*Austin Eguavoen

Qualifiers

Abuja, September 9, 2026 (www.crestnewsonline.ng) Former Super Eagles’ head coach Augustine Eguavoen will lead the Super Falcons’ technical crew for now.

The former Super Eagles defender will be leading the Nigerian senior women national football team on an interim basis for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying fixtures against Comoros in October.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja that this would be as the search for a substantive head coach for the team continues.

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

He will be assisted by Christopher Danjuma, the current head coach of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) side Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.

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

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa will serve as the team’s goalkeeper trainer.

Baruwa has worked with several of Nigeria’s national teams, including the Super Eagles, the 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 AFCON tournaments, three FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Falcons will open their 2028 Olympics qualifying campaign in the second round against Comoros, with both legs scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and 13.

The 10-time African champions 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 between February 23 and March 6, 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 12 of 2027.

The final round of the qualifying race is scheduled for November 23 to December 4 of 2027, with the Super Falcons potentially facing one of Guinea, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Algeria or Burkina Faso.(www.crestnewsonline.ng)

*Edited by Olawale Lawanson Alabi