Okeremute Samuel Sodje, a former international player, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to dismiss Super Eagles head coach Finidi George.

George, who recently assumed permanent charge in May, has faced criticism following the Super Eagles’ underwhelming performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.

With the team currently sitting in fifth place in Group C, Sodje emphasized the importance of results in evaluating coaches’ performances, stating, “If you sack him, what are you expecting to get? Well, yes. Coaches are being judged for results. He has not got his results right now,” during an interview with Brila FM.

He added “We aim to qualify for the World Cup. If we keep going the way we’re going, we won’t qualify. So, it’s not about Finidi George, it’s about what we want. So yes, sacking him might not be the worst idea, because we need to be in the World Cup.”

Nigeria’s quest for success in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers hits another roadblock as they remain winless, sitting in fifth place in Group C with only three points.

Their aspirations took a hit after suffering a 1-2 defeat to the Benin Republic’s Squirrels on Monday at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Ivory Coast, where the Squirrels, coached by former Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr, claimed victory.

With three draws and one loss, the Super Eagles find themselves struggling to make headway in the qualifiers, currently occupying the fifth spot in their group.

Renowned financial investment banking firm and strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Group has expressed delight with the gradual return of football fans to match venues live games.

It noted that the ongoing 2023/2024 football season in Nigeria had been witnessing large turnout of spectators in major cities like Kano, Gombe, Jos, Akure, Enugu, Aba, Ibadan and Lagos where some of the competing clubs are based, which has given a boost to the elite league.

On this positive development, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, opined that it is a reaffirmation of the conviction among football stakeholders in the country that the strategic efforts of GTI in collaboration with Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye-led NPFL Board was beginning to yield fruits.

He added that the blend of quality football as seen in the elite league with massive followership at match venues by fans would help rekindle the spirit of the past glorious years of the NPFL and attract more sponsors.

Ekejiuba further added that managers of the NPFL clubs must now be more proactive in managing crowd control during league games, with a view to ensuring that the gains so far achieved with the league would be sustained.

In his words, “For a league to be successful, it requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders working towards the overall development. In view of the current trend at match venues, the focus of club owners or their managers should be on crowd control.

“The NPFL is moving from a stage of low turnout of spectators to a new stage of massive turnout of fans on match days, and this phase must be managed well.

“Therefore, club managers must be more professional and responsive to the conduct of their teams and fans during league matches so as not to erode the gains so far made with the elite league.”

The rancour that attended the inconclusive Match Day 35 fixture between the Rangers International FC of Enugu and the Enyimba International FC of Aba, perceived to be abandoned by the later, has seen the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) award the three points and three goals to the home side, though they were hammered with a fine of N5 million.

The much talked about oriental derby, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday, June 9, which was televised live, also attracted record fan-attendance with the stadium reportedly filled to the brim.

The award of the three points and three goals were predicated on the Peoples Elephant being found guilty of failing to control their fans and players, in addition to abandoning the match, after their hosts were awarded a penalty.

The NPFL in a letter to Rangers FC, dated June 10, under the signature of its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, detailed the breaches of its rules committed by Rangers during the ill-fated encounter.

Prominent on the list of offences was over-ticketing, which led to overcrowding. Rangers were held guilty of violating Rule B15.24. The NPFL for this transgression handed down a fine of N2m.

Furthermore, the club was indicted for failing to provide adequate and effective security measures, contravening Rule B13.52. This lapse attracted a fine of N1m.

Rangers, the NPFL held, also breached Rule B13.52.1, failing to implement adequate and effective crowd control measures, resulting in an additional fine of N1m.

In addition, the club was deemed to have breached Rule B13.52 by failing to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to restricted areas, leading to a further fine of N1m.

Consequently, the NPFL has imposed a total fine of N5m on Rangers International FC for the various infractions.

In addition to the financial penalties, the league has ordered Rangers to “implement a more effective crowd control mechanism in subsequent home games.”

Rangers have further been given 48 hours to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the prescribed sanctions or elect to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel. Failure to comply or a frivolous appeal may result in additional sanctions, as per Rule E1 of the NPFL’s Frameworks and Rules.