Nigerian football icon Mutiu Adepoju, aged 54, insists that the Super Eagles must maintain their determination, even with their slim prospects of securing a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Fresh off their 2-0 victory in Rwanda, the three-time African champions suffered a setback, drawing 1-1 at home against Zimbabwe, placing their qualification ambitions in jeopardy.
Victor Osimhen managed to give Eric Chelle’s side a lead in the 74th minute against the Warriors, but a late equaliser from substitute Tawanda Chirewa in the 90th minute meant the spoils were shared at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Currently, Nigeria sits fourth in Group C with only seven points from six matches, six points adrift of the group leaders, South Africa, who achieved a 2-0 away victory against Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic.
“We were on the right path after our victory in Rwanda, but the draw against Zimbabwe has set us back. Had we won, we would have been sitting on nine points,” Adepoju expressed.
“The boys didn’t play poorly, but our inability to manage the game effectively at the end cost us dearly. There was a clear lack of aggression from the players.”
“I expected them to display more intensity when Zimbabwe seemed poised to take the lead, preventing them from attacking our area. That could have disrupted their momentum in those crucial final moments.”
Following the match against Michael Nees’ team, Nigeria remains winless in their qualifying matches at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, with several theories circulating regarding the Uyo-based venue.
Adepoju, however, dismisses these theories, particularly the notion that the team is feeling the pressure at home.
“I wouldn’t say the Super Eagles are under pressure when playing at home. In fact, Uyo Stadium is currently the best in the country, which is why it was approved by the Confederation of African Football for the qualifiers,” he stated.
“Additionally, the Super Eagles have secured numerous victories at this ground in the past, and there were never any complaints. If the results are not in our favour this time, we need to look inward and analyse what the players are doing wrong.”
Coach Chelle took over as Nigeria’s permanent head coach following Finidi George’s resignation. The Nigeria Football Federation has set the target for the Franco-Malian coach to ensure the nation qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.
Despite the Super Eagles’ slim chances, Adepoju encourages the former Mali national team coach to remain optimistic and tackle the issues facing the team ahead of upcoming fixtures.
“At this juncture, it would be unjust to label Chelle a bad coach – he is not. The primary concern lies in how we managed the match against Zimbabwe, which has led us to this predicament,” he remarked.
“Now, he must pinpoint the mistakes made by the team and move forward in preparation for the next matches. Anything can happen; we just need to maintain our hope.”
Nigeria will continue their World Cup qualification journey with September’s matches, first hosting Rwanda in Uyo, followed by an away game against South Africa shortly after.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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