Renowned financial investment firm, GTI Group has joined many well-meaning football-loving Nigerians in congratulating the newly appointed Super Eagles Head Coach, Finidi George.

Biztelleres reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently announced the former Super Eagles winger as the substantive head coach of Nigeria’s senior national football team, Super Eagles, following the expiration of Jose Peseiro’s contract in March 2024.

It was gathered that as strategic partners to the NFF on the President Federation Cup and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) respectively, the GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited assured that it would continue to play a vital role in helping to reposition and restructure Nigeria’s football ecosystem using international best practices.

Head of Media and Publicity, GTI, Andrew Ekejiuba, said, “The recent appointment of George is a golden opportunity for another indigenous coach to prove his mettle with our senior national team after Stephen Keshi of blessed memory successfully guided the Super Eagles to the 2013 AFCON triumph in South Africa. Therefore, we call on all stakeholders of Nigerian football to rally round George to ensure his tenure is successful.”

Recall that George assisted former coach Peseiro for 20 months during which the Eagles reached the final of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, but the team lost narrowly to the hosts by 2-1 in the final game.

Renowned for his attacking prowess and deft touches at the wings during his playing days, George began his club football from the local scene, featuring prominently for Calabar Rovers FC of Calabar and Sharks FC of Port Harcourt before heading to Europe.

He won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup.

George also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.

Prior to his appointment, Finito as he is fondly called by football fans was in charge of two friendly matches in the March 2024 FIFA window where the Super Eagles edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but lost 2-0 to Mali in the second game.

His first official game will be Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in June, which would be followed by the second game against Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively.

These are must-win ties for the Super Eagles who are lagging in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.

Premier League (PL) officials have revealed that Referee Jarred Gillett will wear a camera during Monday’s highly anticipated clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Emphasizing that the footage won’t be aired live, the league outlined plans to incorporate it into a future program aimed at providing deeper insights into the challenges of officiating at the highest level of English football.

Gillett will utilize a head-mounted device, part of the standard referee communication setup for significant matches.

This unique initiative has garnered approval from key stakeholders including the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the PL, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), and the participating clubs.

In a statement, the PL extended gratitude to both Crystal Palace and Manchester United for their cooperation in this pioneering project.

It said, “We would like to thank Crystal Palace and Manchester United for their support with this project,”

In a significant development for Nigerian football, former Super Eagles winger Finidi George has been appointed as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.

This decision, announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday, follows the endorsement of its Technical and Development Committee.

George, a 52-year-old former player for Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis, previously served as an assistant to outgoing coach José Santos Peseiro.

He took on the role of interim coach after Peseiro’s departure following the Super Eagles’ impressive performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

During his interim tenure, George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco, where the team secured a historic 2-1 victory against Ghana but suffered a 0-2 loss to Mali.

The NFF statement reads, “George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.”

The statement commemorating George’s appointment as the new head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team also paid tribute to his esteemed playing career.

It underscored George’s remarkable achievements, including securing gold, silver, and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000, and 2002 AFCON tournaments.

Additionally, the statement fondly recalled one of George’s defining moments when he assisted Rashidi Yekini, may he rest in peace, in netting Nigeria’s inaugural FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA, on June 19, 1994.

The newly appointed Super Eagles boss faces an immediate challenge as he prepares to lead the team in two pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic.

Set to take place in Uyo and Abidjan within the next five weeks, these matches are deemed must-win encounters, as emphasized by the Nigeria Football Federation statement.

With the Super Eagles currently trailing behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign, behind Rwanda and South Africa, securing victories in these upcoming fixtures is imperative for the team’s advancement in the competition.