Eguavoen quits as interim Eagles coach after goalless draw with Rwanda in Kigali

NIGERIAN Football federation (NFF) technical director Augustine Eguavoen has stood down as the Super Eagles interim coach after the team played a goalless draw with Rwanda away in Kigali today saying he has fulfilled his mandate handle to matches.

Eguavoen was drafted in to handle the team last months after attempts to sign German coach Bruno Labbadia broke down over contractual issues. With the NFF unwilling to pay a 40% German tax, Mr Labbadia was mandated to pay as  German expatriate working abroad, Mr Eguavoen was quickly drafted in to manage the team for this week's two African Cup of Nations qualifiers.      

On Saturday, the eagles beat the Squirrels of Benin republic 3-0 in Uyo and tonight played a goalless draw with Rwanda in Kigali. According to Mr Eguavoen, his mandate was for two games, so he is now going back to his role with the NFF and it is expected that the search for a substantive coach will now resume.

Eguavoen said: "I have been given a mandate to handle two games. I will want to say that I am very pleased with the boys and thanks again to the NFF leadership and all the boys who supported me in terms of discipline and hard work.

"It ends today, which is the two game mandate. I can't talk about Libya because I haven't been told but, however, in case we have another coach, I can talk about it. No team is a pushover anymore but with the spirit these boys have exhibited and from what I have seen, we have a very brought future."

Tonight in Kigali, Eguavoen made only one change to the team that defeated Benin 3-0 on Saturday, with midfielder Alex Iwobi dropping to the bench and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru taking his spot. Nigeria played on the front foot for the best part of the first half, creating several goalscoring chances and were unlucky to head into the break without a goal.

Ademola Lookman, who grabbed a brilliant brace in Uyo, headed the ball into the net in the 22nd minute but his effort was ruled out for a Boniface foul. That was the second clear chance for the Atalanta striker who had earlier burst through on goal before seeing his low finish blocked by the Rwandan goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari.

In the second half, Eguavoen brought on Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon for Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukuweze and within the first 10 minutes, Nigeria could have been two goals up but Dele-Bashiru shot wide from the edge of the box and the Rwandan goalie then saved from Simon. Despite Rwandan possession, Nigeria still created the better chances of the half, with Simon and Osimhen getting efforts on targets, which were saved.

Rwandan goalkeeper Ntwari enjoyed an excellent game and he crowned an unforgettable afternoon with another brilliant save from an Osimhen header in stoppage time. Nigeria will next host Libya in a Nations Cup qualifier during the next international break in October before facing them again eight days later in Tripoli.