Nigeria’s hero in winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, Sunday Mba has warned the Super Eagles to beware of a ‘surprise package’ that Gabon might spring against them in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs, Sports247 reports.
Both countries are aet to lock horns next week Thursday in Rabat, Morocco, and Mba charged Nigeria’s current set of players to avoid underrating Gabon when they face the Central Africans in the first match of the four-nation competition.
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He pointed out that the Gabonese side have pulled off a big surprise in reaching this stage of the race to next year’s Mundial and reckoned that The Panthers will not give up without putting up a gallant fight.
With former Arsenal of England striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the way, Gabon are romping strong, with high hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time in their football history, and Mba believes the team from Libreville must not be taken for granted.
Although he admitted that the presence of many stars in the Super Eagles would often cause anxiety for their opponents, the former CA Bastia of France and Yeni Malatyaspor of Turkey attacking midfielder urged the Nigerian lads not to rest on their oars next week in The Atlas Nation.
Mba, who earlier excelled with Enyimba of Aba, Rangers of Enugu and Warri Wolves of Delta State in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), noted: “Everybody is scared of Nigeria and the players know these things. That makes them proud to be Nigerians and to represent Nigeria.
“They also know that, because Nigeria is so big, they cannot wear our jersey and chicken out. But football has really changed. It’s not like before, when we’ll downplay Tanzania and say they can’t play football. It’s no longer like that.”
Mba went on to reiterate that the Eagles must not take next week’s match for granted, as it is their unexpected chance to get back into reckoning for a ticket into next year’s World Cup that will be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
“Nobody expected Gabon to be this hot. A country with how many million people. But, football has really changed. So, it’s for our players to know that they are representing Nigeria.
“They have to stand for Nigeria, play for Nigeria, win for Nigeria, and they just have to win (the playoffs),” Mba stressed
