Finidi, who is thought to have quit as the Super Eagles head coach on Saturday (though the NFF has yet to confirm), was cited as saying he can’t ask Osimhen to play for the national team after the player withdrew from their past two 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury.
The striker was supposed to be sidelined with a four-week injury and was replaced by Enugu Rangers defender Kenneth Igboke.
However, after the Super Eagles’ disappointing performances against South Africa and Benin Republic, The narrative surrounding Osimhen’s absence shifted after an online medium (not The PUNCH) reported that Finidi used Osimhen’s absence as a scapegoat for the players’ negative attitude toward the national team when he and the Nigeria Football Federation chiefs met with Sports Minister John Enoh in Abuja on Wednesday.
In a live Instagram video on Saturday, Osimhen appeared to be enraged by the comments, stating that he had lost respect for Finidi and opening up about the circumstances that led to his withdrawal from the Super Eagles’ last two World Cup qualifiers, adding that Finidi had been adequately briefed by him and his doctor.
Jason, using the handle @zieecity, disregarded Osimhen’s activities, saying, “Let him get out. Who is he? As a professional player, you do not post a live video cursing and shouting stuff. “No player is bigger than the team.”
Kinq Kudos criticized Osimhen’s attitude, stating, “I don’t favor Finidi’s coaching style, but Osimhen isn’t meant to handle this matter this way. If he wanted to address it, he could have done so on a podcast or in an interview.”
Iyke, under the pseudonym @drackfel, accused Osimhen of disrespect, writing, “Osimhen believes he is richer and larger than Finidi, hence he has no right to be in control of him. If the bus was white, this would not have happened. He would not make such public statements if one of his Napoli managers did the same thing. Shame.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
