In a major technical shake-up following the departure of former manager Justine Madugu, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially appointed former Super Eagles head coach Augustine “Cerezo” Eguavoen to lead the Super Falcons on a temporary basis.
The official announcement was made via a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire.
Eguavoen, who previously guided the Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt, steps into women’s football management for the first time in his career.
His immediate task is navigating the second round of qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
To ensure a smooth transition, the NFF has surrounded Eguavoen with seasoned tacticians in women’s football, in person of Christopher Danjuma (Head Coach, Nasarawa Amazons), Assistant Coach, bringing experience from leading the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Ayisat Yusuf (Former Super Falcons Defender), Assistant Coach, a veteran with 68 caps who represented Nigeria at three FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Olatunji Baruwa, Goalkeeper Trainer, returning to national team duties after previous stints with the Super Eagles, Flying Eagles, and Golden Eaglets.
Nigeria enters the qualification campaign as one of Africa’s top-seeded nations, receiving a bye directly into the second round. They will face Comoros, who booked their ticket to the second round with a staggering 30-0 aggregate win over Sudan.
To secure one of Africa’s two slots for LA 2028, Nigeria must navigate four successive two-legged knockout ties.
Both legs of the high-stakes encounter will be hosted at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo. The home crowd will get its first look at Eguavoen’s side during the opening leg on October 9, 2026, set for a 4:00 PM WAT kickoff.
The Falcons will then complete the two-legged fixture four days later at the same venue, locking horns with Comoros for the decisive second leg on October 13, 2026, also at 4:00 PM WAT.
Should Nigeria advance past Comoros, they will move on to the third round between February 23 and March 6, 2027, to face the winner of the DR Congo versus Morocco tie.
