The Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualification campaign has been thrown into turmoil following the resignation of head coach Finidi George. This development comes on the heels of disappointing performances in recent qualifiers and has cast doubt on Nigeria’s chances of making it to the tournament.
The trouble began with the doubleheader matches against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic. The first match, held in Uyo, marked Finidi George’s debut as the substantive coach. Expectations were high despite the team’s earlier struggles, drawing against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
However, preparations were hindered when key players were unable to join the training camp in Uyo due to a nationwide labor strike on June 3, which disrupted flight operations. Although the strike ended after 24 hours, the team remained incomplete until Wednesday, just two days before the match. Injuries and withdrawals, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella, further depleted the squad.
In the match against Bafana Bafana, the Super Eagles fought back from a first-half deficit to equalize early in the second half. Despite missing key players like captain William Troost-Ekong and forward Victor Osimhen, fans hoped for a win. However, the match ended in a draw, adding to the team’s frustrations.
Expectations remained high for the match against the Benin Republic, played in Abidjan due to the latter’s ban. The Eagles took an early lead but failed to maintain control. Benin, coached by former Super Eagles handler Gernot Rohr, equalized in the 37th minute and scored a winning goal in first-half stoppage time. The Eagles’ disorganization and defensive clashes, particularly between stand-in captain Wilfred Ndidi and Calvin Bassey, were evident.
Despite the loss, Finidi expressed hope, stating, “There’s no special formula to win; we have to see how the players will start a new season and see how we can get the best out of the players. Everybody must be committed, and I believe with commitment we will win games. We can’t throw in the towel because we’ve had only three points; we have to find a way to get these players back in a way for them to perform.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), headed by Ibrahim Gusau, is under pressure, especially after being summoned by Sports Development Minister Senator John Enoh, who opposed the NFF’s preference for a local coach. In response to the crisis, the NFF held an emergency meeting and decided to seek a foreign technical adviser to salvage the situation.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated, “This foreign coach will take the helm ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the remaining World Cup qualifying matches.” However, it is unclear if Finidi will remain part of the coaching staff or be entirely replaced.
Finidi George, reportedly on a performance-based contract, decided to resign before the NFF could officially terminate his role. He was reportedly frustrated with the NFF’s failure to support him adequately, including the late arrival of players to camp and poor fan mobilization in Abidjan.
With Finidi’s resignation, the Super Eagles’ World Cup chances are in jeopardy. The search for a new foreign coach may delay preparations further, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Nigeria’s World Cup bid.
