Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Finidi George says as long as he’s in charge of the team, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players will not be neglected in his squad selection.
In recent years, home-based players have not been an integral part of the national team, majorly due to the foreign coaches’ allure of European stars. While there are still some doubts about the quality of players plying their trade in Nigeria, George who recently just vacated his head coach position at NPFL side Enyimba believes the league isn’t bereft of brilliant footballers.
“I think there are a lot of good players in the league, but they’ve not had the opportunity to showcase what they have in their Arsenal” George said during a press conference at the Eko Hotel, Lagos on Thursday.
“With me as a coach, that opportunity will come. I’m in Nigeria, I’m not abroad. Definitely, they would have their time, like our players in Europe. Friendly games will be the best time to integrate them and watch them. I plan to go around and watch games.”
There has been a bit of uproar on social media since Tuesday, following George’s “my philosophy is to win, for me formation is not that important” assertion in a chat with Brilla Media. However, the 1994 AFCON winner has rescinded the statement with his latest at the Eko Hotel, “I like to play attacking football. My best time [as a footballer] was in Holland, and we know that the football Manchester City plays today is the Dutch style, total football. You try to keep possession, but once you lose the ball, you try as much as possible to get it back immediately, but that is defence too.”
The 52-year-old continued, “There are two things here: the NFF’s and my personal targets. I’ll tell you, I’m not scared of anything. Sometimes I might say things that look unreal, but my target is to win. To qualify first for the World Cup and win the next AFCON. We already have a silver medal, I have to do something bigger.”
Following the conclusion of George’s three-day media tour which spanned from Tuesday, May 21 to Thursday, May 23, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to announce his squad list for the June World Cup qualifiers any moment from now.
In recent years, home-based players have not been an integral part of the national team, majorly due to the foreign coaches’ allure of European stars. While there are still some doubts about the quality of players plying their trade in Nigeria, George who recently just vacated his head coach position at NPFL side Enyimba believes the league isn’t bereft of brilliant footballers.
“I think there are a lot of good players in the league, but they’ve not had the opportunity to showcase what they have in their Arsenal” George said during a press conference at the Eko Hotel, Lagos on Thursday.
“With me as a coach, that opportunity will come. I’m in Nigeria, I’m not abroad. Definitely, they would have their time, like our players in Europe. Friendly games will be the best time to integrate them and watch them. I plan to go around and watch games.”
There has been a bit of uproar on social media since Tuesday, following George’s “my philosophy is to win, for me formation is not that important” assertion in a chat with Brilla Media. However, the 1994 AFCON winner has rescinded the statement with his latest at the Eko Hotel, “I like to play attacking football. My best time [as a footballer] was in Holland, and we know that the football Manchester City plays today is the Dutch style, total football. You try to keep possession, but once you lose the ball, you try as much as possible to get it back immediately, but that is defence too.”
The 52-year-old continued, “There are two things here: the NFF’s and my personal targets. I’ll tell you, I’m not scared of anything. Sometimes I might say things that look unreal, but my target is to win. To qualify first for the World Cup and win the next AFCON. We already have a silver medal, I have to do something bigger.”
Following the conclusion of George’s three-day media tour which spanned from Tuesday, May 21 to Thursday, May 23, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to announce his squad list for the June World Cup qualifiers any moment from now.
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