Former Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel has expressed confidence in the team and believes they should come out victorious when they battle Gabon in the World Cup playoff on Thursday, SportPremi reports.
The Super Eagles and the Panthers clash in a crucial qualifying playoff tie for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Morocco on Thursday.
The players arrived in camp this week, but boycotted training on Tuesday after a disagreement with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over unpaid allowances and bonuses dating back to 2019.
They resumed to training on Wednesday and will be eager to deliver a statement result against the Aubameyang-led Gabon side.
Nigeria finished their group campaign with 17 points following four victories, five draws and a lone defeat in their 10 group stage matches.
Gabon, on the other hand, were pretty impressive in their own qualifiers, winning eight of their 10 games to finish just a single point behind 2024 AFCON champions Ivory Coast.
Mikel Obi challenges Super Eagles to overcome Gabon
Speaking ahead of the crucial tie, former captain of the national team John Obi Mikel appealed to the team to maintain concentration ahead of the clash.
The former Chelsea midfielder also urged the Super Eagles to channel their energy into securing a win in the playoff round and booking their spot at the 2026 World Cup.
“I have seen so many pictures and conversations about FIFA giving $1.2 million to the NFF to build stadiums and all the corruptions that have gone on. The corruption has to be rooted out of the game if we want to go forward,” Mikel said in the Obi One Podcast.
“But now is not the best time to discuss those. Now is the time to focus on the game against Gabon in the FIFA World Cup Qualifying playoffs to get to the next round.
It is a difficult task for us. It is a mountain to climb and we have to make sure we are ready.
“Whatever the NFF have to do to make the players feel comfortable to perform and give their best for the country, they have to do that right now”, the ex-Chelsea star continued.
“We have one of the best strikers in the world right now — he is absolutely on fire. But it is not just him. The whole team has to perform. Don’t depend on Victor Osimhen alone. Find the motivation in you knowing that this is the biggest game of the nation’s life.
We have to qualify for the World Cup. There is no two ways about it”, Mikel concluded.
Nigeria’s potential path to the 2026 World Cup
After failing to clinch the available automatic ticket to next year’s event from Group C, Nigeria qualified for the CAF playoff round after finishing as one of the four best second-placed teams.
The Super Eagles have been drawn against Gabon, with the winner facing either Cameroon or DR Congo on Sunday.
The winner of the CAF playoff final then progresses to the intercontinental playoff round next year, where they will be eligible to face a country from Asia, Oceania or South America.
