FINIDI George’s unveiling as the new Super Eagles head coach settles the long-standing debate over leadership of Nigeria’s premier football team, ahead of other contenders such as Emmanuel Amuneke and Michael Nsien. This appointment comes amidst a historical struggle between foreign and local coaches for the team’s helm, with recent managers including Gernot Rohr and Jose Peseiro. George, a former Super Eagles player with 61 appearances and six goals between 1991 and 2002, brings a welcome local perspective to the role, following successful stints including leading Enyimba FC to a Nigerian Premier League victory in 2023. He was also an Assistant Coach to his predecessor, Peseiro. Significantly, he led Nigeria to defeat Ghana by two goals to one after 18 years of unsuccessful attempts against the Black Stars.

HIS appointment resonates with many Nigerians who yearn for a coach rooted in Nigerian passion and heritage. Countries like Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, and even the 2023 African Cup of Nations host and winner, Cote d’Ivoire, have their teams managed by African coaches. Moreover, not much has been achieved with foreign coaches in charge of Nigeria’s national team. The last time Nigeria tasted AFCON victory was in 2013 during the reign of the late Stephen Keshi, a national pride and ex-Nigerian international.

FURTHERMORE, it signals a departure from the past reliance on foreign coaches, with the hope of ending the financial burden of paying foreign coaches in foreign currencies. Therefore, bad debts for foreign coaches will end as Finidi George will be paid in the local currency, following the directive of the Federal Government to end transactions in foreign currencies in the country.

WHILE we celebrate Finidi George and give thumbs up to the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, we must not overlook certain concerns that have stunted the growth of our national teams. We implore the NFF and its ‘cabals’ to give Finidi George all the support he needs to thrive, including the freedom to deliver his roles professionally. Interference in player discovery, invitation, and selection, which has become a recurrent issue, should be done away with. We must salute the NFF for allowing George to pick his assistants. We believe this is a step forward in ensuring he is given the freedom and respect as the coach that he deserves.

WE also call for an end to the corrupt practices that have plagued the ‘Glass House’ for many years. Alleged demands for bribes from coaches and players by NFF officials should be severely dealt with. Many internationals have alleged that some NFF officials and coaching crew demanded bribes before they were invited to international tournaments. For instance, Salisu Yusuf, an assistant coach to the then Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr, was filmed collecting a bribe from an undercover Ghanaian journalist, AnasAremeyawAnas, who posed as a football agent. Scandals like this will make the team unprogressive.

WE equally charge the new head coach to take a cue from his predecessors; learning from their success stories and failures. Most importantly, Stephen Keshi’s 2013 triumph should be understudied. It was unprecedented, and the tactics, styles, and composition of the team should be worthy of investigation.

NIGERIAN local players have been side-lined and relegated to mere trial pawns in recent times. We charge Coach George to look inward and develop, in collaboration with the NFF, to identify, develop, and exploit local players for the Super Eagles shirts. This will spur more development among the players. Egypt did not dominate African football with foreign players; they did so with their countrymen.

FURTHERMORE, the welfare of the players is paramount. We have heard several cases of non-payment of allowances and benefits and maltreatment of players on national assignments. These ugly developments should be things of the past, and the Chief Coach has a lot of roles to play to ensure this.

BY fostering transparency, accountability, local talent development and prioritising the welfare of players, Finidi George has the opportunity to lead the Super Eagles to new heights and restore the nation’s glory on the international stage. There’s optimism that his tenure will mark a new chapter in Nigerian football, characterized by local pride, success, and financial responsibility.