By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
Former Super Eagles defender, Sam Sodje, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to dismiss current national team coach Finidi George following the team’s disappointing performances in recent World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Sodje, who previously played for Charlton Athletic, emphasized that coaching success is measured by results, and he believes Finidi has failed to meet expectations in the two competitive matches he has overseen.
“The NFF has to sort the situation out. They should sack him,” Sodje stated. “Coaches are judged by results, and he has delivered very poor results in the World Cup qualifying campaign. If we continue on this path, we won’t qualify.”
Sodje warned that if immediate action is not taken, Nigeria risks missing the World Cup for the second consecutive edition. He acknowledged Finidi’s illustrious career as a player but criticized his capabilities as a coach.
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“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 a legend, but he is not good enough as a coach,” Sodje added.
The former Portsmouth and Reading player admitted that although he initially supported the idea of appointing a local coach for the Super Eagles, his opinion changed after hearing Finidi’s recent interviews. In these interviews, Finidi claimed that a specific philosophy or formation was unnecessary for playing games, which concerned Sodje.
“I was among those clamoring for a home-based coach, but after listening to him say you do not need a system or philosophy, it got me thinking he may not be the coach we need. This has been evident from his performance in games,” Sodje remarked.
The NFF has yet to respond to Sodje’s comments or indicate whether they will consider a coaching change. The pressure is mounting as the Super Eagles strive to secure their place in the upcoming World Cup.