SUPER EAGLES: PATRONS, MATES UNITE BEHIND FINIDI GEORGE. (PHOTO).

 Super Eagles : Patrons, mates unite behind Finidi George

By Tunde Liadi

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.

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.