Pinnick raises doubts over Eguavoen’s ability as AFCON 2021 beckons

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has indicated that interim Super Eagles coach Austine Eguavoen may not be in charge of the team when the Africa Cup of Nations begins in Cameroon next year.   In a media parley, the FIFA executive member said he knows Eguavoen will do well but wants […]

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has indicated that interim Super Eagles coach Austine Eguavoen may not be in charge of the team when the Africa Cup of Nations begins in Cameroon next year.  

In a media parley, the FIFA executive member said he knows Eguavoen will do well but wants someone who will do better than him.

“When I spoke with one of the coaches on Tuesday, he was already scouting our players and was telling me things I didn’t even know about our players.

“It was quite impressive and he told me the strength of each player and he took me off guard. We are not going to experiment and if he can win the Nations Cup, no problem.

“We know Eguavoen can do it, but we also want someone who can do it better. If we are unable to sign him soon, then we will work with the current team. But I am not going to tell you that if we have him signed today, he is not going to lead the team to the AFCON,” he said.

He further said the federation is in advanced negotiations for a permanent replacement for Gernot Rohr.

“We have spoken to three top coaches. Peseiro, whose name has been going around, is one of them and I can tell you he is a top coach.

“We also talked to Mladen (Krstajic). But after talking to him, he got a job with a top club in Israel, with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“They are coaches who the players cannot be bigger than. I believe we are doing everything we can and that’s why we interface with the ministry on every level,” Pinnick said.