Former Super Eagles forward and 1997 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, has voiced strong criticism of head coach Eric Chelle’s starting lineup following Nigeria’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their AFCON 2027 qualifier.
Speaking on SuperSport, the “Prince of Monaco” insisted that Chelle made a major selection mistake by keeping young talents George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor on the bench instead of handing them starting roles after their game-changing debut performances against Madagascar. Chelle opted for experienced attackers including Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Akor Adams, but the forward line struggled to create meaningful openings against a physical Guinea-Bissau side.
“The likes of Akor, Ademola, Awoniyi cannot step up,” Ikpeba stated during his post-match analysis. “The young George didn’t start the game. I thought he could have started. I thought Moses Usor should have started the game. That fighting spirit that we are wearing the green and whites should be there in their minds.”
Both Ilenikhena and Usor scored on their senior debuts to rescue a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Nigeria’s group opener. However, against Guinea-Bissau, Usor was introduced at half-time while Ilenikhena came on in the 75th minute, though neither could reverse the heavy 3-0 deficit.
Despite criticizing the selection choices, Ikpeba defended Chelle, arguing that player mentality and execution on the pitch remain the primary issues rather than the manager’s tactical overall philosophy. With Nigeria sitting second in Group L on three points behind Guinea-Bissau’s six, pressure is mounting ahead of upcoming qualifier fixtures.
Do you agree with Victor Ikpeba that Ilenikhena and Usor should be starting for the Super Eagles? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
