Nigeria now has a date with Benin Republic, which is their last game of the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.
They beat Lesotho 2-1 on Tuesday to further keep hopes alive but must surely beat Benin Republic to stand any chance of travelling to North America next year.
Adepoju said that Chelle must not repeat the mistake of starting Arokodare in Nigeria’s starting lineup following the striker’s underwhelming performance against Lesotho.
Arokodare, who plays his club football at Wolverhampton Wanderers, failed to live up to expectations against Lesotho.
Adepoju told Sporty TV that the team’s “first-half performance was poor and lacking attacking intent.”
He was disappointed with the Wolves striker’s failure to head the ball into the net, adding that his “failure to direct the ball properly was costly.”
“He should have done much better with the opportunity,” he insisted.
Adepoju wondered why Chelle did not substitute the Premier League striker at halftime, insisting that “the forward’s style of play did not suit the team’s attacking rhythm.”
Adepoju, who played for Real Madrid during his playing days, faulted Arokodare’s positioning, saying it often “clashed with that of Victor Osimhen, leading to confusion in attack.”
According to him, Osimhen and Arokodare “were frequently making runs toward the same area instead of alternating between the near and far posts, which limited Nigeria’s offensive width and effectiveness in the final third.”
Up next for Nigeria is the crucial game against Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday.
Nigeria must beat Benin Republic to stand a chance of booking a place at the World Cup next year.
