Afrigather By AFP – Agence France Presse
-
Order Reprints
-
Print Article
Textual content dimension
Nigeria’s soccer federation has named former Nigeria worldwide Finidi George as the brand new coach of the nationwide squad, placing an finish to weeks of hypothesis over who will change Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
In accordance with a press assertion, the Board of Nigeria Soccer Federation on Monday permitted the advice of a technical committee to nominate George, 52, to steer the Tremendous Eagles.
The rapid job dealing with the previous Ajax winger shall be to information Nigeria to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in opposition to South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in June.
Nigeria are beneath stress to win each video games as they’re in third place in Group C of the African marketing campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.
George spent 20 months as assistant to Peseiro earlier than the Portuguese voluntarily left the submit after Nigeria reached the ultimate of the Africa Cup of Nations in February the place they misplaced to hosts Ivory Coast.
George, extensively recognized in Nigeria merely as “Finidi”, took cost of the squad in interim capability for 2 pleasant matches in Morocco final month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 within the first match, ending an 18-year winless run in opposition to the Black Stars, however then misplaced 2-0 to Mali.
George is a member of Nigeria’s so-called “Golden Technology” that gained the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations match in Tunisia and made their debut on the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the identical yr.
He gained 62 caps for Nigeria and performed on the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
sam/pma/pb
