Nigeria’s national team interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed deep disappointment over the Super Eagles’ 2-1 loss to the Amavubi of Rwanda in their final Group D match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The game, which took place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Monday night, marked a bitter conclusion to what had been a promising qualifying campaign.
Eguavoen’s frustrations were evident during the post-match press conference, where he described the team’s display as “below standard.”
Reflecting on the match, the coach said, “Below standard,” Eguavoen lamented. “And I feel very sad.
“This result was not what we planned for. We scored and were pushing for a second goal, but, quite against the run of play, we conceded. I tried to change the formation, but it didn’t work.”
Despite opening the scoring and showing early promise, the Super Eagles failed to capitalize on their lead, allowing Rwanda to equalize and eventually secure a late winner.
According to Eguavoen, the team’s inability to adapt during key moments proved costly.
Eguavoen was philosophical about the unexpected outcome, acknowledging that football often delivers surprises.
“These things happen on certain days, and today was one of those days. When we conceded the second goal, I made changes by introducing two strikers, yet it still didn’t work,” he admitted.
The coach also highlighted the parallels between this match and their previous disappointing draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic during their away fixture in Ivory Coast, where tactical adjustments similarly failed to yield the desired results.
When asked about his tactical approach for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Eguavoen remained optimistic, showing unwavering belief in the Super Eagles’ potential.
“We keep trying; football is all about winning, losing, or drawing. But I believe we have a good squad, a very strong one,” he remarked.
“Unfortunately, it just didn’t happen for us today. I still believe in this team. It has character and a strong mentality.
“Like I said earlier, we conceded against the run of play, and then, late in the game, we conceded again. At that point, it became very difficult to recover.”
The coach also addressed concerns regarding the underwhelming performances of two key players, Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen and Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, both of whom struggled to assert themselves during the match.
“Boniface is a top-class player. We’ve seen him prove that time and again for his Bundesliga club. We’ve been giving him opportunities, including trying him in different roles. He remains an integral part of the national team,” Eguavoen said.
On Iheanacho, he noted the forward’s recent struggles with confidence, stating, “As for Kelechi Iheanacho, he needs confidence. He’s been affected by criticism, but I’ve continued to support and talk to him.”
Eguavoen’s post-match comments underline both his disappointment in the immediate result and his faith in the broader potential of the Super Eagles squad.
While the defeat to Rwanda is a setback, the coach’s belief in his players’ resilience suggests a determination to turn things around as they prepare for their World Cup qualifying campaign.
