Few stories have captivated fans and pundits’ attention in Nigerian football, as has the saga of Finidi George and Victor Osimhen. Two men, both game giants, are embroiled in a controversy that has left many wondering what went wrong.
Finidi is the former Super Eagles winger with a storied career spanning over a decade. Osimhen is the young and dynamic striker touted as the future of Nigerian football. Their dispute has sparked a heated debate, and as the drama unfolds, one question remains on everyone’s lips: What transpired between them?
On June 15 this year, Osimhen took to social media to address allegations against him by then-Super Eagles Head Coach Finidi George. In a live video, Osimhen denied reports attributed to Finidi that he selected matches he plays for Nigeria and was part of the reasons for Nigeria’s poor performances in the 2026 World Cup qualification matches.
The striker called out Super Eagles supporters who believed the allegations, asserting that he had evidence of the coach lying against him. According to reports, Finidi George had called Osimhen unpatriotic and wouldn’t beg him to play for Nigeria. According to reports, Finidi made a statement against Osimhen and other players during a meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation.
In an attempt to unravel the mysteries surrounding the accusation, sportswriter Adewale Ajayi said Finidi inadvertently made the indicting statement against Osimhen during a meeting with the NFF and that it was exacerbated by gossip and favor seekers; otherwise, Osimhen would not have heard of it.
I don’t need anyone to lecture me about Osimhen’s temperament. He is a warrior and fighter; above all, he is the most patriotic footballer I have ever seen or known. His passion for the green, white, green Jersey is second to none. His hunger for success is unbelievable, and he has a big heart. That tells you how passionate this young man is when dressed in Green, White, and Green.
Before this incident, Ajayi claimed Osimhen had contacted Finidi to inform him of his injury after visiting his doctor in Wolfsburg and also pleaded with the coach that he would like to be in camp to offer moral support to the boys at the detriment of his own comfort, which coach Finidi turned down.
Ajayi said he took the time to dig deep to find out what transpired at that meeting that was held inside the Minister of Youth and Sports conference room. According to Ajayi, “The sports Minister, Senator John Enoh, had invited the NFF and Finidi to come to explain Nigeria’s dismal performances in those two World Cup qualifying games against South Africa and the Benin Republic and proffer solutions on the way forward at some point during the deliberation.
Alayi continued: Super Eagles Head Coach Finidi George was asked to speak, and when he did, he expressed himself without holding anything back. Finidi heaped the blame on his players. He was furious with how the players responded to national call-ups, which some of us complained about during the build-up to those matches. He said that he was surprised that a few players in the team have godfathers in the NFF.
According to Finidi, if he tries to stamp his feet on certain team behaviors, some people will remind him that the players in question belong to either a board member or a top official of the NFF. He said he would no longer tolerate these unpatriotic players in the national team. That was when he said a player like Osimhen could have taken the risk and come to play for Nigeria if he wanted to do so.
