Ex-Nigeria international, Victor Ikpeba has revealed Super Eagles’ biggest problem ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier with Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Tuesday.
Victor Ikpeba Nosa, born 12 June 1973, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Ikpeba played 31 international matches and scored seven goals for Nigeria.
He was a member of Super Eagles team to the FIFA World Cups in 1994 but played and scored the lone goal against Bulgaria in the second game of the team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Ikpeba helped win the 1994 African Nations Cup and the Olympic football gold medal in 1996.
Also read: Academy hosts coaching seminar to scout football talents
According to Ikpeba, the change of managers for the Super Eagles in the past months, is the biggest problem for Nigeria.
Recall that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, had appointed Finidi George after parting ways with Jose Peseiro.
The NFF later sacked Finidi and appointed Augustine Eguavoen as caretaker manager for the team.
The Nigeria football powerhouse eventually replaced Eguavoen with Eric Chelle.
“We have a new manager. The biggest problem is that we have changed too many managers,” Ikpeba told Prime Sports with Mahlatse.
“We had one for the first two games, and then another for the next two.
“It doesn’t really help the stability of the team. The continuity just isn’t there.”
Ikpeba was discovered by Belgian club RFC Liège during the 1989 FIFA U-17 World Championship and moved to play in Belgium together with teammate Sunday Oliseh. At the age of 20 and after scoring 17 goals in 1992–93, Ikpeba was bought by Monégasque side AS Monaco, then coached by Arsène Wenger. At Monaco, he gradually became a success, albeit with a tough start.
He showed outstanding form subsequent to the 1996 Olympics, scoring 13 league goals to help Monaco win the league title, and also finishing as the second-top goal scorer in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup. His performances earned him the African Footballer of the Year award in 1997. Two successful seasons followed.
While at Monaco, Ikpeba nearly signed for Italian club Reggina. But his wife, unwilling to give up life in Monaco, locked him in their house on the day he was to sign his contract. Ikpeba played in Jean Tigana‘s talented Monaco side which famously put Manchester United out of the Champions League in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford.
DAILY POST
