Former Super Eagles player Mutiu Adepoju has thrown his support behind Finidi George as the new manager of the Super Eagles.
There is a frenzied rush for the vacant Super Eagles job following the expiration of Jose Peseiro's contract with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on February 29, 2024.
Several personalities from diverse backgrounds have expressed their opinions on who the ideal Super Eagles coach should be. While some advocate for a local manager, others, like Nigerian legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha, support the appointment of an expatriate.
Adepoju believes that it's opportune for a domestic coach to guide the national team towards another prosperous journey.
Why Adepoju believes Finidi George is the right man for the Super Eagles job
Adepoju contends that there's no one more suitable to spearhead this endeavour than Finidi, who boasts a decorated career, clinching titles such as the UEFA Champions League, three Eredivisie titles, two Dutch Super Cups, and a European Super Cup with Ajax Amsterdam.
“If we don’t trust our team, how are they going to gain valuable experience? Offering Finidi a permanent position would not be a bad decision on the part of the Nigerian Football Federation,” Adepoju gushed.
Adepoju further emphasised Finidi's suitability, remarking, “Finidi is not a stranger to the team, as he was part of the coaching staff at the AFCON and has a distinguished career as a player at the highest level. In addition to his ability as a coach, his extensive experience as a player will undoubtedly be very valuable. I firmly believe that he has a lot to offer.”
The 53-year-old also advocated for giving Nigerian coaches more opportunities, citing successful instances in other countries.
“We have been discussing the debate between choosing a foreign coach versus a coach based in the country. I don’t think Nigerian coaches have had the same opportunities as their foreign counterparts. Other countries have trusted their own coaches and gotten positive results. Why not try it?”
George is currently the interim manager of the Super Eagles and was in charge of the team when they played Ghana and Mali in friendlies. The 52-year-old won against Ghana but lost against the Malians.
Both Adepoju and Finidi were part of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. The duo also represented Nigeria at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
Which domestic coaches are eyeing the Super Eagles job?
Besides George, Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi, Henry Makinwa, Ndubuisi Egbo, Sylvanus Okpalla, and Michael Nsein have all expressed interest in filling the void.
The NFF is expected to name a new manager ahead of the June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Has a Nigerian coach ever guided the Super Eagles to AFCON glory?
Till date, the late Stephen Keshi remains the sole Nigerian to lead the Super Eagles to AFCON glory. His managerial acumen propelled Nigeria to victory in 2013, marking a triumphant return to the summit of African football. Since then, the Super Eagles have not secured another AFCON title.
It's noteworthy that Nigeria's previous AFCON triumphs were under the guidance of Brazilian tactician Otto Martins Glória in 1980 and Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof, whose tenure witnessed Nigeria's second AFCON victory in 1994.
