Nigeria head coach Augustine Eguavoen has been adjudged as the Best Manager in the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON2021) by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Eguavoen, 56, led Nigeria to three wins out of three in Group D of Africa’s showpiece football event, making the Super Eagles the only team that achieved that feat.
In a social media based awards session on Friday night, Eguavoen – an AFCON winner as a player in 1994 – was recognised for leading the team to their impressive results with the Best Manager award.
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— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) January 21, 2022Augustine Eguavoen wins the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021’s Group Stage Best Manager Award! 💯#AFCON2021 | #TeamNigeria | @thenff | @NGSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/87WimWuY46
Eguavoen was not the only awardee on Friday night as there were also recognitions for players that excelled during the group stage of the competition which ended on Thursday.
Tournament’s top scorer and Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar was, as expected, awarded with the Group Stage Best Player award while Guinean youngster Ilaix Moriba was named the Best Young player of the group stage.
Egypt and Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy who had two clean sheets in the group stage was also named the best goalkeeper of the group stage.
The round of 16 for the 2021 tournament begins on Sunday with the two 2013 finalists in action. Burkina Faso face Gabon in Limbe in the first encounter while Nigeria face Tunisia in Garoua in the evening game.
Fisayo Dairo, reporting from Garoua, Cameroon.
