Eguavoen Named Interim Super Falcons Coach for 2028 Olympics Qualifiers

Augustine Eguavoen will take charge of Nigeria’s Super Falcons on an interim basis for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying campaign, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced.

The former Super Eagles head coach, popularly known as “Cerezo,” will lead the senior women’s national team against Comoros in the second round of Olympic qualifying in October 2026.

The appointment comes as the NFF continues its search for a permanent head coach for the 10-time African champions.

Eguavoen brings extensive experience at the highest level of African football. He guided the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and has previously managed several Nigerian national teams.

He will be assisted by Christopher Danjuma, current head coach of Nasarawa Amazons in the Nigeria Women’s Football League.

Danjuma previously led the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica and has deep experience with Nigeria’s women’s national teams.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa joins the technical team as goalkeeper coach.

Baruwa has worked with the Super Eagles, CHAN Eagles, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets.

Former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf will also serve as an assistant coach.

Yusuf won 68 caps for Nigeria and featured at four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, three FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Super Falcons received a bye into the second round as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the CAF Olympic qualifying competition.

They will face Comoros in a two-legged tie at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and 13, 2026. Comoros advanced after thrashing Sudan 30-0 on aggregate.

Nigeria must navigate four rounds of two-legged knockout ties to secure one of Africa’s two available places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Victory over Comoros would send the Super Falcons into the third round, scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027, where they would meet either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Morocco.

A place in the fourth round would see Nigeria face one of Tunisia, Senegal, Benin Republic or Mali between October 4 and 12, 2027.

The final qualifying round is set for November 23 to December 4, 2027, with potential opponents including Guinea, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Algeria or Burkina Faso.

The interim appointment places Eguavoen at the helm of a side that has dominated African women’s football for decades.

The Super Falcons remain one of the continent’s strongest teams and will look to book their place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics under the experienced coach’s guidance while the NFF finalises a long-term technical leadership structure.