Gabriel Reuben, former Super Eagles midfielder, has voiced his belief that the Nigerian national team possesses the potential to excel in the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, provided they address certain issues in their gameplay.
Reuben emphasized the importance of team compatibility and the need to minimize individualistic play for more consistent results.
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“They have a good game. I think the team needs to be compact. Because sometimes we play some individual football. Before we have the result, we need to be compact. We can match Ivory Coast, but I think the team we need to talk to ourselves,” stated Reuben.
Expressing the urgency of securing victories, Reuben highlighted the need for corrective measures, citing the recent game against Equatorial Guinea.
He acknowledged the inevitability of mistakes in a team but expressed confidence that the players have recognized and learned from them.
“We need to win. Even in our game against Equatorial Guinea. I think we just need to make some corrections to ourselves. Normally in the team, we can have mistakes in the game. But I think they have realized their mistakes. So, I think in this game, we will be better than this,” Reuben asserted.
While affirming the team’s overall quality, Reuben stressed the necessity of bolstering the midfield with additional players, particularly highlighting the impact of Al-Hassan in that role.
“We have a good team. We have a team that needs to win. But you know football, you cannot predict football. The boys need to talk to themselves. Once they talk to themselves, they can achieve what they want.
We have a good team. But we need more players in the mid-field not only Al-Hassan. When he went out, that’s when we had the problem. Because he is the one that is holding the midfield for us. That is what I saw in the game,” he concluded.
As the Super Eagles prepare for a crucial encounter with Ivory Coast, Reuben’s insights underscore the significance of team cohesion, self-reflection, and addressing midfield depth for a successful campaign in the AFCON.
