Finidi George: Peseiro and 7 other managers likely to replace Super Eagles coach




Following Finidi George's struggles, the Super Eagles are in search of a foreign manager to help steady the ship and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
After just two games in charge of the Super Eagles, the Nigerian Football Federation have announced that Finidi Geroge will be overseen by a foreign technical adviser, while the former Real Betis man is reportedly set to quit his role as head coach.


The former Ajax winger led Nigeria to a disappointing one point from two matches in the 2026 CAF World Cup qualifiers after a draw and a loss against South Africa and the Benin Republic, respectively, with fans of the Super Eagles calling for the head of the ex-Enyimba coach.

The NFF have listened to the yearning of the fans and Nigeria’s search for a new manager could lead them to the door of one of these candidates to replace coach Finidi.


1. Jose Peseiro
The Portuguese coach’s contract dispute with the Super Eagles did not allow him to build on the fine showing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations where they reached the final before losing to hosts Ivory Coast.

With Jose Peseiro still without a job since leaving Nigeria, he could be considered for a swift return to the head of the national team coaching crew to replace his replacement.

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Peseiro’s return would have been an unfavourable choice before Finidi’s struggles in the World Cup qualifiers, but fans and technocrats alike would have softened their stance after the draw against South Africa and the loss to the Benin Republic.

However, the Portuguese manager’s role in Nigeria being four points behind group leaders Rwanda can not be brushed aside after Peseiro led the Super Eagles to consecutive draws against minnows Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

2. Toni Conceicao
Former Braga and Cameroon coach Toni Conceicao has also been considered for the Super Eagles job and could make a return to management after being out of work for two years.

Super Eagles target Toni Conceicao

Conceicao made his name as a right-back during his playing days with Braga before coaching the Portuguese team’s B side and serving as interim of the first team in 2003. His most successful spells as a coach came with Romanian side CFR Cluj, who he helped win two Romanian league titles and three cups in three spells. He also helped Cameroon reach the semifinals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations before losing to beaten finalists Egypt.

Conceicao led Cameroon to a third-place finish at AFCON, as well as topping their 2022 World Cup qualifying group before a surprise sacking before the competition’s playoffs against Algeria.

3. Herve Renard
Former Ivory Coast and Zambia coach Herve Renard is one of the highest-rated managers linked with the Super Eagles job despite currently being employed by the French women’s national team.

Hervé Renard
Renard is a two-time AFCON winner who is accustomed to the happenings on the continent and renowned for his work with Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Saudi Arabia, who he led to the 2022 World Cup, earning a shock win in the opening match of the competition against Argentina.

Convincing Renard to leave the French women’s national team will be an uphill battle, especially after he turned down Ivory Coast during the 2023 AFCON to stay on with Les Bleues. Nigeria could approach Renard after the 2024 Olympics in Paris, when the French manager could be more amenable to leaving France.

4. Steve Cooper
Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has been out of a job since leaving the Tricky Tees after bringing them to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years and keeping them in the top flight in their first season back.

Cooper is best known as a club manager with Nottingham Forest and Swansea, but was also the coach of England’s U-16 and U-17 teams, winning the U-17 World Cup in 2017 with a team including Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho.

Steve Cooper and Taiwo Awoniyi | Imago
Steve Cooper and Taiwo Awoniyi | Imago Steve Cooper and Taiwo Awoniyi | Imago
Cooper has also had interactions with Super Eagles stars in the past having coached both Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina in Nottingham Forest, helping the former find some of his best form in England.

The 44-year-old manager could be coaxed into taking the job with one of the biggest national teams in Africa to get his career back on track.

5. Jean-Louis Gasset
Former Ivory Coast manager Jean-Louis Gasset could make a swift return to the continent with the Super Eagles after leaving to coach Marseille in Ligue 1 this year.

Former Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset. Credit - Pooja/Imago
Former Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset. Credit - Pooja/Imago
Gasset was fired from the Elephants job after losing the opening two matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament and finishing third in their group. Ivory Coast went on to win the tournament with Gasset’s assistant Emerse Fae while the French manager bagged the Marseille gig.

With Marseille set to appoint former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, Gasset will be without a job and could bring his 26 years of experience to Nigeria’s Super Eagles as they try to navigate the tricky World Cup qualifier.

6. Rui Vitoria
Another manager who was ousted during the 2023 AFCON was Egypt’s Rui Vitoria whose two-year spell with the Pharaohs came to an end following the early exit from the tournament in Ivory Coast.

Ex-Egyptian national team coach Rui Vitoria | Imago
Ex-Egyptian national team coach Rui Vitoria | Imago Ex-Egyptian national team coach Rui Vitoria | Imago
Before taking the reins with Egypt, Vitoria was a celebrated Portuguese manager who had won the Taca de Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes, before winning back-to-back league titles with Benfica and the Saudi Premier League title with Al Nassr in 2019.

Vitoria’s time with Egypt was not all bad as the Portuguese manager led them to qualify for the 2023 AFCON and also started their 2026 World Cup qualifier with two wins from two against Djibouti and Sierra Leone before he was asked to leave the job in February 2024.

7. Jurgen Klinsmann
Former Germany international Jurgen Klinsmann was one of the best strikers of his era, helping Die Mannschaft win the 1990 World Cup and 1996 European Championships at the peak of his powers.

As a manager, Klinsmann also led Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup on home soil before taking a tour of national teams, reaching three continents.

Jurgen Klinsmann || Imago
Jurgen Klinsmann || Imago Jurgen Klinsmann || Imago
Klinsmann has been the manager of the United States national team, winning the Gold Cup in 2013 and coached South Korea in his most recent job, which he left in February 2024 after one year in charge.

The former Germany international could be tempted to add Africa to his list of continents managed in with a trip to Nigeria as a replacement for Finidi George.

8. Hassan Sulaiman
An outsider for the job is British-Nigerian coach Hassan Sulaiman, who has impressed with Chelsea’s youth teams since joining the club in 2008.

Sulaiman would technically be a foreign expatriate, but also has roots in Nigeria and his understanding of the landscape could be a plus for the NFF as they search for Finidi’s replacement.

Chelsea youth coach Hassan Sulaiman | Chelsea.com
Chelsea youth coach Hassan Sulaiman | Chelsea.com Chelsea youth coach Hassan Sulaiman | Chelsea.com
The 38-year-old manager would be a wildcard appointment for the Super Eagles, but his remarkable success with Chelsea could tempt the NFF to take the plunge with the Blues’ coach.

What Sulaiman lacks in experience, he brings in a winning mentality, showcased in his titles with Chelsea’s U-17 and U-18 teams.


FOOTBALL
PREMIER LEAGUE MOURNS DEATH OF FORMER ARSENAL STAR KEVIN CAMPBELL
Premier League mourns death of former Arsenal star Kevin Campbell
Ayoola Kelechi • 12:05 - 15.06.2024
Kevin Campbell, who played with Arsenal until 1995, has sadly passed away
Former Arsenal, Everton and Nottingham Forest striker Kevin Campbell has passed away aged 54 after a brief illness as reported by the Gunners and the Premier League.

Premier League announce passing of ex-Arsenal striker
The Premier announced the passing of the former Arsenal striker, saying, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Campbell, the former Arsenal, Nott'm Forest, Everton and West Brom striker


“Our thoughts and condolences are with Kevin's family, friends and those associated with the clubs he played for.”

Before his passing, Campbell worked in media as a commentator and analyst for Premier League and Champions League games.

Arsenal commiserate with Campbell
Arsenal also mourned the death of their former striker, saying, “We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness.


“Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin.”

Campbell played 213 times in eight years for Arsenal, scoring 59 times before moving to Nottingham Forest in 1995.

The striker also featured for Turkish side Trabzonspor as well as Everton, West Brom, and Cardiff City during a 19-year career. Despite featuring for England’s youth and B team, he never managed to earn a cap for the Three Lions.




The former Enyimba boss Finidi George was appointed as Super Eagles and Nigeria coach in May.
Nigerian football has been rocked by the news that Finidi George has resigned from his role as the head coach of the Super Eagles, the nation's senior men's national team.

This bombshell comes from the reliable OgaNla Media, plunging the future of the three-time African champions into uncertainty.










George, a former Nigerian international and member of the iconic 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the nation's second African Cup of Nations title, took over as head coach last month.

Finidi George Leaves Super Eagles
His resignation comes as a major surprise after the NFF confirmed the search for a foreign Technical Adviser following a poor run in the WCQ.


At this stage, no official statement has been released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) or Finidi George himself to confirm his resignation or regarding the reasons behind this shocking decision.

The 53-year-old was appointed last month ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic.


However, just one point from six in his first two official matches left the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup hopes in the balance and Finidi’s job on the line.

His potential departure leaves the Super Eagles without a permanent manager, creating a leadership vacuum within the national setup.


The NFF will now face immense pressure to quickly find a suitable replacement to steady the ship and prepare the team for upcoming important fixtures, including the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This is a developing story, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming hours and days regarding Finidi George's sudden resignation as Super Eagles head coach.