Former international defender Kadiri Ikhana warns Nigeria: with five goals conceded in three games, the Super Eagles must lock down their back line before the return match against Tanzania in Zanzibar.
Nigeria breathed a sigh of relief by beating Tanzania 3-1 in Uyo, but Kadiri Ikhana, a former international defender and coach, was keen to temper the enthusiasm. In comments reported by Completesports.com via All Football, he welcomes the Super Eagles’ reaction while pointing the finger at a defence that is too porous.
Because while the attack did the job, the back line was again found wanting. Alhassan Yusuf opened the scoring as early as the 2nd minute, Alphonce Msanga equalised in the 32nd, before Tolu Arokodare grabbed a brace in eight minutes (52nd, 60th). A scenario that fuels Kadiri Ikhana’s reservations about the defence of the national team coached by Eric Chelle.
Five goals conceded, a warning
“Five goals in three games, for me, is not a bad return for the strikers. But conceding five goals in the same three games is not a good return for the defenders,” said Kadiri Ikhana, 74, quoted by Completesports.com via All Football. The man who led Enyimba to the CAF Champions League in 2003 does not stop there: “You know, goal difference counts in all of this,” he recalls, stressing the importance of every goal in the race for qualification.
The record is indeed mixed: in three Group L matches, Nigeria have scored five times but conceded just as many. Guinea-Bissau, leaders with seven points, have conceded only once while scoring six. A contrast that leaves the Super Eagles one point off the top, but with a clearly less favourable goal difference.
A poor run without a clean sheet
This defensive fragility is nothing new. According to Soccernet via All Football, Nigeria had gone five matches without a clean sheet before this international window, and the run continued in Uyo. The 3-1 win over Tanzania, reassuring as it is going forward, therefore confirms the difficulties in keeping the net intact.
The campaign in this Group L illustrates the paradox: after a 2-1 win over Madagascar, Eric Chelle’s men fell heavily 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau, according to TGNews. Two opposite faces, which shed light on Kadiri Ikhana’s assessment.
Zanzibar to lock things down
The next fixture is set for Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 13:00 GMT (14:00 WAT), at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, for Matchday 4 of Group L. A trip that will provide the chance to correct the defensive generosity seen in Uyo.
With six points to Guinea-Bissau’s seven, Nigeria trail the Group L leaders by a point. Before this trip, goal difference, which Kadiri Ikhana reminds us counts, will be at the heart of the stakes.