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| Finidi George |
Finidi George, who was recently named Nigeria's coach, will face his inaugural challenge against Bafana Bafana on home soil.
With the Nigeria/South Africa 2026 World Cup qualifier in Uyo just weeks away, there's a sense of unease among Nigerians due to the slow progress.
Finidi George, who was recently named Nigeria's coach, will face his inaugural challenge against Bafana Bafana on home soil.
Following this, the Super Eagles will compete against Benin in their bid to secure the leading position in Group C.
George recognizes the hurdles his team will encounter and emphasizes the importance of not fearing the competition.
"We understand the desire of Nigerians for the team to consistently succeed, and our focus is to prepare the players for each match individually," he expressed.
"Our immediate attention is on the South African match, aiming for victory before we consider the subsequent game against the Benin Republic.
Life is inherently challenging, and we navigate it knowing the obstacles we may face," added the Super Eagles coach.
"That's my life philosophy and my approach to football is no different. We'll fulfill our duties and extract the utmost from that match; beyond that, there's nothing more."
The upcoming match against Bafana will mark George's debut in a competitive setting as the Super Eagles' coach.
Nigeria enters this match following a 2-0 defeat to Mali in an international friendly in March, with George serving as the interim coach.
He aims to prevent that outcome from affecting his team's morale before the pivotal World Cup qualifiers.
While Bafana's coach Hugo Broos has already revealed his preliminary squad for the June World Cup qualifiers, George's team announcement is pending.
He is anticipated to disclose his lineup shortly as he concludes his selection process.
Building the Strongest National Team – Super Eagles Assistant Coach, James
In the meantime, Super Eagles assistant coach Benjamin James is optimistic that the newly appointed technical staff can establish one of the world's most formidable national teams.
The ex-Shooting Stars athlete, who recently joined the Super Eagles' technical team appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation, will juggle this role with his position at Bundesliga's Hoffenheim.
The 53-year-old is confident that in collaboration with head coach Finidi George and Daniel Amokachi, they will form a robust team.
"With the experience I've accumulated, I'm convinced that a collaboration between Finidi, Amokachi, and myself will yield positive outcomes," he shared with Brila FM.
The trio will deliberate on the team's strategy. The current squad has talent; it's a matter of optimal placement.
"Finidi is level-headed, and while I'm less acquainted with Amokachi, I'm confident he shares a similar disposition, and together, we can forge the best path forward."
The team's initial task under the new technical crew will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa.
