Finidi George will be in temporary charge of Nigeria when they take on Ghana and Mali in friendlies this week, in what could serve as an audition for the permanent coaching position.
Nigeria have been without a coach since February, when the contract of former coach Jose Peseiro was not renewed by the Nigeria Football Federation.
The federation subsequently threw the job open, and George is among more than 20 applicants. The former Ajax Amsterdam, Real Betis, Ipswich Town and Nigeria winger, who served as assistant to Peseiro during the Poruguese's 21-month tenure, now has an opportunity to show what he can do with the team.
An NFF official, who did not want to be named, told ESPN that a good performance would not hurt the 52-year-old's chances, but would not be a guarantee either
"Of course we are going to be looking at all the applications in front of us, and everybody will have a fair chance to get the job," the official said. "But at the same time, he has been with the team for some time now and he has worked with the former coach, so he was part of the team that got to the [Africa Cup of Nations] semifinal.
"If he performs well now, that will give him a small advantage over the others. And you know we have World Cup qualifiers coming soon so it may be better to have someone who can hit the ground running. But just because the team performs well does not mean that he will automatically be given the job. There are other factors we have to consider, and we have to look at everyone and then make a decision that is best for the country."
Finidi, for his first game in charge, will be without forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi, defender Tyronne Ebuehi and newly called-up Luton Town defender Gabriel Osho due to injury.
A member of Nigeria's celebrated "Class of 94," Finidi made his debut for Nigeria in an AFCON qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos, in July 1991, scoring once and providing four assists for striker Rashidi Yekini as the Super Eagles ran out 7-1 winners.
He is also remembered for scoring the goal that took Nigeria to their first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put the Super Eagles ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers in October 1993. The match ended 1-1, but the point was enough to earn Nigeria a ticket to the finals in the U.S. At the World Cup, he also provided Nigeria's first World Cup assist when he slid a low cross through to Yekini for the Super Eagles' first World Cup goal.
Finidi brings local and European experience to the Super Eagles, with a playing career that spanned Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the Nigerian league before moving to Europe and playing for Ajax Amsterdam -- with whom he won the UEFA Champions League in 1995. He also played in Spain with Betis before joining Ipswich for a stint in the English Premier League. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence, and has been coach of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba since 2021 -- leading them to the Nigeria league title in 2023.
Nigeria play Ghana on Friday, Mar. 22, and Mali four days later. Both games will be played at Grande Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.