Finidi George to Commence Super Eagles Camp With Local Players Ahead of South Africa Clash: Report

• Finidi George was recently appointed head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria
• The 53-year-old’s first task is to clinch victory in the clash against South Africa
• A report of the first line of action for the new Super Eagles gaffer has surfaced

Finidi George is gearing up for a swift start following his appointment as coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The 53-year-old, who assumed the managerial role on April 30, has just four weeks to prepare for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series against South Africa.

Undeterred by the tight timeframe, the Enyimba manager is poised to kick off the Super Eagles' camp with home-based players, according to a recent report.

Finidi to open Super Eagles camp with home-based players

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As per a report from Score Nigeria, the newly appointed manager intends to kick off preparations for the June international fixtures by focusing on home-based players.

This decision stems from the unavailability of reliable foreign-based players, who are still engaged with their respective clubs.

The Super Eagles face a crucial task as they aim to overcome South Africa's Bafana Bafana in Uyo on June 3, seeking to regain momentum in their World Cup qualifying campaign following a challenging start.

Having been held to a one-all draw by Lesotho, in Uyo and another against Zimbabwe, in November 2023, the finalists of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) find themselves in third place in Group C with two points, trailing second-placed, South Africa, by one point.

Among the many objectives assigned to Finidi upon his appointment as coach of the Super Eagles is securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup and increasing the participation of home-based players in the squad.

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However, while Coach Finidi seems prepared to include home-based players in his current setup, the manner in which he integrates them with the foreign-based players who played pivotal roles in the Super Eagles team is an aspect worth monitoring.

Amunike speaks on Super Eagles coaching role

Sports Brief in a previous report stated former Barcelona forward, Emmanuel Amunike, has spoken after NFF appointed Finidi as coach of the Super Eagles.

The 53-year-old was considered the favourite for the role until Finidi's appointment as coach.