National Teams
2026 FIFA WCQ: “NFF are fully behind Finidi George” – Victor Ikpeba
By Wale Mustapha
Victor Ikpeba, a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee, has confirmed the Federation’s unwavering support for Finidi George as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
This comes in the wake of the team’s disappointing performance in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Under Finidi’s leadership, the Super Eagles have had an underwhelming start, marked by a 1-1 draw against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and a 2-1 defeat to the Benin Republic’s Cheetahs.
These results have placed Nigeria in a precarious fifth position in Group C, with only three points from four games.
Despite the team’s struggles and growing calls for Finidi’s dismissal, Ikpeba, a former Super Eagles forward, has made it clear that the NFF remains firmly behind their coach.
“Nigerians asked for a local coach, and Finidi was deemed the best man to lead the Super Eagles at this time. The technical committee chose him in the best interest of the country,” Ikpeba stated in an interview with SCORE Nigeria.
He added, “Finidi will therefore continue to enjoy the full support of the NFF despite the recent results posted by the Super Eagles.”
Finidi George, who took over the reins with high expectations, now faces the challenge of turning the team’s fortunes around as they strive to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The NFF’s endorsement provides him with a crucial vote of confidence as he works to address the issues that have plagued the Super Eagles’ recent performances.
With the backing of the NFF and the technical committee, Finidi and his team will need to regroup and strategize effectively for the upcoming qualifiers to improve their standing and keep their World Cup hopes alive.