Former Nigerian international Finidi George has been appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to hold the reins in the interim as the national team coach as he prepares to prosecute the two games scheduled to hold in this month’s FIFA international window.
The 52-year-old will lead the Super Eagles into the friendlies against Ghana and Mali as the NFF continues its search for a permanent manager following the team's impressive run as AFCON finalists with Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro whose contract expired after the tournament in Ivory Coast.
George who has already met with the team in Morocco and had a meeting with the squad is not new to the team as he already served as an assistant to the Super Eagles recently when Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro was in charge.
He helped steer the team to the final of the competition hosted in Ivory Coast where the three-time African champions finished as runners-up after losing in the final to the hosts.
The games are meant to help fine-tune the team ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic that is slated for the month of June, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria hoping to get their campaign back on track after recording two draws from their opening two games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
On Friday, the Super Eagles will square off against Ghana and will also take on the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, March 26.
While fans will recognize George from his playing days with Ajax, Real Betis and Ipswich Town, among others, we at Afrik-Foot are bringing you up to speed about the new ‘George of the Eagles'.
From ‘Portharcourt Boy' to European Stardom: The Remarkable Journey of Finidi George
Growing up in the vibrant city of Port Harcourt, Finidi George's passion for football ignited on the pitches of Calabar Rovers FC in Cross Rivers state and Sharks FC in Rivers State.
His innate talent caught the attention of European scouts at a tender age, setting the stage for a remarkable journey in the world of football.
Finidi ventured into Europe, starting his journey with Ajax Amsterdam. His time at Ajax was nothing short of extraordinary, as he won eight major titles, including the prestigious UEFA Champions League in 1995.
His exceptional performances caught the attention of clubs across Europe, leading to successful spells in Spain with Real Betis and a brief stint in England with Ipswich Town.
‘George of the Eagles'
On his national team debut in 1991, George scored one and made four assists for legendary Rashidi Yekini. Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993.
The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in the United States.
That was the game where he etched his name in Nigerian football history. Furthermore, at the 1994 FIFA World Cup proper, in that opening game against Bulgaria on the 19th of June, 1994, with electrifying speed and precision crosses, he played a pivotal role in Nigeria's success, notably assisting in the goal that gave the country her first-ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA.
As a player, George played as a right winger. He won the AFCON in 1994 with Nigeria and appeared in two World Cups for the three-time African champions.
In September 2021, Enyimba FC named Finidi as their new head coach. He won his first title as a coach last season when the Elephants hoisted the NPFL title.
The Georges love football but suffered a major loss…
Finidi was not the only footballer from his family who took football as a major profession, He had an elder brother who also emulated his football journey.
Alari George was an established footballer between 1985 and 1995 and he played for Sharks of Port Harcourt, NNPC Warri and Udoji United. He also played in Cameroon before coming back to the Nigeria league and retired sometime in the mid-90s.
However, another established footballer from the George family had his life cut short tragically. Amidst the glory of Finidi's sporting achievements, tragedy struck in 1995 when his younger brother, Igeniwari George, a promising footballer himself, was tragically killed after a cup game between Rangers International and Stationery Stores at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Igeniwari was a member of the Golden Eaglets team to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in that same year.
The loss left Finidi grappling with profound grief, a wound that remains a poignant reminder of life's fragility.
“It was a terrible experience; I got the news of his death hours before an away game for Ajax. Van Gaal asked me if I could play or I needed some time off but I told him I want to play,” Finidi said in an interview with Legit.
“I played in that game but it wasn’t one of my best games. Days later, I traveled to Nigeria to see my late brother’s body but the police said they were doing some investigations concerning his death and couldn't release the body.
“After spending some days in Nigeria, I had to go back to Europe as it was taking too long for my brother’s body to be released. I went back to Nigeria again but I still couldn’t see him so I went back to my club.
“That was how I missed his burial and till today, we don’t know who killed him as the police never got back to us with their investigation,” Finidi concluded.
Finidi courageously thrives in the Nigerian League
Despite the heartache, Finidi's love for the game endured. In 2021, he embarked on a new chapter as the head coach of Enyimba F.C, one of Nigeria's esteemed football clubs.
And after a not-so-pleasant start in his first few months, his leadership and tactical prowess guided the team to the title last season in the Nigeria Professional Football League, marking a triumphant return to the Nigerian footballing landscape.
The title defense has been somewhat shaky this season despite seeing his team get bundled out of CAF Confederation Cup early on. However, Enyimba are currently third on the log with a point behind the league leaders with 12 rounds of matches left.
Finidi will definitely fancy his chances of winning back-to-back titles with the Elephants but his attention will shift briefly away from the league as he attempts to concentrate on getting the national side ready for a good game against their West African rivals during the international break.
Finidi's appointment for the Super Eagles have sparked both excitement and skepticism among fans. Could the former winger translate his on-field brilliance into success from the dugout with the national team?
Beyond his coaching endeavors, Finidi's impact extends far beyond the pitch. His commitment to nurturing young talent and preserving the legacy of Nigerian football underscores his enduring passion for the beautiful game.
