As he settles down to the herculean task before him, fans of the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been speaking on what they expect from the newly appointed coach of the team, Finidi George. Contrary to the expectations of most football stakeholders, the former Ajax Amsterdam star was appointed the head coach of the three-time African champions and his first major assignment is to qualify Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles who failed to qualify for the last edition in Qatar are already lagging behind in the race having managed to pick only two points from two matches. This is a source of concern for many Nigerians who have expressed worry that thunder might strike twice at the same spot. Against this background, Trust Sports interviewed a cross section of Nigerians who spoke on their expectations from the new coach as he prepares for the next World Cup qualifier against perennial rivals the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
Korede Akintunde
Finidi will be expected to build a strong Super Eagles that will be capable of delivering entertaining and positive football results with quality players.
Till today, after the departure of Okocha, the midfield of the Super Eagles has not gotten a creative person. This is one headache he needs to cure.
Lastly, goalkeeping still needs fresh hands. While the former coach has been able to put to rest the issue of that department with the discovery of Stanley Nwabali, there is still a need for more quality options.
Godsent Oghenejuvwe Akin
I expect Coach Finidi George to integrate talented, skillful, and hardworking home-based players into the first eleven of the Super Eagles and also change the Super Eagles tactics.
Celestine Prince Chimezirim
I am not expecting so much from the coach but he can surprise me by qualifying Nigeria for the next World Cup. First, he must prove to the players that he is qualified to coach them.
If he does not convince his players, he will have a serious problem because they are used to working under experienced and knowledgeable coaches. Super Eagles is bigger than Enyimba so Finidi must work extra hard to succeed with the national team.
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Anuoluwapo Adeosun
I really don’t have any trust in Finidi George but since he is the new coach, he surely has no choice than to get the job done. He has no room for failure as over 200m Nigerians will hang his neck if he fails to perform. He needs to get his acts right and give us a team that every other nation will be scared to meet.
Ayobami Bolatito Ezekiel
I am hoping for an improved team performance, with a focus on attacking style, defensive solidity, and teamwork. It’s also important for the coach to give opportunities to young, talented players and help them grow into world-class stars.
And of course, rotating players effectively while maintaining team cohesion is key. I like to see fresh tactical ideas and adaptability on the field. Let’s hope the coach adjusts his tactics to suit different opponents and game situations, showcasing his strategic insights. And yes, a strong winning mentality is crucial for performing under pressure and winning games.
Kelvin Alohan
There are speculations that George has requested for three foreign technical assistants, the NFF should give him all he needs to succeed in his role as Head coach, because there’s no reason why Nigeria should not be at the next World Cup, so the work starts now.
Umar Isyaku Ogunse
First of all, this is a welcome development, because, in the past our local coaches such as Stephen Keshi, Christian Chukwu, did well both as players and as coaches, but somehow along the way, we resorted to hiring foreign coaches.
Those foreign coaches know very little or nothing about the players, that is why they don’t usually perform up to our expectations, and you know Nigerians always want quick results.
I am confident that Finidi will do great. He did well as a player, and as assistant coach, working with Peseiro. However, he needs time to put things in the proper place. If we rush to see quick results from him, we may end up being disappointed.
Ayoola Babatunde
No expectations to be honest. That’s the way with my great country Nigeria. That’s just it. If we put too much expectations on them, that is when they break our hearts. So, I am not expecting anything from the coach.
Joseph Adeniran
I am expecting so much from Findi but at the same time, his employers must support him to succeed.
In any case, I want the coach to justify the confidence reposed in him by the NFF and some Nigerians by taking the Super Eagles to higher heights. I want him to announce himself with victory in the match against South Africa.
Stephen Ojo
Finidi is a round peg in a round hole. He has had ample time to relate with the players and expectations are very high. As coach of Enyimba, he must have spotted talented players in the NPF. He should include some of them in the Super Eagles.
But he needs support from the NFF because we had some good coaches but at the end of the day, they left unceremoniously because the football federation failed to keep some of the promises.
Paul Oyewusi
Finidi should emulate his compatriot the late Stephen Keshi who won the 2023 AFCON with the Super Eagles. He knew exactly what was expected of him and he delivered.
Since he is on the ground for some time now, I am sure he must have seen some good players in the NPFL that he will inject into the team. We need fresh legs in the Super Eagles.
“He has played at the highest level so I don’t think he will have any problem dealing with the ego of the big players in the team.
Nancy Aguda
Finidi did very well as a player for the Super Eagles and now that he is the coach of the team, I am not expecting anything short of excellence from him. He was part of the team that reached the final at the 2023 AFCON so he knows the expectations of Nigerians. He can’t afford to do less than what his predecessor did in Cote d’Ivoire.
So, I want him to bring in new players who will make those who are already there to sit up and play with passion.
Abdullahi Mohammed Tanko
It is very good that Finidi is appointed to head our national team, because he played for Nigeria with patriotism at the AFCON and World Cup.
So, it is not surprising that he is given the opportunity to lead the team. He served as assistant to José Santos Peseiro, and they went all the way to the finals of the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. So he has the required experience.
What I expect from him is to identify our home-based talents. We have outstanding players that are playing in our home leagues and if they are given the opportunity, they will bring healthy competition into the team.
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