A call to serve - New Super Eagles assistant coach makes promise to Nigerians

Enugu Rangers head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has expressed his gratitude and commitment following his appointment as an assistant coach to the Nigeria Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Ilechukwu, who led Rangers to the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) title last season, took to social media to share his thoughts on this new role. 

"A call to serve Nigeria and an opportunity for more hard work and we will never take this for granted. Thank you for the good wishes & the congratulatory messages. I'm humble," he stated.

The appointment comes as part of interim manager Augustine Eguavoen's strategy to strengthen the Super Eagles' coaching staff for their crucial matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda. 

Joining Ilechukwu on the coaching team is his friend and colleague in the NPFL, Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars, who finished second in the NPFL last season.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has also brought in international expertise, with Slovenian fitness trainer Tomaz Zorec joining the staff. The team will be further supported by goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa and match analyst Eboboritse Uwejamomere.

The Super Eagles have kicked off their preparations for the qualifiers in Uyo on Monday. Their first match against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic is scheduled for Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, with kickoff at 5 pm local time. 

Following this, the team will travel to Kigali for their second qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda on Tuesday at the Amahoro Stadium.

Ogunmodede and Ilechukwu's appointment has been well-received by fans and NPFL followers, with many praising the NFF's decision to incorporate successful local coaches into the national team setup. 

His recent success with Rangers and his reputation for developing young talent are seen as valuable assets to the Super Eagles' campaign.

As the team gears up for these crucial qualifiers, all eyes will be on how Ilechukwu and the rest of the coaching staff can help steer the Super Eagles towards a successful AFCON 2025 qualification campaign.