Nigeria must qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after appointing Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

 

Finidi’s appointment was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday, April 29.

The Super Eagles are yet record a win in the qualifiers after drawing their opening two games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and Victor Ikpeba a member of the NFF technical committee says Finidi must be up to the task in handling the Eagles.

“In the month of June, Nigeria will play the games of their lives against South Africa and Benin,” Ikpeba told SuperSport.

“We are on the back foot after we drew our first two World Cup qualifiers and so we have to win the next games.

“We have the players and if Finidi can get the best out of them, we will qualify for the World Cup.”

 

Ikpeba also said the new coach will also be expected to give home based players a chance to play for the Super Eagles.

“He lives here, he works here (as coach of NPFL champions Enyimba),” he said.

“He will give the local players a chance in his team.

“He will have to look inwards, that’s how we got the player Finidi George.”