By ERSTWHILE Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, says there was no time or evidence to show that he ever insulted Victor Osimhen over the World Cup qualifier with South Africa and Benin Republic.
A Nigerian sports journalist, Udo, in a post retrieved by Stonix News from Facebook, said he had discussions with some senior officials of the NFF who all denied George ever upbraided Osimhen.
Super Eagles squad
Udo reports: “I called a couple of people who were at the meeting between the NFF, Finidi and the minister to confirm whether what is alleged to have been said was actually said.
“These people are really very-very senior and reliable people, and I was told categorically that Finidi did not say the things he is alleged to have said.
“He did not say he was not going to beg Osimhen, he did not say that Osimhen was not committed.
“In fact, he did confirm when he was asked about Osimhen’s absence, that Osimhen called him from Germany and that is why he was excused.
“It was when the issue of players’ commitment was raised that he said he was not going to beg anybody to play for Super Eagles, but he did not mention any player by name specifically.
“I also called Finidi himself to ask if that was the case and he also confirmed to me that he never said any of those things and that he would have no reason to call out any player, whether in public or in private, and that he would address issues with the players himself if there were any issues.
“That as soon as the video was brought to his attention, he reached out to Osimhen to let him know that he never said those things, and that even if he had, Osimhen should have reached out to him first to find out if he said what he was alleged to have said rather than going to the public with such disrespect.”
Stonix News reported that the African Player of the year went live on his Instagram page to rebuke, albeit disrespectfully, fallen Finidi George.
Hear him: “I don’t ever anticipate anything, do you understand? I had an injury in the last match that we played and immediately, I went to Germany to see my son and also did an MRI. I have the picture and video because I know things like this will happen. I am not dumb.
“Immediately I did the MRI, the doctor called me and I went to his office to see him. I called Finidi but he was on the phone. I told one of my guys to do a video of me and the doctor speaking to Finidi.
“I don’t address issues, I let people believe what they want to believe. Whether I play for my club or for Nigeria, I play my heart out and I don’t believe what people say.
“But I won’t allow that disrespect from anybody. I respect people before disrespecting them. I won’t allow that nonsense; don’t put stains on my name!
“I have kept quiet for long and a lot of you don’t want to allow my name to rest. Osimhen this Osimhen that.
“I don’t care what Finidi said because I will post the video in my story after this. I will post the pictures of the screenshot I did when I was speaking with Finidi.
“You all believe that somebody is keeping quiet because he is playing ball.
“No soul in this world will tell me how to live my life; nobody.”
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