THE Nigeria Football Federation has said new Super Eagles manager, Finidi George’s impressive record as coach handed him the job.
After leading Nigeria in two international friendlies in March, the Glass House named Finidi as substantive coach of the team.
He beat compatriot, Emmanuel Amuneke and others to the job.
Revealing what stood out for the ex-Ajax winger, NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, stated that his experience working as an assistant coach to Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro was crucial
“I’m not a member of the Technical Committee but I can also look at a lot of positives around Finidi George.” Olajire told Hotsports.
“Finidi George was not only a great football player, he has prepared himself very well and done himself no harm with the laurels he has been able to acquire in his short period as a coach.
“Pertaining to the Super Eagles, he worked for twenty months as an assistant with Jose Peseiro, that gives him head start over anybody. He worked closely with the team, was with the team when they qualified for the AFCON and came second at the AFCON.
“It’s natural that someone of this stature, someone who has accomplished these things and who has been very close to the team gets the nod, with the fact that we have only five weeks to to very important matches,” Olajire told Hotsports
He also lauded Finidi’s decision to return to Nigeria and start his coaching career with the Aba Elephants.
“He had the option of remaining in Spain and taking up an appointment with a second tier club but he chose to come back to Nigeria and start with an NPFL club.
“He started with Enyimba. In his second season, he won the league title. It is not easy to win the league title so we must praise him for that and looking at the log now, this is his third season with the team and with four matches to go he’s well on the way to retaining the title.
“That is no mean feat and it shows that this is a man who knows what he’s doing,” he said.
Less than five weeks to the crucial World Cup qualifying fixtures against South Africa, Finidi is expected to get the team in the driving seat after opening days draw to Lesotho and Zimbabwe.