Finidi rates performance of Nigeria's latest debutant Tanimu, admits he tried to bring him to Enyimba
Published: March 22, 2024Tanzanian-based central defender Benjamin Tanimu became the latest player to make his debut for Nigeria's senior national team following his inclusion in the starting lineup for the Super Eagles 2-1 win over Ghana's Black Stars in an international friendly on Friday evening.
Wearing the number 5 at the back of his jersey, the Ihefu Sports Club ace was holding his own against Premier League stars Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo until the 79th minute when he had to make way for Ademola Lookman due to injury.
Tanimu was the surprise inclusion in Nigeria's 27-man squad for the back-to-back friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Finidi had been monitoring the performance of the 21-year-old before handing him his first call-up and the interim Super Eagles coach, who manages Enyimba on a full-time basis, admitted that he tried to sign him for the Peoples' Elephant from Bendel Insurance but was unsuccessful.
Addressing the media post-match, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner said: "Great. He is a player that I wanted while he was still at Bendel Insurance but it didn't work out.
"With all the injuries that we had, we had to look for a player that can substitute and it came to my mind to invite him and he's doing so well in his club in Tanzania, so why not."
Asked to rate the performance of Tanimu, Finidi responded: "Not bad. Being his first time, it's not easy wearing that national colours but overall I would give him credit.
"It's not a bad one for the first time wearing that jersey, to be there, and up and doing, it's a great thing."
Initially, Finidi's intention was for Tanimu to start on the bench against the Black Stars but he climbed up the pecking order of central defenders, with Calvin Bassey and Kenneth Omeruo unavailable for selection after picking up knocks.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- 'We beat Ghana 6-1' - Manu Garba highlights the pedigree of most successful U17 team in the world
- Everton ready to offer Nigeria's best defensive forward the chance to stay in the Premier League
- England squads announcement: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham starlets eligible for Nigeria selected
- Man Utd join Chelsea in keeping an eye on situation of Super Eagles star ahead of possible summer move
- Finidi sweats over fitness of 2023 AFCON star Onyeka before Super Eagles squad announcement
- Potential Zirkzee replacement: Bologna linked with move for 2023 Super Eagles invitee
- U17 AFCON qualifier Nigeria 1 Niger 0: Rapha Adams header secures three points for Golden Eaglets
- Isaac Success: 2013 U17 AFCON top scorer suffers injury in Italy ahead of Finidi's squad announcement
- After the return to action of Onuachu and Osayi-Samuel, Finidi has another fitness boost pre-Bafana Bafana
- Bayo Fapetu: Derby County in contract talks with midfielder who was on the books of Arsenal for ten years
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football