Nigeria’s interim coach Finidi George sends subtle warning to Ghana, Mali ahead of friendlies

The Super Eagles convene for the first time since their outing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

The Nigerian team is slated to face off against West African counterparts Ghana and Mali in the ever-vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco, for what will be the last international friendly window ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series.

While the Nigerian side might currently be clouded by instability considering the flurry of injuries they have recently been hit with, alongside the coaching debacle they are presently dealing with, the optimism in the camp of the Super Eagles remains palpable.

Interim coach of the side, Finidi George, has sent a subtle warning to the opponents of the Nigerian team ahead of the fixtures.

Finidi's subtle warning

Speaking to the media, as captured by @NGSuperEagles, the 52-year-old expressed his thoughts on the fixture, emphasising his side's optimism ahead of the clash.

Coach Finidi also sought to dampen speculation regarding the country's coaching situation and his role, urging calm among fans.

Coach Finidi George shares his thoughts after yesterday’s training session and ahead of the lined up matches #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/BlUx5x2BX3

— ???????? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 20, 2024

However, the Enyimba International coach concluded by stressing the importance of the fixtures against Ghana and Mali, stating that the Super Eagles will take them very seriously and not treat them casually as friendlies.

These words from Finidi undoubtedly add another layer of intrigue to the games, especially considering the fact that Ghana also have a new manager in Otto Addo.

Finidi George's (Super Eagles interim manager) managerial stats with Enyimba FC

???? 89 matches
✅ 40 victories
⛔ 19 draws
❌ 30 losses

(via @LeaguesReporter)

Is this a positive or a negative????? pic.twitter.com/hvh9eKBgCa

— All Things Super Eagles???? (@AllThingsSuper_) March 20, 2024

NFF to reject Amunike?

In a recent report, Sports Brief mentioned that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are considering bypassing Emmanuel Amunike and instead choosing a world-class coach for the Super Eagles.

The former Barcelona player has been widely considered the leading candidate for the vacant coaching role.

Amunike is currently competing against a host of top managers for the position, including Pep Guardiola's former assistant, Domenec Torrent, US-based coach, Michael Nsien, and former Cameroon manager, Antonio Conceicao.