Finidi’s Resignation: So Much To Ponder!

 ‘‘Ambition is the rocket engine that will take you wherever

                 you wish to arrive’’. Remez Sasson.

Since news filtered about the resignation of Super Eagles of Nigeria, Finidi George, several stories and videos have arisen from people close to the team revealing issues that probably contributed to Nigeria’s lackluster performance during their last two World Cup Qualifiers matches this month against South Africa and Benin Republic. These negative commentaries don’t do the peddlers any good. Every player and coaching staff must share in this blame and as professionals, they should know what is required of them to achieve good results, rather than washing their privates in the public!

I don’t mourn Finidi’s exit but salute his forthrightness because he like the players has much blame for their current situation in achieving whatever (if any) ambitions they have about qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Finidi has been involved as coach of the Super Eagles and an employee of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), for almost two years. That he’s conversant with the mindset, sentiments, and nuances of these parties would be an understatement. His advantage as a former footballer who greatly excelled makes it obvious that she should have known what to expect in his recent upgrade to handle the national team. The stage during which he took over as coach was delicate enough for him to understand that he had no opportunity to make silly errors or make decisions that could put him in a precarious situation, but events until his retirement never showed he put these considerations into account!

Finidi George enjoys the benefits of having participated in the FIFA World Cup, won the African Nations Cup and the UEFA Cup. As a coach in the Nigerian Professional League, he led Enyimba International FC to two league victories and remains accomplished in every ramification. Very few of the current generation of Nigerian footballers can boast of any accomplishments comparable to Finidi; apart from their salaries which look extremely fat, when converted to the devalued Nigerian Naira. Whilst coaches take most blame when their teams perform badly, these players deserve to look at themselves in the mirror and acknowledge their shameful performances!

We have seen past Nigerian players, especially from the Finidi generation, commit their blood and sweat to making Nigeria happy. The Eagles 1994 team rose to become ranked by FIFA amongst the best 5 football-playing nations in the World and the fluidity of their play won global acclaim! Coach Clemence Westerhof cannot alone claim the credit for the exquisite displays of the Super Eagles, especially during their peak, 1993/94. The Keshi-led group of players also did their bit!

Apart from the probably retired captain Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo, none of these boys have participated in the FIFA World Cup, and taking away the recent accomplishments of Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman, the rest remain naked with very little football honors to boast about. These boys must do the almost impossible by taking Nigeria and themselves to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and must agree amongst themselves to give Nigeria good football, blaming the coach always for their uninspiring performances is balderdash!

The Minister for Sports, Senator Ewan Eno deserves much commendation for giving critical attention to meeting the aspirations of sports-loving Nigerians, but we can still support our local content by replacing Finidi with another Nigerian coach who could be assisted by a credible expatriate coach (this was done by Coach Samson Siasia). This is very possible to achieve and we must do the utmost not to diminish the gains of our football development because of an avoidable slur!