Finidi George Quits Super Eagles’ Job

• Mixed reactions trail resignation 

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – After just two competitive games in charge of the national team without victory, Finidi George has left his job as Chief Coach of the Super Eagles

Though there is no official confirmation yet, his departure from the top job follows Super Eagles’ 2-1 loss to Benin Republic on match day 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

That results left the Nigerian side without a single victory in the four games so far played.

Former Eagles Media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, broke the news of Finidi’s exit on his X account on Saturday when he wrote; “News just in. Finidi George #FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his #NGSuperEagles manager position.”

However, an insider in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who spoke on the development said the Federation is looking at employing another manager for the team.

Also, the source hinted that the nation’s football governing body is already considering various options, including the possibility of engaging a new handler but on reduced salary as the head coach.

The former Nigerian international and Ajax Amsterdam fleet-footed forward was unveiled as the Super Eagles’ Chief Coach in May following the departure of Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro at the end of the 2023 African Cup of Nations in February.

In March, the 53-year-old former Enyimba handler took charge of the team on an interim basis for the doubleheader international friendly against Ghana and Mali.

But things have not just gone right for the Rivers state-born Coach as he could only manage a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa before losing 1-2 to the Squirrels of Benin Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions continued to trail Finidi’s resignation with some fans insisting that leadership further injured the team’s hope of clinching a World Cup ticket. 

Interestingly, the social media platforms, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, are the busiest with football fans differing in views as to the Super Eagles’ likely qualification for the Mundial taking place from June 11 to July 19, 2026

It football fiesta will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries of Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

@OgbeniDipo, “I really really loved Finidi George as a player but his appointment as a Coach appears to be an error. He didn’t appear to have what it takes to do the job. He didn’t look confident. His body language was off. He didn’t appear confident. Sad to see him go but he needed to.”

@omaakatugba, wrote :”In May, after Finidi George was appointed as the Super Eagles coach, I expressed my concerns. His appointment seemed completely misguided. His interviews repeatedly demonstrated his inability to articulate his thoughts as a coach, and his poor management of the two friendly games revealed his lack of team management skills. Additionally, his handling of the two FIFA World Cup qualifiers was disastrous. I’m not celebrating his dismissal or departure, but I stand by my initial assessment that he wasn’t the right man for the job.”

@PoojaMedia “The first DISASTER forFinidi George was the interview with Brila FM. He was not prepped well, not protected, not guided, just spoke without adequate planning on questions & answers. Your first MAJOR interview after the appointment must be well planned & not loose like that.”

Inno Oluku wrote, “The coaching crew is not the problem, but players that are not thinking straight of their country, instead not committed to doing their nation pride in the field of playing each all important match; I rest my case!!!”

Adedeji Babalola said, “It is better as he resigned honorably. We still won’t forget that he made us happy as a very committed footballer for Super Eagles. He should have never taken the job. Not all great players make good coaches. As far as coaching was concerned, it was all shade of cluelessness from him.”

@tegasupreme “You can question Finidi George’s readiness to handle a team like the Super Eagles. You must also acknowledge that there’s a lot of disrespect towards indigenous coaches that foreign coaches don’t get from the federation. Good luck to the NFF and everyone involved.”