Give us Finidi contract details, Nigerians tell NFF

Some football stakeholders have tasked the Nigeria Football Federation to release the details contained in the contract of newly appointed Super Eagles coach, George Finidi, following his appointment on Monday, The According reports.

The NFF Board approved the appointment of the former Ajax and Betis player following the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old.

However, details about Finidi’s contract have become a subject of discussion among a lot of football faithful.

The football governing body in a statement released on Monday which announced the appointment of the Enyimba gaffer did not specify the coach’s contract period or salaries.

“The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint the former ace winger Finidi George as head coach of the senior men national football team, Super Eagles,” the statement read in part.

“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.”

Following the federation’s failure to give the details about Finidi’s contract, some fans have however asked the NFF to do so.

Former Chairman of the Gombe State FA Shuaib Gara-Gombe slams the federation for refusing to disclose the coach’s contract details.

“The NFF has never been transparent and I am not surprised,” he told The According.

“Anyone who expects them to release the details about Finidi’s contacts is just wasting his or her time because they won’t and l know the day they release his contract details it is going to be embarrassing to the coach himself because I know he can take anything.

“Nigerians are entitled to call out on the NFF to give the details of the contract because they did the same with (Jose Peseiro) but is there anything that Nigerians are entitled to that they get from the NFF?”

Former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, also tasked the NFF to be transparent with the contract given to Finidi.

“I believe the pressure from journalists will prompt the NFF to reveal Finidi’s contract details otherwise it’s going to be the same old story,” he told The According.

“We know they went for an indigenous coach to reduce cost from what Peseiro and Rohr earned and now that we have reduced cost, we should know how much he (Finidi) is earning and the duration of the contract.

“Unless the right questions are asked we won’t know but Nigerians deserve to know.”

Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold medallist, Abiodun Obafemi, wondered why Finidi’s contract is shrouded in secrecy.

“Honestly, the NFF owes Nigerians explanations and gives full details about Finidi’s contract,” he told The According.

“The same treatment given to Peseiro and Rohr should be given to Finidi but I am not surprised. Telling Nigerians how much he is going to earn and how long he will be in charge should have been the first thing, this will also give confidence to get the job done and encourage indigenous coaches. Nothing should be done in secrecy.”

A football fan, Christopher James added, “I still don’t understand why we continue to treat our coaches like this. When Peseiro was appointed we knew how much they paid him but now nothing was said about Finidi’s. NFF should tell how many years of contract he was given and the amount.”

Ogochukwu Daniel, a resident in Ogun State said the local coaches should be blamed for their predicaments.

“Some days ago I read a story about Christain Chukwu saying the NFF still owed him after 16 years or so but they didn’t owe Peseiro and I am sure they didn’t owe Gernot Rohr because we would have heard about it.

“What this means is that our coaches are the problem. Maybe they discussed the contract terms with Finidi in private but they should come out and tell us how much they are paying him just as they told us that Peseiro earned $70,000 then.”

Seun Popoola added, “This is always the case when an indigenous coach is being appointed. There was no hidden fact about Peseiro’s period and salary when he was in charge of the Eagles, now they’ve appointed a Nigerian and we are begging them to give us details of his contract.

“NFF should for once do the right thing.”

A confused Daniel Okafor said, “My own is that I don’t understand how a club coach is still in charge of our national team, this is total embarrassment.

“Is he there on a part-time basis or what and how do they expect him to monitor players? These are the questions in my head and I think that is why the NFF will need to come out and tell us what Finidi’s contract entails.”

Finidi, who spent 20 months as an assistant to the outgoing José Santos Peseiro, had been serving as the interim coach after the Portuguese tactician’s departure following the Super Eagles’ impressive run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast

During his interim tenure, George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco last month, where the team ended an 18-year winless streak against Ghana with a 2-1 victory before suffering a 0-2 loss to Mali.