National Teams
“They can’t try it with white man”- Peter Ijeh faults NFF for Finidi George’s treatment
By Monsurah Olatunji
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Ijeh has strongly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their handling of Finidi George’s tenure as head coach of the Super Eagles.
George recently resigned from his position following mixed results in World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic, leading to the NFF’s decision to appoint a foreign-based technical adviser.
Speaking on Brila FM, Ijeh, who holds the record as Swedish Allsvenskan’s all-time leading scorer for Nigeria, expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFF’s approach:
“From the beginning, I believe the NFF had already decided who they wanted. Two foreign coaches before Finidi lost their first five matches. They should have managed the situation better,” Ijeh remarked.
“Drafting a contract is one thing; the terms of the contract are another. We don’t know what he signed or what the agreement entailed. Everything that happened, they wouldn’t dare with a foreign coach,” he added.
“I still believe developing a Nigerian coach for that role is achievable because we have qualified coaches, even abroad, with modern certifications who can handle the job. It depends on the Glass House [NFF] supporting the coach,” Ijeh emphasized.
“It’s crucial to advise the NFF to consider: what guarantee is there that appointing a technical adviser will secure victories in the remaining six games? What if he fails? What’s the next step?” he questioned.
Ijeh’s comments highlight concerns over the NFF’s decision-making process and the treatment of Nigerian coaches in crucial national team roles. The debate continues as the Super Eagles prepare for their upcoming matches under new coaching arrangements.
