Victor Ikpeba has called on  Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, to consider making bold  when making decisions ahead of the November football match, saying that some senior players should be dropped to create room for fresh talent and greater competition.

The former Nigeria international  believes that the national team needs a stronger competitive environment, warning that players who are guaranteed places regardless of their performances could undermine the squad’s progress.

He further added that, managers have to take risks. Pointing that great managers of the modern game, like Sir Alex, the Pep, they take risks,” to get a different result. “When a team is not doing well, they are ready to take risks, bring in some new faces Ikpeba said. He also stressed that healthy competition for places is essential to maintaining high standards within the national team. “When players are not used to fighting for positions, that’s a problem.

The former African Footballer of the Year, recall the disappointing performance against Guinea-Bissau as evidence that the  coach must be prepared to reassess the contributions of individual players rather than maintain an unchanged squad. “Is this the manner we capitulated against Guinea-Bissau? It’s for him now to say, okay, this player, you didn’t have a good game,” he stated.

With Nigeria preparing for another international window in November, Ikpeba believes the coach has an opportunity to send a clear message about accountability and performance. Remember, “In a few weeks’ time, we’re going to have this doubleheader in the month of November.

Some of the players have to be dropped,” he insisted “When you start dropping these players, you send a message to the others that if you don’t step up, you will not play,” Ikpeba explained. Chelle’s next major task is not just to select the Super Eagles’ names, but showing the courage to make difficult decisions that restore competition, accountability and urgency within the team