Former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George has voiced his opposition to the Nigeria Football Federation's decision to appoint Eric Chelle as head coach of both the Super Eagles and the national U-23 team, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Finidi argued that combining the two positions would place a heavy burden on the Malian tactician and could become a distraction from his primary responsibilities with the senior national team.
According to the former winger, the Olympic Eagles require a dedicated coach who can focus fully on the team's development, preparations, and qualification campaigns.
He stressed that managing the Super Eagles alone is already a demanding task, and adding responsibility for the U-23 side could affect efficiency and performance at both levels.
The Nigeria Football Federation recently entrusted Chelle with the dual role of overseeing both the senior national team and the Olympic Eagles, a decision that has sparked differing opinions among football stakeholders.
Finidi, who previously handled the Super Eagles on an interim basis, believes Nigerian football would benefit more from a separate coaching structure, particularly in ensuring proper attention is given to youth development and the progression of players through the national team ranks.
The former Ajax winger maintained that the U-23 side plays a crucial role in preparing future Super Eagles stars and should therefore have a coach solely committed to its objectives and long-term growth.