Nigerian football legend Victor Ikpeba has delivered a stern warning to Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle as the national team prepares for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff encounter against Gabon.
Ikpeba's Crucial Advice for Chelle
The former Monaco star, speaking after Chelle released his 24-man squad on Saturday, November 8, 2025, emphasized that the coach must not alter the winning combination that secured Nigeria's playoff position. Ikpeba specifically referenced the team that produced Nigeria's highest scoring victory (4-0) against Benin Republic in their final qualifier last October at Uyo's Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
"You don't change a winning team," declared the 1994 AFCON winner, highlighting this as a second chance for Nigeria to qualify after missing both the automatic slot to South Africa and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
High Stakes for Super Eagles
The Super Eagles face a must-win situation against Gabon on November 13 at Stade Prince Heritier Moulay Hassan in Rabat, Morocco. Ikpeba stressed that Nigeria must defeat Gabon or forget World Cup qualification entirely, noting that the Panthers lack Nigeria's World Cup experience while traditional rivals Cameroon are no longer the formidable force they once were.
The former international expressed concern that with the current quality of players like Victor Osimhen, Nigeria shouldn't be struggling to qualify, blaming the squad for putting themselves in this difficult position despite their obvious talent.
Chelle's Dual Objectives
Meanwhile, coach Eric Chelle believes success in the World Cup playoffs could provide crucial momentum ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Mali-born tactician sees the two consecutive matches in Morocco as valuable preparation that could give Nigeria an advantage over other AFCON contenders.
Nigeria will face the winner between DR Congo and Cameroon if they overcome Gabon in their semifinal, with Africa's sole inter-continental playoff ticket at stake in this high-pressure encounter.
