The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has sent out his maiden call up to players of the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the 2026 world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively in the month of June, OwnGoalNigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.
Appointed as the substantive coach of the team , the coach who was the assistant to former coach Jose Peseiro for 20 months stucked with majority of the players who were part of the team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, where they were beaten 1-2 by the host in the final.
He picked 35 players but the list is expected to be prune down to 25 players for both games before it is made public in two weeks time. Already the clubs of players on the list have received the letter of invitation, but some players were handed straight call ups for the game.
Finidi who was in charge in interim capacity when the team played against Ghana and Mali respectively in two international friendly games during the last window, is expected to get down to work with his assistants starting from this week when he will officially sign a one year deal.
His proposed choice of assistants is also yet to be reviewed and accepted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He had submitted three foreigners and two indigenous coaches to be a part of his backroom staff.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
