“He’s an Achiever”: Why Finidi George Was Appointed Super Eagles Coach, Nigerian Journalist Explains

• Finidi George has been appointed as the head coach of Nigeria
• He served as an assistant to Jose Peseiro before his elevation
• George's first test will come in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

The prolonged search for a head coach for Nigeria's senior men's national team concluded on Monday, April 29, with the announcement of Finidi George as the manager of the Super Eagles.

Following Jose Peseiro's departure after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final in February, the 53-year-old was placed in interim charge of the West African giants.

George, who also serves as the head coach of club side Enyimba, oversaw two friendly matches last month, securing a 2-1 victory over Ghana before suffering a 2-0 loss against Mali, as noted by Soccernet.

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NFF appoints Finidi George as coach

According to the BBC, after serving as Peseiro's assistant for 20 months, the former Ajax and Real Betis winger has been elevated to the role of manager by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The NFF confirmed his appointment on Monday following the approval of a recommendation from its technical and development committee.

While some fans have expressed reservations about Finidi's tactical abilities to guide a star-studded Nigerian team led by Victor Osimhen to success, his immediate task will be to deliver results.

Nigeria's upcoming fixtures against South Africa and Benin in June are crucial qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Finidi will be expected to lead the team to victory in these matches.

Why was Finidi George appointed as Nigeria's head coach?

Fisayo Dairo, a reporter for ACL Sports, shared with Sports Brief that Finidi's appointment as manager isn't just about continuity; he drew comparisons with Emerse Fae of Ivory Coast.

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"Continuity is actually a great deal and worthy enough to give Finidi the job, as we all saw what happened with Emerse Fae in Ivory Coast. So that is a crucial factor," he said.

Fisayo, who also serves as a correspondent for Voice of America (VOA), also highlighted some of Finidi's achievements.

"Aside from that, Finidi is a quiet achiever, and many are not even aware of his abilities,"

"He coached Enyimba to win the Nigerian league last season, and they are two points below league leaders Rangers this season with six matches left to play. He is also a good man-manager, which is very required at this level."

Finidi George to choose a foreign assistant?

Sports Brief also reported that Finidi George is poised to select a foreign assistant after being granted the permanent coaching position for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Given autonomy by the NFF to assemble his support staff, including assistants, the Enyimba coach is said to be leaning towards choosing a foreign individual for the role.