The Super Eagles are preparing for their high pressure playoff against Gabon, and former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba has urged head coach Eric Chelle to trust the same group that carried the team through the qualification phase, Footynaija.com reports.
The build up to the single leg tie vs Gabon in Morocco has been filled with debates over new call ups, returning names and a possible shake up in goal, but Ikpeba believes stability should guide Chelle’s decisions.
Nigeria finished as one of the best runners up in the group campaign, and the run featured important contributions from regular faces like Stanley Nwabali, who kept the number one position throughout the qualifiers.
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With Maduka Okoye returning from his ban and Chidera Ejuke rejoining after a long absence, conversations have intensified about whether Chelle should make changes in the starting team. Ikpeba, however, feels this is the wrong moment to take risks.
The match carries heavy weight for the country, especially after missing out on Qatar 2022. The recent form of returning players has created excitement, and the squad now looks deeper, but the former African Footballer of the Year believes Chelle must reward the players who fought through the long qualifying series.
“You do not change a winning team,” Ikpeba told SuperSport.
“It is a second chance for us to qualify for the World Cup.”
“We have to get it right this time, especially as we did not qualify for Qatar 2022,” he said.
Chelle named a squad that mixes returning faces and young emerging names, and the coach now faces decisions that will shape Nigeria’s World Cup hopes. Whether he sticks with the established unit or introduces new faces, the outcome will carry serious implications.
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