Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, has reassured fans that there is no bad blood between his assistant coaches, Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu, despite their recent public disagreement. The dispute occurred following a match between Remo Stars and Enugu Rangers, where Ilechukwu criticized Ogunmodede’s conduct after the game, which Remo Stars won 2-1.
Ogunmodede responded, attributing Ilechukwu’s criticism to frustration over the loss. This exchange sparked concerns among football fans, as both coaches are expected to collaborate on national duties for Nigeria.
Eguavoen has now put those concerns to rest, emphasizing that there is no animosity between the two. To further dispel rumors, he shared a video showing the two coaches embracing. He explained that such tensions are common in competitive sports but have no bearing on their teamwork for the national team.
“Ilechukwu and Ogunmodede hugged each other after their respective games, and there’s no fight between them,” Eguavoen said. “Tensions rise in football, but our focus remains on doing our job for Nigeria.”
The clarification comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles prepare for an important Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya. The first leg of the two-legged clash will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday, October 11, at 5 p.m.