Finidi George To Lead Super Eagles In International Friendlily Games

Super Eagles will have former Nigerian forward Finidi George leading them from the dugout when they clash with West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly this Friday in Marrakech.

Finidi George, 52-year-old former winger for Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis, takes charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming friendlies against Ghana and Mali. George, who famously scored on his debut for Nigeria in a 1991 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, will lead the 22-man squad selected by the NFF.

“In a dazzling 1991 debut, George (formerly of Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC) notched a goal and four assists for the legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory). He even played a key role in Yekini’s strike, Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on June 19th, 1994.

Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.

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This comes 21 months after he started learning under Portuguese manager José Santos Peseiro, who led the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year.

By Tuesday lunch, 12 of the expected 22 players were already in Morocco’s fourth-largest city. Injuries ruled out defenders Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi, along with forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi.

At the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.

Nigeria expects goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho to arrive in Marrakech by Tuesday.

Only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected on Wednesday.