World Cup Qualifiers: Former NFF Board Member Makes Bold Statement, Defends Finidi George

• Finidi George could be demoted from his position as Super Eagles head coach as the NFF embarks on the hunt for an expatriate
• Nigeria's World Cup qualification chances hang in the balance after a draw with South Africa and a defeat to the Republic of Benin
• While the NFF has announced that a foreigner would be appointed soon, a former board member has leapt to Finidi's defence

A former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Green, has defended Finidi George following the Super Eagles' poor performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

After 1-1 draws with Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, Nigeria was beaten 2-1 by the Benin Republic, and their qualification chances for the Mundial hang in the balance.

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The loss to the Cheetahs has sparked anger among Nigerian football stakeholders and fans, with many calling for the sacking of head coach Finidi.

The NFF executive committee, in an emergency meeting, resolved to appoint an expatriate technical adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks.

However, the decision did not go well with Chris Green, who said he did not agree with it. He told Brila FM, as per Complete Sports:

"I’m not in support of a foreign coach for now; if they had brought a foreign coach before this time or when Peseiro was going, it would have been a different thing because the foreign coach would have come as an expatriate.

"An expatriate is a person you get from outside when you cannot get that kind of person in the country, and basically it’s just for result, so what they have done to Finidi is not right.

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"What support did they give Finidi George? You appointed Finidi George less than one month before crucial matches, and you expect him to do magic. Finidi George is not the problem."

Awoniyi backs Finidi George

Sports Brief earlier reported that Super Eagles star, Taiwo Awoniyi has backed coach Finidi George despite a poor start to his tenure.

The former Liverpool striker is also optimistic about the Nigerian national squad despite their poor run of form under the boss thus far.

The Nottingham Forest star believes the former Ajax winger should continue with the team's progression and believes this will improve.