Ogunmodede slams NFF over Finidi’s short-lived Super Eagles stint

Published on by Toyosi Afolayan

Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, has sharply criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for its handling of former Super Eagles coach, Finidi George. Appointed in late April 2024 as the successor to Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro, Finidi George's tenure as Super Eagles manager was marked by brevity and challenges. 

The former Ajax Amsterdam winger had previously served as an interim coach for the team, overseeing friendly matches against Ghana and Mali in March.  

Tasked with steering Nigeria towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup, George's reign was met with mixed fortunes. The team's performance in the June World Cup qualifiers, which saw them draw with South Africa at home and suffer a defeat to Benin in Ivory Coast, sparked widespread criticism of the coach's tactics and team selection.

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Photo by IMAGO

In the aftermath of these disappointing results, a crisis meeting convened by the Sports Minister brought together George, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, and other key stakeholders. The meeting resulted in a decision to hire a foreign coach, with George offered the role of assistant. However, the former Super Eagles winger rejected this proposal and opted to resign from his position.

Remo Stars coach condemns Finidi George's treatment

The 44-year-old, who guided Remo Stars to a second-place finish in the NPFL last season, expressed his disappointment during an appearance on the 54Footballx Match-up Podcast.

“It's an affront to the dignity of local coaches. Finidi was a thing of joy for us. I was so happy (even as the secretary of the league club managers), we wanted the best for him, but look at the way he (Finidi) was ‘jet' out, there was not enough support. If you want a coach to do well, give him better support. If any job is coming from the National team to any of the local coaches, there must be total support for the coach to excel.”  

Since his departure from the Super Eagles, Finidi George has taken up the managerial role at NPFL side, Rivers United, as he continues his coaching career.

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Toyosi Afolayan

Toyosi Afolayan is a sports journalist who breathes life into the games we love. He loves to combine insightful analysis with historical background, creating a richer understanding of sports. Afolayan's expertise ranges from captivating narratives to live broadcasts, captivating audiences across platforms like Ojbsport, AllNigeriaSoccer, TVC Entertainment, Bounce Networks, Kwara TV, ICIR, EaglesTracker, and NFF TV. His background in History and International Studies adds depth, revealing the connections between sports, politics, and national identity.