In the aftermath of Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Super Eagles’ head coach Finidi George emphasized the need for greater commitment from his players, MySportDab Reports.
Speaking at the post-match conference, George acknowledged the team’s struggles and the absence of a guaranteed winning formula.
“There’s no special formula for winning,” George stated. “It’s all about seeing how the players perform when the new season starts and figuring out how to get the best out of them.”
Despite taking an early lead through Raphael Onyedika, the Super Eagles faltered, allowing Benin to score twice and secure their first-ever victory against Nigeria. George attributed this lapse to a lack of focus and commitment.
“Everyone must be committed,” George asserted. “With that commitment, we’ll win games. I believe we’re going to win games.”
He remains hopeful for a turnaround, despite the Super Eagles’ disappointing position in Group C. Currently, Nigeria sits fifth with only three points from four matches.
Group leaders Benin have seven points, followed by Lesotho with five, while Rwanda and South Africa each have four points with a game in hand.
Reflecting on the challenging situation, George urged his team not to give up. “We can’t throw in the towel. We need to find a way to get these players back and motivated,” he said.
The Super Eagles, who were silver medalists at the 2023 African Nations Cup, now face an uphill battle in their quest for World Cup qualification.
With a renewed focus on commitment and unity, George hopes to guide his team through this tough phase and back to winning ways in the upcoming fixtures.
