Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside has cautioned Nigeria against taking Gabon lightly ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash in November.
Peterside described Gabon as an emerging force in African football, comparing them to Cape Verde, who have already booked their place at the tournament.
Speaking with newsmen, Peterside urged the Super Eagles to rise to the occasion and reaffirm their status as one of the continent’s top football nations.
“The playoffs are going to be challenging. We have been paired with Gabon — [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and his team — it shows that they are rising just like Cape Verde,” Peterside said.
“They are proving that they are rising, but we are superpowers; we should be able to prove to Gabon that we are a better team and a big name.”
Both Nigeria and Gabon will battle for a spot in the World Cup after missing out on automatic qualification, with the decisive encounter set for November.
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