Former Nigerian international, Bright Omokaro has warned Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George to shun any form of undue influence in players selection ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers slated for June.
Omokaro stated this on the backdrop of Finidi’s appointment as the new Senior national team coach.
He also hailed the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for looking inward and making such bold decision.
In a chat with the Nigeria News Agency (NAN), Omokaro said that he will do everything to help Finidi succeed but warned him not to be influenced in his players selection.
Read Also: Finidi’s Wealth Of Experience Will Come Handy For Super Eagles –Fubara
“In fact, I am so excited to hear the appointment of Finidi George as the national team coach. I know he will perform well.
“Let’s look at the present African champion at the last Nation’s Cup—Cote d’Ivoire. They came with their indigenous coach; the same as Senegal and other formidable teams, and they all performed well.
“I will back Finidi with all my strength to be successful as the Eagle’s coach,” he said.
“George’s pedigree in football is very high; a good name is better than riches, he has played football at higher levels.
“I urge him to know what he is doing. He should stick to the job, and be determined to bring the best result for the country.
“The expectations are high at this point in time, especially when the Eagles are preparing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup; all eyes will be on him now.
“All Nigerians are awaiting him to build a formidable team, to bring good results, and shun undue influence in selecting players,” he said.
5 Comments
It will be impossible to shun undue interference in team selection. Finidi just has to learn to manage it effectively.
Out of 23 players, Finidi will have his own core group of between 18 to 20 players. The remaining 3 to 5 slots can be used to cater to the whims and caprices of intolerable actors.
It is very possible for Finidi to make a success of this appointment. He just needs to have a plan, stay focused, maintain and assemble a band of very loyal core players who buy into his philosophy, improve his coaching acumen, cultivate his own relationships in corridors of power and continually yearn for success.
Good luck to Finidi.
The team has core players already
1 Nwabally
2 empty. Finidi slot
3 empty finidi slot
4 aina
5 ndidi
6 onyeka
7 chukeze
8 lookman
9 oshimen
10 empty. Finidi slot
11. Boni
Reserve iwobi,bassey , seyi,tella, Sadiq, zaidu, Simon ,awoniyi,
5 local good defenders to boost the team used Dem to go abroad,ajax ,etc get ur share of transfer fee.
@Sportradio88.0 fm What in God’s name made you put our best defender Calvin Bassey as a reserve no please tell me??…. what?.. I don’t understand your reasoning there. explain.
You should also know that a certain Okoye is doing very well in Italy now Like Ekong found his feet there again, and a guy named Okonkwo an Arsenal Loanee is doing well in Championship league as a Goalkeeper.. So we already have a Good Goalkeeper Back-ups if Finidi does not decieve himself.
Bright Omokaro, you don’t even need to comment. E don do. You don comment. Mutiu Adepoju don comment. Even Finidi’s governor suddenly find time from Wike wahala to comment. The distraction don start. When they appoint Paseiro, how many people distrub am with congratulations and advice? After small time, una go dey famz dey quiet guyman, dey suggest names to am.
This is what they say about indigenous coaches. It’s not too much of a big deal. He’sgot serious work to do. Let his shun the distractions and get down to it. Let’s start changing the narrative. He should remember that in less than a month, his status will change to a national hero or villain. He may have areas of deficiencies but I’ll put that to a lack of quality assistants and back room staff he didn’t have in the last friendly window.
I eagerly await the names he and the NFF come up with. Hopefully, this doesn’t take them another 2 months to conclude.
Findi should summon Chuba Akpom , Odion Ighalo , Moses Usor instead of Simon Moses , Maduka Okoye and Arthur Okonkwo ; also he should summon talented players from NPLF. Also he must change Peseiro style of play and his tactic to a nigerian style mix it with modern football.