Finidi George has reportedly resigned from his role as the Head Coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles. This comes amidst Nigeria’s challenging quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reportedly desired George to continue as Head Coach alongside a new foreign Technical Adviser.
However, George opted to step down, allowing the incoming foreign coach to take complete charge of the team without his involvement.
The Super Eagles’ prospects for the 2026 World Cup have dimmed following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Benin, leaving them winless after four qualifying matches.
This loss, the first under Finidi George, came in only his second match at the helm. The defeat has exacerbated Nigeria’s precarious position in their qualifying group, where they now sit three points behind four teams in the six-team group.
George’s tactical decisions have increasingly been scrutinised by fans and analysts alike. In particular, his choice to leave critical players Victor Boniface and Frank Onyeka on the bench for the second consecutive match has sparked widespread criticism.
This decision followed a 1-1 draw with South Africa, further intensifying the dissatisfaction among the Super Eagles’ supporters.
Many fans have taken to social media to voice their frustrations, describing the team as disjointed and error-prone.
They have highlighted defensive lapses and a lack of offensive cohesion as significant concerns. The loss to Benin has only deepened these worries, with the team’s performance falling short of expectations.
The path to World Cup qualification remains steep for the Super Eagles. Only the winner of their group is guaranteed an automatic spot at the 2026 World Cup.
Additionally, just four of the nine second-place finishers will have the chance to compete in a playoff for one more place. With this latest setback, Nigeria faces an uphill battle to secure their place in the tournament.
Finidi George has stepped down as the Super Eagles head coach 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/cpoMVl7u3g
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) June 15, 2024
The NFF has yet to announce the appointment of the new foreign Technical Adviser.
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