“That’s not my job” – Finidi George on inviting foreign-born Nigerian players

By Monsurah Olatunji

With players of Nigerian descent excelling in their respective leagues abroad, fans have highlighted several significant names they believe should be invited to join the Super Eagles squad. Over the years, many players have switched their allegiance to represent Nigeria after failing to secure a spot in the national teams of their birth countries.

Recently, players like Karim Adeyemi, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze, among other foreign-born Nigerians, were left out of their youth teams as they prepare for the 2024 Euro Championships. This has sparked discussions among fans about whether these players could be integrated into the Nigerian national team.

Addressing these speculations, newly-appointed Super Eagles coach Finidi George made his stance clear at a media parley held in Lagos, emphasizing that it is not his responsibility to actively pursue these players, as there are specific procedures that must be followed.

“I am a coach, and there are procedures that have to be followed for players, maybe you are not aware,” he explained. “You don’t just see a Nigerian playing in one of these clubs and say, ‘Let him come.’ It doesn’t work that way. There is some paperwork and procedures, you have to speak to these players, and that’s not my job.”

Finidi pointed out that there are officials within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) responsible for handling such matters. “We have people at the NFF that have been doing that and will continue to do so. Our job is to watch and when we see a good player, we recommend to the NFF and ask if we can bring this one on board. The people responsible will then make that happen,” he said.

He reassured fans that if a player who can significantly contribute to the team is identified, he would recommend them, leaving the rest of the process to the NFF. “If we see a player that we know can help, we would recommend them, and the NFF will take care of the rest,” Finidi concluded.