Finidi George Archives - Leading Reporters

Former Ajax winger, Finidi George, has stepped down as coach of the Super Eagles.

This was made known by ex-Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye in a post on X.com on Saturday.

He wrote, “News just in. Finidi George #FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his #NGSuperEagles manager position.”

The resignation follows the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to appoint a foreign coach to oversee him, despite his recent appointment in May.

George, 53, took the reins after Jose Peseiro’s contract ended in February, having served as his assistant for 20 months. However, the team’s disappointing performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin led to his demotion.

As a result, George’s one-year contract will be downgraded, and his reported monthly salary of N15m will be reduced to N5m. His handpicked assistants will also be replaced by the new foreign coach’s staff.

In a meeting with Sports Minister John Enoh, George expressed his frustration with the lack of support from the NFF and questioned the commitment of Nigeria’s top players in the crucial World Cup qualifiers.

The board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

George, who spent 20 months as assistant to coach José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of the Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in an interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.

George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in the USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver, and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000, and 2002 AFCON tournaments.

The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward, who made a scoring debut for the fatherland in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe.

Finidi George

BREAKING: Finidi George resigns as Super Eagles Coach

BREAKING: NFF Appoints Finidi George As Super Eagles Head Coach