Eguavoen determined to end Nigeria’s CHAN misfortune

By Tosin Omojola

Super Eagles’ caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed a strong commitment to guiding Nigeria to qualify for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to face their longtime rivals, Ghana, in a high-stakes qualification match for the tournament, which exclusively features players competing in their domestic leagues.

Nigeria has struggled against Ghana in recent qualifying rounds, with defeats in 2009 and again in 2022. These setbacks have intensified the rivalry and raised the stakes for this year’s showdown.

In an interview with NFF TV, Eguavoen voiced his optimism about reversing Nigeria’s fortunes against Ghana this time. He acknowledged the fierce competition, saying, “Any category in which we meet the Ghanaian team is always very tough. All we pray for is luck.”

Eguavoen emphasized the importance of preparation and resilience, assuring fans that the team would enter the matches with a solid work ethic and well-crafted strategies to secure qualification. “For the game, we will go out there, work hard, and develop strategies to ensure we are in the next CHAN,” he affirmed.

Speaking about the talent within the Nigeria-based Super Eagles squad, Eguavoen expressed satisfaction with their technical skills, even after just two training sessions.

“Very impressive,” he said. “Technically, they are very good, but we still have a lot of work to do as they come from different clubs. We need to blend them into one cohesive unit.”

The critical two-legged qualifier is set for December. The winner of the tie will earn a place at CHAN 2025, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.