Super Eagles coach Finidi George expressed his delight at the success of Nigerian players in Europe during a press parley organized by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, MySportDab Reports.
George particularly lauded Ademola Lookman’s heroics in helping Atlanta FC win the 2023/2024 Europa League, where he scored a hat-trick in the final against Bayern Leverkusen.
“As a Nigerian, I am happy that our players are putting up such good displays and doing well in Europe. This is the best time for Nigerians playing in Europe,” George remarked.
George also extended his congratulations to Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella for their performances. He emphasized the importance of having players like Lookman in the Super Eagles squad and expressed his eagerness to see them perform for the national team.
Looking ahead to the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic, George exuded confidence in his team’s ability to secure maximum points.
Despite acknowledging the challenge posed by South Africa, George believed that the current form of the Super Eagles was sufficient to overcome their opponents.
“The present form of the Super Eagles is good enough to beat the South Africa team; all we need is luck and to take our chances,” George affirmed.
Regarding the squad selection, George revealed plans for two or three additions, with a focus on blending new invitees with the core group from the last AFCON.
He emphasized the importance of assessing players during friendly matches to ensure a seamless integration of new faces into the team.
“The bulk of the players will be the ones that played in the last AFCON. However, we have lots of players doing well in Europe that we want to give opportunities to,” George explained.
Furthermore, George assured that the Super Eagles’ squad list for the World Cup qualifiers would be released before Saturday, providing clarity on his selection approach and readiness for the crucial matches ahead.
