Jose Peseiro’s Replacement: Super Eagles Players Back Finidi George to Take Over As Coach, Report

• Jose Peseiro recently announced his departure as head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria
• The Nigeria Football Federation have put out a vacancy to announce the search for a replacement
• A few players of the Nigerian team are backing Finidi George to become head coach, per a report

The quest for an ideal replacement for former Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro, continues to resonate throughout the country's footballing community.

The Portuguese coach who led the Super Eagles to their best Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finish since 2013, announced his departure from his role, after failing to reach a contract extension agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The decision by the 63-year-old leaves the three-time Cup of Nations winners in a race against time to find an ideal successor for their now-former manager.

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However, amidst the swirling speculation about who will assume the coveted coaching position, a report from OwnGoalNigeria indicates that certain members of the national team have backed Peseiro's assistant, Finidi George, as the prime candidate to steer the Super Eagles.

Super Eagles players back Finidi

According to the report, six players who played key roles at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast have emphasised the importance of the 52-year-old taking over from Peseiro.

The report highlights that the players, who chose to remain anonymous, pointed out that the former Real Betis winger has been involved with the team throughout Peseiro's 22-month tenure, giving him extensive knowledge on how to effectively bring out the best in every player.

Furthermore, the report stresses that the players are keen on continuity with the progress made under Peseiro, viewing Finidi as the only candidate capable of providing this continuity at present.

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It concludes by noting that the players have shared their thoughts with the current NFF president, Ibrahim Musa Gusau. However, it remains to be seen who gets the appointment as the next Nigeria gaffer.

Why Amunike must replace Peseiro

In another report, Sports Brief highlighted several reasons why Emmanuel Amunike should replace Peseiro.

The former Barcelona winger is among the list of individuals who have expressed interest in coaching the Nigerian team.

Amunike has achieved success with the youth teams of the Nigeria football setup, including winning the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup. The 52-year-old also guided Tanzania to their first appearance at the AFCON since 1980.