Finidi George shares plans he had for NPFL players as Super Eagles Coach if he had stayed longer

Former Nigeria Super Eagles coach, Finidi George has revealed the plans he had to integrate Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players into the national team.

His tenure was shortlived as he resigned after two games against South Africa and Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Finidi George has called for patience in integrating Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players into the national team.

During his tenure, Finidi invited three home-based players to the squad, but only Sadiq Suraj of Remo Stars got game time.

Speaking to Brila FM, the former Enyimba International coach emphasised that he planned a gradual process that will boost the players’ confidence.

“The local players played. Sadiq came in against Benin Republic in the second half, and that was his debut. It’s not bad; you have to bring them in gradually,” Finidi George said.

The Rivers United technical manager added, “During my time, I also had the opportunity to play for 30 minutes and I could do the magic. It is a gradual process, and if I had stayed longer, I would have introduced these players bit by bit to give them the confidence to play in the future.”