NFF Meeting Sources Said Finidi Never Said What Football Star Osimhen Insulted Him For–Sports Presenter

June 16, 2024

Osimhen in the live Instagram video on Saturday opened up on the circumstances that led to his withdrawal from matches.

A popular journalist and sports presenter, Colin Udoh, has said that he has authoritatively confirmed that the immediate former coach of Nigeria's football team, Super Eagles, Finidi George, did not say what he was accused of saying against Nigeria and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen.

SaharaReporters on Saturday reported that Osimhen berated Finidi for allegedly accusing him of lacking commitment, deliberately refusing to play in World Cup Qualifier matches and being above discipline.

Finidi had allegedly said that it was impossible to sanction some players who belonged to some "big men."

Reports said he allegedly these when he along with chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) met with the sports minister, John Enoh, in Abuja to review the Super Eagles’ tottering 2026 World Cup campaign after they were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Uyo before being beaten 2-1 by Benin Republic.

Osimhen was not available for the two World Cup qualifiers with an official explanation that he was injured and sidelined for four weeks.

But Finidi was alleged to have said that Osimhen could still have managed to play the matches.

Finidi, who has now resigned as the head coach of the Super Eagles, also reportedly said that he could not beg Osimhen to play for the national team after the player withdrew from their last two 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury.

Reacting to the reports, Osimhen, who appeared to be visibly infuriated in an Instagram live video, lambasted Finidi, saying he had lost respect for the former Enyimba coach.

Osimhen in the live Instagram video on Saturday opened up on the circumstances that led to his withdrawal from matches.

He said that Finidi was adequately briefed by him and his doctor.

However, Udoh in a video posted on his Instagram page said he confirmed from Finidi and a couple of senior personalities who were at the meeting between Finidi, the NFF and the minister, that Finidi did not say any of the things he was accused of saying.

Udoh said, “I called a couple of people who were at the meeting between the NFF, Finidi and the minister to confirm whether what is alleged to have been said was actually said.

“These people are really very-very senior and reliable people, and I was told categorically that Finidi did not say the things he is alleged to have said.

“He did not say he was not going to beg Osimhen, he did not say that Osimhen was not committed.

“In fact, he did confirm when he was asked about Osimhen's absence, that Osimhen called him from Germany and that is why he was excused.

“It was when the issue of players' commitment was raised that he said he was not going to beg anybody to play for Super Eagles, but he did not mention any player by name specifically.

“I also called Finidi himself to ask if that was the case and he also confirmed to me that he never said any of those things and that he would have no reason to call out any player, whether in public or in private, and that he would address issues with the players himself if there were any issues.

“That as soon as the video was brought to his attention, he reached out to Osimhen to let him know that he never said those things, and that even if he had, Osimhen should have reached out to him first to find out if he said what he was alleged to have said rather than going to the public with such disrespect.”

On Finidi's resignation, Udo said Finidi told him his reason for resigning was that they held a meeting with the NFF on Thursday and talked about the things to do going forward and they told him they were going to back him.

However, Finidi said at no point during the meeting did anyone tell him they were going to appoint a Technical Adviser.

The NFF board had met on Wednesday where they decided to get a Technical Adviser but they did not mention that at Thursday’s meeting.

Finidi said it was when he got to Port Harcourt, Rivers State after the meeting with the NFF that someone called him and told him what was going on. He stopped and read the memo and saw it was true.

He said he waited for two days to know if anybody would contact him to inform about what was happening but no one contacted him.

Based on that, he felt if that was the case, they did not want him anymore and that was why he decided to resign.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/06/16/nff-meeting-sources-said-finidi-never-said-what-football-star-osimhen-insulted-him

Previous thread: Victor Osimhen Blasts Finidi George For Singling Him Out For Criticism
https://www.nairaland.com/8125823/victor-osimhen-blasts-finidi-george

Journalists Osasu Obayiuwana and Colin Udoh held a Twitter spaces on Saturday evening and this is a summary of what was said.

naptu2:


It was about the situation in the Super Eagles. This is a summary.

1) Colin Udoh said that it was clear before the end of the Nations Cup that Paseiro was not staying. He said that the amount of money Paseiro was demanding for a new contract was crazy and that nobody would pay that amount, so it was clear that Paseiro had made up his mind to leave. He said that the NFF should have started searching for a successor right from that time.

2) He said that it was clear that the only friendly window that we had in the FIFA calendar was in March, so if we wanted a new coach we should have gotten one before the friendlies. Once Finidi took charge of the friendlies, it became clear that he was our only choice, because it makes no sense to appoint a new coach and his first match would be a world cup qualifier (without enough time to practice with the boys).

3) He said that President Tinubu has put a lot of pressure on the football authorities because he made it very clear that he wasn't happy with the results of the qualifiers. That's what led to the meeting between the sports minister, the NFF and Finidi.

4) He said that what Finidi actually said at the meeting was that he can't beg any player to play for the Super Eagles. Colin spoke to Finidi and to other people that were at the meeting. That's what Finidi actually said (he didn't single out any player), but some media outlets reported that Finidi said that he can't beg Osimhen to play for the Eagles. That's what led to Osimhen's outburst because he felt that his commitment was being questioned. Colin tried to call Osimhen, but he wasn't picking his calls, he sent him messages, but he hadn't replied by the time they did the spaces.

5) He said that Finidi did not resign because a technical adviser is going to be appointed (afterall he had previously worked under a technical adviser [Paseiro), rather he resigned because of the way that the matter was handled.

The NFF held a meeting in which they resolved to hire a technical adviser. That meeting was held before the meeting between the NFF, the sports minister and Finidi, yet the NFF did not tell Finidi that they wanted to hire a technical adviser. Finidi flew home after the meeting and there was still no word from the NFF. It was when he got home that China Acheru called him and asked for his comments on the decision to appoint a technical adviser. Finidi said that it was fake news, but China sent him the NFF communique as evidence.

Finidi waited for a few days, but there was still no word from the NFF, so he tendered his resignation.


6) One of the reasons that the NFF appointed Finidi as coach is because they don't have the money to appoint a foreign coach. However, with the pressure from President Tinubu, they are going to find the money one way or another. Some people are talking about a presidential task force to help the NFF raise money and ensure that the Eagles qualify for the World Cup.

It's obvious this beer parlor approach to issues is what is killing this country.

Since it was pretty obvious Paseiro isn't staying, the NFF should have started looking for his replacement immediately. This is what any sane mind would do, even the NFF would do this, if the NFF is their own personal business, but since it involves government, this nonsense is what you see.

Also, these media outlets who like to twist people's words, should be called to order. I mean, just because they want to sell news, no matter how insane or falsely insane it sounds, they're willing to post anything.

Ok

Before Osimhen could go on TikTok abi na where, he must have been reacting to something.

For him to have been reckless on live chat, he could have been more reckless when engaging with Finidi. Infact Osimhen attacked Nigeria supporters too with his recklessness

Finidi is matured enough to just let it slide after all, he has resigned

Let them try to resolve issues between the two.

It's clear NFF did not handle the issue properly besides who carry the fake rumour that Finidi singled out Osimeh? These bloggers sha....


I still respect Finidi decision to resign. If na foreign coach...Will they call for his resignation after 2 games? Or hire a Technical Adviser for him

Click LIKE if you think Coach Finidi made the right decision to resign or click SHARE if you think otherwise.

Well, I Think It's Still Wrong Of Him To Have Said He Won't Beg Anybody.

Lack Of Man Management?

which way?

castrokins:
Well, I Think It's Still Wrong Of Him To Have Said He Won't Beg Anybody.

Lack Of Man Management?

you really try, clap for yourself. he should have gathered his family members including you to beg even those on the street to come play.

Osimhen could have called Finidi to verify if he lambasted him before the NFF or not instead of launching into a tirade. This is also a vital lesson to us all: always look before you leap.

Make una rest for this case.

Person just dey read nonsense up and down even finidi knows that himself is dull upstair.
Arrogance foolish coach

This country and confusion 5&6

If this is true, then Victor should apologise to the Coach and Nigerians as a whole

Everything in Nigeria is just spiralling downward.

It's like Osimhen acted based on news released by a blogger.


Na big disaster for Osimhen if the news was truly unconfirmed.

How he go manage the damage this has caused will be a big wahala

The mod that banned me please you can do it again. NL is full of tribalism

If Osimhen shows proof of chats and videos can dey deny it?
Have they being following Finidi George all around 24/7?

We should know that evolution is taking place!
Gone are those days that you'll keep silent and claim that silence is golden.
Words for words is okay.... Not violenccce.
Besides, I can't find any insult in what Osimhen said or did.


#Someone who is injured

Coach do resign una no go rest? Hungry dey i never see 1k for days. Omo i need job.

castrokins:
Well, I Think It's Still Wrong Of Him To Have Said He Won't Beg Anybody.

Lack Of Man Management?

shut up! Will he beg them?
Even top premier league coaches say and do worse and we go hail them say they are no nonsense coaches

castrokins:
Well, I Think It's Still Wrong Of Him To Have Said He Won't Beg Anybody.

Lack Of Man Management?

If you are the manager of a company, will you beg people working under you to come to work?

Interesting..

The Finidi I know ...it was hard to believe what happened. Even during the days of cabals in the eagles, we didn't hear anything about him. He's always a cool headed guy, but you can not replace him. Meaning he had his way to not offend anyone and did not betray anyone. And we saw the result....he had a successful career. This is why some people placed the achievements of this young lad and compared it with his. Finidi na baba. Ajax and Betis can not forget him.

Just take a look at how they said he didn't rush after getting the right info they were shopping for a coach even after he had just had a meeting with them. That's backstabbing him... but he waited for 2 days. 2 gaddam days before reacting.. and he handed his resignation letter maturely. So, you wonder why Finidi is successful.

Listen, Finidi is going to higher places. I see him working as an assistant to a foreign coach. Honestly, working under a super coach is the best route for anyone aspiring to be one of the best coaches in the world. Even Amunike is dulling himself. The only person who seems to understand it is Olishe, but he is not getting it right with his style of.handlimg matters. Coaching is a different ball game....

Like I said, the best coach I am expecting in the nearest future is Messi. I am sure so many people are on the line to pick that guy up.

Finidi has got the right attitude to excel as a coach, and I think he needs to only improve his tactical approaches to matches. I think he needs to find one of these super world coaches to work under. Arteta did it under Pep, and he isn't regretting it. Mourinho worked under one of the best. Also....who else? You gat to work with a super coach and tap so much before you can become one yourself.

This is a very delicate career. Honestly, becoming a coach is super hard, but moving to the top of that career is crazily super hard.

They actually named the media outlets in the Twitter spaces, but I can't remember their names.

A media house, owned by a veteran sports journalist, reported that Finidi said that he can't beg Osimhen and that he said it at the meeting. A few other newspapers copied the same story.

As long as our politicians can afford the best ashawos in the world they can also afford to give Nigerians the best. Let's not entertain their excuses and settle for less

Imagine

Yy

In a nutshell, the press was the major cause of this fraca

I think all this was a set up though to probably get George to have issues with his players and eventually step down
Sounds like a familiar situation within the Nigerian sports. Good thing he resigned

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