Olympic qualifiers: NFF names Eguavoen Falcons interim coach

Former Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen will lead Nigeria’s Senior Women’s National Team, the Super Falcons, on an interim basis for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying fixtures against Comoros in October, as the search for a substantive head coach for the team continues, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Eguavoen brings a wealth of experience to the assignment, having managed at the highest international level, including leading Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

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

Danjuma brings vast experience with Nigeria’s women’s national teams, including leading the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa will serve as goalkeeper trainer. Baruwa has worked with several of Nigeria’s national teams, including the Super Eagles, CHAN Eagles, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets.

Former Super Falcons defender and now coach, Ayisat Yusuf, will also serve as one of the assistant coaches. Yusuf 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 in Beijing.

The 10-time African champions will open their Olympic qualifying campaign in the second round against Comoros, with both legs scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and October 13, 2026, respectively.

The Super Falcons received a bye into the second round as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the qualifying competition, while Comoros advanced after defeating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate.

Nigeria will navigate four rounds of two-legged knockout ties to secure one of Africa’s two available places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. If they overcome Comoros, the Super Falcons will advance to the third round, scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027, where they will face either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Morocco.

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

The final round of the qualifying race is scheduled for November 23 to December 4, 2027, with the Super Falcons potentially facing one of Guinea, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Algeria or Burkina Faso.