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Tag: Finidi George

  • Only God will judge between me and Osimhen – Finidi George

    Only God will judge between me and Osimhen – Finidi George

    Former Head Coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles, Finidi George has said only God will judge between him and striker Victor Osimhen. Recall that Osimhen went on a social media rant against George after he resigned as Super Eagles coach.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had hired Finidi as Head Coach of the Super Eagles but he resigned in controversial circumstance after just two competitive games in charge.

    Following his resignation, Osimhen accused Finidi of allegedly questioning his commitment to the national team, and rumours quickly went round that the NFF banned the Galatasaray forward from the national team for his social media outburst.

    After the rant, Osimhen was widely criticized on social media with top sporting figures urging him to apologize. Finidi told Nigeria Info FM that the Super Eagles striker is yet to apologise to him for the social media rant that disrespected him. He, however, noted that he has put the episode behind him.

    “I sent him a message that it was not the best way, just someone telling you that coach said that and you are talking about me like I said it in an interview. From that point I didn’t hear from him, I moved on and I wish everybody well, only God will judge,” Finidi said.

    Finidi also refused to comment on the suggestion that Osimhen should have been sanctioned with a ban from the Super Eagles.

    “I don’t know, he is there already, let him be,”he added. We cannot crucify him, he has made a mistake, we have moved on and life goes on,” he said.

    TNG reports Finidi was unveiled as coach of the Super Eagles in May following the departure of Portuguese tactician, Jose Peseiro at the end of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in February. The Super Eagles drew 1-1  with South Africa at home in Finidi’s first game, followed by a shock 2-1 loss to less fancied Benin Republic in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    Finidi is currently the Head Coach of Rivers United in Nigeria’s Premier Football League (NPFL).

  • NPFL: Finidi George unveiled by Rivers United in Port Harcourt

    NPFL: Finidi George unveiled by Rivers United in Port Harcourt

    Rivers United of Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening unveiled former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George  as their manager ahead of next season.

    The unveiling ceremony took place at Rivers United’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.

    George has gotten a new job few weeks after leaving his position as the substantive coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    It would be recalled that Rivers United sacked long-serving tactician Stanley Eguma towards the end of last season due to poor results.

    The Port Harcourt club finished in disappointing eighth position in the NPFL last season.

    George  previously worked in the NPFL with nine-time champions Enyimba FC of Aba where he won the league with the team in the 2022/23 season.

     

     

  • NPFL: Finidi George to be unveiled as Rivers United coach today

    NPFL: Finidi George to be unveiled as Rivers United coach today

    Nigeria Professional Football League clubside, Rivers United will be unveiling  their new head coach, Finidi George, today in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital.

    It would be recalled that the 54-year-old has been penciled down to take over the reign at the former Nigeria Premier Football League champions following Stanley Eguma’s sacking towards the end of last season.

    The unveiling ceremony will hold at Rivers United’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.

    The ex-Super Eagles player and Coach will be  returning to the dugout few weeks after quitting his position as the substantive coach of the Nigeria senior men  national team

    The former Ajax winger managed nine-time NPFL champions, Enyimba for three years before moving up to coach the Super Eagles.

    Finidi masterminded Enyimba’s title success in the 2022/23 season.

    Rivers United finished in a disappointing eighth position in the NPFL last term.

  • Former Zambia, CIV coach, Herve Renard favoured for Super Eagles job

    Former Zambia, CIV coach, Herve Renard favoured for Super Eagles job

    French gaffer, Herve Renard is being favoured to get the Super Eagles managerial position few weeks after the resignation of Finidi George.

    Renard is familiar with the African terrain after winning AFCON with Zambia  2012 and also led Cote D’Ivoire to victory in 2015.

    Renard is set to quit his role as head coach of the French women’s national team after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

    According to AfricaSoccer.com, NFF is eager to appoint him as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

    The 55-year-old himself is eager to return to Africa, where he has achieved great success.

    The NFF is looking for a new coach for the Super Eagles following Finidi George’s resignation from the post.

    It is expected that the NFF will face stiff competition for Renard’s services, but securing him would be a major coup for Nigerian football.

    It would be recalled that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have not won a single match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series thus playing draw three times and losing on one occassion.

  • NFF denies receiving Finidi’s resignation letter

    NFF denies receiving Finidi’s resignation letter

    Ibrahim Gusau, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation,  has said that  he is unaware embattled Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, has resigned.

    This is following   onlinereports  that the coach resigned after the NFF announced Thursday that it would hire an “expatriate technical adviser” for the Eagles, following their dismal performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

    Super Eagles have managed to garner just three points from a possible 12, and sit fifth in the six-team Group C.

    As a result, the team’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hangs in the balance.

     

    However, mixed reactions have  continued to trail the NFF’s announcement on Thursday, with some followers of the team calling on the federation’s board members and Finidi to tender their resignations.

    According to reports , Finidi is sad that the NFF leadership met with the sports minister two days ago, but failed to mention that players reported late to the camp and that they (NFF) did nothing to mobilise Nigerians in Ivory Coast to support the Eagles in last Monday’s match with Benin Republic.

    The reports added that Finidi, who’s overseen just two Eagles games since he took charge in April, resigned from his post Tuesday (today) morning.

    The 2026 FIFA world Cup qualifying series for Africa will resume march  2025.

  • Victor Osimhen blasts Finidi, accuses him of lying against him

    Victor Osimhen blasts Finidi, accuses him of lying against him

    Victor Osimhen has launched verbal attacks on former Super Eagles coach, Finidi George few hours after he tendered his resignation letter as the coach of the team.

    There were speculations that  Finidi accused Osimhen of pulling out of games for the national team with minor injuries.

    Osimhen, who netted 15 goals for Napoli in Serie A this season, claims he suffered an ankle injury against Lecce on May 25.

    Osimhen said he was diagnosed of injuries by his doctors and he immediately informed Finidi.

    Continuing he said, he wanted to come to camp to motivate the boys ahead of South Africa and Benin but Finidi declined asking him to go and meet his family.

    In an angry Instagram Live video, Osimhen said: “I won’t let anyone believe anything about me.

    “I don’t just address anything, everybody knows when I play for Nigeria I play my heart out, I just let everything go.

    “But I won’t take disrespect from anybody

    “I’ll share the screenshot and videos of my conversation with Finidi for the sake of those believing what Finidi said.

    “I’ve lost respect for that man because before I disrespect anybody, I always respect them.”

  • Five reasons Finidi George resigned as Super Eagles coach

    Five reasons Finidi George resigned as Super Eagles coach

    It’s no longer news that Finidi George has thrown in the towel. The Port Harcourt born gaffer has resigned his appointment as the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, just few weeks of being appointed the substantive coach.

    TheNewsGuru brings you five possible reasons why he resigned.

    Lack of Support from players and Fans.

    Since his emergence as the substantive coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Finidi hasn’t enjoyed adequate support from both the players and Fans.

    The inability of  some of the players to hit camp on time spoke volume of their discipline level and respect for the gaffer.
    Moreso, many of the fans are not happy with the selection of Finidi with many preferring Emmanuel Amunike.

    The Amokachi factor: Few weeks after being appointed, Amokachi rejected the offer of assistant coach thereby leaving the coaching duties of the players to only Finidi and the two unknown Dutch assistants.
    Amokachi’s rejection showed all wasn’t well with the Super Eagles camp.

    Injuries and lost of Form.

    Many Super Eagles players who could have helped Finidi stay on the job were injured.
    The likes of Osimhen, Troost Ekong, Moses Simon, Dele Bashiru didn’t help matters as their absence also affected the Super Eagles style of play and even overall results.

    Many of the players around also didn’t replicate their club form hence Super Eagles draw to South Africa at home and loss to Benin Republic away.

    After being in charge for two games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Nigeria is occupying second from last in a group of 6.

    Fans Reaction.

    The series of backlashes from fans on social media affected Finidi’s confidence level. Finidi has shown overtime that Media (Traditional and modern) have a way of getting to him.

    NFF emergency Executive meeting.

    This is the last straw that broke the Camel’s back.
    At the emergency meeting held in Abuja recently by NFF excos, it was unanimously agreed that a foreign Technical Adviser would be hired to lead the Super Eagles of Nigeria and that would potend some negative implications on Finidi hence his resolve to throw in the towel.

  • Victor Osimhen blows hot at Finidi George over allegation of refusing to play

    Victor Osimhen blows hot at Finidi George over allegation of refusing to play

    Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has slammed the Super Eagles coach, Finidi George who has now resigned following the allegation made against him.

    Osimhen, who allegedly gave an official explanation for his absence, was not available for the two World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.

    It was reported that George, during his visit to the sport minister, John Enoch singled Osimhen out for criticism over the poor results registered by the team in the two World Cup qualifying matches.

    A source was quoted by The Nation as saying, “The coach went on to say that it appears that Osimhen chooses the games he plays for Nigeria and he (George) cannot beg him to play for his country.”

    George, a former Enyimba coach, also bemoaned the complete breakdown of discipline in the team.

    He said many of the players had the backing of some powerful NFF board members and that it became increasingly difficult to sanction them because he would often be warned that a player “belonged” to a certain “big man.”

    However, speaking in a live Instagram session on Saturday, Osimhen said in Pidgin English, “After my MRI the next day I went to see the doctor. Immediately I called Finidi. I told one of my guys to do a video as the doctor was speaking to Finidi and I. I have it all on video.”

    He added, “I don’t care if that thing that Finidi said is false or whatever I will post the video and photo on my (Instagram) Story and the screenshot. The respect I have for that man I have lost because I told him about my injury.

    “I called him and told him to allow me come to the camp and be with the boys regardless of my injury. I have all these things on video. He said I should be with my family.”

  • Finidi George resigns as Super Eagles coach

    Finidi George resigns as Super Eagles coach

    Finidi George has resigned from his position as the head coach of the Super Eagles.

    Finidi took the decision on Saturday, days after the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, announced moves to bring in a foreign technical adviser.

    His exit was confirmed by former Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, on his X account.

    The resignation follows the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to appoint a foreign coach to oversee him, despite his recent appointment in May.

     

  • BREAKING: Finidi George resigns as Super Eagles coach

    BREAKING: Finidi George resigns as Super Eagles coach

    Super Eagles coach, Finidi George has resigned following moves by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to get a foreign technical adviser.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that former Super Eagles media officer Toyin Ibitoye announced George’s departure in a social media post on Saturday.

    He wrote, “News just in. Finidi George #FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his #NGSuperEagles manager position.”

    Details soon