Ex-national team player, Harrison Jalla, has advised Nigerians to blame Super Eagles’ poor performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and not the head coach, Finidi George.
“Why crucify Finidi George? What did he meet on ground? What is the composition of the NFF technical committee? Who are the people in the technical committee, and what are their qualifications?” Jalla wrote in message to The Guardian, yesterday.
Against all expectations, the Super Eagles put all foots wrong against Benin Republic on Monday, losing 1-2 to the ‘minnows’, a defeat that has further put Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in total disarray.
The Eagles, with just three points from four matches, remain fifth on the table.
“How can Nigerian Football make progress with the current governing structure?” Jalla asked. “Winning games with all strata of the national football teams and development of any federation’s domestic football is a collective responsibility. The collective responsibility is twofold – managerial and technical.”
“How many match bonuses and allowances are outstanding to be paid to the Super Eagles players? What happened to the intervention fund from President Tinubu in January 2024 to clear all backlogs of allowances owed to the Super Eagles? Has the intervention fund been retired?
“Coach Finidi George should not be singled out for attack for the fortunes of the Super Eagles. We simply have a system that is defective due to the clueless and incompetent people who have hijacked Nigeria football administration. These guys have nothing to offer other than looting the treasury, 2014 – 2024 has been the same old game.
“No coach in the world has the magic wand to turn the fortunes of Nigerian football around without managerial and technical Input from the NFF.
“Finidi George that came in barely two months ago is not the problem of Nigerian football. The real problems are the square pegs in round holes. It is too early to crucify Finidi George. He did not hire himself; the NFF did and should take full responsibility.”
