Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off semi-final, both Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, and his Gabonese counterpart, Thierry Mouyouma, have set the tone for a fierce battle in Rabat, Morocco.
Speaking from Libreville, Mouyouma told Agence Gabonaise de Presse that his team will tweak their approach to counter the Super Eagles’ power and speed.
While admitting Nigeria’s strength, he insisted that Gabon have prepared for the challenge ahead.
“We will have to change things against Nigeria, particularly in terms of tactics and even technique,” Mouyouma said.
The Gabon coach said his players must dictate the tempo if they are to unsettle the Nigerians.
“It is important that we control our opponent’s emotions. We need to make them chase the ball and force them to play behind their lines,” he added.
His 27-man squad includes seasoned names like captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina, striker Denis Bouanga, and veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Gabon booked their play-off spot after finishing second behind the Ivory Coast in Group E and will face either Cameroon or DR Congo if they overcome Nigeria.
Chelle, meanwhile, brushed aside all off-field distractions, insisting his focus is solely on leading the Super Eagles to victory. Speaking on Eagle 7 Sports Radio during Segun Odegbami’s “90 Minutes with Mathematical 7”, the coach said his eyes are firmly on the World Cup ticket.
“I only focus on the pitch and don’t listen to side talks. Our energy and state of mind are to go to the World Cup,” he said.
The coach, however, warned that Gabon should not be taken lightly. “Gabon are a good team with great players like Aubameyang and Lemina, a good coach with a good philosophy,” he noted.
In an earlier chat with CAF, Chelle spoke about the difficulty of team selection, pointing to the abundance of attacking talent in Nigeria’s ranks.
“There are at least 25 players who could play across the frontline, more than a full team. We’ve built a player-tracking system to monitor about 80 players every week. Picking 25 is never easy, but that’s the reality in Nigeria,” he said.
