Nigeria's football federation has named former Nigeria international Finidi George as the new coach of the national squad, putting an end to weeks of speculation over who will replace Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
JUST IN:
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) April 29, 2024
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appoints Finidi George As Super Eagles Head Coach Ahead Of 2025 AFCON And 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. pic.twitter.com/ib4ifQuI71
According to a press statement, the Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of a technical committee to appoint George, 52, to lead the Super Eagles.
It can finally be said, #welcomefinidi Welcome Finidi George.
— Deltan (@modovictorekene) April 29, 2024
Watch his first interview in the head coach role in the link below.https://t.co/OdoCpSpfvc pic.twitter.com/Iz65XQnMCK
The immediate task facing the former Ajax winger will be to guide Nigeria to victory in two 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in June.
🚨Finidi George’s first compettitve game as Super Eagles head coach.
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) April 29, 2024
vs South Africa
Friday. 7th June. 2024
Nest of Champions, Uyo #2026WCQ pic.twitter.com/XrGNj5Kuih
Nigeria are under pressure to win both games as they are in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.
George spent 20 months as assistant to Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post after Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in February where they lost to hosts Ivory Coast.
George, widely known in Nigeria simply as "Finidi", took charge of the squad in interim capacity for two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless run against the Black Stars, but then lost 2-0 to Mali.
George is a member of Nigeria's so-called "Golden Generation" that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and made their debut at the Fifa World Cup finals in USA the same year.
He won 62 caps for Nigeria and played at the 1994 and 1998 Fifa World Cup finals.