SUPER Eagles of Nigeria interim coach for the matches against Ghana and Mali in Marrakech, Morocco, Finidi George, has declared that his side will take both games seriously, especially the first one.
Finidi’s first game as Super Eagles caretaker head coach is a friendly against Ghana on Friday, with the match against Mali coming up four days later.
Former international winger Finidi has told thenff.com that the main objective of his side is to earn good results in the matches ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in June.
“We finished in second place at the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone expects us to maintain that high rating and be even better in a short while,” the former Ajax star said.
“Our objective is to get good results in these two matches and stay positive ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
“They call it friendly matches but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana.
“I have been involved in matches against Ghana since the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
“Matches between our countries are serious duels and always seen as battles by our peoples. The Black Stars did not perform that well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and they will be keen to banish that memory.”
Finidi, who is also the current head coach of Enyimba having led them to the Nigeria Premier Football League title last year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
He won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments with the Super Eagles and his first AFCON encounter against Ghana was on 23rd January 1992, in a semi-final clash that the Black Stars won 2-1.
The Super Eagles will be without Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, Tyrone Ebuehi and new invitee Gabriel Osho due to injuries but Finidi is not ready to give excuses.
“We will be missing four players who have pulled out due to injury but I have confidence in the team that we have here that they will wear the green-white-green with pride and with patriotic fervour,” he added.
Ghana will also be led by a former international, Otto Addo, who has just been recalled for a second spell in charge of the Black Stars after helping them beat Nigeria to the Qatar 2022 World Cup ticket.
