By Ijeoma Wilfred
After Months of Debates and intrigues on who replaces Jose Pesseiro, the Portuguese and former Head Coach of the Super Eagles,the Nigerian Football Federation NFF has finally settled for ex – International, and winger, Finidi George as the Head Coach.
This is contained in a statement released by the NFF on Monday.
George 52 , took charge of the Senior National Soccer team in two friendlies after the African Cup of Nations AFCON in which he won against Ghana 2-1 breaking an 18- year winless jinx and lost 0-2 to Mali.
The new Head coach played for Spanish Football Club Real Betis and Amsterdam Football club AFC Ajax
George, also assisted Pesseiro in coaching the team to win a second place in AFCON 2023 in Cote D’voire.
Until his appointment,Finidi was head coach of Nigeria Professional League Club,Enyimba FC.
“The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.
“George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in an interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
“His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in the USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.” The statement read in part.
