Nigeria’s quest to return to the FIFA World Cup continues on tomorrow, as the Super Eagles take on Gabon in a crucial play-off semi-final at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
With a spot in the Intercontinental Play-offs up for grabs, Eric Chelle’s side knows that anything less than victory would be disastrous for their 2026 ambitions.
The Super Eagles enter the tie unbeaten in their last six matches, boosted by a 4-0 demolition of Benin Republic in their final group game. But Gabon – powered by the experience of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – have quietly built strong form, losing just once in their last ten.
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Osimhen vs Aubameyang – who’s more dangerous at their peak? ???? pic.twitter.com/H57wr6LMm9
“It’s not going to be a giveaway”
Former Nigeria international and Bet9ja ambassador Viktor Ikpeba believes the key to victory will lie in the team’s mindset and defensive discipline, especially against a Gabon side known for their compact style and counter-attacking threat.
“We have to focus on Gabon. It’s all about the mindset. The game is going to be in Morocco, on neutral ground,” Ikpeba said.
“Gabon tends to play well away from home, and most of their players play in France. Aubameyang is back in form – with his age and experience, we have to tighten up at the defense. It’s not going to be a giveaway. You have to earn it.”
Ikpeba, who was part of Nigeria’s golden generation in the 1990s, emphasized that the Super Eagles cannot rely solely on their individual quality.
“On paper, when you look at the Nigerian squad, maybe only Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, or Ghana can produce the type of players we have,” he explained.
“It’s left for the boys to do this. This play-off should be an inspiration for them to go and look for the ticket to qualify for the World Cup, but they have to fight for every game now.”
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“No calculations – it’s one game”
Unlike the group stage, where dropped points could be recovered later, Ikpeba reminded the players that this format leaves no margin for error.
“It’s no longer the group stage. It’s another type of mini tournament. So, Gabon is there, Cameroon, and Congo will not be easy fixtures,” he said.
“So we know the difficulty of getting past these teams in getting to the (Inter-Continental) play-off.
I think all the players have done well to get to the play-offs, but we must improve. Improvement must come in the play-offs, and that we have to be businesslike against this Gabon side because it’s just one game, so there’s no calculation at all,” he continued.
“I’m very, very optimistic that we’re going to do the job against Gabon.”
Kickoff tomorrow in Rabat is at 5:00 p.m, with the winner set to face either Cameroon or DR Congo in Sunday’s final for a place in the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off in March. Bet on the HUGE clash at Bet9ja now!
