1 week ago
13 Former Nigeria international Godfrey Oboanona believes Finidi George’s legacy remains intact despite his sudden exit as Super Eagles coach.
The 53-year-old, 1994 AFCON winner, who took over from Jose Peseiro in April, resigned as the coach of the Super Eagles just less than two months after his appointment.
His decision to resign is reportedly not unconnected to the Nigeria Football
Federation’s (NFF) plan to replace him with an expatriate Technical Adviser in
an effort to boost the country’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the wave of criticism and his unexpected departure, the former
Rizespor star asserts that the Ajax legend’s legacy in Nigerian football remains intact.
“It is unfortunate that things got bad for coach Finidi George, leading to his abrupt resignation. However, one thing is certain his legacy with the Super Eagles remains untarnished,” Oboabona told SportsBoom.com.
“He is a significant legend in African football, and I wanted him to
succeed. However, that’s the nature of football very unpredictable.
“Also, it would be unfair to place the blame solely on him for our
position in the standings. Remember, before he took the job, we had only
earned two points from two matches.”
Considering the prestige of leading the three-time African champions and
their passionate fanbase, Oboabona outlined what the NFF should look for
in a new coach during the selection process.
“The Nigeria Football Federation has made it clear that they prefer a
foreign coach. Moving forward, they must conduct thorough soul-searching
to find a world-class manager capable of improving our recent performances,” recommends the Sunshine Stars defender.
“Nigeria is a household name in football, so we cannot afford to hire
a journeyman only interested in the money. The ideal candidate must have
a proven track record.
“Some of our Super Eagles players are currently competing in top
leagues around the world, and to maximize their potential, we need a
manager who can effectively handle their egos.”
After a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin
Republic in Abidjan, Nigeria are on the verge of missing out on the
global football showpiece once again, following their absence from the
Qatar 2022 edition.
They are currently fifth in Group C of the qualifiers, trailing behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and
Lesotho, with just three points from four matches.
“No one could have anticipated the Super Eagles being
in this situation. It’s particularly disappointing given how well we
performed at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where we came close to
winning a third title, Oboanona, a 2013 AFCON winner added.
“But that’s football if you don’t convert your chances and your
opponents do, you get punished for it.
“However, I strongly believe we will qualify for the 2026 World Cup
because missing out would set our football back significantly.
“We need to win all our remaining matches and hope our competitors
slip up. We’ve been in this position before and managed to bounce back.
With the quality of talent in our squad, I am confident we will
qualify.”
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