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Writer's pictureadeola bankole

An Open Letter To Interim Coach Austin Eguavoen To Stay In Post As Super Eagles Coach


Coach Austin Eguavoen, if you would like to be confirmed as the permanent coach of the Super Eagles, a word of advise of you: you didn’t navigate the entire group stages of the 2006 Afcon UNDEFEATED by mistake. You didn’t navigate the entire 2022 afcon group stages UNDEFEATED by mistake.


That said, you also didn’t come back from those 2 tournaments without Gold or Silver, by mistake.


There is definitely a screw loose in your tactical methods because, it is not how you start that fans will remember, but how you finished – and you endings haven’t always matched your beginnings (just as you started well in Ghana and finished poorly in Abuja in 2022 World Cup qualifiers).


Why not try to work on being “unpredictable”.


Try to “tweak” your methods once your initial winning-template is out in the open. You have quite a decent tactical template, and playing prototype. But it becomes useless the longer you stay in post, which is my problem.


Grinding out a draw against a hostile Rwanda aided and abetted by a corrupt referee is laudable and respectable. But, an argument can be made that Rwanda were ready for you.


They knew what to expect based on the outcome of your game against Benin hence they pulled out all the stops not to lose to you which they succeeded (admittedly with the hand of the (referee) god – to coin a phrase from legendary Maradona).


Based on your antecedents, I won’t be surprised if the victory against Benin is as good as it gets. The coaches in the remaining matches will be very ready for you. Will you be ready for them?


If all you have is more of the same, then please step aside immediately and let someone else take over as Super Eagles coach because it will definitely be downhill from here: several draws here and there and an embarrassing loss from an astute coach with average players a-la Tunisia.


But, it you have fresh tricks up your tactical sleeves, why not? Please stay on as Super Eagles coach.


I want an indigenous coach for the Super Eagles, definitely. But not just any run-of-the-mill, dyed-in-the-wool indigenous coach but one able to change with the times, adapt his tactical methods to meet fresh challenges with avant-garde approach and introduce elements of intrigue, suspense and unpredictability to their tactical palate.


For me, good luck to whomever ( foreign or indigenous coach ) manages the Super Eagles from October onward.

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