Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has expressed his displeasure with former Super Eagles coach Finidi George, stating he has lost respect for him due to comments made about his commitment to the national team.
Finidi George, who reportedly resigned as head coach of the Super Eagles on Saturday, was quoted saying he wouldn’t beg Osimhen to play for Nigeria. This statement came after Osimhen withdrew from the last two 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury. The striker, sidelined by a four-week injury, was replaced by Enugu Rangers defender Kenneth Igboke.
"I have completely lost respect for him," stated Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, criticizing Finidi George for targeting him with criticism.
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.#TIMNigeria pic.twitter.com/YqHGpPrU8m— The Interpreter Media Nigeria (@TIM_Nigeria) June 15, 2024
However, the Super Eagles’ poor performances against South Africa and Benin Republic shifted the narrative. Reports suggested that during a meeting with the Sports Minister, John Enoh, in Abuja, Finidi used Osimhen’s absence to highlight a broader issue of player attitudes towards the national team.
In response to these comments, Osimhen took to Instagram Live on Saturday, providing his side of the story. He revealed that he had informed Finidi and his doctor about his injury situation in Germany.
“I knew things like these would happen and that’s why I have the videos and screenshots of when I called Finidi while I was with the doctor in Germany,” Osimhen stated. He elaborated on the details of his injury, sustained in Napoli’s last game against Lecce, and his subsequent MRI scan.
“I called him (Finidi) and asked him to allow me to come to the camp to be with the boys and I spoke to some of my teammates too but he said I have to be with my family,” Osimhen added. He emphasized his dedication to both his club and national team, promising to share the evidence of his conversation with Finidi to clear any misunderstandings.
Finidi’s tenure as the Super Eagles coach saw Nigeria draw 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo and suffer a 2-1 defeat against Benin Republic in Abidjan. These results left Nigeria with just three points after four games in the Group C qualifying series. The former Enyimba coach’s resignation came two days after the Nigeria Football Federation announced plans to hire a foreign technical adviser.
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