Rita Odafe
John Enoh, Nigeria’s sports minister, has spoken out about Napoli striker Victor Osimhen’s recent social media criticism of former Super Eagles coach Finidi George for the first time.
There were allegations that Finidi George questioned Osimhen’s dedication to the team when he missed the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic earlier this month.
It was reported that Finidi questioned the commitment of some players and singled out Osimhen for his unavailability.
Osimhen responded to Finidi’s comments by stating that he had contacted Finidi about his injury and had wanted to join the team in camp, but Finidi declined the offer
He mentioned, “I anticipated incidents like this and that’s why I have evidence of when I called Finidi while I was in Germany with the doctor.
“I sustained an injury in our last game against Lecce and went for an MRI scan. I phoned Finidi while at the doctor’s. But he told me not to worry about joining the team and to stay with my family.
“I will share the screenshots and videos of my conversation with Finidi for those who believe what he said.
“I have lost respect for that man because I always show respect before any sign of disrespect.”
After the incident, Osimhen has chosen not to offer an apology even after reports emerged that Finidi did not make the comments attributed to him.
Speaking on Eagle7 FM Radio, the Sports Minister discussed the controversy for the first time, stating that he has instructed the NFF not to comment on the matter until Osimhen has been consulted.
“This issue has generated various reactions,” he remarked. “Osimhen is an asset for Nigeria, but this incident was regrettable.
“I advised the NFF to hold off on a formal statement until they can engage with Osimhen, particularly because Nigerian football is facing challenges that require delicate management.
“The NFF must stay focused and not be swayed by distractions.”
