Former Super Eagles coach Finidi George has taken up another managerial job at Nigeria Premier Football League side, Rivers United, barely three weeks after resigning as the head coach of Nigeria’s men’s senior national team, The PUNCh reports.

Finidi was announced as the head coach of the 2022 NPFL champions on Wednesday with an unveiling set to follow on Thursday.

“Rivers United Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Finidi George as our new Technical Manager,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years.

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The statement reads, “His impressive credentials include winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles in 1994, the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995, and the Nigeria Premier Football League with Enyimba International FC in 2023.

“As a coach, Finidi has demonstrated his ability to lead teams to success, and we are confident that he will bring his expertise and passion to our club. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to a successful tenure under his leadership.”

Finidi left his role as the Super Eagles head coach in June after two games in charge. It was in the wake of the team’s poor performance in two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic which forced the Nigeria Football Federation to resort to hiring a foreign technical adviser for the team.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Finidi George Resigns As Super Eagles Head Coach

Before taking the Super Eagles job, Finidi spent two full seasons and almost completed the third with Enyimba, leading them to their record-ninth NPFL title in 2023.

At Rivers United, he takes over the leadership from head coach Evans Ogenyi, who guided the club until the end of last season after the dismissal of the long-serving Stanley Eguma.

A native of Port Harcourt, the 53-year-old began his career with Calabar Rovers, Iwanyanwu Nationale and represented local club Sharks FC – which was merged in 2016 with Dolphins to form Rivers United – for two seasons before embarking on a stellar European career.

The Euro 2024 last-16 tie between Germany and Denmark on Saturday was temporarily halted late in the first half due to a violent storm.

English referee Michael Oliver stopped the match in Dortmund in the 35th minute and took the players off the pitch amid torrential rain, hailstones, high winds, thunder and lightning.

The score was 0-0 at the time of the stoppage at around 9:35 pm (1935 GMT).

READ ALSO: Euro 2024: Roberto Baggio Robbed At Gunpoint

“Due to adverse weather conditions, the game has been suspended. More information to follow,” read a message posted on big screens inside the stadium.

Supporters in exposed seats in the 60,000 crowd were left to seek cover as water poured from the stadium roof.

Fan zones in Dortmund were also closed due to the weather conditions, local police told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

AFP

…as Obaseki, Alli preach peace, unity

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

Legendary Boxer, Isaac Ikhuoria(Oly) alongside over 500 young men and women on Saturday, June 29, participated in a 5km road race in Benin, the Edo State capital, to celebrate the 2024 Olympic Day.

INFO DAILY reports that the Olympic Day is an event celebrated globally. This year’s theme is ‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’.

The runners who began the 5km race from the Samuel Ogbemudia at the Sumuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, at about 8:00am were led by the chairman, Oredo Local Council Dr Tom Obaseki, and the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel.

The duo led the runners through Akenzua Road; Plymouth Road, King Square(Ring Road)through Oba Market Road, Zabayor Street and rounded off the exercise at the stadium, where certificates of participation were given to the participants.

2024 Olympic Day: Legendary boxer, Isaac Ikhuoria (left) receiving certificate of participation from Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel,  PS, Edo State Sports commission on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

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In his message, President, International Olympic Committee ( IOC), Thomas Bach, encouraged the Olympic community to celebrate the joy that only sports bring.

The message which was delivered by Obaseki, the President expressed optimism that at the Paris Olympics, “the athletes will inspire us with their achievements -they will inspire the world by living our Olympic motto: Faster,Higher-Stronger-Strong together.”

He added: “On Olympic Day, we celebrate the creation of the Olympic Movement by our founder Pierre de Coubertin. This year’s Olympic Day is a special one, taking place just ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“With the excitement building, the athletes; the fans, the entire Olympic Community around the world -all of us- we are looking forward to a new era of Olympic Games; younger, more inclusive, more urban and more sustainable.”

READ ALSO: First 100 Participants To Get Free Branded T-shirts As Obaseki Flags Off 2024 Olympic Day Run In Benin

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Edo Sports Commission, Olympian Yussuf Alli, described the Olympic Day as significant, saying it is a day set aside by the International Olympic Committee, IOC, to celebrate sports men and women and to encourage mass participation in sports.

The Chairman who was represented by Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary of the Commission, added: “Firstly, it is marked all over the world .That is why it is under the umbrella body of the ‘Sports For All’ in IOC.

“So, Nigeria being a full member of the International Olympic Committee is celebrating it. And that is why the IOC wrote to Nigeria and Edo State to participate in the exercise.

“It is happening all over the world and we are happy that we are a part of the celebration.

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“It helps us to create the right awareness for fitness and also to bring people together because the essence of sports is coming together so that we can move forward and celebrate according to this year’s theme’ Move and Celebrate,” Igbinosa emphasized.

Obaseki on his part, highlighted the benefit of Olympic Day and sports as a unifying event that brings people together and promotes peace and health.

“We all understand that Olympic is a unifying event that brings people together, promotes peace, statesmanship and sportsmanship.

“So, wherever we are we should understand that sports bring people together and in the process,we keep ourselves healthy,” he added.