Super Eagles Legend Finidi George Assumes Position as the New Super Eagles Coach as They Battle the Black Stars of Ghana

In an international friendly on Friday in Marrakech, Morocco, the Super Eagles will take on their bitter rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana, in the chief’s corner of the dugout. Finidi George, a former striker for Nigeria, will be in charge as the new Super Eagles Coach.

The Nigeria Football Federation, or NFF, has named the 52-year-old former Ajax and Real Betis winger to take charge in the interim while a group of 22 players take on Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window. The winger made his scoring debut for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso in 1991.

In addition to playing for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene prior to traveling to Europe, George made his debut in 1991. The renowned “goalsfather,” Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), scored one goal and provided four assists for him. On June 19, 1994, in Dallas, Texas, he also helped Yekini score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria.

In fact, George’s goal on October 8, 1993, in a pivotal qualifier in Algiers against hosts Algeria, was the one that sent Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals. Nigeria advanced to the American finals after the game finished 1-1.

Twenty-one months after he started shadowing Portuguese José Santos Peseiro, who guided the Eagles to the silver medal in the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year, the former Enyimba of Aba goalie will yell orders from the sidelines.

Twelve of the twenty-two players that were invited to the game had already arrived in Morocco’s fourth-largest city as of Tuesday noon. Tyronne Ebuehi, a defender, and Victor Osimhen, a forward, had been ruled out due to injury.

Goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, as well as defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Benjamin Tanimo, are staying at the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech.

By Tuesday, Marrakech was set to welcome goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

On Wednesday, only defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, who is stationed in Turkey, is anticipated.

On Tuesday, March 26, the Eagles and Les Aigles of Mali will play at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech.

Other players include strikers Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar, and Adelola Lookman, and midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, and Alhassan Yusuf.