Finidi George Gives Sneak Preview of How He Wants Nigeria to Play

• Finidi George has been talking to the media in the last few weeks
• The 53-year-old was appointed as Super Eagles coach last month
• He explained how he wants to set up his team during his tenure

Nigerian fans will closely monitor Finidi George's team selection and tactics when they take on South Africa and Benin.

Finidi and Nigeria are expected to collect six points from the two 2026 World Cup qualifiers following two disappointing results in their first two games.

The 53-year-old recently gave a snippet of how he wants his side to play in the next two matches and beyond.

Under Jose Peseiro, Nigeria played a defensive game during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the final, finishing second. That style had admirers and critics in equal measure.

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Finidi, despite working under the Portuguese coach, wants to play a different style. He wants his team to play high-octane football.

“I like to play attacking football. My best time [as a footballer] was in Holland, and we know that the football Manchester City plays today is the Dutch style, total football. You try to keep possession, but once you lose the ball, you try as much as possible to get it back immediately, but that is defence too,” George said at a press conference via Afrik-Foot.

Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City play some of the most exciting football in the world. Finidi will need time to implement that style.

Finidi coached the team against Ghana and Mali during the March international break. They won one and lost one. Their win over Ghana was their first since 2006.

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Finidi on his relationship with Peseiro

Sports Brief previously reported on Finidi opening up on his relationship with his predecessor, Peseiro.

The former Ajax star said he had a good relationship with the Portuguese, who was sceptical about his intentions when he joined his backroom staff.

What does Finidi need?

Sports Brief also reported on Super Eagles legend, Segun Odegbami, explaining what Finidi needs for his Nigerian team to perform.

The 1980 AFCON winner stressed the need for the new coach to have elite players in every position as he begins his tenure.