Former Nigeria international Godwin Okpara has urged the Super Eagles to overcome their struggles with consistent away form and prove they can thrive without injured stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman ahead of Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in Zanzibar.
Eric Chelle‘s side travel to East Africa buoyed by Friday’s 3-1 victory over the Taifa Stars in Uyo. The result ensures Nigeria remain second place in Group L with six points, just one behind leaders Guinea-Bissau.
However, the Super Eagles’ attacking options have been severely depleted ahead of the return fixture. Galatasaray striker Osimhen missed Friday’s encounter with a knee injury, while Atalanta forward Lookman has been forced to withdraw from the squad after sustaining a knee ligament injury during the first leg.
Their absences leave Ajax forward Tolu Arokodare as Nigeria’s primary focal point in attack. Introduced from the bench at half-time in Uyo, Arokodare scored a second-half brace to secure Nigeria’s second win of the qualifying campaign.
Speaking exclusively to Africafoot, Okpara insisted the Super Eagles cannot afford to drop points in Zanzibar and must eliminate the erratic performances that have plagued their recent outings.
”In our national team now, we are not consistent. This is our problem,” Okpara told Africafoot. ”When you look at the game that we won against Tanzania at home, it’s not that we were so impressive. That is why I said we are not so consistent, and we have to work on that to make sure that we are consistent in our game.
”They should just go there, do what they love to do, and get us the three points that we are not supposed to miss. We have to get all maximum points this time around.”
’Squad must perform without Lookman and Osimhen’
With Osimhen and Lookman unavailable, Nigeria’s supporting cast faces a stern test at the Amaan Stadium. Okpara believes the situation presents an ideal opportunity for the rest of the forward line to step out of Osimhen’s shadow and foster healthy competition for starting berths.
“We shouldn’t rely on just one or two player. Now we can see that our attackers are waking up,” the former Paris Saint-Germain defender explained. Even with Osimhen not there, they are waking up to show the whole world and the whole of Nigeria that without Osimhen, they can still do something. This is what we need.”
”We want competition in each wing. If there is competition in each wing, everybody will fight for their own jersey. That is when we can have our normal national team back, where everyone has to fight for their jersey.”
Arokodare’s starting spot depends on training
Arokodare’s decisive cameo on Friday has prompted calls from supporters for the 25-year-old to be handed a starting role on Tuesday. Yet Okpara cautioned that match-day heroics alone do not guarantee a place in Chelle’s starting XI.
”The coach knows best. I don’t know how he is performing in training,” Okpara added. ”Your training performance determines whether you are going to start a game or not. It’s not just because he scored two goals; it depends on how your training is going.
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”If your training is not going well and you aren’t performing well in training, you can’t be played, which means you are not ready for the game. That is why I said it shows on the training ground. If he shows in training that he is ready to start the game, the coach will know.”
Nigeria face Tanzania in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.
