3 Challenges Finidi George Must Overcome as New Coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles

• Finidi George faces a herculean task as the new Super Eagles boss
• The 53-year-old was appointed as Nigeria’s head coach on Monday
• Finidi served as the assistant to Jose Peseiro for almost two years

Finidi George has three major tasks to accomplish as head coach of the Super Eagles, after his appointment was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on April 29.

The 53-year-old was selected as Nigeria’s senior men’s national team coach ahead of over 100 applicants including ex-internationals, Emmanuel Amunike and Daniel Amokachi.

According to Score Nigeria, mixed reactions trailed the appointment of Finidi as Super Eagles coach as Green Eagles icon, Segun Odegbami, claimed the former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, was behind his selection.

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However, now is the moment for the 53-year-old to deliver after being given one of football's most uncertain jobs. The former Real Sociedad midfielder must fulfil great expectations if he aims to prove his critics wrong.

Sports Brief has outlined the three major challenges the new Super Eagles coach must surmount to be successful while in charge of the Nigerian national team.

3 challenges Finidi must pass as Super Eagles coach

1. See Nigeria qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Finidi's immediate task will be to lead the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against South Africa and the Benin Republic in June, PUNCH reports.

Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar after losing the ticket to Ghana, are running the risk of missing out on the next edition after a slow start to the 2026 qualifiers.

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The Super Eagles remain in third place in Group C of the African campaign, behind Rwanda and South Africa, after garnering only two points from their opening two games.

2. Build an attractive pattern of play

Finidi will also need to work on the Super Eagles' pattern of play. The team has been without a consistent playing style for nearly a decade, with foreign coaches largely in charge.

As an explosive winger in his playing days, the Enyimba coach is anticipated to offer a fresh style of play - using and successfully managing the quality squad at his disposal, as well as developing players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

3. Bring back the Nigeria 'fear factor'

The Super Eagles are no longer feared as one of Africa’s most dangerous teams and that is one of the challenges Finidi must solve after being offered the Nigeria job.

The Eagles are currently low on confidence, which was evident at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after the team dropped points against Equatorial Guinea in the group phase and struggled to defeat Angola and South Africa in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.

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Some believe Finidi must hire a psychologist to help raise the players' confidence once the World Cup qualifiers resume in June.

Finidi confirmed as Super Eagles coach

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Nigeria’s long search for a new coach has finally ended after the NFF announced the appointment of ex-international, Finidi, as the new Super Eagles coach.

The 53-year-old, who took temporary charge of the three-time AFCON winners in March, led Nigeria to a win and a loss against Ghana and Mali, respectively, in two international friendlies.