Finidi George is new Super Eagles coach -NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Finidi George as the new head coach of the senior men’s national team.

The decision was made following the approval of the Technical and Development Committee of the NFF Board, as stated in a release on April 29th.

George, a 52-year-old former Real Betis and Ajax Amsterdam player, took charge of the squad last month in an interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco, following the resignation of José Santos Peseiro.

During his 20-month stint as assistant to Peseiro, George helped the team secure a runner-up position at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in 2023. George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco last month, during which the team ended an 18-year winless streak against Ghana with a 2-1 victory before suffering a 0-2 loss to Mali.

The former winger’s appointment as head coach is expected to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the team as they prepare for upcoming engagements.

The statement read partly: “The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.

“George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in an interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

“His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.

“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in the USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.”