Gabon’s head coach, Thierry Mouyouma, has taken an unusual tactical route as his team prepares for their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff against Nigeria. The coach says the only way to stand a chance against the Super Eagles is to design a completely different defensive plan targeted at one man — Victor Osimhen.
Mouyouma made it clear that stopping the Nigerian striker will be the biggest task for his side, describing Osimhen as a forward who “creates a problem you cannot prepare for fully.”
The coach explained that Osimhen’s movement and sharp instincts make him a threat from multiple angles. Speaking about the Nigerian star, he said, “He is a difficult puzzle. He plays in front, he plays behind, he wins the ball in the air, and when you close one door, he opens another. That is why we must defend in a special way.”
Osimhen heads into the fixture in red-hot form. Despite missing some earlier games in the qualifiers due to fitness issues, he still managed six goals from five matches, including a memorable hat-trick in Nigeria’s 4–0 win over Benin’s Cheetahs in October. His scoring run has also spilled into club football, where he has climbed to the top of the Champions League scoring chart after a clinical treble against Ajax.
Mouyouma admitted that the threat goes beyond open play. According to him, Gabon must pay close attention to set pieces. “Even when you block his runs, you still face his danger in corners and free kicks. That is where the complexity is,” he said.
The coach added that his technical team is currently studying Nigeria’s patterns carefully. “We are going to dissect everything. We will discuss it until we all agree on one defensive strategy,” he said. “If we allow the game to be played near our box, we will suffer. We must push the match into their half and control the tempo.”
He also expects a contrast in playing styles when both sides meet. Mouyouma believes that playing against big African teams is helping Gabon grow tactically. “It will be a clash of styles. We have to manage our energy, control the rhythm, stop their set pieces, and limit their runs behind us. These are two of their biggest strengths,” he said.
