Finidi George has provided an explanation for the challenges he faced during his tenure as head coach of the Super Eagles.
The former Ajax winger took charge of the national team in an interim capacity in March 2024, overseeing friendlies against long-time rivals Ghana and Mali.
Two months later, he was appointed the permanent head coach of the three-time African champions.
However, Finidi resigned after the Super Eagles struggled in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, failing to secure victories against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Reflecting on his time with the national team, Finidi pointed to several issues that hindered the team’s performance.
“Most players didn’t show up. The intensity in friendly matches is often different from crucial qualifiers,” he told Sports Boom.
He also expressed frustration over the scheduling of the training camp. “I wanted us to open camp early, ahead of the qualifiers, as the season had ended.
The FA initially agreed, but later changed their minds. I had proposed a start date of May 26, but they said it wouldn’t be possible because some players were already on holiday, which was surprising to me.
Most of the players arrived at camp very late from their vacations.”Finidi further noted that the team’s lack of fitness and focus contributed to their struggles.
“At that level, if you’re not fit, no matter the tactics, you can’t perform at your best. We lost concentration, which led to conceding easy goals,” he explained.Since stepping down as head coach, Finidi has taken charge of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club Rivers United. His tenure with the club has started on a positive note, with the Port Harcourt-based team remaining unbeaten after four games (three wins and one draw).
Rivers United currently sit in second place on the league table with 10 points, just two points behind leaders Remo Stars.
