Gabon coach reveals game plan: Frustrate Super Eagles, dominate midfield and possession, score one goal

Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma has outlined his tactical approach ahead of his side's 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff against the Super Eagles, stressing the importance of dominating possession and controlling the midfield as key to advancing to the final.

Nigeria manager Eric Chelle has included five midfielders in his squad for the playoff against Gabon on November 13 in Rabat, with Fulham's Alex Iwobi and Besiktas' Wilfred Ndidi expected to start.

Chelle is likely to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, utilising his wingers as wide midfielders, but this setup could see Nigeria outnumbered in the middle of the park if Gabon opt for a three-man central midfield.

The Gabonese, under coach Thierry Mouyouma, have recently favoured a 4-3-3 system with a pivot, which can be adapted into a 3-5-2 formation during matches, offering tactical flexibility.

"One of the keys to this match lies in the ability to control not only the game but also the midfield," Mouyouma explained at a press conference monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com. 

"I would be more focused on our ability to hold onto the ball, have more possession, not just possession for its own sake, but to dominate in our half of the field and progress together as a team."

Mouyouma added that his side's tactical plan involves forcing Nigeria to chase the game and play out of their comfort zone.

"It's because in possession, there's a phase where when the opponent does not have the ball, the opponent tends to get frustrated. It is important that we control the ball, that we control our opponent's emotions.

"You have to dominate possession, you have to get the opponent to run after the ball and play behind their lines because in reality what this team wants to do with their players is to find spaces behind us.

"We have to solve this problem - control of the game or almost all of the game into the opponent's half."

With qualification on the line, Mouyouma made it clear that efficiency in front of goal would be decisive.

"That brings us closer to their goal because, for this match, we only need to score one goal to qualify.

"That is the tactical approach from the technical staff of the Gabonese national team."

The winner of the Nigeria versus Gabon match will face either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Cameroon in the final of the playoffs on November 16.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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