joseph1013:
[b][size=14pt]Oliseh: It doesn’t matter if you play at the moon, quality performance is all that matters[/size]



Nigeria on Tuesday qualified for the group stages of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 victory over Swaziland. The match was played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Goals from Moses Simon and Efe Ambrose in the second half of the encounter gave the Super Eagles the needed win against 10-man Swaziland after a goalless first leg in Lobamba on Friday.

The Eagles have thus joined such other countries as Gabon, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, Guinea, Congo DR, Morocco, Libya, Cameroon, South Africa and Congo in the group stages of the qualifiers. The draw for the final phase will be done next year with qualifiers played between 2016 and 2017.

The top five teams from the group stages, which will have four teams each, will represent the continent in Russia.

Nigeria needed a win against the Swazi, who are ranked 134th in the world, after the first leg ended goalless. Coach Sunday Oliseh, who had expressed confidence about his team’s chances, made five changes to the starting line-up in Lobamba.

Swaziland coach, Harries Bulunga, gave thumbs up to the Nigerian bench for the changes made in the starting line-up. He said the changes affected their game plan.

“The changes the Nigerian coach made to the starting line-up helped them and actually affected our plans. We planned to exploit the slow pattern of the Nigerian midfield but that didn’t work because those who played today were much faster,” Bulunga said.

Oliseh surprisingly dropped Chelsea’s Mikel Obi, preferring to start Sunshine Stars Paul Onobi. Onobi has been a quality part of the Eagles B team that qualified for the Championship of African Nations in Rwanda next year. The other changes from the starting team in Swaziland meant that Chima Akas of Sharks was picked ahead of Elderson Echiejile of AS Monaco in the French league and Abia Warriors central defender Austin Oboroakpo was listed instead of Turkey-based Godfrey Oboabona.

Coach Oliseh hailed his players for their sense of urgency in the match.

He said, “Today, we have played well and we have secured the result we needed. But the truth is that we can do much more than this and we will strive to play better with every game.

“The changes we made today were effective. What it shows is that we use the best players available at any given time and we will always do that. It doesn’t matter if you play at the moon; the most important thing is what you are able to do on the pitch. A player’s country of residence doesn’t matter; what matters is giving us quality performance.”

The Eagles dominated the early exchanges of the match as they searched for the goals. Nigeria got the first chance of the game in the second minute when Oboroakpo headed over the bar from a corner kick.

Swaziland’s match tactics of defending and hitting Nigeria on the counter was going according to plan as their backline defended waves of attack from the Eagles. Ighalo, who was Nigeria’s top striker, was never given a breathing space as he was marked out.

In the 12th minute, the Watford striker had a rare shot at goal but shot straight at the Swazi goalkeeper. Ighalo had another chance in the 31st minute after a pass from Onobi found him but he could only shoot wide.

Swaziland had a chance to go into the lead in the 33rd minute after a cross found Sandile Hlatjwako, who shot over from close range. Indeed the 33rd minute miss was the closest the teams ever got at scoring in the first half.

The Eagles got the first goal in the 53rd minute from a free kick curled into the top corner by Moses after Igbonu had been fouled close to the Swazi goal area. They doubled the lead in the 87th minute after Ambrose tapped in another free kick played in by Igbonu from the right side of the Swazi goal.

Swaziland fought to reduce the tally as they forced Ikeme to make a save in the 83rd minute from a Njabulo Ndlovu shot. But they were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute after Phumlani Dlamini got a second yellow card for a foul on Onazi.

Nigeria starting XI vs Swaziland

Carl Ikeme – Shehu Abdulahi, Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Efe Ambrose – Ogenyi Onazi, Paul Onobi, Sylvester Igbonu – Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa (captain)

http://punchng.com/wcup-eagles-beat-swaziland-to-progress/[/b]

krattoss:
i think I suport oliseh on this one.

TheGoodJoe:



When we were telling Oliseh when he was criticising Coach Keshi, did he agree? Coach Oliseh himself said only players from top teams should play for the National team. Now he is making U-Turn and saying,

“The changes we made today were effective. What it shows is that we use the best players available at any given time and we will always do that. It doesn’t matter if you play at the moon; the most important thing is what you are able to do on the pitch. A player’s country of residence doesn’t matter; what matters is giving us quality performance.”...Coach Oliseh.

I repeat, he is learning on the job but I believe he is a fast learner. I see him doing well.

enomakos:
See wastefulness yesterday

this team is beginning to scared me,we may not qualify for the next afcon with this kinds of performance against egpyt

adeyemi2015:

That Onobi guy played a nice game! He played the position very well and was like Pogba with the Ball movement and calmness!

krattoss:
chai.oliseh is confused ooo..

make we no fuk up today' oo

mikron:
why would oliseh bench mikel in this 1st half?

TheGoodJoe:



When we were telling Oliseh when he was criticising Coach Keshi, did he agree? Coach Oliseh himself said only players from top teams should play for the National team. Now he is making U-Turn and saying,

“The changes we made today were effective. What it shows is that we use the best players available at any given time and we will always do that. It doesn’t matter if you play at the moon; the most important thing is what you are able to do on the pitch. A player’s country of residence doesn’t matter; what matters is giving us quality performance.”...Coach Oliseh.

I repeat, he is learning on the job but I believe he is a fast learner. I see him doing well.

krattoss:
yes but it's good to give credit to who and when its due

justiz5:



Onobi is a threat to John Mikel Obi's position in the team. Just hope the guys performances does not become a fluke just like Sunday Mba's AFCON triumph

justiz5:


We shall qualify. I so much expect the team to gel well as the games and qualifiers go tougher.

justiz5:


Because Onobi is better than him

BascoVanVeli:
Isaac Success. The answer.

adeyemi2015:

Hopefully!
Seriously we need the Guy in the Team more than Mikel! Onazi was able to marshal the midfield confidential and superbly because he had a good backup in the Lad!

enomakos:
i hear you bro
but not for me

justiz5:


I will quote or remind you when we qualify in style. Someone said yesterday that Oliseh was confused with his lineup. But theSwazis' Coach praised Coach Oliseh for the same lineup after the match

justiz5:

To what

joseph1013:
[b][size=14pt]Simon sure of more improvement[/size]



KAA Gent and Nigeria winger Moses Simon is over the moon with excitement after helping Nigeria qualify for the final round of qualifiers for the Fifa 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia.
The Super Eagles defeated Swaziland 2-0 in Port-Harcourt on Tuesday with goals from Simon and Efe Ambrose as Nigeria edged through 2-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw in the first leg in Lobamba.

Incidentally, both players scored for Nigeria in the 3-0 demolition of Cameroun in last month’s friendly in Belgium and they repeated same feat against the Sihlangu with Simon catching the eye with a virtuoso performance at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

“It was a very hard game but I’m happy we have qualified for the final round of the qualifier, the hard work starts right now,”Simon told supersport.com

“The Swazi side were really stubborn and disciplined. It was difficult for us to get past their defence especially in the first half.

“It was always going to be a difficult game but we were patient the goals will come and it did come eventually. The coach told us not to panic and follow his instructions which we did and I’m happy we won.

“I give God the glory for the goal but must importantly that we have qualified. I thank Nigerians for their support,”the 20 year old added.

Simon also spoke his free-kick goal which put Nigeria ahead in the game in the 51st minute before Efe Ambrose connected home Sylvester Igbonu’s set piece three minutes before time to set Nigeria on her way.

The former AS Trecin star said he has been practising on various parts of his game and is happy his set pieces are yielding fruits.

“I have been practising set-pieces and I’m happy I was able to pull it off and score the goal. You have to be versatile as a player and I’m a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo as I always try to learn from him,”Simon explained to supersport.com

“I hit the post with a free-kick in the first leg in Swaziland but I’m glad I hit the target at home. It’s been God’s grace all the way.

“This is not even the time to talk about that goal. It is time to celebrate that Nigeria has qualified, that is the most important thing. We will continue to do our best and by God’s grace we shall succeed.

“I want to thank Port-Harcourt fans for coming out to support the team. I and the other players appreciate them,”he said.

http://www.supersport.com/football/super-eagles/news/151118/Simon_sure_of_more_improvement[/b]

justiz5:

To what

mikron:
i would want to see rabiu ibrahim play the attacking midfield role more often, he should be given more playing time by oliseh

justiz5:

Who knows if Onobi's emergence will spur Mikel to find his confidence and form that saw him contribute a lot to our 2013 AFCON success


Onobi! Onobi!! Onobi!!!





How many times did I call you?


Make you no fall my hand oooooooo

BascoVanVeli:


People forget that before the u-17 wc Success was our brightest prospect, I just wonder why he hasn't been given a chance. He plays in one of the best leagues in the world and he is a regular starter, he also promises goals, Isaac would not have missed any of those chances yesterday. So to me he is the answer to our offensive problems.