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Nigerian legend John Mikel Obi has praised Augustine Eguavoen, comparing him to Carlo Ancelotti, after the Super Eagles display in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
Nigerian football legend John Mikel Obi has likened the management style of Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen to that of renowned manager Carlo Ancelotti.
This high praise comes in the wake of Nigeria's recent performances in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
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04:36 - 12.09.2024
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Mikel, who played under some of the world's top managers during his illustrious career, drew an unexpected parallel between Eguavoen and his former Chelsea boss.
"He reminds me so much of Carlo Ancelotti, no jokes," Mikel stated emphatically on his podcast.
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"His man management is top, he speaks to players really well, he's so humble, communicates with players well, puts his arms around you, gets the players on his side and that is so important."
The comparison to Ancelotti, a record five-time Champions League-winning coach, is particularly noteworthy and speaks volumes about Eguavoen's impact on the Super Eagles.
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Mikel elaborated on the qualities that prompted this comparison: "Fantastic guy, lovely guy, a manager who gives you all the freedom in the world to express yourself, speaks to you really well."
Mikel's history with Eguavoen dates back to his youth career, adding weight to his assessment.
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"I know the interim manager now Augustine Eguavoen, who managed me when I was a kid in the U-17s. He was my coach and took us to the World Cup," Mikel recalled, highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two.
The former Chelsea midfielder was particularly impressed with Eguavoen's ability to quickly influence the team despite the challenges of being an interim appointment.
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"You can see it coming in on such short notice and getting the team to play so well - you can't change so much, you can't teach them so much in such a short space of time," Mikel observed.
He emphasised that Eguavoen's success lies in his approach to player management: "It's about the communication, it is about the man management of making the players so relaxed so they can perform."
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These comments come at a crucial time for the Super Eagles, who have been navigating the uncertainties of not having a permanent head coach amid increased calls to retain Eguavoen.
Mikel acknowledged this challenge earlier in his analysis: "There is so much going on that when you come into the national team, every time you come in there is a new manager - we don't have a manager, we don't have a coach. It is difficult to come in knowing that you don't have a coach, how do you deal with that?"
Despite these difficulties, Mikel's praise suggests that Eguavoen has managed to create a positive environment for the players to perform at the level they did.
This is reflected in the team's recent performances, which Mikel described as showing "great attitude, motivation and finding a way to beat a very stubborn Benin team."
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