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A brief on which Super Eagles players present as Finidi George's reign kicked off in Uyo.
Finidi George's highly anticipated tenure as Super Eagles head coach got off to a less-than-ideal start, with only 13 of his 23 called-up players present for the new boss' first training session in Uyo.
As the former Nigerian international put his charges through their paces ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa, a depleted Nigerian rank took to the field.
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01:52 - 03.06.2024
Nigeria vs South Africa: Finidi George era begins with first training as Super Eagles feel the intensity
Nigeria's Finidi George officially started his Super Eagles reign after having his first training ahead of the FIFA WCQ clash against South Africa.
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Depleted Super Eagles for Finidi George
Leading the way were the NPFL duo of Kenneth Igboke and Sodiq Ismail, who were joined by fellow newcomer Ibrahim Olawoyin in what looked to be an intense opening workout under George's watchful eye.
The session also featured the likes of Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface, Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho, and Samuel Chukwueze, while goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo marshalled the rearguard.
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Raphael Onyedika, Terem Moffi, and Benjamin Tanimu were the other notable names to heed the call for George's first training camp.
However, the new Super Eagles boss will have been left wanting more bodies on the ground, with key players like Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye among the absentees yet to link up with the squad.
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In a further blow, defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Yusuf Alhassan were forced to train separately from the main group, compounding George's selection headache ahead of the crunch South Africa clash.
Despite the depleted ranks, George wasted no time in stamping his authority, putting his present players through a gruelling session via one of his assistants, Chima Onyeike, that left little doubt about the intensity he expects from his new charges.
With the Super Eagles revolution kicking into gear, the former winger will be hoping for a full complement of troops on the ground sooner rather than later, allowing him to truly mould his squad ahead of their World Cup qualification bid.
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