Nigerian icon Mikel Obi gets real, names top 2 Super Eagles coaches ever

Super Eagles and Chelsea legend Mikel Obi.

Nigerian icon Mikel Obi gets real, names top 2 Super Eagles coaches ever

Izuchukwu Akawor • Izuchukwu Akawor • 06:53 - 15.03.2025

Former Chelsea star Mikel Obi boldly reveals his greatest national team coaches, sparking debate among Super Eagles fans about their respective legacies.

Super Eagles legend John Mikel Obi got personal on his latest podcast, spilling the tea on the two Nigerian coaches who’ve meant the most to him: the late Stephen Keshi and Augustine Eguavoen.

Chatting with current star Victor Osimhen, Mikel didn’t just list names, he poured out his heart about the men who shaped his journey, and it’s a story that hits home for any Nigerian football fan.

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It all kicked off when Osimhen started raving about Eguavoen, the ex-interim boss who recently won over the squad with his down-to-earth, fatherly vibe.

Mikel’s eyes lit up. “I love Austine,” he said, his voice warm with memories as reported by Pulse Sports.

Mikel Obi for Nigeria in 2010

Then he leaned in like he was sharing a secret with an old mate. “He’s one of my [best coaches]. Late Stephen Keshi is my number one, and then, Eguavoen. These two for me are absolutely fantastic managers.”

You could almost see Mikel drifting back to those glory days—Keshi barking orders on the touchline as they lifted the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations trophy together, or Eguavoen, who was his coach at the under-17s, and has been described by Obi as a father figure in the past.

Former Super Eagles boss Augustine Eguavoen has coached Mikel Obi at youth and senior levels.|| X
Former Super Eagles boss Augustine Eguavoen has coached Mikel Obi at youth and senior levels.|| X

Keshi, the larger-than-life legend who left us too soon in 2016, was Mikel’s top pick, no question. But Eguavoen? He’s right there, a guy who’s been more than a coach, a real human connection for a player who’s worn the green and white with pride.

As Osimhen nodded along, you could feel the bond between these two Eagles, past and present, united by the same respect for a man like Austine.

Daniel Amokachi carries the Boss, Late Stephen Keshi in 2013.
Mikel helped Nigeria win the 2013 AFCON under the late Stephen Keshi.

Mikel wasn’t just naming coaches, he was telling us about the people who pushed him, believed in him, and made him the leader he became.

Keshi and Eguavoen, in his book, aren’t just great managers; they’re the heartbeat of what makes Nigerian football special.