Nollywood actress Angela Eguavoen sat down with Peter Akinbo to discuss her lifelong love of sport, her admiration for football stars, her connection to former Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen, and more.
When she was a student at Paradise Schools in Benin City, Angela was active in inter‑house competitions. She loved swimming above all else, but she also ran races and enjoyed the challenge of sack races, where “the sack will do its best to bring you down.” Although she didn’t win many medals, she relished taking part in extracurricular activities. “I was best at swimming,” she explained, “because it works every part of the body, so I gravitated toward it and still swim more than any other sport.”
Angela says her parents never discouraged her interests. “They never tell you to stop or not pursue a particular interest,” she noted, adding that their support continued when she later embraced cultural activities, which sparked her love for theatre and acting.
Today she stays active by walking around her estate and using jump ropes at home. She encourages others to walk, saying that even a small activity “does a lot for your body.” When it comes to watching sport, football dominates her screen, largely because her partner is a huge fan and has influenced her viewing habits. She admires Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Neymar is her favorite—“he is a very good footballer, good‑looking and highly talented, loaded with great attributes.”
Angela follows the Super Eagles closely, with Victor Osimhen as her standout player. “He is doing very well in Europe, and I hope he is the missing link we need to do better,” she said, expressing pride in any Nigerian who puts the country on the map, whether in sport, acting, or music. She was heartbroken when the Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but she tempered her disappointment by saying she no longer places high hopes on national outcomes. “I hope we can qualify for the next one; the talent in the team is impressive, and I believe Nigerians can succeed at anything we set our hearts on,” she added, drawing a parallel with the booming global music industry.
With Nigeria absent from the tournament, Angela supported Morocco, hoping an African team would triumph after their strong performance. She believes Nigerian sport needs better organization, starting with government focus on proper training. “The only thing Nigeria gets right in football is the jersey design; we need beautiful training environments, good pay, and health insurance for athletes,” she argued, noting that such improvements would benefit both men’s and women’s teams.
Regarding the Super Falcons at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Angela expressed great pride in their qualification and confidence they could perform well if given a conducive environment. Her all‑time favorite Nigerian footballer is Michael Obi, who also inspired her support for Chelsea.
When asked about sharing a surname with former Super Eagles captain and coach Austin Eguavoen, Angela clarified that they are not related, though they hail from the same state. They follow each other on social media but have never met in person.
Finally, Angela said she would fully support any of her children who wish to pursue a sports career. “There is so much money in sports, it exposes you to the world, and if they love it, I will support them 100 percent.”
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