May 13, (THEWILL) – Finidi George, the newly appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, has emphatically dismissed rumours of a strained relationship with some of the national team players. During his unveiling ceremony on Monday, he addressed the speculations surrounding his man-management skills that emerged after the recent international friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Two months ago, reports suggested that Finidi had fallen out with certain players due to their lack of playing time in the matches against Ghana and Mali. These rumours cast doubts on his ability to manage the team effectively, prompting questions from a section of the media.
Finidi, who served as an assistant to José Peseiro for 20 months before the Portuguese’s departure in February 2024, took charge of the Super Eagles on an interim basis during the friendly matches in Morocco last month. This period proved to be a testing ground for his man-management abilities.
Addressing reporters, Finidi stressed the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with the players. “I have been with the team for 20 months, and I can assure you that my relationship with the players is very, very perfect, as an assistant,” he said. “Being the head coach now, it will not change anything. I am the same person, and I will just try to improve on my relationship with the players.”
Acknowledging the professional nature of the players, Finidi emphasised the need for a different approach. “In Europe, you don’t have to slap anybody for not doing their job. Definitely, I have a way of talking to the players that they will understand. Henceforth, you will not hear any controversy about my relationship with the players; that will be perfect.” Former Nigerian internationals Augustine Eguavoen, Pascal Patrick, and Nasiru Jibril attended Finidi’s unveiling ceremony at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
