Football News: Finidi George Named New Nigeria Super Eagles Coach Ahead of Key World Cup Qualifiers
New Coach Appointed
In a significant move, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of Finidi George as the new head coach of the senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles. The former Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995 replaces Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro, whose contract was not renewed after it expired in February.
Finidi, who spent the last 20 months as an assistant to Peseiro, has been handed the role on an interim basis after leading the team to a 2-1 win over Ghana and a 0-2 loss to Mali in two friendly matches in March. The 52-year-old, a member of Nigeria’s famed Class of 1994, will now be tasked with guiding the Super Eagles to victory in their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively, in the next few weeks.
“Finidi has proven himself with Enyimba and he knows our local league inside out, so he should be able to see good players to invite to the Super Eagles,” an NFF official told ESPN.
Challenges Ahead
The new coach will be hoping to unlock the firepower in the Nigeria squad, which boasts an array of talented attackers, including Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Terem Moffi, among others.
The Super Eagles reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, showcasing a strong defensive unit, but struggled to find the back of the net consistently. Finidi’s challenge will be to strike the right balance, maintaining the team’s defensive solidity while also improving their goal-scoring capabilities.
World Cup Qualification
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, Finidi George will be eager to get the Super Eagles’ campaign off to a positive start and secure their place on the global stage. Football enthusiasts in Nigeria and beyond will be closely following the team’s progress under the new leadership.
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