One-time national U-23 assistant coach Abubakar Bala has asked Super Eagles coach Finidi George to ditch the idea of working with foreign assistants, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian Football Federation is still searching for assistant coaches for Finidi nearly two weeks after appointing the former Ajax winger as the Super Eagles head coach.
Reports suggested that the NFF wanted one of Emmanuel Amunike or Daniel Amokachi to serve as assistant coach to Finidi, but the former Real Betis star was not open to the partnership.
Amunike and Amokachi were among the dozens of tacticians who applied for the Super Eagles job before Finidi was selected.
Finidi, as per reports in the local media, has asked the NFF for a chance to pick his own assistants, with a foreign coach believed to be his preferred pick.
While the identity of the foreign coach remains unknown, Soccernet.ng reported earlier that the NFF had approached the United States U19 coach Michael Nsien to be the Super Eagles coach.
The former Nigeria U23 star, however, declined the offer as the terms did not meet his expectations.
Finidi may have reasons for desiring a foreign coach as his assistant, but Doma United coach Bala has advised the Super Eagles handler to select one of his compatriots with a vast knowledge of the local terrain.
“I have seen online that he is going to bring foreign assistants,” Bala told Daily Trust.
“It is not a bad idea, but he should be careful there also. He has been given an opportunity as an indigenous coach, so he should look inwards and give other local coaches opportunities, too.
“He should consider those who are sound and will be loyal to him. It is better he works with his compatriots because they also know the terrain and will be of great help to him.
“Some of the coaches know the terrain even more than him. So, he should do everything to succeed to open more doors for Nigerian coaches.”
Finidi will lead Nigeria to face South Africa next month on matchday three of the qualifying campaign of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles are under pressure to win that game as the team boasts only two points from their first two games and sits third behind Rwanda and South Africa in the group.
NB: Will foreign coaches make the best assistant for Finidi George, or should the Super Eagles handler go with indigenous help? Leave your comments below.
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It’s up to Finidi who he wants . No one goes into an election without a running mate and trusted lieutenants. If Finidi has plans he didn’t make them yesterday . Let him pick who he believes will work with him for him and for the best interest of the team. If he succeeds he would have proved everyone right . If he fails then he will carry the blame . He doesn’t need anyone who will undermine him or have their own hidden agenda . He has chooses 3 Nigerians out of the 5 . So he has looked within
It's basically not about the foreign coach or a local coach for me,but any coach that can fill the gap effectively. Have a better understanding of the game in modern ways. Read the game as quick as possible and come up with a clear cut approach to adopt in the field of play. Connect with the head coach and work together as a team to achieve the desired results within a short possible time.