Nigeria's Coaching Role: Things Finidi George Must Do to Land Super Eagles Job Permanently

• The permanent coaching role of the Super Eagles remains a huge subject of debate
• Interim coach, Finidi George, is one of the numerous managers interested in the role
• Sports Brief highlights things the Nigeria coach must do to secure the role permanently

The Super Eagles of Nigeria clinched a victory in their international friendly against West African rivals, Ghana.

The match, filled with thrilling moments that had fans on the edge of their seats, lived up to the lofty expectations many had of it.

While the match against the Black Stars was officially a friendly, it served as a significant test and audition for Nigeria’s interim coach, Finidi George.

The former assistant to Jose Peseiro, is among the top contenders to be named the next permanent head coach of the team by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

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However, despite Finidi's extensive coaching experience, there remains palpable scepticism about the 52-year-old's ability to lead the Nigerian team on a permanent basis.

Hence, the fixtures against Ghana and Mali provide Finidi with crucial opportunities to prove his doubters wrong and showcase why he should be entrusted with the reins of the team permanently.

Nonetheless, following the Super Eagles' victory against the Black Stars and ahead of the clash against Mali, Sports Brief examines what the former assistant manager needs to do to ensure he is named Nigeria’s head coach on a permanent basis.

What Finidi must do to be named Nigeria’s next coach

Consistent attacking with intent

In the victory against Ghana, the Super Eagles, in their 3-5-2 formation, showed their attacking intent from the first minute of the game, with Alex Iwobi playing with a renewed sense of purpose in the heart of midfield, dictating the tempo like a seasoned conductor.

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This rather impressive attacking display against the Ghanaians was one of the biggest criticisms former coach, Peseiro, faced during his time. If Finidi continues with such a high-octane attacking approach against the Eagles of Mali, he could have just done enough to earn himself a contract as the permanent coach of the team.

Strategic defensive approach

The encounter with Ghana served as a stark reminder to Nigerians of the defensive frailties that plagued the national team for much of 2023.

Despite expectations that the Nigerian team had moved beyond its issues of a leaky defence, particularly given its impressive defensive showing at the AFCON, these frailties were sadly evident again on the night.

If Coach Finidi can effectively address this issue and guide the team to a near-perfect performance against Mali, he will undoubtedly bolster his case to be named the next head coach of the Super Eagles.

Impactful substitutions

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During the fixture against Ghana, Nigeria’s substitute players were rated the worst performers of the night, according to data from Afrik-Foot. These seemingly underwhelming statistics underscore a persistent issue the Super Eagles have faced in recent years.

Nigeria have failed to maximise the advantages of substitutions during a match, and this could serve as an Achilles' heel for the team as they head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series.

If Coach Finidi can address this and ensure the Nigerian team begins to make impactful substitutions, the interim coach is well on his way to securing the job as the permanent manager of the team.

Osimhen’s AFCON display impacted Nigeria’s tactics

In another report, Sports Brief stated that Nigeria's interim coach, Finidi, explained how Victor Osimhen's performance at the AFCON impacted Nigeria's formation against Ghana.

The 52-year-old highlighted the burden placed on the Napoli forward during the showpiece and aimed to avoid a repeat of it.