Former Nigerian midfielder Dimeji Lawal has urged Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to be ruthless with his squad selection for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs set to take place in Morocco, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles are set to face the Panthers on November 13 in a match that offers Nigeria a lifeline after a shaky qualification campaign that saw them rely on Victor Osimhen’s final-day heroics against Benin to secure one of the four available playoff spots.
Their opponents, Gabon, narrowly missed out on automatic qualification despite recording eight wins and one draw from ten matches, a run of form that puts the challenge awaiting Chelle’s men into perspective.
However, Nigeria can take confidence from history, having won five of their nine previous meetings against the Central African side, drawing three and losing just once.
With the fate-defining tie less than two weeks away, Lawal stressed in a recent interview with Complete Sport, the need for Chelle to prioritize form, discipline and hunger when naming his squad for the upcoming game.
What Dimeji Lawal said
“The Super Eagles head coach must make the right decision at this stage by inviting players who are prepared to give their utmost effort to help Nigeria qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“There is no room for errors. He must invite players that understand the task at hand because they must not jeopardize the second chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
“Gabon are a good team, but the Super Eagles remain the best.”
Fortunately, since Chelle’s arrival as head coach of the Super Eagles, his squad and team selections have shown that he relies on in-form players rather than big names.
All eyes will be on Rabat in ten days time, where the Super Eagles will pit their wits against the Panthers’ in hopes of booking a place in the November 16 play-offs final.
