Super Eagles’ job big one for Finidi – Ndidi

As the Super Eagles gear up for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in June, Leicester and Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has shed light on the team’s mindset and the challenges facing new head coach George Finidi.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, Ndidi acknowledged the importance of the upcoming games, stating, “Yeah they (the games) are really important because we know where we stand at the moment. it’s not a good position, to be honest, we should be honest with ourselves.”

He emphasised that the team must approach every opponent with utmost seriousness, adding, “As long as you’re in that group you want to qualify so there are no small country or small team.”

The Leicester City star underscored the pressure on the team, given their current standing in the qualifiers.

“Where we are at the moment gives us more pressure, because these games are must-win games. I’m not saying we will win the game but I’m saying they are must-win games because we don’t know what’s going to happen but it all bores down to us as a team because we know what is at hand and then we know we have to get as much as we can in these two games just to go up there,” Ndidi said.

Turning his attention to the new head coach, George Finidi, who previously served as an assistant to former manager Jose Peseiro, Ndidi acknowledged the magnitude of the task ahead for the former international.

“I would say congratulations to him because uh he’s been part of the team for months now and I think him coming into that role as a manager, I think it is a big one for him.”

Ndidi recounted the challenges Finidi faced during the team’s friendly matches against Ghana and Mali in Morocco, where he was left to handle multiple responsibilities without adequate support.

Ndidi said, “But you know when we played in the friendly game in Morocco against Ghana and Mali, I really felt bad for him because he was alone and uh there was no assistant no one to help him. He was basically conducting the training, doing the tactics, even doing games and conducting the warm-up and I think you know we as a group and then seeing him going through all this and still confident with the team it is amazing because with little help from other people coming in I think he’s going to do well.”

Nigeria currently sits third in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, behind Rwanda and South Africa. Nigeria having played two games has drawn both games.

Finidi who was unveiled on his new appointment to the media in Abuja on May 13 wasted no time in laying out his immediate priorities – two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin early next month.

Nigeria will play South Africa on June 7 and Benin on June 10.

Speaking to reporters on his immediate task, Finidi said, “Nigeria comes first, that’s what I expect from every player I invite. You have to be playing in your club, and you must have the commitment.

“The first targets are to qualify for the World Cup and AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), and a win over South Africa will set the tone.”