Former Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach, Finidi George has recently reflected on the factors that contributed to his short-lived tenure as the head coach of the national team.
Finidi George initially took over as the interim head coach of the team in March, overseeing friendly matches against Ghana and Mali.
Two months later, he was appointed as the substantive head coach of the team. However, he resigned from his position after the Super Eagles failed to secure victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Following his departure from the national team, George joined Rivers United, a team in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Reflecting on his time with the Super Eagles, George mentioned that several players did not report for duty, which affected the team’s performance.
The coach said he requested an earlier camp opening to prepare for the crucial qualifiers, but the Football Association initially agreed and later rescinded their decision. This led to a delayed camp opening, with some players joining the team late after their vacations.
“Most players didn’t show up. The intensity in friendly matches often differs from crucial qualifiers,” Finidi told Sports Boom.
“I wanted us to open the camp (ahead of qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic) a little bit earlier because we knew the season had come to an end, so the FA accepted, but later they changed their minds.
“I wanted the team camp to open on the 26th of May, but they said it’s not going to be possible because some players were already on holidays, which was very strange to me. Most players were coming from their vacation places to the camp very late.
“So, if you are at that big stage, if you’re not fit enough, no matter the tactics, you can’t give your best. The concentration was not there leading to conceding easy goals.“