Coach of the Super Eagles Finidi George has resigned following moves by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to get a foreign technical adviser.
Former Super Eagles media officer Toyin Ibitoye announced George’s departure in a social media post on Saturday.
He wrote, “News just in. Finidi George #FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his #NGSuperEagles manager position.”
The 53-year-old was only appointed in May after the NFF and Jose Peseiro did not agree on extending the Portuguese’s contract.
George was Peseiro’s assistant for 20 months.
The NFF began the search for a foreign technical adviser after the Eagles lost a World Cup qualifying match 2-1 to the Republic of Benin coached by former Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr.
The Super Eagles had earlier played 1-1 against South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
The results have left Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in doubts.
In searching for a foreign technical adviser, the NFF had reportedly planned that George’s one-year contract would be downgraded, and his alleged monthly salary of N15 million would be reduced to N5 million.
Reports also said George’s handpicked assistants would also be replaced by the new foreign coach’s staff.
In a meeting with sports minister John Enoh, George expressed his frustration with the lack of support from the NFF.
Using Victor Osimhen as an example, George also questioned the commitment of Nigeria’s top players in the crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Osimhen was not available for the two World Cup qualifiers with an official explanation that he was injured and sidelined for four weeks.
A source was quoted by The Nation as saying, “The coach went on to say that it appears that Osimhen chooses the games he plays for Nigeria and he (George) cannot beg him to play for his country.”
George, a former Enyimba coach, also bemoaned the complete breakdown of discipline in the team.
He said many of the players had the backing of some powerful NFF board members and that it became increasingly difficult to sanction them because he would often be warned that a player “belonged” to a certain “big man.”
