“We can’t throw in the towel”- Super Eagles coach Finidi George remains upbeat despite Benin loss

Super Eagles coach Finidi George believes Nigeria can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if they win their remaining qualifying games, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles have failed to fly since the start of the World Cup qualifiers. They had to settle for draws against smaller oppositions like Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their first two games. Coach Jose Peseiro led the team into those games, but he left in March this year, and Finidi George took over.

Unfortunately, the Super Eagles’ situation has worsened, with Finidi in charge. The former Enyimba boss was first employed as an interim manager in March, and he led the team to the previous international break, when they defeated Ghana and lost to Mali.

Afterwards, Finidi got the job on a permanent basis in April. But results have not panned out as many Nigerian fans would have expected. The Super Eagles had to settle for a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo last Friday. Then, they suffered a shocking 2-1 loss to Benin on Monday. These poor results have put the Super Eagles in a very tight position, and their chances of qualifying for the World Cup are waning.

Still, Finidi believes they can turn it around. The 53-year-old tactician believes if the team can string in a good run of games, they still have a decent chance.

“We have to win, but there’s no special formula for that. We have to see how the players will start the new season and see how we can get the best out of the players,” Finidi said after the game.

“Everyone must be committed. With that commitment, we will win games. If we can win games, the battle will still be there.

“We can’t throw in the towel because we have only three points. We have to find a way to get these players back in a way that they are going to perform.”

Nigeria’s next World Cup qualifier will be in March 2025. And many Nigerian fans will be hoping that the team will have found its feet by then.