Victor Ikpeba, a member of the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee, has shed light on the decision to appoint Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
The NFF officially announced Finidi’s appointment on Monday.
Ikpeba, who played alongside Finidi during their time in the Super Eagles, disclosed that financial constraints played a significant role in the selection process.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Finidi George on his new role as the Super Eagles coach. The decision was challenging because initially, we were considering a foreign manager,” Ikpeba stated during Supersports Monday Night Football.
He further added, “However, due to financial limitations, we ultimately opted for Finidi. This does not mean we lack faith in our local coaches. We believed in maintaining the continuity following Peseiro’s successful lead to the 2023 AFCON final. Therefore, we were guided by the NFF President to look internally.”
Finidi’s debut as head coach will take place during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in June.