Former Nigeria winger Oladimeji Lawal has called on critics breathing down the neck of Super Eagles coach Finidi George following Friday’s 1-1 draw against South Africa to allow the gaffer work, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former Enyimba coach has come under scathing criticisms after the team’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo on Friday, which put their hopes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
After match-day 3 of the qualifiers, the Eagles are fifth in Group C with three points from three games. Lesotho lead with five points while Rwanda, Benin Republic and South Africa are joint-second with four points respectively. Zimbabwe are bottom with two points.
Lawal, who is the General Manager of NPFL side Shooting Stars, leapt to the defence of Finidi in a long statement sent to our correspondent and which he also shared on his Facebook page on Saturday.
The statement titled ‘Let’s give Finidi room and a chance to work’ read in part, “Why are players released to African teams finding it difficult to be in camp as scheduled or specified? But Finidi has no authority to act; we all know the truth. Let him leave (Victor) Osimhen or (Ademola) Lookman off his list of players for not reporting to camp promptly, and let’s see the newspaper headlines the following day, or let him show his call log from the big guns.
“Again, three or four of his best legs were called up and opted out over injury concerns, which I am very sure some would have risked for their clubs. (Let Hugo Broos play without three or four of his best legs).
“But I bet you, some even don’t like playing during this period because they have their holidays booked in the Caribbeans or Marbella, but sometimes that’s the truth. That decision is easy to make for the super-overrated brats in the national team because if we eventually qualify without them, they will still become the priorities going to the World Cup without even considering the coach’s angles or view.”
Lawal added, “Can any Nigerian coach be allowed to exclude Kylian Mbappe from his Olympics squad if it’s Nigeria and still keep the appointment? I am not defending Finidi, nor would I ever defend mediocrity, but I am saying here, be it Emmanuel Amuneke, Pep Guardiola, or Jose Mourinho, no coach will survive with this polluted structure.”
