National Teams
“Most players didn’t show up” – Finidi George explains his dismal Super Eagles reign
By Wale Mustapha
Former Nigeria international George Finidi has opened up about the challenges he faced during his brief tenure as head coach of the Super Eagles.
Appointed as interim head coach in March for two friendlies against Ghana and Mali, he was later confirmed in the role.
However, disappointing results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic led to his resignation.
The former Enyimba manager pointed to several factors behind the team’s struggles, particularly the players’ attitudes and inconsistent planning by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stressing that many players did not show the required commitment, and the intensity of friendlies often differed significantly from crucial qualifiers.
“I wanted the team camp to open on the 26th of May to prepare properly, but the NFF said it wasn’t possible because some players were already on holidays. This was strange to me, as many arrived late from their vacations,” Finidi explained.
He emphasized that lacking proper fitness and focus contributed to the team’s inability to perform, leading to conceding easy goals.
Now, Finidi has joined Rivers United as Technical Adviser and is already making an impact.
The West African team remains unbeaten in their first four matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), securing three wins and a draw, placing them second in the league, just two points behind leaders Remo Stars.
