*Twelve Eagles in Marrakech Camp ahead friendlies with Ghana, Mali
Olawale Ajimotokan
Barely hours after his appointment as interim Head Coach of the Super Eagles, ex international Finidi George, had his first meeting with backroom staff of the Nigerian senior national team in Marrakech, Morocco.
The three-time African champions who finished as finalists at the AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire last month are in the Moroccan city for international friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Finidi stepped out of the shadows of Portuguese Jose Peseiro to take full charge of the Super Eagles until the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation conclude their search for a substantive gaffer for the team.
Camp sources in Morocco hinted yesterday that the former Ajax star told his staff his relationship with them will not change from when he was assistant coach to Peseiro.
The 52-year-old former winger who also had stints at Real Betis in Spain before hanging his boots for coaching, will be in charge as Super Eagles and the Black Stars renew their rivalry in the North Africans can city on Friday.
Finidi made a scoring debut for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991.
On his debut in 1991, George, who also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe, scored one and made four assists for legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), and also assisted the latter to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.
Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
On Friday, George, from a family of football stars (elder brother Alari and younger brother Igeniwari of blessed memory were established players), will bellow instructions from the touchline, 21 months after he began to understudy Portuguese José Santos Peseiro, who led the Eagles to runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.
As at Tuesday lunchtime, 12 of the 22 players expected had arrived in Morocco’s fourth-largest city, with defenders Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi having been knocked out by injury.
At the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were being expected in Marrakech last night. Only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected on Wednesday.
The African vice champions will also take on the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, 26th March.
