Super Falcons: Eguavoen interim tenure ends after Comoros LA 2028 Olympic Qualifiers
Former Nigeria's Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has been appointed interim coach of the Super Falcons, with his mandate limited to Nigeria’s two-legged 2028 Olympic Games qualifying fixtures against Comoros in October.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed Eguavoen’s appointment as it continues the search for a substantive head coach for the nine-time African champions.
Eguavoen will oversee the Super Falcons in both legs of the second-round Olympic qualifying tie, with the matches scheduled for October 9 and 13, 2026, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.
The appointment means Eguavoen’s immediate assignment is clearly defined: guide Nigeria through the Comoros hurdle before handing over to a substantive coach.
The NFF Technical Director, popularly known as “Cerezo,” brings considerable international coaching experience to the temporary role. He previously led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Eguavoen will be assisted by Christopher Danjuma, head coach of Nasarawa Amazons, who has extensive experience with Nigeria’s women’s national teams and previously handled the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa has also been named goalkeeper coach, while former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf joins the technical crew as an assistant coach.
Yusuf brings considerable experience from her playing career, having earned 68 international caps for Nigeria and represented the country at four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, three FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Comoros First Test
The Super Falcons received a bye into the second round of the Olympic qualifiers as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the competition.
Comoros, meanwhile, secured its place in the second round after an extraordinary 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan in the opening round.
Nigeria will therefore enter the tie as favourites, but Eguavoen’s short-term mandate leaves little room for experimentation as the team begins its long route towards Los Angeles 2028.
The Super Falcons must negotiate four rounds of two-legged qualifying ties to secure one of Africa’s two available places at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Victory over Comoros would take Nigeria into the third round, where they would face either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Morocco between February 23 and March 6, 2027.
A place in the fourth round would bring another two-legged tie in October 2027, while the final round is scheduled for November 23 to December 4, 2027.
Pressure on Eguavoen
Despite his wealth of experience, Eguavoen takes charge of a Super Falcons side undergoing a period of transition following Nigeria’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
His immediate challenge will be to steady the team, restore confidence and secure qualification to the next stage of the Olympic race.
The appointment also gives the NFF additional time to conclude its search for a permanent coach who will take charge of the team beyond the Comoros fixtures.
For Eguavoen, however, the objective is straightforward, successfully negotiate the Comoros tie and leave the Super Falcons in contention for a return to the Olympic Games.
Nigeria’s immediate task is to overcome Comoros in October and keep alive its ambition of returning to the Olympic stage at Los Angeles 2028.
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