Jose Peseiro will be replaced as Nigeria's head coach by former international Finidi George. After the Portuguese left the Super Eagles following Nigeria's loss to Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final in February, the 53-year-old was given temporary leadership of the team. George, who is also the club team's coach, supervised two friendlies last month. His team defeated Ghana 2-1 before falling to Mali 2-0. Following the approval of a suggestion from its technical and development committee, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officially announced its appointment on Monday. 

George, a former winger for Ajax and Real Betis, assisted Peseiro for 20 months and is anticipated to stay in command of Enyimba till the end of the current campaign. Under his leadership, the team won the Nigerian championship last year. George was a member of the 'Golden Generation' that won the Nations Cup in 1994, the year the Super Eagles made their debut in the USA at the Fifa World Cup. George scored six goals in 62 international appearances for Nigeria. He will be under pressure to provide wins quickly because Nigeria's next two games in June are two potentially important World Cup qualifiers that will also take place in North America in 2026. 

After drawing their opening two games in Group C, the three-time continental winners Super Eagles need to get their season back on track. The game against Benin on neutral ground and the match at home against South Africa have been designated as "must-win encounters" by the NFF. George is said to have defeated Emmanuel Amuneke, a former teammate of the Super Eagles, and Domenec Torrent, a Spaniard who served as Pep Guardiola's coach and analyst at Manchester City, in the race for one of the most prominent positions in African football. The duration of his contract has not been disclosed by the NFF. 

George, one of the greatest wingers in Nigerian history, had a dazzling career both at the club and international levels. After joining Ajax in 1993, he won three league titles with them. In 1995, he also won the Intercontinental Cup, Uefa Champions League, and Uefa Super Cup with the Dutch powerhouses. Spells with Betis, where he finished second in the Copa del Rey in 1997, Mallorca, and Ipswich Town in England came next. However, he also achieved many things with the Super Eagles after making his international debut in 1991 against Burkina Faso.

George scored the goal that qualified Nigeria for the 1994 World Cup and later assisted in setting up the first goal ever scored by his nation in the final match against Bulgaria. He was also a member of the team that competed in the French competition in 1998. George was a member of the teams that placed second in 2000, won bronze in 1992, and took home the Nations Cup championship in 1994 as Nigeria defeated Zambia 2-1.

 After taking over at Enyimba, the most successful club in Nigeria, in 2021, he helped the team win the league two years later, giving them their first championship in four years. Super Eagles anticipate a fresh look under George Finidi George's selection by the NFF is not shocking, even if Emmanuel Amuneke was a strong contender to succeed Jose Peseiro and a favorite of the supporters. 

Despite uneven results, the new coach passed the exam in the recent friendlies against West African rivals Ghana and Mali. Now, George has to live up to some lofty expectations. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are the first event to be played, and they are much more significant since that the Super Eagles were not selected for the previous finals in Qatar. George's job will be to assemble a side that can win a fourth Nations Cup championship, surpassing this year's second-place result in Ivory Coast. 

Known for being a dynamic winger during his playing career, he is anticipated to introduce a fresh approach to the game by managing the quality group he has at his disposal and developing players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). George will keep juggling his responsibilities as head coach of the national team and the reigning NPFL winners Enyimba, who are now second in the standings with six games left. 

Meanwhile, Super Eagles supporters will argue about the NFF's continued disregard for Amuneke. With players like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, who are now essential members of the senior side, the 1994 African Player of the Year led Nigeria to victory in the Under-17 World Cup in 2015. The former forward for Barcelona also helped Tanzania earn a spot in the 2019 Nations Cup.