As the Super Eagles of Nigeria gear up for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Benin, Interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen has the chance to achieve a personal milestone.
Nigeria is set to face Benin today November 14, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Four days later, they will meet Rwanda in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for their final game of the AFCON qualifying series.
While fans eagerly anticipate Nigeria’s qualification for Morocco 2025, Eguavoen has his eye on an unbeaten streak in the qualifiers, which would mark his first full, undefeated qualifying campaign as head coach. Previously, he either took over mid-series or passed the team to a successor before the campaign’s end.
Currently boasting three wins and a draw from four games, finishing unbeaten would be a landmark achievement for Eguavoen and could strengthen his case to remain at the helm for the 2025 World Cup qualifiers. Amid financial constraints, this success could encourage the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to retain him as head coach, potentially postponing a costly permanent hire.
A former Super Eagles defender and a member of the 1994 AFCON-winning squad, Eguavoen appears calm yet focused ahead of the high-stakes match. Nigeria sits atop Group D with 10 points from four games and needs only a draw to secure a ticket to Morocco. Benin, with six points, seeks a win to keep their qualification hopes alive, especially after their 2-1 win over Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier last June.
At the pre-match press conference, Eguavoen acknowledged Benin’s strength:
“It’s the qualifiers. Two teams are going to play tomorrow, Benin versus Nigeria. We feel at home here because this is where we almost became champions of the AFCON. But with all respect, Benin is a very good team,” he said. “We expect a very tough game tomorrow, but we’ve come here with an objective.”
With so much at stake, Eguavoen is on the verge of a historic moment. Leading the Super Eagles through an unbeaten qualifying run would be a personal triumph and further solidify Nigeria’s position as a top contender for AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
