Finidi George faults Jose Peseiro, advocates for strike partnership to support Osimhen

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria interim head coach, Finidi George, did not shy away from addressing the team’s previous struggles at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under Jose Peseiro.

Employing a 3-5-2 formation, Finidi guided Nigeria to their first victory over Ghana since 2006 in an international friendly, securing a 2-1 win at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

Departing from the tactics used in Ivory Coast, Finidi opted for a strike partnership, with Cyriel Dessers and Kelechi Iheanacho leading the attack in the absence of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who was sidelined due to injury.

Speaking to the media after the match, Finidi emphasized the importance of providing more support for Osimhen, stating, “At the AFCON, it was only Osimhen, and we felt he was doing too much running alone. I wanted some other player in a strike pairing. We could see once a player got the ball, there was an opportunity for a pass.”

Acknowledging the need to take risks to achieve positive results in attack, Finidi highlighted the importance of getting forward effectively and advocated for a strike partnership to enhance the team’s offensive capabilities.