Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has leapt to the defence of former Nigeria head coach Finidi George, insisting the country’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup cannot be blamed on one man.
With criticism continuing over Nigeria’s absence from a second consecutive World Cup, Sodje believes attention should instead be focused on those responsible for running the game.
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“Finidi should not be made the scapegoat,” Sodje said.
The former international argued that the ex-Super Eagles winger did not appoint himself as national team coach and should not shoulder the blame for years of administrative shortcomings.
According to Sodje, those responsible for making key football decisions must also be held accountable for the outcome of the qualifying campaign.
“He didn’t give himself the job. The people who appointed him should also take responsibility,” he added.
Sodje warned against reducing Nigeria’s World Cup disappointment to Finidi’s brief spell in charge, insisting the country’s football problems run much deeper.
“The issues are structural and have been there for years,” he stated.
The former defender believes focusing solely on the former coach distracts from the reforms needed to improve Nigerian football.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive edition, extending one of the most disappointing periods in the history of the three-time African champions.
