TWO-TIME FIFA World Cup past master with Nigeria, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged coach Eric Sekou Chelle to ensure that the Super Eagles play with gusto in their drive to secure a ticket to the 2026 Mundial to be jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
The Franco-Malian was employed in January and tasked to salvage the Super Eagles’ flagging World Cup dream after they found themselves in an unfamiliar fifth position in their Group C qualifying section with just three points from their opening four matches; where Rwanda, South Africa and Benin leads with seven points each with Zimbabwe in fourth position and Lesotho sixth.
Nigeria take on Rwanda on March 21 in Kigali, before they welcome Zimbabwe to Uyo four days later as they hope to take their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.
Ahead of these eagerly awaited encounters, Adepoju who was in the storied Nigeria’ squad that earned a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance at USA ’94 as well as being one of the scorers at France 1998, said the current squad has been limited in style and approach in recent times.
He added that Chelle must ensure that the Super Eagles henceforth play not only to win but with panache.
“Eric Chelle has a lot to do in terms of managing the players because they are all big players in their own rights but he has to put all of these resources together,” Adepoju, fondly called ‘The Headmaster’ for his knack for scoring headers including that glancing opener in the 3-2defeat of Spain at the France 1998 World Cup in his heyday, stated.
“He has to manage them in such a way that when they are on the field, they would be able to combine together and put all of their resources together and make the team very solid.
“I think he has a great work to do in that aspect,” he added in a snap interview with a Lagos-based sports radio station.
In a related development, former Nigeria International goalkeeper, Greg Etafia, has applauded Chelle for scouring Europe to confer with some members of the Super Eagles ahead of the forth coming World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.
“For the coach to go visiting the players, I think it’s a good thing,” the former Moroka Swallows’ goal tender admitted.
“I think trying to familiar himself with the players especially the established ones since he cannot reach out to everyone but the ones closer to each other in term of location, is a good thing.
“But he has to try as much as possible to stamp his authority on the team generally; in terms of style of play and winning games which is the most important thing.
“The first thing is for him to bring out the desire of the players to play for the national team, which is very important.” he concluded.