Victor Ikpeba has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s attacking stars after the Super Eagles were swept aside 3-0 by Guinea-Bissau in their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier, Footynaija reports.
The former Monaco forward has accused Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams and Taiwo Awoniyi of failing to take responsibility when Nigeria needed them most.
Nigeria arrived at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro on Tuesday with confidence from their 2-1 comeback against Madagascar, but the night quickly unravelled. Franculino Djú struck after 15 minutes, Mama Baldé doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 65th minute and Álvaro Djaló completed the rout in the fifth minute of added time.
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Eric Chelle had started Lookman behind Adams and Awoniyi, leaving George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor on the bench despite both scoring on their international debuts against Madagascar four days earlier. Awoniyi was withdrawn at half-time, while Lookman and Adams were also taken off before the final whistle.
Ikpeba believes Chelle should have trusted the youngsters from the start.
“The likes of Akor, Ademola, Awoniyi cannot step up. The young George didn’t start the game. I thought he could have started the game,” Ikpeba said on SuperSport.
“I thought Moses Usor should have started the game. That fighting spirit that we are wearing the green and whites should be there in their minds.”
Usor did provide a glimpse of what Ikpeba wanted after entering at half-time. The LASK forward forced Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Fernando Embadjé into a save five minutes after the restart, although Nigeria ultimately failed to turn its improved attacking energy into a goal.
Ikpeba’s criticism extended beyond Tuesday’s performance. With Nigeria’s enormous football expectations weighing heavily on the national team, the former Monaco forward said the manner of the collapse troubled him more than the defeat itself.
“250 million the expectations is very high. The way we capitulated pains me. If we had played better and lost, I would still take it. It is a player problem right from the time of Gernot Rohr, and Peseiro,” he added.
He also defended former coaches José Peseiro and Gernot Rohr while insisting Chelle should not carry the blame alone.
“The way Peseiro left and damaged by some section of the media and fans is not fair. Gernot Rohr did a good job. It is not the fault of Eric Chelle. We have to pressure the mentality of our players,” Ikpeba concluded.
The defeat leaves Nigeria second in Group L with three points, three behind Guinea-Bissau, with the Djurtus holding the only qualifying position available to the non-host sides in the group.
