The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has described as outright falsehood, reports in some online publications on Wednesday that the football-governing body has slammed a ban on Super Eagles’ forward Victor Osimhen from the team, for his social media outburst few days ago.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi expressed amazement at the reports, saying the Federation has neither instructed a process nor has a process been concluded to ban the player from the National Team.
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“The NFF hereby implores the media to join hands with the body to positively resolve issues and then focus on the big picture all the time, rather than needlessly escalate certain matters. There was no official communication from the NFF, yet some persons have gone to town to talk about a ban on Osimhen from the National Team. This is not good at all.
“Our focus presently is to resolve all matters around the Super Eagles and be able to look ahead with confidence to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the remaining six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series.
“This is not the time to spread falsehood and foul the public space the more.”
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Well done NFF, this is how a noble man should deny a false news.
However some known Elder statesman only deny by third party proxy after the news have been in circulation for over 72 hrs and the victim came out gun blazing following Fans trolling and threatening him on social media
Hahahaha….Dokky, I never knew it was possible to defuse false statements within 12 hours.
I thought it was only possible days after it has been published by every reputable media house in the country….LMAOoo….with the help of a paid 3rd party journalist who lives far-away in US and was feeding us with hearsays, albeit not fully confirming that the news was entirely untrue.
NFF should stop wasting our time and ban Osimhen as soon as possible biko.
And we wont tolerate anything less than a 2 year ban o….LMAOOo.
Nothing less than a 2 year ban from the national team will make up for defending himself from the hands of a backstabbing, character assassinating coward.
Imagine if Osimhen did not release that video with all the evidences he compiled ahead of time. 200m Nigerians would have been walking around with the notion that that unpatriotic nobody called Osimhen fakes injuries to avoid playing for Nigeria….LMAOo
Hahahaha….Dokky, I never knew it was possible to defuse false statements within 12 hours.
I thought it was only possible days after it has been published by every reputable media house in the country….LMAOoo….with the help of a paid 3rd party journalist who lives far-away in US and was feeding us with hearsays, albeit not fully confirming that the news was entirely untrue.
NFF should stop wasting our time and ban Osimhen as soon as possible biko.
And we wont tolerate anything less than a 2 year ban o….LMAOOo.
Nothing less than a 2 year ban from the national team will make up for defending himself from the hands of a backstabbing, character assassinating coward.
Imagine if Osimhen did not release that video with all the evidences he compiled ahead of time. 200m Nigerians would have been walking around with the notion that that unpatriotic nobody called Osimhen fakes injuries to avoid playing for Nigeria….LMAOo
Finidi George may not have been successfull as a Super Eagles coach but branding him a coward is not only insulting, it is condescending in my opinion. The level of abuse on this national icon is becoming untenable
to say the least. For a man that brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player to be so insulted by those who have barely touch a ball with thier feet shows ignorance. Finidi was set up to fail from the beginning by the NFA. Finidi George was not given the enabling environment to succeed. Regardless of what anyone may say, he remains a national hero and his legacy will forever be remembered in the anals of Nigerian nay African football.
You should have just said Finidi was a successful coach because he brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player…LMAOoo
Or that Finidi never threw his players under the bus to save his job because he brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player.
This is the same mental slavery that is making Nigerians recycle old rotten men to rule them.
Because Finidi was a good footballer, he can no longer do no wrong. Because he won the afcon in 1994, he can no longer be called to account for his actions in 2024.
“Finidi was set up to fail from the beginning by the NFA…..Finidi George was not given the enabling environment to succeed….”
Please can you kindly tell us how..?
Maybe:
He wasn’t given a good pitch to play on…?
He wasn’t allowed to choose his assistant…?
He wasn’t given a good hotel to camp his players…?
He wants given a good aircraft to fly his players…?
He was tied with a rope by the neck and a gun to his head to accept the eagles job…?
He was compelled to pair Bassey and Ajayi in defence by the NFF or start a CB at RB and a RB at LB…?
He was set up by the NFF to start Onuachu ahead of Moffi and Boniface…?
He was compelled by the NFF to shut the gates of the camp against Senior members of the squad who wanted to volunteer to be in camp with the boys..?
I really want these propagandist who keep regurgitating lies about “Finidi being set up to fail and not being given enabling environment to succeed” to come out and substantiate their lies.
I want to know what “environment” finidi needed to defeat SA at home and Benin on a neutral ground.
Incompetence has no 2 names. A bad workman will always blame his tools. Only a coward of a coach throws his players under the bus because he wants to save his job.
@Moses, this is why some of our ex football stars should stay away fro. coaching, especially coaching the Super Eagles.
Not every good footballer ends up a good coach.
Okocha and Kanu’s reputations remain I tact because they know that they don’t have the capacity to be good coaches despite their achievements as footballers.
I prefer to remembr Finidi as a great footballer. But his reign as a Super Eagles coach was a big disaster.
As for the NFF that appointed him, may God reward them with calamity for the evil they are perpetrating on Nigerian football!
Hahahaha…!
“Finidi was set up to fail from the beginning by the NFA…..Finidi George was not given the enabling environment to succeed….”
Please can you kindly tell us how..?
Maybe:
He wasn’t given a good pitch to play on…He wasn’t allowed to choose his assistant…He wasn’t given a good hotel to camp his players…He wants given a good aircraft to fly his players…He was tied with a rope by the neck and a gun to his head to accept the eagles job…He was compelled to pair Bassey and Ajayi in defence by the NFF or start a CB at RB and a RB at LB…He was set up by the NFF to start Onuachu ahead of Moffi and Boniface…He was compelled by the NFF to shut the gates of the camp against Senior members of the squad who wanted to volunteer to be in camp with the boys..?
I really want these propagandist who keep regurgitating lies about “Finidi being set up to fail and not being given enabling environment to succeed” to come out and substantiate their lies.
I want to know what “environment” finidi needed to defeat SA at home and Benin on a neutral ground.
Incompetence has no 2 names. A bad workman will always blame his tools. Only a coward of a coach throws his players under the bus because he wants to save his job.
You should have just said Finidi was a successful coach because he brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player…LMAOoo
Or that Finidi never threw his players under the bus to save his job because he brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player.
This is the same mental slavery that is making Nigerians recycle old rotten men to rule them.
Because Finidi was a good footballer, he can no longer do no wrong. Because he won the afcon in 1994, he can no longer be called to account for his actions in 2024.
Hahahaha…! Really, You gatta be joking.
Before I respond to your hero-worship…..let us first address the elephant in the room
“Finidi was set up to fail from the beginning by the NFA…..Finidi George was not given the enabling environment to succeed….”
Please can you kindly tell us how..?
Maybe:
He wasn’t given a good pitch to play on…He wasn’t allowed to choose his assistant…He wasn’t given a good hotel to camp his players…He wants given a good aircraft to fly his players…He was tied with a rope by the neck and a gun to his head to accept the eagles job…He was compelled to pair Bassey and Ajayi in defence by the NFF or start a CB at RB and a RB at LB…He was set up by the NFF to start Onuachu ahead of Moffi and Boniface…He was compelled by the NFF to shut the gates of the camp against Senior members of the squad who wanted to volunteer to be in camp with the boys..?
I really want these propagandist who keep regurgitating lies about “Finidi being set up to fail and not being given enabling environment to succeed” to come out and substantiate their lies.
I want to know what “environment” finidi needed to defeat SA at home and Benin on a neutral ground.
Incompetence has no 2 names. A bad workman will always blame his tools. Only a coward of a coach throws his players under the bus because he wants to save his job.
You should have just said Finidi was a successful coach because he brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player…LMAOoo
Or that Finidi never threw his players under the bus to save his job because he brought so much joy and pride to our nation as a proper football player.
This is the same mental slavery that is making Nigerians recycle old rotten men to rule them.
Because Finidi was a good footballer, he can no longer do no wrong. Because he won the afcon in 1994, he can no longer be called to account for his actions in 2024.
One day, an international will be caught traffiking drugs and I can bet some people will come here and tell us we should not prosecute them because they were fantastic footballers…..LMAOooo
@ Dr.Drey: But why the compilations of those videos? Was he aware something was going to go wrong?
As they say in local parlance…if you ask me, na who I go ask.
All we can say is thank God for giving the poor boy the wisdom to do so. Otherwise the lies told about him would have been permanently engraved on the hearts of 200m Nigerians for good.
The fact that he came out to expose their tin-god is what some of these hypocrites cannot stomach.
The only time I ever have to painstakingly keep records of my conversations with people is if I know them to be dubious, untruthful and untrustworthy.
Exactly what I asked days ago, osimhen makes it seems like he expected it, but that been said and after I watched the video and listen to where he asked the coach if he would need him to be at the camp with his colleague, then I’m like okay he did the right thing, but my point from time was the manner in which he rant and insulted finish by calling him by his first name all through that video and even went ahead to include the entire fans, yet some
Suppose OGs in the house applauding him, anyway whatever happened, we move.
Compilation of photos/ videos are for record purpose either good or bad. Records never lie.
@Moses, this is why some of our ex football stars should stay away fro. coaching, especially coaching the Super Eagles.
Not every good footballer ends up a good coach.
Okocha and Kanu’s reputations remain I tact because they know that they don’t have the capacity to be good coaches despite their achievements as footballers.
I prefer to remembr Finidi as a great footballer. But his reign as a Super Eagles coach was a big disaster.
As for the NFF that appointed him, may God reward them with calamity for the evil they are perpetrating on Nigerian football!
CONSPIRACY THEORY LOADING….
This Finidi vs Osimhen debacle.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for NFF ONIGBESE.
Just last week, people were calling for their heads.
This week, it is Finidi vs Osimhen.
This coincidence ehn? O lagbara!!!
Could NFF ONIGBESE, Finidi and Osimhen be winking at each other and laughing their heads off at gullible fans right now?
Hahaha, perhaps I’m being a bit paranoid. But worse has happened before!
The question though is what do Finidi and Osimhen stand to gain from all this? Loyalty and service to some faceless OGA AT THE TOP?
If NFF engineered all this brouhaha to distract fans from continuing the struggle to oust their incompetent behinds from office, THEY ARE SUCCEEDING SPECTACULARLY!!!
Congrats NFF. I wish you would deploy this intelligence you have used to hoodwink the nation into actually doing the jobs you were entrusted to do!
NFF Technical Director out!
NFF president and board out!
Or if these jokers must remain in office, TIE THEIR JOBS TO RESULTS!
I’ve been searching everywhere, and I’m yet to find where Finidi supposedly said what he’s accused of saying. Maybe I’m missing something.
Now, let me say this: I like Finidi as a person. He’s a man of peace, just like Mutiu Adepoju, Uche Okechukwu, and Kanu Nwankwo back in the day. Their national team careers were drama-free. Even when Finidi declined the invitation to join the Olympic team preparing for Atlanta ’96, citing a hectic season and tiredness, he did so with grace and humility.
Unfortunately, the guy loves coaching and he jumped straight into the deep end without the proper equipment. From man-management to tactics, organization, and emotional maturity, he’s lacking. That’s a major reason for his monumental failure. He must have realized his mistakes by now and could probably do a lot better if given another chance in the future. But for now, he should move on. I really love and respect his achievements as a player and his personality. But as a coach, he still has a long way to go.
As for Osimhen, he should apologize if he reacted based on rumors about Finidi’s alleged disrespect. But if he has evidence that Finidi said those things after supposedly carrying him along regarding his injury challenges, then Osimhen doesn’t owe anyone an apology, and we should let him be.
However, if the NFF makes the foolish decision to ban Osimhen from the national team, our quest to qualify for the World Cup is as good as over. We struggle a lot to score without him. We’ve played four matches in the series without him, and we’ve struggled to get good results. Without Osimhen at the last AFCON, we would have been out after the first round. And we all know what happened in Cameroon when we went without him—everything ended in the second round and the rest is history. There are ways to handle this situation, even if the boy was guilty. But sacking him from the team should be out of the question. Not now!
I think the NFF is wise for deflating this issue. We don’t need it, especially right now that we are in dire straits with our world cup qualifiers and an Afcon qualifier to look forward to.
Osimhen, Finidi and the FA can settle this privately. Though I believe Osimhen is justified to express his grievance, I Still believe he should apologise to his fans for the uncouth way such feelings were expressed. Like I to in the past, it is for him. A simple message on X (Twitter) or Instagram will suffice. But hey, if he doesn’t. Nothing spoil. We move on. We don’t need this unnecessary deflection.
As for the NFF the focus should be on getting a well qualified FOREIGN coach ASAP. We need to get the team in order,united and in one mind.
Mr broda Papfem….you said you’ve been searching everywhere….? Ngwanu nwokem, search harder.
Breeze is blowing and the kpekus of one of the fowls involved in this brouhaha is begining to show.
I’m sure after the recent expozeees, many people will either lose respect more for osimhen or for finidi.
Let me go grab me popcorn.
It will be a thoughtless idea to ban Osimhen,we have no attacker of his sort,it wiil be mad an brainless to make such imprudent decision.
Osimhen should apologise to the Nigerian fans for putting a curse on some of them.I still think he should apologise to Finidi,we love Osimhen but he should learn to be humble and show regards for others.
These are qualities that takes you farther up.
Best decision ever taken by the NFF, no man go to a battle with dysfunctional house. All hands most be on deck, whoever that is coming most be ready to spit fire. The 18 remaining point most be gotten either by crook or by hook or we wait till 2030.
For the finidi debacle, let him come out and deny it or sue the media house that published the news if he is man enough. As for osime, he should apologize for the sake of his fans and for peace to rein.
For the new coach if NFF can take the humble bile and take rohr back, he is the only wizard that savage this current issues we are having. But the NFF think there are other persons that can do it, fine.
Read below what truly transpired between Osimhein and George. Now i know Osimhein no get fault at all except that he handled the case childishly. No wonder nothing is working in Eagles only 3 to 4 players got there on merit the rest are in the team because they feed our officials.
If Victor Osimhen were your son…
If Victor Osimhen were your son…
Score Nigeria
Osimhen vs Finidi: The Whole Truth
Score Nigeria Editor by Score Nigeria Editor June 19, 2024 11:10 pm
If Victor Osimhen were your son…
Osimhen with Finidi at AFCON
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Many out there saw the Finidi vs Osimhen saga as just another player vs coach disagreement that will fade away with time. To some, this is the perfect occasion for the NFF to stamp their feet on indiscipline among national team players by coming down hard on Victor Osimhen.
This writer knows Victor Osimhen very well. I worked with him for close to two years as media officer of the U20 national team of Nigeria and I don’t really need anyone to tell me about his temperament. We ate together, traveled together and spent the nights gisting after dinner.
I really don’t need anyone to lecture me about his temperament, he is a warrior, fighter and above all, he is the most patriotic footballer I have ever seen or known. His passion in the green-white-green jersey is second to none. His hunger for success is unbelievable and he has got a big heart.
I remember that U20 Qualifier against Burundi in Bujumbura and the victory against Sudan in Omdurman. On both occasions, Osimhen rose to the occasion even though he was nursing a knee injury and had to play in pains.
That tells you how passionate this young man is when dressed in green-white-green. So you will understand why he felt betrayed by comments allegedly made by coach Finidi George, describing him as unpatriotic.
Such comments will hurt any true patriot especially when you remember the sacrifices. Let’s not forget too that he claimed he called to inform the coach of his injury after visiting his doctor in Wolfsburg and also pleaded with the coach that he will like to be in camp to offer moral support to the boys at the detriment of his own comfort, which coach Finidi turned down
Osimhen – A warrior
Nevertheless, there is always the need to apply caution and maintain a calm, cool and coordinated approach at all times especially when you find yourself in that position where many now see you as their role model, mentor or icon.
As current African footballer of the year, Osimhen ticks these boxes perfectly and has even a grown to be classified as an idol to so many young footballers on the continent.
In an attempt to unravel all the miseries surrounding that accusation purportedly made by Finidi that Osimhen and a few others pick the games that suits them and that majority of these players are not patriotic, this writer has taken time to dig deep to find out what transpired at that meeting that was held inside the conference room of the honourable Minister of Youth and sports.
Now, what you are about to read below, are highpoint of the meeting as narrated by two persons who were privileged to be part of the meeting and have agreed to talk only on condition of anonymity.
*The Meeting That Matters*
The NFF delegation to that meeting held at the office of the Honourable Sports Minister, was led by NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau. Also on the entourage are the NFF 1st Vice president, Anyansi Agwu, General Secretary Sanusi Mohammed, team secretary and director of competitions Dayo Enebi with NFF technical director Augustine Eguaveon completing the list.
The Sports minister Senator John Enoh has invited the NFF and FInidi to come explain Nigeria’s dismal performances in those two World Cup qualifying games against South Africa and Benin Republic and profer solutions on the way forward.
At some point during the deliberation, Super Eagles head coach Finidi George was asked to speak and he poured out his mind, without holding back.
Finidi
*What did Finidi say*
According to my source, Finidi heaped the blames on his players. He was furious with the way the players responded to national call-ups which some of us complained about in the buildup to these matches.
My source said Finidi then went on to assure the minister and his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation, that he has absolute confidence that the Super Eagles can still qualify for the World Cup if all hands are on deck.
He said that he is surprised that a few players in the team have Godfathers in the NFF. According to him, if he tries to stamp his feet on certain behaviors in the team, some persons will remind him that the players in question, belong to either a board member or a top official of the NFF.
It was at this point that the NFF technical director, Augustine Eguaveon cut in and told Finidi, that to succeed as head coach, he needs to stamp his authority, be decisive and be brutal if need be.
Eguaveon gave an example of how he banished Yakubu Aiyegbeni to the bench because the former Portsmouth striker who at the time was doing so well in the Premier league, thought he deserves an automatic jersey whenever he comes to camp.
Finidi then responded by saying he was going to change his approach henceforth. He said he will no longer tolerate these unpatriotic players in the national team. This was when he now said a player like Osimhen could have taken the risk and come play for Nigeria, if he really wanted to do so. This is according to my sources.
However, I am not sure that Finidi made this comment to indict Osimhen. As at the time he dropped that line, he was trying so hard to keep his job and make his employers see him as a man that can wield the big stick when it really matters.
He was also just looking for a name to use to balance his thoughts and anger and Osimhen unfortunately, became the scapegoat.
Showndown talks – Sports Minister, Finidi, NFF officials meet in Abuja
At that meeting, the NFF didn’t tell Finidi in the presence of the Sports Minister that they had plans to engage a foreign technical adviser.
However, he might have offended the gods by revealing during that meeting with the minister that some top guns in the federation, are Godfathers to players of in the Super Eagles and that explains why they are seen as the untouchables.
Little wonder, a decision was taken behind him, to employ a foreign technical adviser and demote the former Enyimba head coach to assistant coach.
Immediately Finidi got wind of this plan, he quickly tendered his letter of resignation.
In fact, his first letter that was sent to the NFF, was not signed so he was asked to withdraw and sign before sending it again.
*How did Osimhen get to know about what Finidi said or did not say?*
It will also interest you all to know, that, there are top officials of Nigeria football that are on the payroll of Nigeria footballers. I know of a footballer that once gave an administrator in the previous board a wrist watch worth over €40,000.
I am also aware that every Super Eagles team list comes with a price.
Before a Super Eagles team list is released, there are lots of interests at stake and most players, except the established names like Osimhen, Lookman, Nwabali and a few others, come to the Super Eagles camp, armed with gifts for their Godfathers.
That is why these Godfathers will do anything to please the players in return. There are also those secretariat staff that have their ears to the ground and push out these information daily to curry favours. So it baffles me, why anyone will be surprised that Osimhen got inside information of what transpired at the meeting. He is too connected and too rich to be left in the dark.
Now that it is established based on available facts that Finidi alleged that Osimhen and a few others are not 100% patriotic to the national cause, it is on that basis we will now judge that Instagram live video posted by Osimhen and pass a judgment thereafter.
*Osimhen has no reason to go live the way he did and his choice of words on the day are not acceptable*
Victor Osimhen is a superstar of repute. The current African Footballer of the Year, a Nigerian player that is now idolized in Naples. I remember in one of my recent interviews with him in Abidjan, during the recent AFCON, I saw a few diehard fans who had traveled all the way from Naples to Cote d’Iviore, just to support the best footballer after Diego Amando Maradona to have played for the club.
Putting all these into consideration, Victor Osimhen should know the weight of whatever comments he makes. He must learn to talk at all times to impress his fans and promote his brand no matter his frustrations, obsessions or irritations.
Secondly, for his personality, class and position, he shouldn’t be the one speaking always, he should delegate these responsibilities especially reactions to sensitive issues like this one, to his manager, agents or trusted friends. Your choice of words also matters.
In all, Osimhen by that singular act, has demoted himself from that exalted seat of an icon in the hearts of his diehard fans.
Attacking your coach the way you did and generalizing the attack to include Nigeria and Nigerians is demeaning to say the least.
As a friend who cares and appreciate the talent in you, i am making this passionate appeal to you. Please go out there and do an apology to coach Finidi and everyone that is effected by your comments and rudeness. Say it for the sake of posterity.
Trust me, I wouldn’t have bothered to do this if I don’t care about your present and your future.
A stitch in time saves nine.
By Adewale Ajayi, who was former Flying Eagles Media Officer when Osimhen featured for the country’s U20s
Tags: 2026 FIFA World Cup QualifiersBeninFinidi GeorgeJohn EnohNFFSouth AfricaSuper EaglesVictor Osimhen
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Comments 1
Emmanuella 1 hour ago
This is one of the best piece I’ve read today. A total unbiased rendition of the whole matter.
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They have all read the article and are too ashamed to come back here to continue bashing Osimhen.
Ive also seen the video recording the kid and his doctor had with that backstabber. He was even comiserating with Osimhen and asking him to relax well so his injury can heal quick.
Same Judas went behind him to rubbish him in the presence of the minister as an unpatriotic player who is faking injuries and choosing games to play for Nigeria, claiming he could still have come to play with the injury…..really. Judas didn’t tell them NFF cheifs he was the one that rejected the boy’s offer to come and be with his teammates in camp.
Childish or not childish, rightly done or wrongly done, decently conveyed or toutishly conveyed, Finidi deserves whatever has been thrown at him by Osimhen.
Legend my foot.
Imagine if Osimhen didn’t have any evidence…Im sure the Sports Ministry would have proclaimed a ban on Osmhen by now for being “unpatriotic”, backed by 200m misled Nigerians.