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Former international Finidi George has been appointed Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Football Team, the Super Eagles.
The appointment comes after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee.
The 53-year-old spent 20 months as assistant to former coach JosƩ Peseiro before the Portuguese left the post. Coach George took charge of the Nigeria squad in interim capacity during two friendly games in Morocco in March.
Under his watch, his squad defeated Ghana 2-1 in the first match. It put an end to an 18-year winless run against the West African neighbours. However, the team lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
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Finidi George was a member of the āGolden Generationā that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia. That same year in the United States, Nigeria was adjudged the second most entertaining team in their debut at the FIFA World Cup finals.
Midfield maestro during his playing days
The former Ajax Amsterdam player appeared 62 times for the Super Eagles, including playing at the 1994 and 1998 World Cup finals. He also claimed gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
George opened his Super Eagles goalscoring account in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991.
He also played for Real Betis, Calabar Rovers, and Sharks FC of Port Harcourt. He assisted the late Rashidi Yekini to score Nigeriaās first-ever FIFA World Cup goal. The goal was scored against Bulgaria on 19th June 1994 during the World Cup hosted in the U.S.
George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut. His goal put Nigeria in the lead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match ended 1-1, with Nigeria earning a ticket to the finals in the North American country.
Finidi George to begin work immediately
Finidi George’s immediate task is to lead the Super Eagles in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. The 2013 AFCON winners face South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively.
Nigeria are lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African qualifiers, behind Rwanda and South Africa.
George led Enyimba to league victory
In 2023, He led Enyimba International Football Club to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title in Lagos.
The Aba-based outfit had won the Super Six tournament used to declare the winner of Nigeria’s topflight campaign.
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