Some reports have suggested that Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is not happy with the Super Eagles’ squad selection for their international friendly clashes against Ghana and Mali, as per Soccernet.ng.
Finidi George, who stood in as an interim coach of the Nigerian national team during their long-aged rivalry against the Black Stars of Ghana and their 2-nil loss to Mali, used some players who were not regulars who played at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Before the friendly clash, Nathan Tella, Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, and a set of quality players were included in the squad list.
They are capable of defeating their opponents despite the absence of William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, and others.
There have been claims circulating in Nigerian media spaces that after the 2-nil loss to Mali, some players did not shake hands with Finidi George, as a result of not using them during their friendly clashes in Morocco.
Nathan Tella was called up from Bayer Leverkusen for the international break and did not earn a minute, as did Sadiq Umar, who has been tagged with some contentious issues within the camp.
Lookman, on the other hand, who scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win against Ghana, was reportedly among those who did not shake hands with Finidi for handing him a limited time.
Against Ghana, he played just 12 minutes, and against Mali he only played 18 minutes, indicating that he feels the caretaker manager does not like him, according to reports.
While players are called up to play for the national team, it is always the coach’s tactic to play who he thinks fits in his formation for any opponents.
Meanwhile, many Nigerian football critics have raised the opinion that the friendly should be a good avenue to test some players who have not been given minutes in the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic in June.
However, Lookman played all of the Super Eagles games in the 2023 AFCON campaign and further established himself as a key player, but the friendly could be a good time to see others earn minutes too.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidozie Awaziem, Raphael Onyedika and a host of others were players who did not earn much minutes at the 2023 AFCON but this time had chances to prove themselves.
Lookman does not really need to be angry with Finidi George as this was the best time for him to test some best legs in the team ahead of their World Cup qualifiers.
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NFF SHOULD EMPLOY A COACH THAT IS HIGHLY TECHNICAL & BE RESPECTED BY PLAYERS.
THE REASON WHY SOME EX-PLAYERS AND SOME PRESENT SUPER EAGLE PLAYERS ARE IN SUPPORT OF INDIGENOUS COACH(especially Finidi) IS BECAUSE THAT, IT WILL BE VERY EASY FOR THEM TO PENETRATE IN HIM, CONTROLLING HIM & DICTATING TO HIM WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYERS SELECTION, WHICH IT CANNOT BE POSSIBLE ON FOREIGN COACH. ALSO, IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO DO BUSINESS BY INTRODUCING PLAYERS TO INDIGENOUS COACH AFTER COLLECTING FROM SUCH BE PLAYERS.
** NOTE: We should not deceiving ourselves in this country because of the way things work for other countries (e.g. Democracy work well in America, S/Africa, Ghana but it doesn't work well in Nigeria).
THE WAY THINGS WORK FOR COACH H. SHEHATA(EGYPT), COACH ALIOU CISSE(SENEGAL) BY WINNING AFCON FOR THEIR COUNTY (and also qualified for next AFCON easily) MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIA DUE TO CORRUPTION, IMPROPER PLANNING, LACK OF STRUCTURES, BAD MANAGEMENT.
IN NIGERIA, WE ARE TOO RELIGIONISTIC, REGIONISTIC, TRIBALISTIC & SENTIMENTAL.
EVEN when Keshi won AFCON in 2013, he failed woefully to qualified for next AFCON due to bad management(Pinnick VS Giwa), sentiment, jealous, hatred towards some players (e.g. Yobo, I.K. uche, V.moses).
**** NFF SHOULD GO FOR THE BEST COACH.***
What matters most is to move our football forward & not celebrating FLUKE WINNING again. We struggle/manage to beat CIV by penalty in group stage. But E/guinea beat CIV 4-0 convincingly.
*** KESHI WON AFCON IN 2013, BUT WE CANNOT BOAST OF PLAYERS, THE TEAM FOR THE FUTURE (for instance: Sunday MBA, Uzoenyi, Oshaniwa, Agbim are nowhere to be found in future football). AND NIGERIA FAILED TO QUALIFIED FOR NEXT TWO CONSECUTIVE AFCON.
WHAT A SHAME!!!!
**** WESTERHOF WIN AFCON IN 1994, BUT NIGERIA CAN BOAST OF FUTURE FOOTBALL (for instance: Oliseh, Okocha, Amokachi, Amuneke shine for future football).
WHAT A BRIGHTER FUTURE!!!!!
### NFF SHOULD EMPLOY A GOOD DISCIPLINE, TACTICAL, HIGHLY RESPECTED COACH ###