The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
The decision was made by the NFF Board on Monday, following a recommendation by the Technical and Development Committee, News About Nigeria reports.
Finidi George, a former Nigerian international and member of the “Golden Generation” that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, takes over the position after serving as assistant coach to José Santos Peseiro. He had a brief stint as interim coach last month, leading the team to a 2-1 win over Ghana and a 0-2 loss to Mali in friendly matches in Morocco.
The 52-year-old coach has an impressive playing career, with 62 caps for Nigeria, including appearances at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver, and bronze medals at various Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Finidi George will lead the Super Eagles in the two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively. The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles currently lagging in third place in Group C of the campaign.
Earlier on Monday, rumours had it that the executive committee of the NFF and technical committee met on Sunday to deliberate on the vacant Super Eagles coaching position.
The source hinted that both committees agreed to appoint a local coach for the team.
Reports emerged last week that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was considering appointing former Barcelona star Emmanuel Amuneke as the new Super Eagles coach, amidst financial constraints. According to sources, the NFF’s decision to opt for an indigenous coach like Amuneke was due to the federation’s inability to afford the services of a foreign manager.
Amuneke, a Nigerian football legend and former African Footballer of the Year has previously coached the Nigerian U-17 team and has experience in managing local teams.
However, with Finidi George’s appointment now confirmed, it remains to be seen if Amuneke will be considered for a future role in the Super Eagles setup.
