The interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has told players of the team that Friday’s game against Ghana is much more than a friendly game due to the rivalry that exist between both teams, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Finidi has been given the mantle to lead the team in the friendly games against Ghana and Mali on the 22nd and 26th of March respectively. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to announce a new permanent coach to replace Jose Peseiro after these games.
Peseiro who led the team to a second place finish at the AFCON left his role after the expiration of his contract, making the NFF to declare the post vacant and called for interested individuals to apply for the job.
In the meantime Finidi who was with Peseiro as his assistant for 18 months will take charge of the team, before a coach who will prepare the team for the resumption of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers in June will be appointed.
“We finished in second place at the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone expects us to maintain that high rating and be even better in a short while. Our objective is to get good results in these two matches and stay positive ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
“They call it friendly matches but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana. I have been involved in matches against Ghana since the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. Matches between our countries are serious duels and always seen as battles by our peoples. The Black Stars did not perform that well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and they will be keen to banish that memory.”
