Peterside warns Super Eagles: Don't underrate Aubameyang-led Gabon, predicts Nigeria v Cameroon final

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside has cautioned Nigeria against complacency ahead of their crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup playoff clash against Gabon, scheduled to take place in Morocco in November.

Nigeria secured their place in the playoffs following a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin on Tuesday evening at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

The result saw the Super Eagles finish second in Group C with 17 points — enough to qualify as one of the best runners-up in the African qualifiers.

The three-time African champions will now face Gabon in the semifinals of the playoffs, with victory taking them into the final round where they will meet the winner between DR Congo and Cameroon.

Speaking in an interview with Soccer Beat, Peterside described Gabon as a fast-improving side, warning that the presence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his teammates made them a dangerous opponent.

He noted that Gabon’s recent performances showed they were a team on the rise, similar to Cape Verde, and could pose a real threat if Nigeria were to underestimate them.

Peterside, however, urged the Super Eagles to maintain focus and display the quality expected of one of Africa’s football powerhouses.

He stressed that Nigeria must assert their superiority and prove their status as a continental giant in the encounter against Gabon, before potentially facing either DR Congo or Cameroon in the final round.

Looking ahead, the former international also anticipated a possible heavyweight showdown between Nigeria and Cameroon, describing it as a fixture that would highlight the strength of African football.

He expressed hope that both teams would meet in the final stage, saying such a clash would demonstrate that Africa continues to produce world-class sides.

A victory for Nigeria in the playoffs would secure a spot in the intercontinental playoffs, giving the Super Eagles another opportunity to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and potentially increase Africa’s representation to ten teams.

Adeyemi Adewale

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