Finidi George reveals reason behind short-lived tenure as Super Eagles coach 

Though Finidi George only managed two matches as Super Eagles head coach, the ex-Enyimba gaffer believes his brief and disappointing run was influenced by factors beyond his tactics. 

Finidi George, the current Rivers United coach and former Super Eagles head coach, has revealed that player rustiness and late arrivals to camp were key factors behind his brief and underwhelming tenure as the team’s gaffer. 

George resigned just two matches into his appointment as Nigeria’s 14th local head coach, after failing to win any of the June FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic. 

Explaining the reasons for his struggles, George told SportsBoom, “I wanted the camp to open on May 26, but the NFF said it wasn’t possible because some players were already on holiday, which was very strange to me.

“If you’re not fit enough at that level, no matter the tactics, you can’t perform at your best. Most players didn’t show up. The intensity in friendly matches often differs from crucial qualifiers,” George said.

The former Real Betis winger also addressed the controversial issue involving himself and Victor Osimhen, explaining how he would have handled the situation if he were in the striker’s position.

“For me, you know, people are different. The character of people is different. I wouldn’t have done that. If Keshi, the late Keshi, had said something about me, or Christian Chukwu, these were my coaches,” George remarked.

“If they had said something, or I read something in the media that the coach said, I wouldn’t reply to him. That’s my kind of person, you know.

“The way we react to things is quite different. So, I would not know. But for me personally, I would not.” 

George left Enyimba after winning a league title with the People’s Elephant to coach the Super Eagles. Since quitting the national team, he has enjoyed a strong start to his tenure as Rivers United manager, maintaining an unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign with three wins and one draw in four games.