Mobi Oparaku, a former international player for Nigeria, has emphasized the necessity for the Super Eagles to come together as a cohesive unit rather than a group of standout individuals.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, Nigeria finds itself in a precarious position, having secured only three points from their first four matches.
Currently trailing behind Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin in Group C, the Super Eagles face an uphill battle. As they gear up to confront Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, Oparaku insists that teamwork is essential for revitalizing their campaign.
The 48-year-old, who contributed significantly to Nigeria’s historic Olympic gold medal victory in 1996, believes that a united front will enhance their chances of success.
“When they come out (next month), they should not come out as individuals playing for Nigeria, but they should come out as a team that is representing Nigeria,” Oparaku told Brila FM.
“There is a difference between a player that comes to represent the Super Eagles and a team of players that come out to represent Nigeria.
“When they come out as a team that represents the country, we can then talk about what they have, but not as individuals. But when we speak about individuals, it means we don’t have a team. I hope this new coach (Eric Sekou Chelle) will be able to pull the team together and play like a gang for the World Cup qualifiers.”
He highlighted the distinction between playing for the Super Eagles and truly functioning as a collective.
With a critical match against Rwanda on the horizon, Chelle’s ability to unite the squad could be pivotal in their pursuit of World Cup qualification, especially following a previous defeat to Rwanda during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
