The current manager of Enyimba FC, Finidi George, has reportedly been ruled out of contention for the role of head coach of the Super Eagles due to a recent development regarding his coaching license, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to reports circulating in the Nigerian media, the former Ajax manager did not meet one of the criteria required to succeed Jose Peseiro, who held the position for 22 months.
The 52-year-old previously served as an assistant under the Portuguese gaffer during his tenure with the Nigerian national team and was considered an interim manager.
Following Nigeria’s recent friendly matches against Ghana and Mali, where the team secured a 2-1 victory against Ghana but suffered a 2-0 loss to Mali, Finidi reportedly topped the rankings of the next Super Eagles coach.
Also, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, publicly endorsed Finidi George as the ideal candidate for the role.
The football administrator stressed George’s smooth transition with Peseiro and praised his coaching credentials and character.
“If I were to subscribe to anyone at the moment, because of the smooth transition from Peseiro, I should say Finidi George, and I don’t have any regrets about it.” in a statement to Channels Television, Pinnick said.
However, despite Pinnick’s endorsement, a new report from ScoreNigeria suggests that George’s coaching certificate may hinder his eligibility for the position.
The Nigerian Football Federation is expected to announce the right candidate for the Super Eagles coaching role in the coming week as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.
N.B: Do you think the UEFA Pro License is a necessary criterion for the Super Eagles coaching role? Leave your comments below.