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By: Abiodun Adewale
Interim Super Eagles coach Finidi George insists the team will leave nothing to chance when they take on rivals Ghana at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, in their first of two friendly matches in the Moroccan city on Friday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Over a month after the team lost the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the Eagles take on Ghana in what will be the 60th encounter between both sides since 1951, and also face Mali four days later at the same venue.
Ahead of Friday’s clash against the Black Stars, Finidi reiterated that the Eagles would treat the game with seriousness, bearing in mind the rivalry between both countries.
“They call it friendly matches but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana. I have been involved in matches against Ghana since the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. Matches between our countries are serious duels and always seen as battles by our peoples. The Black Stars did not perform that well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and they will be keen to banish that memory,” Finidi told NFF Media.
Although Finidi is in charge on interim basis, he is also looking to improve the team ahead of the next window, when they return to action for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“We finished in second place at the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone expects us to maintain that high rating and be even better in a short while. Our objective is to get good results in these two matches and stay positive ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
“We will be missing four players who have pulled out due to injury but I have confidence in the team that we have here, that they will wear the green-white-green with pride and with patriotic fervour.”
The ex-international held his first training session in charge of the team with 15 players on Tuesday, while he had 22 of the expected 23 in the second session on Wednesday.
Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel was the last player to arrive in the Adam Park Hotel of the Eagles in Marrakech on Wednesday.
Finidi served as an assistant under Jose Peseiro, who left after the expiration of his contract earlier this month, and will be in contention to replace the Portuguese coach as the NFF searches for a substantive replacement.
Other candidates for the job include US men’s U-19 coach Michael Nsien, 1994 AFCON winner and former Golden Eaglets and Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amuneke, Ndubuisi Egbo, Henry Makinwa, Sylvanus Okpala, Daniel Amokachi among other foreign aspirants.