Finidi George’s Replacement: NFF Eyes New Foreign Coach for Super Eagles After Benin Defeat, Report

• Finidi George commenced his tenure as permanent manager of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with mixed results
• The former Enyimba manager recorded a draw and a defeat against South Africa and the Republic of Benin in June
• A report has surfaced, suggesting the Nigeria Football Federation is looking to hire a foreign manager to take control

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appears desperate for the Super Eagles to secure a spot in the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup.

The West African nation, which began its campaign with a series of draws under former coach, Jose Peseiro, did little to aid its qualification hopes.

In June, the team recorded a draw and a defeat against South Africa and the Republic of Benin respectively under new manager, Finidi George.

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This underwhelming start to the qualification series leaves the Nigerian team lying fifth in their Group C standings, having picked up only three points from a possible 12.

However, in an effort to ensure the Super Eagles do not miss out on the footballing showpiece slated for the Americas, discussions have emerged about the NFF hiring a new technical director.

NFF to hire a foreign coach for the Super Eagles?

According to a report from Nigerian football expert, Bayo Adegboyega, the NFF is considering bolstering the Super Eagles' technical crew with a foreign coach to prevent the team from dropping further points in World Cup qualifying.

The appointment of a new foreign coach would see Finidi relegated to the role of assistant manager, with the foreign gaffer expected to shoulder most of the coaching responsibilities.

The report also states that Finidi will have the option to leave his role if he is not comfortable working with the new manager.

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This move by the NFF mirrors the Ghanaian Football Federation's approach during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification series, where both Otto Addo and Chris Hughton were tasked with leading the team.

As reported by Score Nigeria, the NFF hierarchy is expected to meet with Finidi in the coming weeks to reach an agreement.

The potential new foreign manager is anticipated to take charge of the Super Eagles for the September Africa Cup of Nations qualification series.

NFF chief makes admission Finidi

Sports Brief also reported that a high-ranking member of the NFF made a surprise admission regarding Finidi’s appointment as Super Eagles coach.

The federation chief, who opted to speak under condition of anonymity, stressed that no interview process was conducted for the coaching position.