BY SAB OSUJI

Adebayo Gbadebo, a Nigeria born coach based in Thailand, has urged Super Eagles to be more cohesive and ensure that they played as a team in subsequent matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals qualifiers, Africa Zone, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Gbadebo, a former Stationery Stores midfield enforcer, spoke against the Super Eagles lethargic performance against South Africa in Friday night's clash in Uyo, with the three time African Champions coming from behind to share the spoils in a disappointing 1-1 draw.

That result placed Nigeria fifth in the group C standings, and potentially threatening Super Eagles chances of qualifying for the USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 World Cup showpiece.

On Monday, 10 June 2024, (today), Super Eagles will be back on the turf, this time, in Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, against The Squirrels of Benin Republic, in a match day four of the qualifiers.

And a patriotic Gbadebo has sent out words to the team that they should roll up their sleeves, play as a well knitted side in cohesion to complement their individual qualities to win, warning that they cannot afford to drop points any more in the qualifiers or risk missing out of the World Cup race.

"We've players that have quality and they really showed and demonstrated that against South Africa", starts Gbadebo, while giving his thoughts on Super Eagles 1-1 draw versus South Africa last Friday.

"If not for the fact that they have quality, the result (against South Africa) would have been worse.

"Maybe, we would have been beaten with more than two or three goals because the team wasn't cohesive, adventurous and creative enough, especially in the first half against a well prepared, tactically disciplined and organised South African team who were way far above and better than our team.

"Tactically, the Supper merely tried to hang on and cannot be compared to the South Africans who were very, very much ready for the game".

Despite the Super Eagles frailties, Gbadebo would however aplaud the team for salvaging the situation, thereby avoiding national embarrassment and shame.

"But however, kudos to the Super Eales; the players did not let anyone down that they have quality which shows that we've players that have quality and play in the top leagues across Europe".

Super Eagles will be up against The Squirrels of Benin Republic on Monday 10 June (today) in a match day four fixture of the World Cup qualifiers in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, inside the Houphouet Boigny Stadium, where Super Eagles played and won all their group games during the 2023 AFCON.

The Finidi George side are third in the group standings and Gbadebo warns that they must be cohesive as a unit. He pointed out that should avoid dropping points any more in order to avoid putting their 2026 World Cup qualification chances in danger.

"But the only problem we had (in the performance against Bafana Bafana) is that the team did not really play like a team and which they must have to correct before we play the next match (against Benin Republic)", Gbadebo warns.

"This is because we cannot afford to lose (drop) any point again.  If we lose (drop) more points again, we will go down the group standings and that will make it difficult"