Finidi targets Champions League after first NPFL win

By alexandreManagement

Finidi targets Champions League after first NPFL win

Former Nigerian international, Finidi George has set his sights on a Champions League ticket with Enyimba after securing his first win as head coach of the People’s Elephant in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The former Ajax star was appointed as head coach of Enyimba in October and had to wait until Matchday 4 in the NPFL for his first victory, a 1-0 win over Sunshine Stars on Sunday.

Enyimba’s Decision To Hire Finidi

Enyimba’s decision to hire Finidi George as their coach was widely received with excitement by Nigerian football fans. The former international enjoyed a successful playing career that saw him play in top leagues across Europe. Many believed he has what it takes to lead Enyimba to glory in domestic and continental competitions.

Finidi, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, is hoping to replicate the success he enjoyed as a player with Enyimba. He has set his sights on leading the club to their third CAF Champions League trophy and maybe even beyond that.

“It feels great to get my first win as Enyimba coach,” Finidi said after the win against Sunshine Stars. “The players put in a good shift and I am happy with the way they followed my instructions.”

Team Building Process

One of the challenges Finidi George has had to deal with since taking over at Enyimba is building a team capable of challenging for domestic and continental titles. The People’s Elephant struggled in the first three games of the season, picking up just one point before the former Nigeria international took charge.

Finidi has made some tactical and personnel changes since taking over, and it seems to be working. Enyimba put in a solid performance against Sunshine Stars, and the team looks more organized than before.

“We are still a work in progress, but I am happy with the way things are going,” Finidi said. “We have a good squad, but we need to work on being more consistent.”

Champions League Qualification Target

Finidi George’s ultimate goal is to lead Enyimba back to the summit of Nigerian and African football. The club has not won the NPFL title since 2015 and has not gone beyond the group stages of the CAF Champions League in recent years.

Finidi, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, believes Enyimba can qualify for the competition this season and go all the way.

“Our target is to qualify for the Champions League, and then take it one game at a time,” Finidi said. “We have the quality to challenge for the title, but we need to work hard and stay focused.”

Finidi’s Coaching Philosophy

Finidi George has only been in charge of Enyimba for a few weeks, but he has already shown glimpses of his coaching philosophy. The former Nigeria international is known for his attacking style of play and his ability to get the best out of his players.

Enyimba has always been a team that plays attractive football, and Finidi has promised to continue in that tradition.

“I want my team to play attacking football, but we also need to be disciplined defensively,” Finidi said. “We want to entertain our fans, but we also want to win games.”

Expectations From Fans

Enyimba is one of the biggest clubs in Nigerian football, and the expectations from fans are always high. The People’s Elephant has a rich history of success in domestic and continental competitions, and the fans expect nothing less than trophies.

Finidi George is fully aware of the weight of expectation on his shoulders, but he is not letting it get to him.

“I know the fans want us to win every game and every competition we play,” Finidi said. “But we need to remain focused on our objectives and take it one game at a time.”

The Importance Of Mental Toughness

One of the things Finidi George has emphasized since taking over at Enyimba is the importance of mental toughness. The former Nigeria international believes that his team must be mentally strong if they want to succeed in domestic and continental competitions.

“Football is not just about physical ability, but also mental ability,” Finidi said. “We need to be mentally tough if we want to achieve our goals.”

It remains to be seen if Finidi’s emphasis on mental toughness will pay off, but there is no denying the importance of having a strong mentality in modern-day football.

Finidi George has had a promising start to his coaching career at Enyimba, and the fans are excited about what the future holds. The former Nigeria international has set his sights on leading the club to success in domestic and continental competitions, with a Champions League ticket being the ultimate goal.

Enyimba has a rich history of success, and the players and coaching staff will have to work hard if they want to add more trophies to the club’s collection. Finidi George is fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but he is confident in his ability to get the best out of his players.