Finidi Demoted As NFF Goes For Foreign Coach

• NFF decides to hire foreign Technical Adviser for Super Eagles following Sports Minister’s demand for team restructuring
• Finidi George to revert to assistant coach as NFF plans to bolster Technical Department and restructure Sub-Committee promptly

Following a meeting with Sports Minister Senator John Enoh, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed a foreign Technical Adviser to lead the Super Eagles for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

This decision comes in response to the Super Eagles’ poor performance in the World Cup qualification series, which prompted the sports minister to demand a restructuring of the team’s technical staff and a detailed technical report following their disappointing results in the June FIFA window.

In compliance with the minister’s directive, the NFF convened in Abuja and announced hiring an expatriate coach for the Super Eagles. The communiqué issued after the meeting stated, “The Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.”

Additionally, the NFF plans to strengthen its Technical Department with more skilled personnel and promptly restructure the Technical and Development Subcommittee.

As a consequence of this decision, Finidi George, who currently heads the Super Eagles’ technical crew, will revert to his previous role as assistant coach of the national team.

Under Finidi George’s leadership, the Super Eagles secured only one point out of a possible six. They drew 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in Abidjan during their third and fourth matches.

Currently positioned second from bottom in Group C with three points from four matches, the team trails front-runners Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin by four points.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers draw will determine the Super Eagles’ opponents on July 4 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Following the preliminary round, 48 countries will be divided into 12 groups of four to compete for 24 spots in the finals of Africa’s premier football tournament, slated to be held in Morocco in 2025.