Nigeria's new coach, Finidi George, prepares for his debut against Bafana Bafana in a critical 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. With emphasis on facing challenges boldly, George aims to lead the Super Eagles to victory.
Newly appointed Nigeria coach Finidi George is set for his first major test against Bafana Bafana in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Following this, the Super Eagles will face Benin, aiming to secure the top spot in Group C.
George emphasized the importance of facing challenges head-on. "We know Nigerians would love the team to win all the time, and we’ll just get the players focused on the game, one game at a time,” George said, as per iDiski Times. “We focus on the South African game and see how we can win that one before we talk about the Benin Republic game."
Highlighting his philosophy, George added, “One cannot be scared in life. Going through life is difficult, you walk through it with the difficulties that you know you’ll encounter. That’s how I look at life and approach it that way, and football will not be any different. We will do our job and make sure we get the best out of that game, and apart from that, nothing else.”
The upcoming match against South Africa marks George's first competitive fixture as head coach. Nigeria enters this game on the back of a 2-0 loss to Mali in a March international friendly, where George served as interim coach. He aims to ensure that defeat does not affect his team’s morale ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
While Bafana coach Hugo Broos has already announced his preliminary squad, George is yet to reveal his team for the qualifiers, with an announcement expected soon.
