Super Eagles gaffer, Finidi George says that his main priority is to build a formidable national team which Nigerians will be proud of just as he expressed optimism that his players will do well against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Benin Republic at the forthcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will on June, 7 at 8pm Nigerian time take on South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and three days later, confront Cheetahs of Benin Republic on June 10 by 5 pm Nigerian time at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Speaking to sports writers Thursday morning at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos he noted that his target is to build a competitive senior national team that will not only qualify for the world cup but surpass the success recorded at the last Nations Cup.
” I want to tell Nigerians that my main target is to qualify the country for the next world cup and see how to win the Nations Cup and the good news is that Nigerian players are presently doing well in their various clubs all over Europe.
” Kudos must go to Ademola Lookman for his hat- trick at the finals of the Europa League which enabled his club, Atlanta win a major European title after more than six decades.
I’ve congratulated him as well as Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella and I look forward to seeing them replicate their present form in the world cup qualifiers.
Finidi who acknowledged that the South African game will be a big test for the Super Eagles considering that almost all their players ply their trade in that country’s domestic league but was optimistic that with the caliber of players at his disposal, there will be no hiding place for Bafana Bafana when they come calling on June 7.
On injecting home based players into the team, the former Ajax of Amsterdam winger explained that it will be a gradual process, promising that before the league ends, he will visit one or two match venues to watch some of these players.
” I’m aware about the clamour to invite some Nigerian players playing their trade abroad and some NPFL players to the national team.
” This to me is a noble idea but it will be a gradual process because experience has shown that some players perform very well at the club level but when it comes to the national team, they perform below expectation.
” But I want to assure you that during the FIFA window for international friendlies, some of these players will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents and I will also visit some NPFL match venues to watch some of them in order to make proper assessment of their performance”, he stressed.
