Super Eagles coach, Finidi George promises to stick with AFCON Silver medal winning team

Posted : 23 May 2024

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The newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, on Thursday said that the majority of the Silver-winning Super Eagles players from the last African Cup of Nations (AFCON) would be part of his future plans for the team.

Finidi made the assertion during an interactive session with the media at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The soft-spoken tactician also described the winding up of the European football season as the best time for Nigerians playing in the different leagues on the continent.

Regarding the forthcoming crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers doubleheader against South Africa and Benin Republic, Finidi said that he was confident of securing the maximum points.

"South Africa World Cup qualifiers will be a difficult game. We all know what happened during the last AFCON. For us, we know the capacity of the South Africans.

"The majority of the South African players are playing in the country, but if our players give 100 percent of what they have given their respective clubs, we won't have a problem.

"I think the present form of the Super Eagles is good enough to beat the South African team; all we need to do is pray for luck and take our chances," he said.

Finidi also noted that he expected two or three additions to the team but that the bulk of the players he would use to prosecute the World Cup qualifiers would be the players from the last AFCON.

"Sometimes, club performances and national team participation are not the same. We are going to have new faces in the Eagles, one or two.

"In my days as a player, we had players who were doing well at their club level but failed to perform in the national team or struggled.

"We now have lots of players doing well in Europe that we want to give opportunities to, and we will give them the opportunity during the FIFA windows for friendly matches.

"The best time to assess them is during friendly matches to blend the new invitees and the older ones together.

"However, the bulk of the players will be the ones that played in the last AFCON. So now, Nigerians know my mind."

Finidi then revealed that the Super Eagles list for the World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Squirrels of Benin Republic would be out before Saturday.

On Ademola Lookman's heroic performance for his team, Italian club, Atalanta FC, beating Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final where he scored a hat-trick, Finidi said he was delighted with the Nigerian's show.

"For me as a Nigerian, I am happy that our players are putting up such good displays and doing well in Europe. This is the best time for Nigerians playing in Europe.

"Ademola is a player we need and we love him, and I am glad that he had a spectacular performance yesterday. I sent him a message to congratulate him and not him alone, but Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella as well.

"It is a good thing for Nigeria because for a very long time, we have not had our players doing so well in Europe. As a coach now, it is wonderful for me.

"We need all these players to come back and perform for us. I am delighted for Lookman's success in scoring a hat-trick, and I am looking forward to having him in the camp."

Super Eagles coach, Finidi George promises to stick with AFCON Silver medal winning team

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