“Why I did not succeed as Super Eagles Head Coach” – Finidi George speaks out

Former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George has opened up about the reasons behind his underwhelming tenure with Nigeria’s national football team.

Despite a highly anticipated appointment, Finidi’s time at the helm was short-lived, marked by disappointing results that eventually led to his resignation.

Finidi, a celebrated former winger for clubs like Real Betis and Ajax, was appointed after a successful stint in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), where he guided Enyimba FC to a league title. However, his performance as the Super Eagles’ head coach failed to meet expectations.

In an exclusive interview with Sports Boom, Finidi explained that key issues such as poor preparation and unfit players contributed to his struggles in charge.

He revealed that he had requested the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to open the training camp earlier to ensure that players were in top form after the club season ended. However, his request was denied, which affected the team’s fitness going into important matches.

“I wanted us to open camp a little earlier because we knew the season had ended, and the FA initially agreed but later changed their minds,” Finidi explained. “I wanted the camp to open on May 26, but they said it wasn’t possible because some players were already on holiday, which was very strange to me.”

The former coach also highlighted the challenges of getting players into camp on time, which hindered the team’s preparation. “If you’re not fit enough at that level, no matter the tactics, you can’t perform at your best,” he said. Finidi also lamented that the concentration level of the players was lacking, leading to costly mistakes and soft goals conceded during crucial qualifiers.

Finidi’s tenure included a win over Ghana in a friendly match but a disappointing loss to Mali. His time in charge of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers was marked by a draw against South Africa and a loss to the Benin Republic, results that ultimately sealed his fate.

Nsikakabasi Akpan’s Comments: Finidi’s Bad Luck and Other Challenges

Aside from the points Finidi George raised, SportsRations’ Nsikakabasi Akpan believes the former coach was also unlucky and faced multiple factors beyond his control.

Akpan commented, “Finidi George had all the potential to succeed, but luck was not on his side. Many of his key players were unavailable or not match-fit when he needed them the most. On top of that, the NFF’s refusal to grant his request for an early camp only added to his woes. How do you build a competitive team under such conditions?”

He added, “We should also acknowledge that expectations were very high following the previous failures of José Peseiro. Finidi was under immense pressure to deliver immediately, and that pressure didn’t allow him time to fully implement his plans. Despite his credentials, the circumstances were simply not favorable for him to succeed.”