In a live Instagram video yesterday, Nigerian and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, 25, clapped back at national team head coach Finidi George.
This followed George’s statement that he would not beg Osimhen to represent Nigeria during recent World Cup qualifiers.
In the live video, Osimhen not only explained why he was unfit to play in the matches against South Africa and Benin Republic but also expressed his frustration with derogatory and insulting remarks toward Finidi George, both as his manager and as a player.
While it’s understandable that Finidi George would be frustrated over losing a key player to injury just days before crucial games, no player should display such audacity and disrespect toward the national team’s coach.
In the 1:20-minute video, Osimhen detailed how he had informed Finidi immediately upon being deemed unfit to play but became angry after Finidi suggested that his absence contributed to the team’s poor performance and hinted he could have managed to play regardless.
The NFF must ensure that no player, regardless of their talent, is considered bigger than the head coach appointed by the Federation. Similar incidents in the past have caused division within the team.
To set an example and prevent further occurrences, and to retain a pristine ambiance in the national team, Osimhen must be sanctioned and required to issue an official apology to the NFF and the national team’s head coach.
Osimhen must understand that his achievements are diminutive compared to what George has in his archive. Finidi George, along with Kanu Nwankwo, was Nigeria’s first player to win a UEFA Champions League title, starting in the 1995 final.
He played for Ajax, one of the biggest clubs making waves in Europe at the time, with three Eredivisie titles and other trophies to his name. Osimhen has just one Scudetto and the African Footballer of the Year award as his biggest achievements so far.
The NFF must ensure that no matter the prowess of a player, they must not be bigger than the head coach officially appointed by the Federation. Over the years, similar occurrences have happened, leading to the disunity of the team.
To serve as a warning to other footballers, and to ensure this show of shame doesn’t continue, Osimhen must be sanctioned and made to tender official apologies to the NFF and the head coach of the national team.
