It has been a testing week for Nigerian football after the Super Eagles disappointingly extended their winless run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to four matches.
Having been paired in a group that contains relative minnows like Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Benin, Nigeria were expected to make light work of these opponents, with South Africa the only side that should realistically be troubling them.
However, while Finidi George’s side drew with Bafana Bafana at home, they suffered a damaging defeat at the hands of Benin in Abidjan. Luckily for Nigeria, though, they are still very much in contention in Group C, with Rwanda and South Africa just four points above them.
But the results of the last two games seem to have spooked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), whose desperation to see the national team at the next World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada has led to some drastic measures.
A statement from the NFF on Thursday said its Executive Committee has “resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser” to help Finidi achieve its set goals of qualifying for the AFCON and World Cup. The statement added that the Super Eagles’ technical team will also be beefed up with “more qualitative hands.”
The above effectively calls into question Finidi’s competence and ability to lead the Super Eagles after just four matches in charge. Afrik-Foot takes a look at five blunders that led Finidi into this ditch.
Failing to win against South Africa and Benin
Finidi George’s appointment as Nigeria’s head coach ignited fanfare among supporters but has failed to halt the slump that characterised the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying campaign under erstwhile coach Jose Peseiro.
While the Portuguese could only secure two points from lowly-ranked Lesotho and Zimbabwe, Finidi has outdone his former boss, albeit in the reverse, by leading Nigeria to a single point from a possible six after drawing with South Africa and losing to Benin.
Overall, the 53-year-old has also won just one out of the four matches he has managed as Super Eagles boss and that is simply not good enough, especially for a man on a short-term contract.
Lack of definite style or structure
Finidi spoke at length about departing from Peseiro’s conservative style of football and promised that the Super Eagles would play attacking, free-flowing football during his unveiling.
While there have been flashes of the expansive football he promised, the Super Eagles have looked completely lost and disorganised in their recent matches. Despite the array of talent in the squad, Finidi has failed to institute a structure that would enable them to flourish. His deficiencies were badly exposed, especially against Benin, where it was evident that coaching at this level is more than just giving players freedom on the pitch.
Dropping Victor Boniface for crucial World Cup qualifiers
Another blunder that Finidi committed was benching a fully fit Victor Boniface for both matches against South Africa and Benin.
With Victor Osimhen ruled out through injury, it was very bizarre for Finidi to pick Paul Onuachu over the Bayer Leverkusen striker, who scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists last season.
Lack of authority on Super Eagles squad amid late arrivals
Finidi didn’t also cover himself in glory with regards to how he managed the Super Eagles squad. He cannot be blamed for the labour strike that disrupted flights, but he didn't appear to stamp his authority enough by allowing some players to report to camp late despite finishing the season way earlier.
There’s also the small (or huge) detail of publicly disagreeing with captain William Troost-Ekong over the defender’s fitness and ultimately dropping him despite the PAOK rearguard insisting he was fit and ready to play.
NFF’s delay in providing Finidi George’s backroom staff
Aside from Finidi’s own shortcomings, he has also been badly let down by the NFF right from the start.
Not only was he denied a proper backroom staff until a few weeks before the World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin, but also the Federation’s negligence and lack of communication with clubs left Finidi cluelessly inviting players who were injured, eventually dropping them later. He has had his shortcomings, but the support system supposed to assist him has clearly not done its job too.
