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By: Ebenezer Bajela
Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong, has expressed his admiration for the newly appointed head coach of the country’s men’s national team Finidi George, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Last Monday, the NFF board approved the appointment of the former Ajax and Betis star following the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 53-year-old.
Finidi, who spent 20 months as an assistant to José Peseiro, had served as the interim coach after the Portuguese tactician’s departure following the Eagles’ impressive run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where they lost 2-1 to the hosts.
During his interim tenure, Finidi oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco in March, where the team ended an 18-year winless streak against Ghana with a 2-1 victory before suffering a 2-0 loss to Mali.
Speaking of the time he had spent with the 53-year-old, Troost-Ekong, in an interview with Soccernet, said Finidi was someone he admired.
“George Finidi is someone who is a legend,” he said.
“In African football, and Nigerian football, even here in Greece, whenever ex-Nigerian players are mentioned, Finidi’s name always comes up. Especially growing up in Holland, just outside Amsterdam, for someone who played so much for Ajax and achieved so much there, he’s someone I look up to and feel very connected to.”
After a successful spell with Ajax where he won the UEFA Champions League, three league titles, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and the Johan Cruijff Shield, Finidi moved to Spain, joining Real Betis, where his impressive performance guided Los Verdiblancos to the final of the Spanish Cup, losing to eventual winners Barcelona.
In his second season with Enyimba as coach, Finidi guided the Nigeria Premier Football League giants to a ninth league title.
Amid his achievements, Troost-Ekong was full of praises for the new Eagles coach.
“He is always very humble, too humble for what he has achieved. Everyone recognises the work he did for Enyimba last year when he won the league,” he added.
“So, for him to now get the chance to be the interim head coach (now the full-time head coach), I am very happy to see that. He’s a great guy.”
Troost-Ekong missed the two Eagles friendly games against Ghana and Mali in March due to injury; he will however hope to be available for their World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.
The games will see Finidi take charge of the team for the first time since he was appointed Eagles coach on a full-time basis.
