The newly appointed coach of the Super Eagles team of Nigeria, Finidi George has hand-picked his first group of players who will be in the squad for the first competitive games in June.
Finidi, who was appointed coach in permanent capacity after filing in as a stop-gap in the friendly games against Ghana and Mali, following the departure of Jose Peseiro as head coach, is set to manage his first of many games in charge as head coach.
It was reported that the former Super Eagles assistant coach, who doubles as Enyimba coach currently, has decided to pick only about 80% of the players who were at the tournament for the games coming up against South Africa and Benin Republic.
With both games a qualifier fixture for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Nigeria sitting in third position, two points behind leaders, Rwanda, the coach has decided to keep faith with the core of the squad that went to the AFCON, while handing a recall to a couple others who missed out on the tourney.
His reasons being that the game isn’t the right avenue to call up new players to the team due to how crucial it is in the quest to be at the next World Cup, however, exceptions were made for Nathan Tella, Victor Boniface, Wilfred Ndidi, and Cyril Dessers who missed out on the AFCON squad, due to varying reasons.
It is expected to be made public in the coming week with just a few weeks away from that match against South Africa in Uyo.
