FINIDI’S NIGERIA LEGACY REMAINS UNTARNISHED DESPITE ‘UNCEREMONOUS’ END – OBOABONA
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Former Nigeria international Godfrey Oboabona 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, Oboabona, 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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