Enyimba's Finidi George highlights NPFL stint as key to Super Eagles ambitions

Finidi George, the current Enyimba manager and interim Super Eagles coach, has emphasised the importance of domestic league experience in his pursuit of AFCON glory.

Pulse Sports Nigeria reports that the NPFL coach, who led Enyimba to a historic ninth title in his second season with the club, is one of the frontrunners for the vacant Super Eagles coaching role. 

Speaking from Morocco, where he led the Super Eagles against Ghana and Mali in recent international friendlies, Finidi underscored the benefits of his time with Enyimba in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

"Coming back to coach in the Nigerian League helped me, all credit to Enyimba," the former Nigeria international said per Sportsboom. 

"If I had been in Europe, that would have been difficult," added the former UEFA Champions League winner at Ajax.

Finidi, who is in the running for the permanent Super Eagles job, has enjoyed a successful spell with Enyimba, guiding the club to the NPFL title during his over two-year stint.

The 52-year-old's comments come after he led the Super Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Ghana, before suffering a 2-0 defeat against Mali in the subsequent fixture during the tour of Morocco.

Finidi's experience in the domestic league has been widely praised, with many experts believing it has prepared him well for the challenges of international management.

As the Super Eagles continue their preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Finidi's emphasis on the importance of domestic league experience will be music to the ears of Nigerian football fans, who are eager to see the team return to the pinnacle of African football after the heartbreak in Cote d’Ivoire.