Former Nigerian international, John Mikel Obi, has urged the Super Eagles to treat their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff clash against Gabon as a do-or-die encounter.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champion emphasized that the team must approach the game with confidence, courage, and passion.
“The first game is the most important. Gabon is the most important game,” the 38-year-old said.
He added, “Don’t underestimate Gabon, please don’t, because if we do that, then we are in trouble. Go into that game and play like this is the last game you will ever play in your life, win that game and then we can think about either Cameroon or someone else.”
Mikel Obi also cautioned against complacency, stressing the significance of the fixture.
“The mistake we are going to make is to think it’s just Gabon, then we are done completely. Go in the game, play as we should, with full confidence, bravery, and passion, knowing you are wearing the green white green, the badge of that green white green is huge. 300 million people, that’s a lot of pressure, but you have to deal with it. I know they can do it and I believe in them,” he concluded.
