Finidi George: NPFL the biggest losers as ex-Enyimba boss leaves Super Eagles for Nigerians

Finidi George's resignation deals a huge blow to NPFL's representation in Super Eagles in future.

The Nigerian football community is reeling from the shocking news that Finidi George has resigned as head coach of the Super Eagles, just a month after taking over the high-profile role.

Finidi's appointment in May was hailed as a positive step for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), with the former Enyimba boss viewed as the ideal figure to champion the cause of local players and coaches on the national team stage.

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Finidi George and NPFL’s Super Eagles Future

After leading Enyimba to the NPFL title in the 2022/2023 season, Finidi left the champions to take up what was considered the biggest challenge of his managerial career with the Super Eagles. 

His departure from the domestic league was seen as a sacrifice for the greater good of Nigerian football.

Upon taking over the three-time African champions, Finidi wasted no time in living up to his mandate of integrating NPFL talent into the national team setup. 

His first official squad included the likes of Remo Stars' Sodiq Ismail, Rangers' Kenneth Igboke, and former Rangers winger Ibrahim Olawoyin.

This bold move was widely celebrated as it represented a positive shift towards giving local players and coaches a chance to showcase their abilities on the biggest stage.

However, after just two official matches at the helm, reports have emerged that Finidi has bowed to pressure and tendered his resignation, dealing a devastating blow to the NPFL's hopes of increased representation within the Super Eagles ranks.

The reasons behind Finidi's shocking decision remain unclear at this point but could be related to advanced plans by his employers the NFF to engage the services of a foreign technical adviser after his woeful start. 

However, the development is undoubtedly a major setback for the NPFL's push for greater recognition and involvement in the national team setup.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) now faces the daunting task of finding a suitable replacement who shares Finidi's vision and commitment to promoting domestic talent at the international level.

As we wait for the dust to settle on this unexpected turn of events, the NPFL finds itself as one of the biggest losers, with its dreams of increased representation within the Super Eagles seemingly dashed, at least for the foreseeable future.

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