BY SAB OSUJI

Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike JP, Nigeria's Pillar of Sports, has hailed the appointment of Finidi George, a former Nigerian international and incumbent coach of Enyimba International FC, as the substantive Head Coach of Nigeria's senior national team, Super Eagles, by the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF.

Prince Ajide Olayioye, Chairman, Office of the Nigeria Pillar of Sports, ONPS, in a statement conveyed Chief Ejidike's happiness over Finidi's choice as the new Super Eagles manager, replacing Jose Peseiro whose expired contract was not renewed by the NFF.

The Super Eagles had been without a substantive coach, since the conclusion of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON2023, held between January and February this year in Cote d'Ivoire in which Nigeria emerged runner-up, after losing to the host nation, and the expiration of coach Jose Peseiro's contract in February.

Finidi George who was part of Ajax Amsterdam's squad that won the UEFA Champions League, alongside his compatriot and his current chairman at Enyimba, Kanu Nwankwo in 1995, took charge of the team in an interim capacity; oversaw two friendly matches, against the Black Stars of Ghana, and the Eagles of Mali, winning 2-1, and losing 0-2, respectively.

Chief Agu-Ejidike, who is also the patron of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, NFSC, describes the appointment of the Rivers State-born tactician as a square peg in a square hole. The Nnewi-born business mogul explains that the NFF technical committee's decision in recommending Finidi for the job, and and that of the NFF's executive members to appoint the former Real Mallorca FC of Spain winger, as being in tandem with public preference, considering what indigenous coaches some of whom are Finidi's contemporaries, are doing in Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, and Cote d'Ivoire. 

The Anambra-born sports philanthropist, therefore charged the new Super Eagles coach to go on, and prove that those who repose such a massive confidence in him to lead the national team took the right decision. 

The Pillar of Sports also urged Nigerians (critical stakeholders) to rally round the coach, and support the team so that the Super Eagles can restore Nigeria's glory among the comity of footballing nations in the world.

The immediate task before the technical crew of the Super Eagles is to win the next two matches in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, and the Squirrels of Benin Republic.

The Eagles are currently 3rd in the group with 2 points in as many many matches, behind Rwanda, and South Africa. The other teams in the group are Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.