A former head of the Super Eagles’ medical crew, Dr Dipo Odunuga has offered tips and an elaborate strategy that should help the Nigerian national team overcome Gabon in Thursday’s first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs in Morocco.
Sports247 reports that the Super Eagles will tango The Panthers in Rabat to determine which side goes into the final against Cameroon or Democratic Republic of Congo but, while many fans are already apprehensive of former Arsenal hitman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of Thursday’s game, Dr Odunuga believes there is no cause for alarm.
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The retired head of the medical centre at Lagos National Stadium in Surulere stated as much on Friday afternoon during the broadcast of a new online programme, Inside Naija Sports, which was streamed live on YouTube from the television studio of Sports247 Naija.
Speaking during the programe’s ‘Hot Seat’ segment, Odunuga stated boldly that the basic reason why he believes Aubameyang would not be a major threat for the Eagles is because the Gabonese star is ageing and can be easily kept at bay with physical tactics.
The outspoken medical guru added, “Truly, Aubameyang is a good striker, but he’s ageing. That’s one of the things we doctors consider in sports.
“As it is, soccer is an explosive sport, and it needs many physical aspects that determine results. I’m not a technical person, but I know Aubameyang no longer has the strength to scare us.”
He then provided tips on what should be done specifically to render the once enterprising attacker ineffective during Thursday’s decisive clash, which will start at 5pm Nigeria time.
Odunuga opined: “A good coach would just ensure that his defenders stretch Aubameyang and knock him a little. They should stress him out, and make him run around for the ball.
“Once they force him to chase the ball, I know he cannot run around uninterrupted for 20 minutes. He will get tired if you force him to run around, and that’s where he’s different from our own top striker, Victor Osimhen, who can run for 120 minutes.”
