Finidi George Takes the Helm As Former Winger Appointed Super Eagles Head Coach
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has named Finidi George as the new head coach of the national men’s team, the Super Eagles. This announcement follows the recommendation of the NFF’s Technical and Development Committee.
George, a 52-year-old former winger known for his time at Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously served as assistant coach under José Santos Peseiro for 20 months, including the team’s impressive run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. Following Peseiro’s departure, George took on the interim head coach position.
During his interim tenure, George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco. The team achieved a significant milestone, breaking an 18-year winless streak against Ghana (2-1 victory) before losing to Mali (0-2).
The NFF statement highlighted George’s illustrious playing career. As part of the celebrated “Golden Generation,” he played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s football history. He boasts a collection of medals from the Africa Cup of Nations (gold in 1994, silver in 1994, bronze in 2000 and 2002), earned 62 caps for Nigeria, and featured in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. Notably, he assisted the legendary Rashidi Yekini in scoring Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria in 1994.
George’s immediate challenge is crucial. He will lead the Super Eagles in two critical 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers within the next five weeks – against South Africa in Uyo and Benin Republic in Abidjan. These are “must-win” encounters, as the NFF emphasized, with Nigeria currently lagging behind in third place in Group C.
With a decorated playing career and recent coaching experience, Finidi George steps into the head coach role poised to guide the Super Eagles back to the top. Can he lead the team to victory in the upcoming qualifiers and beyond?
