Former AS Monaco striker Victor Ikpeba has urged Daniel Amokachi to throw his full support behind Super Eagles head coach Finidi George for the success of the team, Soccernet.ng reports.
Finidi was unveiled as the new head coach of the national team with Amokachi named as one of his assistants.
The two retired footballers were key members of Nigeria’s Golden Generation that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
However, while Finidi only kicked off his coaching career three years ago, Amokachi has put together a decent CV over the last 18 years.
Amokachi has been Super Eagles’ assistant coach on three different occasions, including winning the 2013 AFCON as Stephen Keshi’s deputy.
The former Club Brugge forward was also the Super Eagles’ caretaker coach between 2014 and 2015 and can potentially boast a better track record than his new boss.
However, Ikpeba has urged Amokachi to recognise Finidi as the number-one man and avoid the repeat of the ugly scenario that developed when Emmanuel Amunike was asked to assist Augustine Eguavoen in 2022.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup with Eguavoen and Amunike in charge.
“The boss is Finidi,” Ikpeba said as per Score Nigeria.
“Amokachi should support his former teammate and there has to be trust between them.
“Three years ago, there was chaos among the coaches when (Emmanuel) Amuneke came in to assist (Augustine) Eguavoen before the 2022 World Cup playoffs against Ghana.”
Finidi’s primary assignment is to help Nigeria qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
NB: Can ego allow Amokachi to support Finidi better than Amunike supported Eguavoen? Leave your comments below.