The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Finidi George

  • Re: Exit, Finidi George

    Re: Exit, Finidi George

    Sir: Your robust editorial of Thursday June 27 about the quagmire the Nigerian male national football team has found itself as a result of the ‘utter confusion and seeming anarchy’ arising from the resignation of Finidi George refers. However, it is pertinent to review the list of the indigenous coaches that had little success with the national team.

    For the records, the late Shuaibu Amodu has no business in that list for the under mentioned reasons.

    As a nation, we have qualified for six world cup appearances and Amodu was involved in three out of the six successful qualification campaigns. He started the race for the 1998 World Cup before he was replaced by Frenchman Philipe Troussier who was later replaced by the ‘World Class’ Bora Milutinovic. The 2002 qualification was salvaged under his leadership together with the late Joe Erico and Stephen Keshi by pulling the ticket from the jaws of the disaster created by the Jo Bonfrere’s led technical crew. Amodu started and completed the 2010 qualification campaign before he was sacked as it happened in 2002 when he was replaced by Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde and Lars Largeback (who could not qualify Sweden for the 2010 World Cup) and of course those two World Cup appearances in 2002 and 2010 without the sacked Amodu remained our joint worst outings at the Mundial till date.

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    The late Shuaibu Amodu remains the only manager in world football that participated in three World Cup qualifications UNBEATEN and in addition to this unblemished record are the two podium finishes at AFCON in Mali 2002 and Angola 2010 with Bronze medals.

    Amodu remains one of the heroes past, the old national anthem was referring to, and it is expedient that his labour (though unpaid as the NFF still owes him till date) should not be in vain which was the focus of the enlightening editorial.

    •Opeyemi Ajala FCA,Lagos.

  • Exit, Finidi George

    Exit, Finidi George

    •It is sad that NFF has not learnt the appropriate lessons on appointment of coaches for the national team

    Nothing illustrates better the utter confusion and seeming anarchy into which the country’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, have sunk than the sudden resignation of her last coach, Finidi George, barely a month after his appointment.

    The coach and his employers, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), had come under intense criticism, following the Eagles’ lackluster performance in the ongoing African zonal qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

    Under Finidi’s watch, the Eagles held South Africa’s Bafana-Bafana, to a 1-1 draw — a match played at home, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.  The Eagles, not in any way Super, then suffered a scandalous 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Republic of Benin, in an away game played in Cote d’Ivoire.  That was the first time ever Benin would best Nigeria in a competitive match.

    The implication of this inexplicable situation is that Nigeria sits at an uncomfortable fifth position in her group, with three draws and one loss; and stands the possibility of not qualifying for the  World Cup, if she does not achieve exemplary results in her remaining six matches in the group.

    Since Nigeria also missed out in the last World Cup which held in Qatar in 2022, soccer-loving Nigerians would consider it a tragedy if the country, considered to be a soccer power in Africa, is absent for the second consecutive time at the elite soccer competition.

    Of course, hardly anyone doubts that George is one of the legends of the soccer game in Nigeria, who is well qualified to coach the national team.

    Read Also: Super Eagles know AFCON 2025 opponents July 4

    In a career that spanned from 1989 to 2004, he played and won laurels with top teams, both in the domestic league and later on the international arena. These teams include Calabar Rovers, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Sharks of Port Harcourt in the Nigerian domestic league, as well as Ajax Amsterdam in Holland; Real Betis and Mallorca in Spain; and Ipswich Town in the English Premier League.

    In his international career, he featured for Nigeria over 62 times, during which he was part of the country’s most successful team in history — the side that won the 1994 African Nations Cup, and also performed impressively in the 1994 (though then a debutant); and 1998 editions of the World Cup.

    As a coach, George led the Enyimba Football Club to win the Nigerian Premier League at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, on June 11, 2023. Prior to his appointment as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, he had been assistant coach to the immediate past Technical Adviser of the team, Jose Peseiro, whose tenure was not renewed after the 2024 AFCON competition, despite the Eagles reaching the final, before losing to hosts Cote d’Ivoire, who they had earlier beaten at the group stage.

    It is unfortunate that George has joined the league of former star players of the national team, such as Samson Siasia, Shuaibu Amodu, Augustine Eguavoen, Sunday Oliseh and Salisu Yusuf, who achieved little success as coaches of the Super Eagles and had short-lived tenures.

    The most successful indigenous coach of the senior national team, so far, has been Stephen Keshi, who led the Eagles to victory at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

    The Super Eagles had their most successful international outings under such expatriate technical advisers as Otto Gloria and Clemens Westerhof.  The Brazilian, Otto Gloria, won Nigeria’s first AFCON title with the then Green Eagles in 1980; while the Dutch, Clemens Westerhof, won AFCON with the Super Eagles in 1994, aside from qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. 

    It was also under another Dutch man, Jo Bonfrere, that the men’s soccer team won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

    But can the precarious situation in which the Super Eagles find themselves in their ongoing bid to qualify for the next World Cup, be blamed entirely on George? That would hardly be fair.

    Had the team not performed dismally in the previous World Cup qualifying matches with the Portuguese Peseiro as head coach, George would not have inherited the delicate situation he was trying to manage.

    The debate on whether the Super Eagles should be managed by an indigenous or expatriate coach is, in our view, distracting and unhelpful. What is needed is a coach who, through a rigorous competitive process, is found to possess the requisite technical knowledge, experience, emotional intelligence and managerial acumen to handle the team with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

    It is the responsibility of the NFF to ensure camp sanity, through the enunciation and strict application of a code of conduct binding on all players and members of the staff, which compels mutual respect on the part of all.

    A situation in which, for instance, some players stroll into camp at their convenience before critical games, with absolutely no respect for stipulated timelines should no longer be tolerated.

    In the same vein, the team’s scouts must look for the best players no matter where they ply their trade, to play for the national team — and this must not exclude players from the domestic league.

    Indeed, the prospects under Finidi was his rich experience in the local league, now exploding back into life, after decades in the doldrums — but all that is gone now.

    The tendency for coaches of the national team to focus exclusively on players in foreign leagues should be halted; and the NFF should ensure that those playing their soccer locally are also given a fair chance to compete; and that the domestic league continues to be developed and to flourish as a breeder of talents for the national team.

    No player must be indulged to believe that he has a monopoly of entitlement to any position in the team as competitive merit must be accorded its rightful place in choosing players for the team.

    The soccer authorities must realise that time is not on their side as they must quickly decide on a technical adviser or head coach for the national team. This should be done with despatch and without compromising merit.

    The unfortunate media tirade against George on social media by Victor Osimhen must be investigated and resolved in the interest of discipline and harmony in the team.

    If the right things are done promptly, Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup is not beyond salvation.

  • FULL LIST: Every game Finidi George oversaw as Eagles manager

    FULL LIST: Every game Finidi George oversaw as Eagles manager

    Former Ajax player, Finidi George has l resigned from his role as Super Eagles coach.

    Finidi, who replaced Jose Peseiro after the African Cup of Nations, was officially announced as the coach on April 29, 2924.

    In his brief stint as coach, the former Enyimba gaffer managed four games in total, he won one game, lost two, and drew one.

    Here’s a list of games he managed:

    1. Nigeria vs Ghana friendly:

    Finidi George’s tenure began on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in a friendly match, goals by Cyriel Dessers and forward Ademola Lookman led the Super Eagles to victory over their West African rivals.

    2. Nigeria vs Mali friendly:

    The Eagles of Mali beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-0 on the 27th of March.

    Nigeria suffered the loss courtesy of one goal in each half of the game, E. Toure gave Mali the lead in the 18th minute then K. Doumbia sealed the victory for the Malians with an 84th-minute strike from the centre of the box.

    3. Nigeria vs South Africa:

    Nigeria faced South Africa in the third game of the World Cup qualifier.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Finidi George resigns as Super Eagles coach

    Nigeria was hoping to avoid a third consecutive draw in the Group C World Cup qualifiers, however, South Africa’s Themba Zwane had something else in store as his  28th-minute strike beat Stanley Nwabali for an early lead.

    4. Benin Republic vs Nigeria:

    Benin Republic beat the Super Eagles for the first time last Monday, defeating them 2-1.

    The scoreline left Nigeria’s World Cup qualification on the line, with Nigeria having only three points from four World Cup qualification games and are at the risk of missing the next football tournament.

  • Before we crucify Finidi George

    Before we crucify Finidi George

    • By Kenechukwu Aguolu

    Sir: Before we crucify Finidi George, it’s important to understand that it takes time for a new coach to instil their philosophy into a team. The match against Benin Republic was Finidi George’s fourth match in charge and his second competitive game with the Super Eagles. It’s also crucial to remember that three key players—Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and William Troost-Ekong—were unavailable. Many teams would struggle without such pivotal players.

    Critics argue that Finidi George should have done better, especially since he inherited a team that reached the finals of the African Nations Cup. There was arguably no need to overhaul the philosophy and players of a winning team, particularly given the limited time available. Under Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles frequently employed a 3-4-3 formation, which relied on three core defenders and two wing-backs, making the team defensively solid as the wing-backs joined the defense when needed. This formation made the Super Eagles look compact and organized throughout most of the tournament.

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    However, Finidi George seems to prefer a 4-3-3 formation, which hasn’t worked well for the team. Defensively, the team has appeared vulnerable. One might question why he rushed Wilfred Ndidi back into the team. Although Ndidi is an excellent player, integrating him gradually would have been wise to avoid disrupting the team’s rhythm. Frank Onyeka performed admirably at the Nations Cup, and a sudden change might have unsettled the midfield dynamics.

    Given his limited time with the team, Finidi George might have benefitted from a more conservative approach, maintaining most of the players and the team’s previous philosophy, while making gradual, necessary changes. Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup are diminishing, and many calling for Finidi’s dismissal. However, before passing judgment, we should consider that this is only his second competitive match in charge, and he has been without three key players. It’s a challenging situation for any coach. Patience might be warranted before the Nigerian Football Federation  takes any drastic decisions.

     •Kenechukwu Aguolu,

    <kenerek1@gmail.com>

  • Osimhen, Oshoala, Sanwo-Olu rule 10th  Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Osimhen, Oshoala, Sanwo-Olu rule 10th  Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen starved off competition from Victor Boniface, Robert Mizo of Bayelsa United and Emeka Obiora of Enyimba to emerge the Striker of the Year and King of the Pitch for the third straight years, making him the first player to achieve this feat on the platform of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards.

    Africa Women’s  Footballer of the Year,  Asisat Oshoala, was voted the Queen of the Pitch ahead of Rasheedat Ajibade of Atlético  Madrid Femenino and Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Paris FC Goalkeeper.

    The Award Ceremony began with a very colourful, energetic and exciting dance from the Akwabio Cultural Group. Leading the long list of dignitaries were Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of the Federation, CP Patrick Ateyero, the CP Sports of the Nigeria Police Force who was standing in for the Inspector-General of Police, Nigerian Ex-international and the 1997 CAF African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, CP Waheed Ayilara, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Oluwadare Ojelade, a Director in SIAO Partners, Finidi George and the entire technical crew, all members of the Super Eagles present in Uyo, representatives of MTN Nigeria, GTI and other nominees.

    The NFF President reiterated the Federation’s support for the Nigerian Pitch Awards while hailing organizers for the transparency and credibility displayed in the award process. Speaking on Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification on the heels of the Nigeria – South Africa qualifier match played on the 7th June at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, Ibrahim Gusau, while appealing for support and prayers, assured Nigerians of the determination of the Federation and the players to secure a World Cup slot.

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    Speaking on the award process,  Oluwadare, the SIAO representative, stated that voting for the 2023 edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards commenced on Monday 11th  December 2023 and closed on Friday 19th January 2024. ‘The results’, he noted, ‘passed through 3 levels of scrutiny: They were collated and reviewed by a team set up specifically to handle this process … A second level of verification was done by another independent unit and’ thirdly ‘Quality Control’s Arm of the firm completes the rigorous but exciting exercise’.

    Organizers honoured IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police who pioneered the introduction of football as an event in the finals of the 14th  BIPOGA in Ibadan in February 2024. Also honoured were John Momoh, Chairman and CEO of Channels for the Channels Kids Cup initiative and Ibrahim Gusua, the NFF President.

    In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Ojo Olorunleke emerged winner ahead of Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance FC and Kayode Bankole of Remo Stars FC.

    Ola Aina, Nottingham Forest FC and Super Eagles left full back was voted Defender of the Year to beat his Super Eagles teammates Calvin Bassey of Fulham FC who won it last year and Bright Osayi-Samuel, Fenerbahçe SK.

    Alex Iwobi, in form Fulham FC midfielder emerged Midfielder of the Year ahead of Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City FC defensive midfielder and Al Hassan Yusuf of Royal Antwerp FC.

    Super Eagles Manager was voted the Coach of the Year 2023 for his exploits while he was Coach of Enyimba International FC where he led the team to finish top of the NPFL league.

    MTN Nigeria was voted Best Corporate Sponsor of Football 2023 as the brand saw off competition from GTI Financial and Nigeria’s sports betting giant, Bet9ja.

    Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State was voted the Football Friendly Governor of the Year while Lagos State emerged the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme in the country in 2023.

    The highly competitive Sam Okwaraji Award for commitment to the development of Nigerian football for 2023 went to Hon. Kunle Soname, the chairman of Remo Stars.

    FULL RESULT OF WINNERS  

    Goalkeeper of the Year

    Ojo Olorunleke – Enyimba FC

    Defender of the Year

    Ola Aina – Nottingham Forest FC –

    Midfielder of the Year 

    Alex Iwobi – Fulham FC

    Striker of the Year

    Victor Osimhen – Napoli FC

    Queen of the Pitch

    Asisat Oshoala – Bay FC

    King of the Pitch

    Victor Osimhen – Napoli FC

    Team of the Year            

    Enyimba International FC                    

    Coach of the Year

    Finidi George – Enyimba FC

    Sam Okwaraji Award

    Kunle Soname – Chairman, Remo Stars

    Best Grassroots Football Dev’t Programme

    Lagos State

    Football Pitch of the Year

    Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium

    Football Friendly Governor of the Year

    Governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu  (Lagos State)

    Best Corporate Sponsor of Football Award

    MTN Nigeria

    Sportsmanship Award

    Hon. Kunle Soname – Chairman, Remo Stars FC

    Football Journalist of the Year – Print

    Johnny Edward – Punch Newspapers

    Football Journalist of the Year – Tv

    Mozez Praiz – Supersport

    Football Journalist of the Year – Radio

    Anthony Bekederemo – Brila 88.9 FM

    Football Journalist of the Year – Online

    Tobi Adepoju – Oganla Media

  • Lookman’s Europa League glory good for Europe-based footballers – Finidi George

    Lookman’s Europa League glory good for Europe-based footballers – Finidi George

    The newly appointed Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George, on Thursday described the 2023/2024 European Football season’s wind-down as the best time for Nigerians playing in the different leagues on the continent.

    George made the assertion during a Press parley where he lauded the success story of Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman with the Atlanta FC.

    Lookman won the 2023/2024 Europa League on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the media parley was organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday at the Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria Island.

    The super Eagles said that he was delighted at Lookman’s heroics for his Italian club, Atlanta FC, who defeated Bayern Leverkusen in the Europa League final.

    The Nigerian scored an Hat trick during the 3-0 defeat of their opponents.

    ”For me as a Nigerian, I am happy that our players are putting up such good displays and doing well in Europe. This is the best times for Nigerians playing in the Europe.

    ”Ademola is a player we need and we love him and I am glad that he had a spectacular performance yesterday.

    ”I sent him a message to congratulate him, and not him alone, but Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella.

    ”It is a good thing for Nigeria because for the very long time, we have not had our players doing so well in the Europe. As a coach now, it is wonderful for me.

    ”We need all these players to come back and perform for us, I am delighted for Lookman’s success scoring an hat-trick and I am looking forward to having him in the camp, ” George said.

    On the forthcoming crunch World Cup qualifier’s double header against South Africa and Benin Republic, George assured that Nigeria would pick the maximum points.

    ”South Africa World Cup qualifiers will be a difficult game. We all know what happened during the last AFCON. For us, we know the capacity of the South Africans.

    ”Majority of the South African players are playing in the country, but if our players give the 100 per cent of what they have given their respective clubs, we don’t have a problem.

    ”I think the present form of the Super Eagles is good enough to beat the South Africa team; all we need to pray for is the luck and to take our chances,” he said.

    The Coach also noted that he expected two or three additions to the team.

    He also said that the bulk of the players he would use to prosecute the World Cup qualifiers would be the players from the last AFCON.

    ”Sometimes, the club performances and National team participation are not the same. We are going to have new faces in the Eagles one or two.

    Read Also: Tinubu not responsible for economic woes, says George

    ”In my days as a player, we have players that are doing well at their club level but failed to perform in the national team or struggled.

    ”We now have lots of players doing well in Europe that we will want to give opportunity to, and we will give them the opportunity during the FIFA windows for friendly matches.

    ”The best time to access them is during the friendly match to blend the new invitees and the older ones together.

    ”However, the bulk of the players will be the ones that played the last AFCON. So now, Nigerians now know my mind,” he said.

    George also revealed that the Super Eagles list for the World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Squirrels of Benin Republic would be out before Saturday.

    (NAN)

  • NFF to unveil Finidi George as Super Eagles’ head coach Monday

    NFF to unveil Finidi George as Super Eagles’ head coach Monday

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will on Monday, May 13, in Abuja formally present to the public, Finidi George, as the new head coach of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.

    Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, alongside the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs Tinuke Watti, president of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and the NFF general secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, are among the prominent personalities expected at the unveiling.

    George led two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, won the tough-as-nails Nigeria elite division title with the People’s Elephant in his second season, and has left the club with a chance of retaining the title this season, with six matches to go.

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    The 52-year-old spent 20 months as assistant to Portuguese José Peseiro from the summer of 2022, during which the Super Eagles qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and came within 28 minutes of a fourth African title in Cote d’Ivoire three months ago.

    George, who as a player won 62 caps for Nigeria at the senior level, during which he won the Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver, and bronze, and played in two FIFA World Cup finals now has the immediate task of picking maximum points from 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa (home) and Benin Republic (away) in a few weeks.

  • Super Eagles : Patrons, mates unite behind Finidi George

    Super Eagles : Patrons, mates unite behind Finidi George

    Despite  the ovation that  greeted the appointment of former Nigeria International  Finidi George  as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles , football stakeholders have yet counselled  the former Ajax Amsterdam winger on what to do   to excel in charge of the men’s  senior  national team,  writes TUNDE LIADI

    As  countdown towards next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic get underway, football stakeholders continue  to chart the way forward for the newly employed Super Eagles  Head coach Finidi George

    The Super Eagles are third place in Group C with just two points from two games following drawn games at home to Lesotho and Zimbabwe behind Rwanda (four points) and South Africa (three points). The Eagles must secure maximum points in both games in George’s first acid test as coach.

    Former Super Eagles winger, Dimeji Lawal, has counselled Finidi to hit the ground running in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers to stamp his imprint in charge of the team.

    Lawal who was in the Golden Eaglets squad to the Canada 1987 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the FIFA U20 World Cup two years later in Saudi Arabia, said he was delighted that  Finidi  was named as the substantive head coach of the Super Eagles.

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    He  enjoined  Finidi to run an open door policy in which all shades of opinions  welcomed from the other members of  the  technical team  for the good of the team.

    The current General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club listed the antecedents of Finidi, adding that his choice as head coach was good  and the answer to the call that Nigeria has quality coaches that can steer the ship of senior national team with adequate support as well as the right working environment.

    He said any other coach could have been picked but Finidi also deserves the appointment from his track records and the fact that he was next in command when former Super Eagles handler, Jose Peseiro was at the helms.

     “Best of luck Finito,” the former Real Madrid Castilla player said, adding  other Nigerians are solidly behind the new  coach who paid his dues as a national team  player.“ He conquered as a reputable baller. He won the NPFL in his first stint as a gaffer, and worked with Peseiro as they took us to AFCON finals.

     “He served this country diligently during his playing days. He was a strong member of our first World Cup appearance, was privileged to win UEFA champions league with Ajax, and played in some of the best leagues in the world. Here is Finidi George, the new Super Eagles Manager.

     “We are all solidly behind you. Though it could have been any other choice, the truth is you all deserve it. I personally pray for God’s guidance and protection as you embark on this journey,” he noted.

    Finidi,  a member of the technical crew when the Super Eagles finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, already has his work cut out  with the  immediate task  to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Meanwhile, former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has urged  Nigerians to rally round Finidi  so that  he can succeed.

    The ex-Real Madrid Castilla midfielder  said all hands must be on deck for Finidi  to ensure  that  Nigeria  get good results against South Africa and Benin Republic in next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup  qualifying matches.

     “Congratulations to my brother, Finidi George for getting the final nod as Super Eagles head coach. Let’s join hands and wish him the best of success,” Adepoju noted  in  a tweet on his  X account.

    Similarly, another  Nigeria international  striker , Daniel Amokachi  who is being touted as a possible assistant to Finidi,   believes that his ex-teammate has the  knowledge and charisma will help him to succeed on his new job.

    Adepoju, Amokachi and George were members of the historic Super Eagles team that played in the country’s maiden World Cup appearance in 1994 and they were also together at the 1998 World Cup.

    However, another  former  Super Eagles player and a member of  the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)  Technical & Development Committee,   Victor Ikpeba,  has shed light on the  decision-making process behind appointment of George as the new Super Eagles coach.

    The Super Eagles’ managerial position became vacant following the departure of Jose Peseiro, whose contract with the NFF ended in February.

    The NFF advertised the vacant position and invited interested coaches to apply. While several managers, both expatriates and locals, were linked with the job, it was George who ultimately secured the role.

    George is familiar with the role, having served as one of Peseiro’s assistants during the Super Eagles’ second-place finish in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

    He was also assigned the responsibility of leading the Super Eagles in March’s international friendlies with Ghana and Mali.

    The 53-year-old supervised the Super Eagles’ victory against the Black Stars of Ghana and their defeat to the Eagles of Mali.

    “Firstly, I want to congratulate Finidi George on his appointment as the Super Eagles coach,” Ikpeba began on the popular Monday Night Football on Super Sports. “However, it was a difficult task because we initially wanted a foreign manager. However, we settled for Finidi because of the finance. It’s not like we don’t have confidence in our own coaches back home. We thought there should be continuity in the way Peseiro took the team to the final of the 2023 AFCON.

     “So, eventually, we were guided by the NFF President to look inward. It’s not that we can’t afford a foreign manager, but Nigerians back home want a Nigerian coach, and that is what we have now.”

    Speaking in the same vein, former Nigeria international  defender Tajudeen Disu has admonished Finidi to be in full charge of the team and not allow himself to become a puppet to the NFF.

     “I wish him all the best; he should be himself and take control of the team. He should not be a stooge to NFF officials, otherwise he will have himself to blame. He has to be in control of the team and work with assistant coaches,” he said.  “I hope the NFF bigwigs will allow him; if they don’t let him work, he should not hesitate to say it out, regardless of what will happen.”

    Finidi George’s immediate challenge  would be leading  the Super Eagles to success in two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic.

    These matches will take place in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively, in just over five weeks. The Super Eagles find themselves in a must-win situation, currently trailing in third place in Group C of the African campaign, behind both Rwanda and South Africa.

    The Super Eagles will host South Africa on June 3 and play as guests of Benin a week later.

    The appointment of Finidi George as the head coach of Enyimba F.C. in September 2021 marked a significant milestone in his coaching career.

    Transitioning from his illustrious playing days to the demanding role of a coach, George embarked on a journey filled with challenges and opportunities.

    But he  has  achieved his first triumph as a coach, winning the Nigeria Premier League title for Enyimba on June 11, 2023 in a thrilling match at the iconic Mobolaji Johnson Arena Stadium in Lagos.

    Whether he would land such hurray with the Super  Eagles yet remains to be seen

  • Diri congratulates Finidi George on Eagles job

    Diri congratulates Finidi George on Eagles job

    Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has congratulated Bayelsa-born newly appointed Head Coach of the Nigerian national football team, Finidi George.

    Diri also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing the new Super Eagles tactician based on merit.

    He stated this yesterday during the draws for the 2024 Bayelsa Governor’s Cup Tournament, christened ‘Prosperity Cup’, after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.

    His Chief Press Secretary,  Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as having commended the NFF for appointing an indigenous  coach for the prestigious job.

    He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation for appointing one of our own as coach of the Super Eagles, a son of the soil.

    Read Also: Diri congratulates new Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George

     “We all know Finidi George as a professional footballer nationally and internationally and he decided to take on a coaching career.

     “Yesterday, the NFF President was with me here in Yenagoa and he told me that, Your Excellency, you did not even lobby for your son while other governors were lobbying for their own to be the coach. I said, you know my disposition. I always allow merit to come to play.

    “In our discussion, I also made it clear that Finidi never called me to say, Your Excellency, I am going for this, please lobby for me. So I believe he got it on his own merit and he is going to serve Nigeria. But he has to know that he is also from Bayelsa.”

    Diri wished Finidi well and assured him that he and the state will support him and the NFF to succeed.

    Finidi George is the fourth Super Eagles Head Coach who hails from Bayelsa State. Others before him were the late Paul Hamilton, Monday Sinclair and Samson Siasia. Interestingly, they are all from Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

    Earlier, Director-General of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, said the annual competition had received the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Sports, in recognition of the governor’s outstanding contribution in promoting sports.

  • Diri congratulates new Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George

    Diri congratulates new Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George

    …Says NFF went for merit

    Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has congratulated Bayelsa-born newly appointed head coach of the Nigerian national football team, Finidi George.

    Diri also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing the new Super Eagles tactician based on merit.

    He stated this on Thursday, May 2, during the draws for the 2024 Bayelsa Governor’s Cup Tournament, christened ‘Prosperity Cup’, after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.

    His chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as having commended the NFF for appointing a son of the soil for the prestigious job.

    He said that the governor disclosed that the NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau, who visited him on Wednesday, asked why he did not lobby for Finidi to get the job like some of his colleagues did, and that he responded that his disposition was always to allow merit play a major role in such situations.

    Diri also said that Finidi did not call him to influence the decision of the Glass House, stressing that the Super Eagles Coach, on his own merit, had cut his teeth as a former Nigerian international, who played for clubsides in Nigeria and abroad.

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    He equally noted that Finidi had garnered the requisite coaching experience with foreign and local clubsides as well as an assistant coach of the national team under immediate past coach, Jose Peseiro.

    He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation for appointing one of our own as coach of the Super Eagles, a son of the soil.

    “We all know Finidi George as a professional footballer nationally and internationally and he decided to take on a coaching career.

    “Yesterday, the NFF President was with me here in Yenagoa and he told me that, Your Excellency, you did not even lobby for your son while other governors were lobbying for their own to be the coach. I said, you know my disposition. I always allow merit to come to play.

    “In our discussion, I also made it clear that Finidi never called me to say, Your Excellency, I am going for this, please lobby for me. So I believe he got it on his own merit and he is going to serve Nigeria. But he has to know that he is also from Bayelsa.”

    Diri wished Finidi well and assured him that he and the state would support him and the NFF to succeed.

    He said: “Finidi George is the fourth Super Eagles head coach who hails from Bayelsa State. Others before him were the late Paul Hamilton, Monday Sinclair, and Samson Siasia. Interestingly, they are all from Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

    Earlier, the Director-General of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, Ono Akpe, said the annual competition had received the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Sports, in recognition of the governor’s outstanding contribution in promoting sports.