A number of top European coaches have reached out to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on taking over as the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the resumption of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in March, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Eguavoen’s reign as the interim coach of the team ended following the conclusion of the AFCON 2026 qualifiers with the team suffering a 1-2 loss to Rwanda in their final game of the series in Uyo. The defeat was however inconsequential as the team was already through to the tournament before the game.

Prime to return to his role as technical director, a lot of foreign coaches have seized the gap in the NFF making a decision on the future of the coach to signify their interest in handling the team, before the start of the world cup qualifiers.

” Coaches and their agents have been contacting the NFF. It’s very normal whenever there is a vacuum. One of them is a very top coach but no decision has been taken yet with funding the biggest issue the NFF wants to tackle before a decision on who will lead the team”, a chieftain of the NFF revealed.

The board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has already started the process of getting a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria according to a chieftain of the football house, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria concluded the AFCON qualifiers campaign with a 1-2 loss to Rwanda, a dead rubber game as they have already sealed their spot at the tournament with two games to spare. The game also brought to an end the reign of Austine Eguavoen as interim coach of the team.

Eguavoen who also doubles as the technical director of the NFF will be a part of the process of appointing a new coach for the team, but he could also be retained in the event that an agreement isn’t found with a new coach before the resumption of the world cup qualifiers in March.

” We (NFF) have already started the process of getting a new coach for the team, which is getting a sponsor to pick up his wage bill. That is the first step but if we fail to get one then we have to fall back to what we have”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Talks have been held with prospective sponsors and we are hoping it ends well. Preferably before the resumption of the world cup qualifiers. Eguavoen hasn’t done badly but we know what we want for the world cup qualifiers”, he concluded.

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Afcon 2025 will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, toJanuary 18, 2026. The host team and reigning champion, Ivory Coast, has already qualified for the tournament. Meanwhile, Group F saw a major upset—Ghana, one of the giants of African football, failed toqualify for the continental event for the first time since 2004. In the past seven Afcon tournaments, the champion has always changed, offering fans thrilling games and unpredictable outcomes.

Cameroon vs Zimbabwe, November 19

The teams have already secured their spots for Afcon 2025. For both Cameroon and Zimbabwe, key moments in qualification were the appointment of foreign coaches—Belgian Marc Brys and German Michael Nees, respectively. The managers quickly brought order anddelivered results. In this match, the sides will determine the winner of Group J. Zimbabwe is 2 points behind and will try to make history, as the Warriors have never won against Cameroon away.

Guinea-Bissau vs Mozambique, November 19

Guinea-Bissau escaped defeat in the last minutes of its game against Eswatini and can achieve the desired result on its own. A 1-0 win or a victory by 2 goals or more will see Djurtus qualify for the Afcon finals for the fifth time in a row. Mozambique had the chance to leave Guinea-Bissau behind after round 5 but lost to Mali. Now, Os Mambas are hoping to extend their unbeaten away run, which has been ongoing since 2023.

Congo vs Uganda, November 19

The Congo team twice led in its match against South Sudan in round 5 but lost. This defeat ended the Red Devils‘ hopes of qualifying for Afcon for the first time since 2015. In its final match, Congo will try to comfort its fans as all 4 of its points in this qualification campaign came at home. Uganda, with 10 points, has already qualified for the final but aims to win Group K, as it is just 1 point behind South Africa.

Sierra Leone vs Zambia, November 19

Sierra Leone couldn’t hold on to its win in the match against Chad in round 5 and lost the chance to qualify for the Afcon finals. On the other hand, Zambia achieved an impressive result. Only a victory inround 5 over Ivory Coast, the defending champions, secured Chipolopolo an early spot in the tournament. And Zambia took all 3 points thanks to a goal by Kennedy Musonda. Now, renowned coach Avram Grant aims to win another match and make Chipolopolo thewinner of Group G.

Tanzania vs Guinea, November 19

Seru Girassi, who leads the qualification top scorer race with 6 goals, once again saved Guinea. Thanks to the decisive strike of Borussia’sforward in the 92nd minute, Syli National defeated DR Congo andkept 2nd place in Group H with 9 points. Tanzania has 2 points fewer, and the team can qualify for Afcon for the second consecutive timeonly with a win in round 6. It’s worth noting that on September 10, Taifa Stars defeated Guinea away, but Seru Girassi did not play in that match.

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Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has explained why Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho kept his spot in the starting lineup for the team that lost 1-2 today at home to Rwanda in the AFCON qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Iheanacho was subbed off just before the start of the second half in the 1-1 draw away to Benin Republic. He started today again on the right and after another below par performance he was subbed off for Samuel Chukwueze who scored Nigeria’s lone goal.

After the game, the coach was asked the reason behind the decision to keep faith in the Sevilla man who has been having a tough time since his move to the Spanish side on a free transfer from English Premier League side Leicester City.

” I told him ( Iheanacho) before the game that I will give him 45 minutes then replace him with Samuel Chukwueze and that was what I did. I spoke with him before the game and I can tell you he is an asset but he is under pressure from a lot of people including some of you here”.

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr was the victim of a police attack in Libya shortly after guiding his team Benin Republic to next year’s AFCON with a 0-0 draw away in Tripoli, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Benin Republic got the one point needed to seal a spot at the AFCON rendering Rwanda’s shock 2-1 win over Nigeria in Uyo inconsequential. The result didn’t go down well with the home fans in Tripoli who were hoping that their team will get a 4-0 win to keep their hopes alive.

Shortly after the game and confirmation that Benin Republic are through, the home fans lay siege at the dressing room of the away side preventing the players from leaving the stadium until around 8pm, when they were adviced to head out of the stadium.

As the team were about to get on their bus, a police officer ran up to Rohr and punched him in the face before doing the same to a security guard attacked to the Benin Republic team according to Zinsou Zounou who witnessed the sad event.

The incident has once gained beamed a negative spotlight on Libya, who were punished by CAF after the poor treatment of the Super Eagles last month upon arrival for the reverse tie of the 1-0 win in Uyo.

Super Eagles were left stranded at the airport for over 18 hours and decided to boycott the game. CAF ruled in their favour by handing them three points, three goals for the botched game.

The senior national team of Nigeria ended their campaign in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers with a 1-2 loss at home to Rwanda in a dead rubber tie as they have already booked their spot at the tournament, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rwanda recovered from a goal down scored by Samuel Chukwueze to win 2-1, although it was insufficient for them to make it to the AFCON with Benin Republic drawing 1-1 against Libya in Tripoli.

We rate the players on parade for Nigeria in the game.

Maduka Okoye – Not at fault for the first goal conceded but should have done better for the second goal as he was beaten on his near post. Not the way he would have loved to mark his return to the team…..5/10

Bright Osayi-Samuel – Assured on the ball and tenacious in tackles. He however failed to keep up with his man who delivered the cross for the second goal scored by the visitors…..5.5/10

Bruno Onyemaechi – Didn’t put a foot wrong in the entire game. A performance that showed how well he has cemented his spot as the first choice left back of the team. Unfortunate to be on the losing side…..7/10

William Troost-Ekong – Not one of his best performances in a Super Eagles shirt. Should have dealt with initial the ball that led to the second goal and also was the leader of the back four that were flat footed from the cross that helped Rwanda draw level…..5/10

Gabriel Osho – Grew into the game and showed his ability to play out from the back. Didn’t lose a single duel but poor performances elsewhere ruined what would have been a perfect home debut for the Auxerre defender…..7/10

Raphael Onyedika – Always wants the ball and sprayed it around nicely. Glued everything together in the middle. Surely made a case for a regular spot in the team and will let down by performances elsewhere on the pitch……7/10

Alhassan Yusuf – He was his usual busy type and covered a lot of ground. Delayed releasing a pass that would have set Boniface free at the far post eight minutes into the game. Subbed off at halftime with what looked like pains from the knock he received midway through the first half……6/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – By far the worse player on the pitch in the first half. With heavy touches and indecisiveness on the ball hence no surprise that he didn’t return for the second half…..3/10

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – Slowed down three moves that could have opened up a goal scoring chance in the first half. Didn’t look entirely fit and was deservedly subbed off in the second half…..6/10

Moses Simon – The only one who looked likely to make things happen and could have gotten at least two assists. Easily one of the most influential player in the team at the moment…..7.5/10

Victor Boniface – Seems to be battling with confidence due to the goal drought he is facing. Unlucky not to end it with a header which was well saved. Wasted more chances that any player for the Nigerian side…..4/10

Substitutes

:Samuel Chukwueze – Brought spark into the team. Capped it a fantastic solo goal to break the deadlock….6/10

Victor Osimhen – Motivated the team with his fighting spirit and determination upon his introduction. He carried more threats that Boniface who lasted longer on the pitch…..6/10

Frank Onyeka – A willing runner who impacted the dynamics of the game but looked bereft of ideas when around the box with his wayward efforts…..5/10

Sadiq Umar – Didn’t get enough time to earn a rating.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has ring changes to his starting XI for today’s AFCON qualifiers game against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In goal Maduka Okoye makes his first start in more than two years in place of Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi will be the right and left full back respectively.

Auxerre defender Gabriel Osho keeps his spot in defence alongside captain of the team William Troost-Ekong with Calvin Bassey one of the regulars in the team not listed in the starting lineup.

The midfield will see the trio of Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika, while the attack will be led by the trio of Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Moses Simon.

Starting XI: (4-3-3)- Maduka Okoye, Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, William Troost-Ekong, Gabriel Osho, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface.