Rivers-Born Finidi George Appointed as Super Eagles Head Coach

Rivers-born Gaffer, Finidi George on Monday, April 29, 2024, was appointed as the Super Eagles Head Coach and is set to take charge of the national team in her pursuit for World Cup ticket.

The 52-year-old who scored the goal that took Nigeria to her FIFA World Cup debut, against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier on October 8, 1993, in Algiers, would now be tasked to ensure a return to the World Cup Stage.

This was revealed by the NFF Media via their website, the post read:

“The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles…”

The Rivers-born gaffer, understudied Portuguese José Peseiro, who led the Super Eagles to finish as runners-up at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year for 21 months as First Assistant coach.

The former Super Eagles international, took charge on an interim basis during the friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March.

Under Finidi George’s tutelage, The senior men’s national team secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Ghana but fell to a 2-0 loss to Mali.

The newly appointed gaffer would lead the AFCON 2023 runners-up in must win encounters as they host South Africa on Monday, June 3, 2024, in Uyo and will go away to face Benin Republic in Abidjan on Monday, June 3, 2024.

The Super Eagles will be looking to get back to winning ways after disappointing draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe when they host South Africa.

They are currently in third place in the six-team qualifying group comprising of Rwanda who top the group with two points, South Africa, Lesotho, Benin and Zimbabwe.

The group winners will head straight to the World Cup, with the four best group runners-up advancing to a play-off to determine which team will reach the inter-confederation play-offs.

Nigeria has reached the FIFA World Cup on six occasions, the first being in 1994 where they reached the second round. Their sixth and most recent appearance was the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.