Interim Nigeria manager Augustine Eguavoen has admitted that he thought Gernot Rohr would continue as coach of the Super Eagles despite a cloud hanging over the future of the Franco-German football tactician.

The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning defender is returning for a third spell as Nigeria coach, having coached the national team from 2005-2007 and briefly in 2010 on an interim basis.

One thing that Eguavoen has going for him is that he knows the inner workings of the Super Eagles and the Nigerian Federation.

"I would say I was shocked, I was surprised when my name was announced after a brief discussion but I thought Gernot Rohr will continue because it has always been is he going to continue is he not going to continue, we're going to sort things out," Eguavoen said in an interview with Channels Television monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com.

"And then when my bosses spoke to me about it a couple of days ago I was like why not but is there a possibility that we can sort things out with him.

"We couldn't get things sorted out and you know when stuff like this happen the next person in line is the Technical Director.

"It's something I've been through before, I am in the system, I know everything about the players and management, of course the administration also."

Eguavoen was in the Super Eagles dugout when they finished third at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel