I’m not under pressure to coach Super Eagles – Finidi George

Interim manager of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Finidi George, has stated that he is not losing any sleep over getting the national team’s coaching job on a permanent basis.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, declared the position of the head coach vacant, following the exit of Jose Peseiro, who led the side to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

In an advertisement on its website the NFF called for applications with a March 13 deadline, and noted that the prospective Eagles coach “must have proven experience at the elite level of football.”

Finidi, who also applied for the job, was appointed Eagles interim coach for the international window with the former Ajax man picking a win and suffering a defeat.

In an interview with Modo TV, the 52-year-old head coach of the Nigeria Premier Football Leagues side, Enyimba, said he was not desperate for the job permanently.

Finidi said; “I felt really good when I was told to take charge of the team. I have been with the team for almost two years, I know all the players, their strengths, and their weaknesses but I am only here to serve Nigeria the way I know how to do stuff.

“I will just take these two games and go back to my club. Whatever the decision is taken after, so be it. I’m not under pressure to say I must get the role permanently.”

Super Eagles lost 2-0 to Mali and beat Ghana 2-1, in international friendlies. Both matches were played with Finidi in charge.

In similar news…

Former Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro recently said he is not interested in making a return to manage the Nigerian national football team.

Peseiro left the post following the expiration of his contract last month, and there were reports that the Nigeria Football Federation reopened negotiations and offered him an increased pay to make a return to the team but he turned it down.

The Portuguese, however, however reiterated that his work with the team was complete. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach such talented players, but insisted that it was time for him and the country to move on in their respective lanes.

He said in an interview with SPORTSITALIA; “As I said, my work with the Super Eagles is over. It was gratifying to coach players of such quality, with my staff we managed to do well in this sense, but the time has come to move on to another project.”