New Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George, has underlined that the word pressure is not in his dictionary and appealed for support from key stakeholders including the media.
Speaking after his unveiling yesterday in Abuja, the former Enyimba of Aba coach said; “In life you cannot be afraid. As you see me here, I am a quiet person but I’m not afraid of anything. The worst you can get in football is not getting the result, the best you can get is winning all the time, and I will try my best to make sure that the team functions properly and we start winning games.”
On whether is under pressure to justify his appointment, the coach stressed; “Pressure, I don’t think I have it. I have that tough skin and I want to plead you guys, the media we need your support.
“What is in the contract is boldly written, what the NFF wants and Nigeria in general, but for me personally my first target is to make sure we are in line to qualify for the World Cup. AFCON qualifiers definitely will be coming up soon, but the major step for me is these two games that we have.
“If we can win against South Africa and Benin, we will set the tone.”
During the unveiling ceremony, the NFF confirmed that ex-Super Eagles striker; Daniel Amokachi and Abiden Baruwa will be the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach respectively.
The first assignment for Finidi, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Nigerian sprint icon Tobi Amusan has become the world’s fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles after running a world-leading 12.40 seconds.
In a thrilling race, the world record holder secured the victory, leaving behind Danielle Williams, the world champion, who clocked her best time of the season at 12.46 seconds. Following closely was American Christina Clemons, claiming the third spot with a time of 12.54 seconds.
This triumph means the Nigerian athlete has now claimed the top spot globally, surpassing American Tonea Marshall’s previous record of 12.42 seconds set in late April.
Tobi Amusan’s impressive win arrives just two months before the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting the stage for an exciting competition ahead.
John Enoh, the minister of sports development, on his X handle congratulated Amusan over the feat.
Take your flowers Tobi Amusan, you stormed to an emphatic win in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, clocking a time of 12.40s (0.9), a World Lead time!
You defeated World Champion Danielle Williams, who came 2nd in 12.46s, while Christina Clemons.
“Take your flowers Tobi Amusan, you stormed to an emphatic win in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, clocking a time of 12.40s (0.9), a World Lead time! You defeated World Champion Danielle Williams, who came 2nd in 12.46s, while Christina Clemons was 3rd in 12.54s,” he wrote.
“Tobi, you keep making our country proud. Paris Olympics is around the corner, your performance gives us hope just like others, that Nigeria is set to break a jinx. Keep soaring, we are proud of you.”

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rejuvenate and reposition Nigerian sports.
Enoh, in a statement yesterday, emphasised the ministry’s determination to propel sports in Nigeria to heights of excellence and glory. Enoh further underscored the ministry’s dedication to building upon past successes to drive transformative change within the sector.
“Sports in Nigeria is undergoing a significant transformation, and we are fully committed to leveraging this momentum to drive positive change and achieve unprecedented success,” he stated.
Following Nigeria’s exclusion from the Confederation of African Football’s 2023 AFCON officials list, the statement noted that the minister convened stakeholders and declared a state of emergency on officiating.
Consequently, a roadmap to rejuvenate officiating in Nigeria was established, including Nigerian match officials in the pool for international competitions by FIFA for 2024.
“Through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for Nigerian sports. Our goal is not only to excel on the international stage but also to nurture a culture of sports excellence at all levels,” Enoh remarked.
Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the minister expressed confidence in Team Nigeria’s readiness, with athletes securing qualifications across various sports and events, including four additional Olympic tickets in athletics following a successful outing at the World Relays Championships in the Bahamas.
“For Team Nigeria, the journey to Paris 2024 represents an opportunity to shine and make our nation proud. We are fully committed to supporting our athletes and ensuring that they have everything they need to excel on the world stage,” Enoh said.