Former Nigeria international Godfrey Oboabona believes Finidi George’s legacy remains intact despite his sudden exit as Super Eagles coach.
The 53-year-old, 1994 AFCON winner, who took over from Jose Peseiro in April, resigned as the coach of the Super Eagles just less than two months after his appointment.
His decision to resign is reportedly not unconnected to the Nigeria Football
Federation’s (NFF) plan to replace him with an expatriate Technical Adviser in
an effort to boost the country’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the wave of criticism and his unexpected departure, the former
Rizespor star asserts that the Ajax legend’s legacy in Nigerian football remains intact.
“It is unfortunate that things got bad for coach Finidi George, leading to his abrupt resignation. However, one thing is certain his legacy with the Super Eagles remains untarnished,” Oboabona told SportsBoom.com.
“He is a significant legend in African football, and I wanted him to
succeed. However, that’s the nature of football very unpredictable.
Also Read: NFF Debunks Osimhen Ban Rumours
“Also, it would be unfair to place the blame solely on him for our
position in the standings. Remember, before he took the job, we had only
earned two points from two matches.”
Considering the prestige of leading the three-time African champions and
their passionate fanbase, Oboabona outlined what the NFF should look for
in a new coach during the selection process.
“The Nigeria Football Federation has made it clear that they prefer a
foreign coach. Moving forward, they must conduct thorough soul-searching
to find a world-class manager capable of improving our recent performances,” recommends the Sunshine Stars defender.
“Nigeria is a household name in football, so we cannot afford to hire
a journeyman only interested in the money. The ideal candidate must have
a proven track record.
“Some of our Super Eagles players are currently competing in top
leagues around the world, and to maximize their potential, we need a
manager who can effectively handle their egos.”
After a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin
Republic in Abidjan, Nigeria are on the verge of missing out on the
global football showpiece once again, following their absence from the
Qatar 2022 edition.
They are currently fifth in Group C of the qualifiers, trailing behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and
Lesotho, with just three points from four matches.
“No one could have anticipated the Super Eagles being in this situation. It’s particularly disappointing given how well we performed at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where we came close to
winning a third title, Oboabona, a 2013 AFCON winner added.
“But that’s football if you don’t convert your chances and your
opponents do, you get punished for it.
“However, I strongly believe we will qualify for the 2026 World Cup
because missing out would set our football back significantly.
“We need to win all our remaining matches and hope our competitors
slip up. We’ve been in this position before and managed to bounce back.
With the quality of talent in our squad, I am confident we will
qualify.”
10 Comments
What happened to Finidi is a big leason for all; next time the NFF wana get an Indigeous coach it should be one with pedigree and experienced. Finidi will coach SE in future. For now let him be given the under 16 to serve as a learning platform for him.
All these former players who wouldn’t tell the truth until things get out of hand.you knew all these while a proven expatriate coach was the best option but like odegbami pride,ego,unnecessary rigidity,outright lies,outdated knowledge,’useless connection to government officials’,spirit ofgang up and desire to influence selection and sell players beclouded your sense of reasoning.This set of people did not even learn from the past where they were also the reason why we did not qualify for the 2022 world cup.until we change,we are going to continue in this endless spiral
My advice to all these former players is go into coaching,get proper coaching certificates and licences coach continuously locally and internationally,get experience and distinguish yourself before thinking of coaching the national team.sitting at home,doing nothing only hoping to one day coach a big brand as the super eagles with the only qualification being your having played for the national team is grossly unacceptable
Even being a member of the technical crew at any level should be based on proven track record of coaching/other skills/trainings required and not just based on the fact that you have played the game before or you are sycophantic,political,you have people at the top or you are there as retirement benefit for playing for the country in the past
Odegbami’s e-hoodlums will soon come for you. They will tell you are are not making sense.
Those folks will even celebrate Joseph Yobo’s appointment as SE coach to the high heavens tomorrow should the NFF hire Joseph Yobo to replace Finidi.
You will hear “he played at 3 world cups, 6 AFCON and for 2 decades in Europe under great coaches”. He is good enough to coach the SE.
And then that one will win 1 out of 4 matches with the current AFCON vice champions and go about assassinating the character of his players with white lies in sheer desperation to retain his job….LMAooo
When it comes to foreign coaches, we demand for ‘pedigree and PROVEN track record’…but when it comes to local coaches, any jack and harry should just be hired, especially if he is a member of the 94 cult.
As much as we don’t want ‘journey men’ foreign coaches, we should also do away with local coaches who do not even qualify to be called journey men yet.
Onigbinde, Amodu, Keshi…they all had pedigree and PROVEN track record.
Really, would anyone fault a Challenge cup winner and CAF Cup winner like Onigbinde’s appointment as SE coach..? or a multiple FA cup, WAFU cup, CAF cup and CAF CL finalist like Amodu’s appointment, or the former coach of 2 African countries like Keshi’s appointment…???
Please and please, Anyone who cannot match any of these guys should NEVER come near our national team anymore. Enough of dragging our football backwards with sentiments.
Till we can find local coaches with matching CVs, foreign coaches, white or black with PROVEN track records remain the way to go.
Not all of us are addicted to failure like those ‘let us fail with our own’ herd.
94 squad….great players…terrible coaches.
Nigeria SE doesn’t need local/home-based coach what we need is the likes of
Thomas saintfiet,
a Dutch coach or
conceicao…
If we must go indigenous we have people like
Ndubuisi Egbo
Amuneke
Siasia(CHAN)/U23
Efe Ambrose
Then NFF Technical Director
Emenalo
Asst Technical Director
Seyi Olofinjana
Samson Siasia’s ban expires this month and he has a vast knowledge of the game with proven records. NFF should give him a chance to return as coach.
His teams play attractive and purpose driven football.
There you go again. Coach that has been ideal should be given a job by the NFF??? What kind of thinking is this biko? SaiSai should to coach a club. Period!!! Reestablish his pedigree and then try out with a youth national team.
Bro you made a good sense here but who will give you this men to work with our dear super eagles.Nff will soon tell us why yobo is the the best man for the job