Super Eagles Head Coach, Finidi George, Says he and the players are aware that Nigerians are anticipating a decent performance and result against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier billed for Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, and they’re duty-bound to deliver well, Completesports.com reports.
‘Finito’, as he is fondly called by admirers, will mark his first competitive game for Nigeria when South Africa come calling for Friday’s game.
And the former Ajax Amsterdam winger and 1995 UEFA Champions League winner reckons that the three time African Champions are condemned to win on Friday.
Also Read – 2026 WCQ: Rohr’s Benin Republic Climb Above Super Eagles After 1-0 Win Vs Rwanda
“We’re aware that Nigerians are passionate about victory. They love and support good football and victory as far as the game is concerned,” Finidi stated during his Thursday’s pre match Press briefing in Uyo.
“They are highly eager to see us win and to fulfill that their passion is what we aim to achieve. And it would be disastrous if we don’t give them that needed victory.”
“Finidi further added that his team is not under any form of pressure to deliver, emphasising that as an ex footballer, he’s grown to know that only one of three results could be achieved in a Match.
“It’s either a win, draw or a loss,” Finidi said. “I played this game, now I’m a coach. I’ve seen it all. So there’s no question of pressure on me or on the team.
Also Read – 2026 WCQ: Pressure Is On Nigeria, Not South Africa –Bafana Bafana
“We’re prepared for the game. The players are focused, they have really worked hard to expect victory on Friday.
“We’ve put behind the AFCON clash in Ivory Coast. The AFCON and World Cup qualifiers are two different things. But overall, we’re condemned to win”.
By Sab Osuji in Uyo
13 Comments
Condemned? Or you want to beat South Africa. Which one is Condemned?. Oga if you like go and lose
Nigeria won’t win South Africa. Players like Ekong who are good in the air and who join the attack during set pieces to create space must be in the team. The coach has condemned the Eagles to lose this one.
What pleasant condemnation many would desire;. Mess up the boys thoroughly and be forcefully checked into a 5-star set up, and have your pockets forcefully stuffed with HC at the WC.
I will give Finidi every support and that will surely determine the outcome of this window. I’ve always preferred a foreign coach in this scenario(WorldCup Qualifiers).
However, with the help of foreign assistants or foreign born Nigerian assistants I will hope for the best. If we fail to get 6 points in this window we should just forget about the WorldCup.
I said before that the main test for Finidi is this window. In the friendlies he won one lost one and I was really baffled at the manner we lost to Mali.
He definitely needs to get the boys playing and focus on the WorldCup in this window. That’s the only way to stamp your authority in the trans affairs.
6 points in this window is non negotiable or else!!!
Else, amunike takes over is their soccer.
Haha !! He come to our court. Finidi takes Nigeria to th WC. Up uo Eagles
Though the Super Eagles Coach is very correct in his position, it’s not going to be a walk in the park but rather, true fans must be ready to accept any outcome knowing fully well that Finito is indebted to deliver and must continue working. We love the game no doubt but if we must in all honesty affirm, Coach Finidi met an almost out-of-the-race team. Having played two matches under the recently past team management, Super Eagles could only amass 2points out of six -no one called for Peseiro’s head. He was tacitly begged to continua, exactly where the coach finds himself in the present trap to fail. In reiteration, it’s sure a dicey encounter tonight but Finidi, whose name has assumed the position of an online trender, has got the entities to wrap up the game within regulation time. My prediction:
Super Eagles: 3
South Africa: 0
My friend, why are you already making excuses for Finidi before the match result? The Super Eagles were finalists at the last AFCON under Peseiro. So Finidi did not meet any “out-of-the-race team”.
Hahahaha….please help us tell them o.
The are already cooking up excuses. LMAooo.
Rohr has done us a favour by derailing Rwanda for the time being, If Finidi after being with this team or 2 years cannot take us to the top of this Group by Tuesday morning, then he has no business being the SE coach. He should honourably resign and go back to Aba. He has no excuse.
This is still matchday 3 and there are still 24 points to play for.
My friend, im not making any excuse but stating the obvious. With Peseiro, our team could only play 2 draws in 2 games and even against very lowly rated countries so what are you expecting today? Let’keep praying for success and mostly for the fact that they didn’t have enough time to train together. This labour party strike ééhr,…
(@) Tristan, I see you didn’t look at (@) Mikey’s predicted score line. By as it may, Coach George Finidi has a 2yr appointment with the NFF and personally, the result of today’s match has no nexus or direct link to his appointment, 8t means he’s continuing in building a future Eagles. I feel we should continue to support our team and their handlers. I will predict 2 to 1 in our favor in today’s match.
Okos is spot on! Finidi met a struggling super Eagles team trying to navigate the mulking Waters of African minor footballing nations who had leap frogged to catching up with well established nations. SE had to draw Zimbabwe,we can’t beat that, for real.
Stop that nonsense…!
Finidi inherited Africa’s current vice champions.
Y’all should stop cooking up ready excuses.