Former Real Madrid midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has advised Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle to drop striker Tolu Arokodare from Nigeria’s starting lineup.

This follows his lacklustre performance in the 2-1 win over Lesotho in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Arokodare struggles to impress

The Wolverhampton Wanderers forward endured a frustrating outing in Polokwane, missing a clear scoring chance just before halftime when he failed to connect with a well-placed corner from Moses Simon despite being unmarked in the box.

Speaking on Sporty TV, Adepoju, famously nicknamed Headmaster for his aerial dominance during his playing career, criticised Nigeria’s first-half performance as sluggish and uninspired.

He said Arokodare’s poor header was a key moment that summed up the team’s early struggles.

“He should have been substituted at halftime”

Adepoju argued that Arokodare’s playing style disrupted Nigeria’s attacking flow and that Chelle should have replaced him at halftime.

He suggested deploying a more mobile supporting striker who can effectively link midfield and attack.

According to the former international, Arokodare’s movement often overlapped with that of Victor Osimhen, creating positional confusion in the final third.

Both strikers, he noted, were frequently making identical runs toward goal instead of alternating positions to stretch Lesotho’s defence.

Tactical rethink needed

Adepoju concluded that Chelle must make tactical adjustments to enhance attacking coordination and ensure Nigeria’s forward line operates with better fluidity in upcoming qualifiers.