‘Allow me do my job’ – Super Eagles coach tells journalists after draw against South Africa

Finidi George’s tenure as Super Eagles manager began on a disappointing note as Nigeria was held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Friday night.

Incredibly, the Super Eagles boss left Bayer Leverkusen’s prolific striker Victor Boniface, who contributed 30 goals across competitions for the Bundesliga champions last season, on the bench as an unused substitute for the crucial qualifier in Uyo.

Instead, Turkey-based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru grabbed the headlines with Nigeria’s equaliser after they had fallen behind to Bafana Bafana.

Finidi George Speaks on Boniface

After the match, Finidi faced questioning from reporters over his decision to snub Boniface, who could only watch from the bench.

“He was supposed to come in, but when we heard [Semi] Ajayi complain that he had a knock and couldn’t continue, we had to reverse that,” claimed the Nigerian boss in a video posted on Instagram by Nigerian journalist, Calister.

Speaking further, the former Enyimba manager and NPFL winner promised that the 23-year-old Boniface would get his chance in the next game against Benin Republic, urging the media to allow them to do their job.

“For me, it is what you can give to me on the field. Everyone wants this or that player to play, but at the end of the day, if the player is not performing, you guys will still be shouting ‘take him off,'” he added. “So, let us do our job. We know who is good to go. We have another game, so definitely we’ll see how we can play these guys.”

Super Eagles Player Rating

The Super Eagles have taken just three points out of a possible nine in their World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has managed just three points from their opening three qualifiers for the 2026 tournament.

Finidi’s team, who were among the pre-tournament favorites, face an uphill battle to secure their place at the finals after this latest disappointment.