By Jacob Ajom
Former Nigeria international and one time assistant coach of the Super Eagles Sylvanus Okpala has charged the national team players to go all out and win the remaining two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers because a lot is still at stake.
Speaking to Sports Vanguard on the team’s tight situation in the qualifying campaign, Okpala counseled, “in my opinion, the Super Eagles should stop looking at the group table, go out there and win the remaining two matches. It’s only then they can sit back and ask themselves where the two wins can take them to. Not now, because there is still a lot to play for.”
“You don’t need to look at the calculator,” he continued. ”When I was playing, I didn’t need a calculator until I knew there was nothing to play for anymore. You have two matches to play. Go and win the two matches before you can talk about qualifying. As a player or a coach that is my approach and philosophy.”
He said, ?As a player, even if you were leading my team 3-0 and you saw me playing, my movement and mien would confuse you as you would not know which side was leading if you were not there from the beginning. I would play as if were were the people leading. I don’t give up until there is nothing to play for. I am not trying to tell you that we are going to qualify, don’t get me wrong, but it is not totally over yet.”
Looking at the chances of other contenders in Group C, Okpala said, the Super Eagles and Cheetahs of the Republic of Benin were in better positions to nick the playoff ticket than Rwanda.
“Benin are better than Rwanda. They have a better team. Aside South Africa in that group only Nigeria and Benin can pick the World Cup ticket if they go for playoffs,” he claimed.
