Nigeria coach, Finidi George, has urged Nigerians not to judge him based on the recent 2-0 friendly defeat to Mali, as he has plans in place to secure crucial wins against South Africa and Benin in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, according to Soccernet.ng.
Finidi, who was appointed as the new head coach of the Super Eagles last week, acknowledged that the Mali defeat was disappointing but emphasized that it was just a friendly match. He expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back and secure victories in the crucial World Cup qualifiers.
"The World Cup qualification matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic are a collective responsibility for all Nigerians," Finidi said in a recent interview. "I know I am in charge now, and the heavy responsibility is on me to win the two World Cup matches. I will do my best to ensure success and qualify for the World Cup."
Finidi revealed that he has been monitoring Nigeria's next opponents and has been in touch with some Super Eagles players, who are eager to make up for missing out on the last edition held in Qatar.
"In terms of having knowledge of our opponents, I have been following them. The world today is a global village; one can monitor anything in the comfort of his/her sitting room. We need prayers and support from everybody; this is our own; we can do it and do it well," he added.
Finidi also highlighted his regular monitoring of the players' performances in their various clubs, stating that his target is to win the two matches and not be judged by the two international friendly games played.