Former Super Eagles winger Segun Odegbami has urged critics to stop targeting coach Finidi George after Rivers United’s disappointing exit from the 2025/26 CAF Champions League following a heavy loss to Pyramids FC. Odegbami highlighted broader structural issues in Nigerian football rather than blaming the former national team star for the club’s underwhelming continental campaign.
Rivers United, the last Nigerian side remaining in continental competitions, were beaten 4–0 at home by Pyramids FC in Uyo, ending their hopes of progressing further in Africa’s premier club tournament.
In his column, Odegbami acknowledged that despite Rivers United surviving into the later stages of the CAF Champions League, the gulf in quality between Nigerian clubs and top African teams remains stark.
He pointed to long-standing weaknesses in domestic football structures as a key reason for the struggles of Nigerian clubs on the continental stage, suggesting that fans and administrators should address those issues instead of castigating coaches like Finidi.
Odegbami’s remarks come amid ongoing frustration with Nigerian club performances in CAF competitions, with Rivers United’s exit marking yet another chapter in the country’s continental shortcomings.
Editorial
Segun Odegbami’s plea to “leave Finidi George alone” touches on a deeper debate within Nigerian football. Too often, coaches become the focal point for fan frustration whenever clubs fall short, yet the broader systemic challenges facing the game domestically are rarely addressed with equal passion.
Finidi George, whose career as a player earned him legendary status with the Super Eagles, has stepped into management during a difficult period for Nigerian clubs. Rivers United’s continental exit is disappointing but speaks more to longstanding institutional gaps, funding, league competitiveness, and infrastructural support, than to any single individual’s capabilities.
Odegbami’s argument reinforces the need for structural reform in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Coaching talent will flourish when the ecosystem supports them until then, the frustrations on continental nights will continue.
Did You Know?
- Segun Odegbami is a former Nigerian international winger and regarded as one of the country’s greatest attackers of his generation.
- Finidi George enjoyed a successful playing career, including winning the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995.
- Rivers United were the last Nigerian club in the 2025/26 CAF Champions League before their elimination.
- Nigerian clubs have struggled in recent CAF competitions compared to top clubs from North and West Africa.
- Odegbami’s advice highlights ongoing debates about the state of Nigerian football administration and support systems.
