Finidi George Appointed New Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the appointment of Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles on Monday.
Replacing Peseiro
George takes over the position permanently from Jose Peseiro, with whom he served as an assistant coach for the national team for the past 20 months. Peseiro stepped down in February following Nigeria’s runner-up finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
Playing and Coaching Career
The 52-year-old George is no stranger to Nigerian football. He enjoyed a distinguished playing career, representing the Super Eagles for over a decade. A skillful winger, he was a key member of the team that won the 1994 AFCON title and participated in Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance that same year.
Following his playing career, which concluded in 2004, George obtained a UEFA A Coaching Licence. This qualification opened doors to coaching roles in Spain’s La Liga, where he served as director of international football for Real Betis and youth team coach for Real Mallorca.
In 2021, George joined Enyimba FC and guided the club to its ninth Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) title in 2023.
Looking Ahead: World Cup Qualifiers
Finidi’s immediate challenge with the Super Eagles will be the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June. Nigeria’s qualification campaign is off to a slow start with two draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, leaving them in third place in Group C.
