The future of the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has been a huge topic of discussion after the team’s poor showing at the recently concluded round of games in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Super Eagles drew 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic at their adopted home ground in Cote d’Ivoire. The results saw them drop to 5th in their group, a whooping four points behind the three leading teams in the group Rwanda, South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.
They are also two points behind fourth placed Lesotho, and only just one point behind the bottom team Zimbabwe. Super Eagles are searching for their first win after four games.
Already the NFF are locked in a meeting with the minister for sports to review the position of the coach, who was made the substantive coach of the team following the exit of Jose Peseiro upon the expiration of his contract in February.
Awoniyi is however backing the coach to turn the fortunes of the team around calling for patience.
“We want to keep progressing and it’s good to welcome a new coach”, he told SportsBoom.
“For me, it’s always important to keep on wanting to do more. That is the way you have to be, in order to get better.”
His take in sharp contrast to that of former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje who says the coach has shown that he doesn’t have the capabilities to move the team forward, and hence should be given the axe before it gets top late.
“It is not about Finidi George but getting what we want and yes sacking him may not be a bad idea because we need to go to the World Cup. Finidi George was good as a player and legend but he is not good enough as a coach.”
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
