification fixtures. The priority now is clear: secure progress against Comoros, restore confidence in the Super Falcons and begin rebuilding a team capable of competing successfully on the international stage.