The camp of the Super Eagles in Marrakech, Morocco is lively due to the arrival of all but one of the 23 invited players for the upcoming friendly matches against Ghana and Mali. Enyimba coach, George Finidi, is also leading the team on an interim basis.
More than a month after losing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast, Nigeria will play against Ghana in the first friendly on Friday at the Grand Stade de Marrakech before facing Mali four days later.
On Tuesday, 15 out of the expected 23 players were present for the evening training session, and Fenerbahçe defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, and Olorunleke Ojo are the three shot-stoppers in camp for both games.
Other players in camp include Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi, newly invited Benjamin Tanimu, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar, and Ademola Lookman.
Additionally, Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho arrived later on Tuesday.
The Nigeria Football Federation had informed The PUNCH exclusively that ex-international and former assistant coach under Jose Peseiro, Finidi, would manage the team during the games, and this was officially communicated on Tuesday.
“Former Nigeria forward Finidi George will be in charge in the dugout when the Super Eagles face West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly in Marrakech on Friday,” NFF’s Head of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis winger, who scored on his debut for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on July 27, 1991, has been appointed by the NFF to lead the team temporarily as 22 players prepare to play against Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window.
In a different update posted on the Super Eagles official X account, Finidi also met with the backroom staff of the team.
Finidi is one of the top candidates for the Eagles head coach position after the departure of Portuguese Peseiro.
Other contenders for the role include US men’s U-19 coach Michael Nsien, 1994 AFCON winner and former Golden Eaglets and Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amuneke, Ndubuisi Egbo, Henry Makinwa, Sylvanus Okpala, Daniel Amokachi, and other foreign hopefuls.
