Kelechi Iheanacho: Leicester City ace wants George Finidi, not Emmanuel Amunike, as next Super Eagles coach

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has voiced his support for George Finidi to be named the next head coach of the Nigerian national team, Soccernet.ng reports.

Finidi and Iheanacho began working together for the first time when the former Real Betis winger was appointed as the assistant to former Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro in May 2022.

The two were a part of the Super Eagles squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, where Nigeria finished as runners-up to host Cote d’Ivoire.

With Peseiro preferring a front three attacking set-up of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze or Moses Simon at the AFCON, there was limited playing time for Iheanacho at the tournament.

However, Peseiro left the role in March. Finidi was named as the interim head coach of the Super Eagles while the Nigeria Football Federation shopped around for a new manager.

Finidi is also reportedly one of the coaches who have applied for the Super Eagles job.

However, former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike is considered by many as the favourite to be appointed to the position. Others, including Michael Nsien and Ndubuisi Egbo, are also believed to be interested in the job. 

Interestingly, in Finidi’s first game in charge of the national team, the former AFC Ajax star included Iheanacho in the Super Eagles’ starting eleven for the first time in 2024.

The Leicester City forward impressed as Nigeria, delivering a performance better than in the AFCON final, defeated eternal rivals Ghana 2-1 at the Grande Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

Iheanacho was pleased with how Finidi handled the Super Eagles in the days leading to the Ghana game and the Enyimba FC coach’s philosophy during the encounter.

The 27-year-old forward has asked the NFF to allow Finidi to continue as the permanent manager of the national team.

“The coach (Finidi) has done a great job,” Iheanacho said on Finidi’s short stint as interim coach, as per Afrik-Foot.

“It’s a short time for him to work with us. It’s just only him at the moment. Hopefully, he will get more chance with the team.”

Nigeria will next battle Mali in Morocco on Tuesday, handing Finidi another chance to convince many about his readiness for the Super Eagles job.

NB: Is Iheanacho correct in his assessment of Finidi concerning the Super Eagles coach job? Leave your comments below.

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