Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has backed Finidi George to restore glory to the Nigerian National team, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old forward, who has largely played second fiddle to Victor Osimhen in the Nigerian attack, missed the AFCON 2023 tournament due to a groin problem.
He returned to full fitness a few weeks ago, and in the nick of time to boost Nottingham Forest’s chances of surviving Premier League relegation.
Following his side’s loss to Chelsea, Awoniyi revealed that he holds utmost faith in Finidi’s ability to take the three-time AFCON winners to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after they narrowly missed out on the 2022 edition, losing to Ghana in the play-offs.
“I think him being Peseiro’s assistant and with what he has achieved for the country, coupled with the humility he’s shown to the players, he deserves a chance. Like I always say, everyone deserves a chance. We have a lot of players and we have a good coach as well. We didn’t qualify for the last World Cup and it’s in everyone’s mind in the national team. Everyone wants to be in the World Cup and I believe every player is looking forward to it to make the country proud,” the former Union Berlin striker told Tobi Adepoju.
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What Taiwo Awoniyi said about the new Super Eagles coach, Finidi George in Nottingham and the FIFA World Cup dreams.
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— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) May 14, 2024
The Nigerian international holds the record for the most Bundesliga goals scored by a Nigerian striker in one season, with fifteen, a feat he achieved in the 2021/2022 season.
Victor Boniface has the record in sight as he has scored 13 already, and will be hoping for a brace when Leverkusen take on Augsburg in the final Bundesliga game of the season.
