Emeka Ezeugo: Former Nigeria midfielder blames NFF for Finidi George’s resignation

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former Nigeria midfielder Emeka Ezeugo has pointed at deeper issues within the country’s football administration as the root cause of Finidi George’s exit from Super Eagles role.

Following the resignation of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team coach last weekend, a wave of reactions has surfaced, speculating on the reasons behind the decision.

Some believe that the recent move to appoint a foreign coach over Finidi was the catalyst for his resignation as others attribute it to Victor Osimhen’s social media outburst.

“I will say it again, that the problem is well more than Finidi. His leaving doesn’t change much. The sad thing is that wrong people are running Nigerian football and nothing will ever get better, we’re barely reaping what we’ve sowed,” Ezeugo told SportsBoom.com.

Ezeugo emphasized the need for a systemic overhaul, starting from the top.

“I want to talk to President Tinubu directly for he alone can change the trajectory of Nigerian football and it starts with the sports ministry,” he continued.

“It will begin with getting the right sports minister, filling NFF with people with sports management expertise, and employing coaches with great leadership qualities, and technical and tactical know-how. He doesn’t have to be ignorant of what football means to Nigerians. That’s why I must enlighten him first.”

Highlighting the unifying power of football in Nigeria, Ezeugo added, “Most Nigerians are ignorant of the fact that football is our country’s favorite thing, the sole uniting force of nature.”

Reflecting on the recent poor performances in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Ezeugo stated that Finidi’s resignation is just one of the many reforms needed. “The trajectory of Nigerian football needs to change if the country will even qualify for the Mundial.”

As the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) looks to appoint Finidi’s successor, the focus will shift to the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers. The hope is that the new appointment will bring stability and success to the national team.