Finidi George criticizes NFF’s handling of his dismissal
Former Super Eagles coach Finidi George has opened up about his brief tenure with Nigeria’s national team, criticizing the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for their unprofessional approach to his dismissal. George, who managed only two official matches, expressed his frustration and determination to lead Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup.
The NFF recently announced the departure of the 54-year-old coach following Nigeria’s 1-2 defeat to Benin on the fourth day of the World Cup qualifiers.
With Nigeria’s qualification hopes in jeopardy, the federation decided to make changes, sidelining George in the process.
In an interview with ESPN, Finidi George shared his astonishment upon learning of his dismissal via a phone call, especially after a lengthy meeting with federation officials where no mention of his replacement was made.
“They met on Wednesday and made the decision to hire a technical advisor. I have no problem with this.
But we had a three-hour meeting on Thursday to go over what happened and discuss the way forward.
At no time did anyone mention that they were going to bring in a new coach,” George said.
He recounted the moment he received the news, saying, “I was on my way home and had just landed at the airport when I received a call about this.
I was so surprised that I had to pull over to the side of the road to find out more.
For two days I waited to see if they would have the courtesy to inform me, but I didn’t hear back from them. So I decided to resign.”
Despite the abrupt end to his tenure, George remained resolute about his goals.
“Even though our recent results in qualifying matches have not lived up to our expectations, I remain determined to get our World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.
However, with the recent changes to the technical team, I believe it was time for me to leave my position,” he added.
Finidi George’s experience highlights the challenges and uncertainties faced by coaches in the dynamic world of football management.
His commitment to Nigeria’s football aspirations, despite the setbacks, underscores his passion and dedication to the sport.
