No Nigerian living is presently facing the kind of pressure George Finidi is experiencing.
That is why we say the Super Eagles job is one of the most difficult, demanding and challenging if not risky.
This isn’t the best of times to be the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. Two World Cup qualifiers in succession and one point secured isn’t a good record or result to showcase.
However, I will admonish everyone to be patient and calm down as we place all hands on deck to navigate out of this murky waters.
Sure the Finidi led technical crew needs help now. The job now becomes collective.
Prayers, technical inputs, psychological boost and financial support in the area of motivating the players by increasing their winning bonus are required now to lift the team to the top.
Yours Sincerely think the Super Eagles still stand a chance of picking a ticket to the 2026 World Cup. There are six fixtures to go. 18 points are at stake. Eagles can still turn the table around.
As for those calling me out on my unrepentant position on indigenous coach for Super Eagles, I stand by my position. I wish to remind you that Finidi didn’t start the World Cup qualification campaign.
Super Eagles had played two previous games and got draws in both under Jose Peseiro. The foundation of this campaign was laid by Peseiro. Finidi has played two, drawn one and lost one. Is it fair to heap the blame of the position of the team on the group log on him?
Those calling me out should not pretend to have forgotten that Finidi was appointed or employed in April. His first full training with the team was just a couple of days to the fixture against South Africa on June 7.
In other words between when he was appointed towards the end of April and when he was unveiled on May 13 and when Super Eagles took on Bafana Bafana on June 7, Finidi had just four weeks to tinker this team. That is excluding the “politics” of the appointment of his assistants.
The very unusual arrangement the NFF had with Finidi’s assistants which exempts them from monthly salaries and placed them on “pay as you play” or feature which is strictly on allowances and bonuses isn’t the best for a Federation that claims it is determined to qualify for the World Cup.
Even if they pledged their full commitment, it is difficult to say that their psychological commitment is or can be guaranteed.
Given the present situation, Yours Sincerely thinks the NFF should review that arrangement and decision of no salaries for the assistant coaches as way of boosting the morale of the team to turn things around.
Let’s join hands and make things work. It’s not about Finidi or NFF or Super Eagles…it’s about Nigeria. The situation is not irredeemable.
Serious football playing nations that find themselves in this situation…roll up their sleeves, get into the trenches to grind out results in the remaining games yet qualify.
Defeat by Benin Republic on Match Day 4 of the qualities isn’t the end of the world. We should look at the remaining fixtures with great hope and commence solid planning and implementation of programs to qualify.
Losing hope isn’t an option. If Cote d’Ivoire lost hope in AFCON tournament which they hosted given their poor run in the group stage, they probably wouldn’t win the tournament.
Eagles can still qualify!!!
©️ DESMOND EKWUEME
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