Football enthusiast Oluwadare Oluwaseyi Emmanuel has thrown his weight behind the appointment of Austin Eguavoen as interim head coach of the Super Falcons, describing the former Nigeria international as one of the country’s strongest home-based man-managers.
Eguavoen was recently handed the temporary responsibility of guiding the 10-time African champions as the Nigeria Football Federation continues its search for a substantive head coach, with the team preparing for their crucial 2028 Olympic qualifying fixtures against Comoros in October.
Read Also: “Cerezo” Returns to the Falcons: Eguavoen Handed Olympic Qualifying Mission
For Oluwadare, the timing of Eguavoen’s appointment makes his ability to manage people and restore confidence more important than simply possessing the most sophisticated tactical approach.
“People may have contrary opinions, but for me, Austin Eguavoen remains one of the best Nigerian home-based man-managers.”
While acknowledging that Eguavoen may not be regarded as Nigeria’s finest tactician, Oluwadare believes that is not necessarily the quality the Falcons require most urgently.
Instead, he sees the appointment as a rescue mission — one centred on rebuilding unity, managing personalities and restoring the confidence of players following a difficult period for the national team.
“He may not be the best tactician, and I don’t think that is even the most important requirement for the Super Falcons at this particular moment. What we need is a rescue mission — someone who can bring the team together, restore confidence, manage personalities and get the players believing in themselves again.”
Oluwadare argued that football management at critical moments often requires more than tactical knowledge, pointing to José Mourinho’s appointment by Real Madrid as an example of a situation where personality, mentality and dressing-room management can become equally important considerations.
“Sometimes, football decisions are about more than tactical brilliance.”
According to him, Eguavoen’s immediate responsibility should be to identify the right players, create harmony within the squad and ensure the Falcons approach their Olympic qualifiers with renewed belief.
“That is why I can understand the argument for Eguavoen handling the qualifiers. This current Super Falcons team needs someone who can pick the right players, unite the dressing room and instill enough confidence for them to compete and dominate in Africa.”
Nigeria’s immediate task is a second-round Olympic qualifying tie against Comoros, with both legs scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and 13.
But while Oluwadare supports Eguavoen for the immediate assignment, he strongly disagrees with the idea of allowing the former Super Eagles coach to remain in charge all the way to the Olympics.
“But let me be very clear: Am I in support of Eguavoen taking the team to the Olympics? ABSOLUTELY NOT!”
His position is that Eguavoen should be allowed to stabilise the team and navigate the immediate crisis before Nigeria turns to a more tactically sophisticated coach capable of building the next phase of the Falcons.
“For the qualifiers, however? Yes. Let him help stabilise the situation and get the team through the immediate crisis. After that, Nigeria should look for a more tactically sophisticated manager capable of taking the team to the next level.”
The comments also open another debate surrounding the possibility of former Falcons coach Randy Waldrum returning to the team.
Oluwadare believes that, regardless of Waldrum’s previous achievements with Nigeria, the circumstances surrounding his departure make a return difficult.
“Because let’s be honest, with the way things have gone, our pride will probably not allow us to go back for Randy Waldrum now.”
For now, however, the focus is firmly on Eguavoen and whether his man-management qualities can provide the stability the Super Falcons need.
The Olympic dream remains alive — but according to Oluwadare, Eguavoen’s job is not to build the final destination yet. It is to rescue the journey first.
