Finidi George Gets Major Boost Ahead of Nigeria’s FIFA Qualifying Fixtures vs South Africa and Benin

Finidi George Gets Major Boost Ahead of Nigeria’s FIFA Qualifying Fixtures vs South Africa and Benin

Ero Samson
updated at May 27, 2024 at 12:18 PM
In this article:
Nigeria logo
Nigeria
Nigeria
21
Super Eagles logo
Super Eagles
South Africa
Victor Osimhen logo
V. Osimhen
Napoli logoFNigeria logo
Napoli logo
Napoli
Italy
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Samuel Chukwueze logo
S. Chukwueze
AC Milan logoFNigeria logo
AC Milan logo
AC Milan
Italy
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South Africa logo
South Africa
South Africa
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Benin logo
Benin
Benin
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Jens Cajuste logo
J. Cajuste
Napoli logoMSweden logo
  • Nigeria will lock horns against South Africa and Benin Republic in the June international window
  • The squad list assembled by Nigeria’s coach, Finidi George, has been largely plagued with injuries
  • The newly appointed manager has been handed a timely injury boost ahead of the crunch fixtures

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Finidi George's ambition to kick off his tenure as the permanent manager of the Super Eagles with a perfect start appears to be coming to fruition.

The 53-year-old tactician recently announced his team list for his first assignment as coach in the June international window. However, he has faced the challenge of dealing with injuries to several key players, including star forward, Victor Osimhen.

Napoli, Bologna, Serie A, Victor Osimhen, Injury, Nigeria.
Victor Osimhen was diagnosed with physical discomfort following Napoli's clash against Bologna. Image: Cesare Purini.
Source: Getty Images

The Napoli talisman had been diagnosed with physical discomfort, causing him to miss the last two fixtures for his Serie A club and casting doubt on his availability for Francesco Calzona's side in the final match of the season.

However, with barely two weeks to the crunch fixture against South Africa, there are rekindled hopes for the Super Eagles and coach Finidi about the possibility of having the forward feature for the Nigerian team.

Finidi gets massive Osimhen boost

As reported by All Nigeria Soccer, the 25-year-old forward, who had been sidelined for about three weeks, made an appearance in Napoli's final Serie A fixture against Lecce.

Osimhen came on as a second-half substitute for midfielder, Jens-Lys Cajuste, and showed no signs of lingering discomfort, nearly breaking the deadlock for the 2022-23 Italian league champions.

Barring any setbacks as he regains full fitness, Osimhen is expected to don the green and white for Nigeria against Bafana Bafana in Uyo.

Coach Finidi is also hopeful that Osimhen's teammate, Samuel Chukwueze, will be available for the upcoming fixtures. The 25-year-old is currently sidelined with a thigh injury and has missed the last three matches for AC Milan.

The Super Eagles will face South Africa in Uyo on June 7, before travelling to Ivory Coast to play the Republic of Benin on June 10.

Finidi teases new formation for Super Eagles

Sports Brief in a previous report mentioned that the Nigerian team's coach, Finidi, has hinted at potential tactical changes for the upcoming fixtures against South Africa and Benin.

The 53-year-old coach suggested during his media tour that he plans to implement a high-attacking style of play for the team.

Authors
Ero Samson photo
Ero Samson
Samson Ero is a sports journalist with a track record of over five years in the Nigerian media industry. He graduated from Nigerian Institute of Journalism (2021-2023).