Former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has urged Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, to address a critical attacking issue before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic on Tuesday evening.
Speaking during his analysis on Super Sports following Nigeria’s 2–1 victory over Lesotho, Ideye pointed out that Chelle’s biggest challenge lies in finding the perfect strike partner for Victor Osimhen, the team’s leading forward.
The former West Bromwich Albion striker noted that while Osimhen remains the focal point of Nigeria’s attack, the chemistry between him and his fellow forwards is still far from ideal. “Osimhen for sure needs someone to play with him,” Ideye said. “Watching Tolu in the first half and Akor in the few minutes that he played, we are still looking for the right balance in the partnership with Osimhen.”
In Nigeria’s last match, Chelle started with Tolu Arokodare alongside Osimhen in attack. However, the coach later introduced Akor Adams in place of Arokodare, and it was during that period that the Super Eagles managed to score from open play, with Adams combining neatly with Osimhen to net the team’s second goal.
Ideye stressed that Nigeria’s attacking efficiency depends on building a strong understanding between Osimhen and whoever partners him up front. “The link-up play is not there yet, but the coach has to find a way to make it work quickly because this next game is crucial,” he added.
With Nigeria facing a must-win situation against Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic, Chelle is under pressure to get his attacking lineup right. Anything short of victory could end Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
The match against Benin is expected to test both Chelle’s tactical flexibility and the Super Eagles’ ability to convert chances – something that has been a recurring issue throughout the qualifiers. Ideye believes that solving this problem could be the difference between disappointment and redemption for Nigeria.
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