Former Super Eagles and Everton striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has urged Nigerians to support Finidi George as he looks to lead Nigeria to a 2026 FIFA World Cup spot, Soccernet.ng reports.
Yakubi was one of the most prolific strikers in the green and white colours of the Super Eagles, scoring 21 goals in 58 games in a career that spanned twenty years.
Sharing his thoughts about the modern-day Nigerian football team, the former Everton forward supports the Nigeria Football Federation's decision to appoint his former teammate, Finidi George, as the head coach of the Super Eagles.
Big Yak missed a golden chance to send the Super Eagles to the round-of-sixteen stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against South Korea in South Africa. His experiences as a footballer have allowed him to admit that coaching Nigeria is no walk in the park.
“Listen, it's not easy coaching the Nigerian National Team, and that is the first thing you must know. I like George because he was an unbelievable player. When I came to play with him, he and the likes of Jay-Jay (Okocha) were my seniors, but they were unbelievable. Great guys and proper Super Eagles, as we used to call them. So being a Nigerian, I’m happy he got the role,” the former Portsmouth striker said in an interview with Responsible Gambling.
Under Finidi, the Super Eagles are without a win in two FIFA World Cup qualifiers and are in danger of not competing on the biggest football stage. Despite that, Yakubu believes in the former Enyimba International coach, labeling him “unlucky.”
“I saw their game against South Africa, and I thought they were a bit unlucky, but he’s a great guy, and I want to send him my best wishes and hope he succeeds because if he does well, we will see the real Super Eagles. Let's pray for him to succeed,” the ex-Leicester City striker added.
Nigeria are currently 5th in their World Cup qualifying group, four points behind Rwanda, South Africa, and the Benin Republic, who are level on seven points.
