‘They can break all records’ - Finidi George compares current Super Eagles squad with 1994 set

Nigeria legend and current Super Eagles coach Finidi George has spoken about how his players measure up to the 1994 golden set.

Incumbent Super Eagles coach Finidi George has compared the players in the current Super Eagles team with the golden set of 1994.

The former Ajax winger said the current crop of Super Eagles players are getting there and have the potential to be even better than the much-loved 1994 set.

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Finidi George made the statement yesterday, May 23rd, during an interactive session with the media at Eko Hotels, Lagos. 

They can even do better - Finidi George on current Super Eagles squad

While speaking on the players under his management, he said,

“This squad..this present Super Eagles squad. They can even do better. They are getting there. If you see that 1994 squad, it was a squad that came through 1988, 1990, 1992, before 1994.” 

Finidi said if the current Super Eagles set can go one better and win gold after agonisingly losing the 2023 AFCON final to Ivory Coast, the narratives would change. 

“You see this squad now, first time they have gotten silver. We’d try and push them so that next outing would be gold. We’re capable of winning the gold medal; I think the narratives would change."

The 53-year-old former Enyimba coach said he is happy to coach Victor Osimhen and other players, and he is ready to work with the team to win laurels.

“We’re not Superman; the quality that these players have today, I think they can break all records. I’m glad that I’m the coach now, and I want to work with them and see how we can achieve that.“

Analysis: How does the current Super Eagles compare to the 1994 set?

The 1994 set of the Super Eagles is widely regarded as the most successful squad the country has produced.

Nigerians have fond memories of key players in that era like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Taribo West, Peter Rufai, and the legendary Rashidi Yekini, who is the nation’s all-time highest goalscorer with 37 goals.

Meanwhile, the current Super Eagles have the man-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick to help Atalanta win their first trophy in 61 years.

Finidi George-led Super Eagles also have current African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen, who led Napoli to a historic Serie A title last season. 

The Team is also blessed with Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, who helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga without losing a single game. 

However, the 1994 set had a distinctive style, playing free-flowing attacking football, won the AFCON in 1994 and reached the round of 16 at the 1994 and 1998 World Cup.  

The team reached the pinnacle of Nigerian football when they won the Olympic games in Atlanta 1996, beating Brazil and Argentina on their way to claiming gold. 

With the current squad, the future is bright, having just narrowly lost the AFCON final, but they have to convince Nigerians by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and winning the next AFCON edition in Morocco.