Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has launched a scathing attack on former Nigeria head coach Finidi George after he was accused of pulling out of games for the national team with minor injuries.
Nigeria’s national team is currently in crisis with Finidi resigning less than two months after he was appointed as Jose Peseiro’s replacement.
Their hopes of securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup were dealt a major blow after a 1-1 draw against South Africa was followed up by a 2-1 defeat away to Benin which has left them fifth in Group C with three points from four games.
Before his resignation this week, Finidi held talks with Nigeria’s sports minister, John Enoh, as well as senior members of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and during the meeting he is said to have questioned Osimhen’s commitment to the national team.
“Finidi said the Napoli striker could still have managed to play these matches,” a source told Politics Nigeria.
“The coach went on to say that it appears that Osimhen chooses the games he plays for Nigeria and he cannot beg him to play for his country.”
Osimhen, who scored 15 goals for Napoli in Serie A this season and has attracted interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, says he suffered an ankle injury against Lecce on May 25 and was told by Finidi not to link up with Nigeria’s national team for their two World Cup qualifiers this month following the results of the MRI scan.
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And the Napoli striker has now angrily hit back at Finidi’s claims during an Instagram live video on Saturday.
“I won’t let anyone believe anything about me, I don’t just address anything, everybody knows when I play for Nigeria I play my heart out, I just let everything go, but I won’t disrespect from anybody,’ an irate Osimhen said during the video.
“I knew things like these would happen and that’s why I have the videos and screenshots of when I called Finidi while I was with the doctor in Germany.
“I got an injury in the last match I played against Lecce, in the last minutes, on my ankle, and I went to the MRI scan. And I called Finidi there for him to listen to the doctor too.
“I called him [Finidi] and asked him to allow me to come to the camp to be with the boys and I spoke to some of my teammates too but he said I have to be with my family.
“I’ll share the screenshot and videos of my conversation with Finidi for the sake of those believing what Finidi said.
“I’ve lost respect for that man because before I disrespect anybody, I always respect them,” he said.
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