NFF Chief Explains Why Finidi George Beat Emmanuel Amunike to Super Eagles Coaching Role: Report

• Finidi George was recently appointed permanent head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria
• Emmanuel Amunike appeared to be the favourite for the role through the recruitment process
• A Nigeria football chief has explained the reason why Finidi was picked as coach over Amunike

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) took the nation’s footballing community by surprise when they announced Finidi George as the new coach of the Super Eagles, despite swirling reports and expectations favouring Emmanuel Amunike for the role.

The 52-year-old, who previously served as assistant to former manager, Jose Peseiro, was initially ruled out of contention, with Amunike widely considered the front-runner.

The decision to appoint Finidi over Amunike has sparked intense discussions among fans and stakeholders of the Super Eagles, and many have been left puzzled as to why the NFF selected Finidi, especially after he was initially sidelined from consideration.

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However, amid the buzz, the sudden appointment continues to generate. A member of the NFF technical committee has shed light on the decision-making process that led to Finidi's appointment over Amunike.

Why Finidi was named coach ahead of Amunike

According to a report from Score Nigeria, the technical committee member, speaking anonymously, highlighted the strained relationship that Amunike had during his tenure as coach of the U17 national team in 2015, which contributed to his exclusion from the managerial position.

Despite Amunike's success in leading the U17 team to win the FIFA World Cup, he reportedly failed to maintain a positive rapport with his superiors.

The report further alleges that Amunike was involved in instigating a pay strike among the U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, which led to their disqualification from the 2017 U20 AFCON.

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Additionally, his association with the Super Eagles during their unsuccessful bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar was also a factor in the technical committee's decision to choose Finidi over him.

Finidi, who has now been officially appointed by the NFF, will be aiming to reciprocate the trust placed in him by securing qualification for the Super Eagles in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 52-year-old's first task will be to seal a victory when Nigeria faces South Africa's Bafana Bafana, per reports from Fotmob on June 3.

Why Finidi is without assistant coaches

Sports Brief in a previous report stated that an NFF chief explained why Finidi is still without members of his backroom staff.

The 52-year-old was named coach of the Nigerian team without any individual named as an assistant to aid his task.