Idah Peterside, a former goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, has stated that Augustine Eguavoen has assured him he has not resigned from his position as the head coach of the senior men's national team.
After Nigeria's 0-0 draw against Rwanda in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday, speculation arose later that evening suggesting Eguavoen, who was recently appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation following the collapse of a deal with German coach Bruno Labaddia, had stepped down.
However, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Wednesday, Peterside revealed that Eguavoen refuted the rumors in a phone conversation with him.
“Fortunately I spoke to Eguavoen last night and I asked him, did you quit? And he said no, I did not quit. I’m like why are the rumours? Okay you will not understand so much politics,” Peterside said.
“You see, where we are now, there are agents trying to sell coaches, trying to bring in coaches here and there and there are people in the NFF too that are looking forward to bringing their own type of coach they want.
“So, what Eguavoen has done, he has come in and stabled the waters. Now the agents wanted us to lose because if we had lost the game against Benin then those agents would have brought in their own in their own coaches, it is the politics of football.”
‘Eguavoen should be allowed to continue what he started’
Peterside expressed his support for Eguavoen to continue leading the Super Eagles through the conclusion of the Nations Cup qualifiers.
“There have been debate everywhere, should Eguavoen be kept? Will Eguavoen leave or do we bring a foreign coach? I think the national team is beginning to stabilise in the last two games we played, that is my take.
“I think we should allow Eguavoen to finish what he has started. Remember he has been with this team for years. We had an issue when we did qualify for the World Cup in the game with Ghana.
“He was in charge and I have always told people we did not lose that game, but people became angry because we did not qualify,” he said.
The previous Eagles goalkeeper stated that Eguavoen's continuation with the team, following the stability he has provided in the last two matches, will further enhance that stability, noting that the players are already familiar with him.