Simon Kalika, a Dutch-born tactician, has urged the Super Eagles to adopt an all-attacking approach to Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off clash against DR Congo in Morocco, Completesports.com reports.
Kalika, who served as Samson Siasia’s assistant during the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, spoke exclusively to Completesports.com on Saturday evening from his home country.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ Playoffs: Super Eagles Won’t Disappoint Against Congo — Chelle
“Congratulations to Nigeria for the 4-1 win against Gabon,” Kalika began.
“I had predicted a 4-0 win for the Super Eagles but it ended 4-1. This time, against DR Congo, the Super Eagles will win 3-0,” he predicted, before advising the three-time African champions on how to approach the decisive clash.
Kalika: ‘Super Eagles Must Score Early to Control the Match’
“It’s going to be a tough game against DR Congo. For them to have beaten Cameroon shows their strength and quality. So, the Super Eagles must be on the offensive and ensure they score in the first 20 minutes.
“If they get the early goal, the Congolese will be under pressure and the Super Eagles will confidently control the game. But if they don’t score, and the Congolese do, then the Super Eagles will be under pressure.
“I believe the Super Eagles, with attacking play, can win 3-0. They have world-class players and, with good tactics, they will win.”
Super Eagles Have the Talent to Reach 2026 World Cup – Kalika
Kalika further stated that Nigeria is blessed with exceptional football talent and cannot afford to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in Mexico, the USA, and Canada.
“Nigeria has the best talents in Africa who are playing in the best leagues in the world. A country with players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, amongst others, cannot afford not to play on the World Cup stage.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Super Eagles Will Humiliate Gabon If They Play To Full Potential’ — Kalika
“This is beyond tactics. It’s beyond organisation on the pitch. It is all about commitment, hard work, and the desire to play in the World Cup.”
Nigeria Must Focus on DR Congo First
Reminded that even with a win against DR Congo the Eagles still have more hurdles to overcome before reaching the World Cup finals, Kalika stressed the importance of taking it step by step.
“You must beat DR Congo before you think about representatives from Oceania, CONCACAF, and South America.
“You must beat DR Congo before you think or plan for other games. It’s one game after another. When you win your game, you face the next. For now, it’s Congo DR first,” Kalika concluded.
By Sab Osuji
9 Comments
Simon Kalika, in the article above, suggests that the Super Eagles should go all guns blazing from the start against Congo to cruise to a comfortable win.
If so, must Ademola Lookman be part of that starting attacking line-up?
Super Eagles star winger Ademola Lookman, who some would stay had an underwhelming game in the World Cup Playoffs tie against Gabon, is on the lips of many a fans as a surebet candidate to be relegated to the bench against Congo.
Coach Eric Chelle holds the Atalanta forward in high esteem and it remains to be seen whether he will keep faith with Lookman or make a call that could end up been bold or reckless if Lookman is jettisoned from the starting 11.
The other viable option for ‘Mola’ upfront in the Super Eagles is Moses Simon, who posted a decent display against Gabon when he was brought on. Ejuke could also play that role with his trickery and thirst for the headlines with Russia based Olakunle a most highly unlikely option to start.
That said, Lookman did create credible scoring chances against Gabon in a manner that suggests that he is slowly working his way to optimum sharpness. Hence, there are strong indications Ademola Lookman will again start tonight.
His last goal for Nigeria was more than a year ago – September 2024, when he fired a brace in the 3-0 demolition of Benin in Uyo in a 2025 AFCON qualifier.
Statistically, Moses Simon has bagged more assists for the Super Eagles during the time of Lookman in the national team when compared to the Atalanta man.
Can Lookman deliver a torch-bearing performance for Super Eagles goal, laced with goals and/or assists tonight?
We await the answer with bated breath, as we stand on this precipice, on the pins and needles of anxiety for an outcome against an obdurate that will not only be a morale booster, but also a (potential) ticket to the biggest stage of all, a stage we so rightly crave, a stage we so rightly belong.
*Iwobi has no goal or an assist since the start of the World cup qualifier*
I will advice the gafer to start Moses Simon then chukwueze on the right
I think Lookman had more impact in the last game than Iwobi and Chukwueze.
He made three assists that could have resulted in at least a goal.
Lets talk about Chukwueze who had no single impact in attack throughout the game or Iwobi who gave the ball away carelessly on more than three occasions with one almost resulted in a goal but for Frederick brilliance. How many goals or assist has Iwobi and Chukwueze made since the start of the WCQ ?
IIeobi has zero goal and zero assist. I this type of high pressure and intensity midfield i suggest that the coach start Onyedika /Onyeka ahead of Iwobi and Simon ahead of Chukwueze.
This is a match that requires speedy and high intensity players..
I like Iwobi a lot, I really do but one would have expected him to step up a gear or two for the Super Eagles in midfield but he has stagnated.
Please, let’s be clear about something, I think Iwobi’s performances in these qualifiers have been satisfactory and acceptable.
But, a player of his stature who plays perennially in the Premier League, honestly, I think a section of fans are well within their onions to demand for more, way more.
I like his effective combination and understanding with Ndidi, his work rate and dedication remain faultless. However, where is the magic? Where is the “oh my goodness” moment? Where are the passes, crosses, assists, goals and all round movements that mark him out as a worthy contender for man of the match, player of the tournament, or Africa footballer of the year awards?
Much as it pains me to say, Iwobi’s game has plateaued.
He is on the way to becoming an Ekong: relevant only off the bench.
Should the Super Eagles unearth one or two Fredricks in midfield in the coming months, Iwobi’s bench status will be all but confirmed.
But I find it hard, even painful to criticise Iwobi because it is hard to find a hard working midfielder like Iwobi who hardly gives less than 100 percent in effort, drive and commitment.
In no other era of the Super Eagles would you find a player with such a level of dedication.
So, I really have no problems with him, other than to observe that he doesn’t seem to be improving. But what he gives the team is still good. However, of a player of his standing, stature and experience, I don’t think it is quite good enough.
His performances are highly satisfactory, fans expect it to be highly exceptional.
Loolman remains one of the most impactful players in the team in terms of goals and assist in the WC qualifier.
In the last match, he created more scoring chances than Iwobi and Chukwueze combined..
Infact, he has created more than
You saw nothing wrong with Iwobi misplacing passes and underperforming with no goal.or assist as a midfielder in recent matches. (all other active midfielders have at least a goal and assist ).
Hardworking Iwobi that you can’t rely on in 50-50 situation or create chances!
No sensible coach in the World would leave Lookman on the bench for any of Super Eagles winger.
Whats your reason on leaving low impact Chukwueze that you decided to attack Lookman ?
The same way Zaidu was attacked to create room for the Bruno who in my estimation the worst left back the team has ever paraded….
ees like analist deo ees coming to hin senses little by little, yuh pipo need to stop analising football with yur emotions and putting ordinary men on superhero pedastels, yuh pipo needed to learning how to called a spade a spade and let get the best legs and best team on the pitch plaese.
But stii yuh @ deo stii made one big gaff, whish dey are calling opata in Nigreains nomeclature whish is wen you said dat –
“In no other era of the Super Eagles would you find a player with such a level of dedication”
dis mean dat yuh are either stii worshipping mediocrity becuase of youre emotions or yuh have lost youre mind to said such a ting, putting disrespect on erstwhile Nigreain greats like Rashidi Yekini, Peter “de great” Rufai, Christian Chukwu, Taribo West, Finidi George, Mikel Obi, and many odas who I cant remembered dere names right now or even men like Ndidi, Leon Balogun – all dese men who gave blood and sweat to represent and fight for de Nigreain SE efrytime they don de green white and green.
Pls analist deo, respect youresel an stop yanning opata just because yuh are a Iwobi fanboy. Nonsense.
To me personally Kalika’s advise don’t make sense in a game like this (guns blazing). The SE needs to be focused, cautious and very disciplined. The way the team is set up is going to determine the outcome of this game. Playing Frederick as a CB gives us that calmness in terms of ball distribution but his height against taller DRC may pose a problem as the congolese are taller and more physically imposing, hence why i think a Bassey-Ajayi partnernship will be better in this game. The only issue here is dat both Bassey and Ajayi aren’t as calm on and with d ball as Frederick. My advise to Ajayi is to stop always looking for long balls cos most long balls will be won by DRC, but to play to feet like Frederick does, so we always retain posession. Looking for long balls makes it a 60/40 chance advantage DRC, see how we dominated the 1st half of d match against Gabon, dats d best I’ve seen SE play in a long time and dat should be our identity. I will deploy Frederick as a RB as he plays there regularly for Dender FC (infact dat boy can even play DM if needed in dat role). I will stick with Saidu as LB, but am worry about his pace here so i have to play a winger with speed capable of tracking back to support him especially if he is caught out of position or play another DM in Onyeka to help mop up. I will play two DM in Onyeka-Ndidi (if reports are true dat he can play). I will stick with Lookman and Chukwueze (Chukwueze though had limited impact tracks back these days, he supported Osayi samuel well d last game). Lookman presents more threat anyday compared to Simon, and dats undeniable. Akor Adams and VO9 completes the team for me. An Iwobi-Ndidi combo in dis game will be disastrous in my view as dat midfield battle will be lost. Chukwueze can always tuck in d midfield to add additional body.
Ahead of the Congo DR game tonight, the question is who’s the preferred player to take the place of Ndidi Onyinye in the defensive midfield?
Frank Onyeka has understudied Ndidi Onyinye in a couple of games and had played in his stead at the last AFCON which he did with great aplomb but it’s not clear if the same player is able to reinvent himself effectively in the same role without a double pivot.
Ndidi Onyinye looks to be the only player with the finesse to play and flourish as a sole DM in the 4-4-2 formation as we have witnessed in the last two to three games but it remains to be seen if Frank Onyeka would be able to man the position and produce a big impact in the aforementioned formation.
Raphael Onyedika is another solid option on account of his imperious role and performance for Club Brugge in the Uefa Champions League but the hard tackling DM is hardly tested in the same role with the Super Eagles and it’s unlikely that he would get the nod ahead of Frank Onyeka who was most assured in the role at the last AFCON in Cote Ivoire.
However, there is a possibility that both players be used together in a double pivot and which would warrant a switch in formation. Consequently, this endeavour in practice would cost us sacrificing a player in the attack.