₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
If Nigeria no do well for this World Cup eh......, see as dem even lap Ahmed Musa like small pikin.

Pinnick's Ashoebi boys.

hahaha this got me laughing... Make Saturday come jare.

I don't even know what our opponents will be thinking about us.
I don't know if they will be jealous or be seeing us as some bunch of unserious team.

TThem go be like are you for real? When they see our guys in track suit on matchday!

OOrisirisi country.

Rohr is no longer a coach but Baba Olomo wewe

JSMMUYIWA:
Are you saying all musical instruments are banned?
That would be a boring one for the fans.

Boring is an understatement. Today we have fans who spend more time tweeting about the match than watching it.

somehow:
Photoshoot

cc: Elyte89

BOOMnaija:
Awon backbone...

Mikel is too soft. Action e no get. Na to de smile up and down. We need him to show strong face and atleast be threatening when he reacts on the pitch.

@Mujtahida, Africa has know say on how football should be Played. Our football might be beautiful, but we don't have results to set it out for others to emulate. Until African sides wins the World Cup, we will always remain inferior and obliged to adopt their style since theirs has produced successes at the very highest level of the game and we will continue to play second fiddle to them. They will continue to be the best as we can never beat them to their game.

The problem with our style is that it lacks end result. Africans play to the gallery forgeting the objective which is to win-win trophies. We run, dribble and outmuscle our opponents but don't score. We loose concentration easily(I don't know while) but this is common to African sides.etc

To Change this status quo, there is need for us to integrate the European style INTO our style. Of this is done successfully, we will then stand a chance of unsettling and perhaps changing things. This is why I see a blend of the two as way forward for African football. The Super Eagles has started adopting this considering the recent influx of FB(those who were raised and trained under the European system and the Home grown). That's why I want this team to do well. With right team Selection and tactics deployed I see us standing our own ground at this Mundial unlike previous outings.

Clue: see what Iwobi, Ebuehi etc brings to the team (EU) and what the likes of Victor Moses, Ndidi, Etebo etc brings to the table(AU).A proper blend of the two opposite styles will do wonders. Just imagine this guys gelling together.

Can't we pull a Spain too? Let's sack Baba Rohr and allow Salisu Yusuf to take over the team.

tbaba1234:
Nigerians' comments before Brazil 2014... Nigeria lost to USA before the WC and Bosnia had an unbeaten run and were playing fantastic football.

We fear and write off our team before every WC.

Our best WC friendly results was in 2002.. In 2002, We were unbeaten in all friendlies but ended up losing the first 2 games at the WC

Photo credit: @fisayodairo

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DfEghgfW0AAJYZ6.jpg

hahaha. Thanks for this.


To be frank, I won't be this optimistic had it mean we won all our friendly matches. Nigeria national teams are known to be complacent when they start to have things go their way. We would have gone into this tournament believing that we will defeat any team that cross our path.

TThe players will be on every page of the newspaper talking on how they will massacre their opponents. They will tell their coaches that they should not worry, that the group stage is already done and dusted. News about their escapades, missing players, fights etc would have been our spotlight.

But now, everyone is sober and the players are calm and focused. They know they need to do more to make their outing memorable. I trust them to make us smile.


Let's be on the lookout for a memorable Mundial.

Afam4eva:
These guys have insulted Nigeria with their predictions. They say we won't win any match and will ultimately come last in the group


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFXGU3_ief8

We seem to always do well anytime we go into any competition as underdogs.

Remember no one gave us a chance in our WCQ group. Pundits suggested that the maximum points we can have is 4points. But we went all the way to defile the odds.

All this team is an early goal and you will see them run riot. That's why I'm calling on the likes of Moses, Ighalo, Iwobi and Mikel himself to do the needful early enough. The Naija spirit needs to be activated as quick as possible.

We hope and pray the team hits gear at the blast of the first whistle.

#FlyEaglesSoar

NAIJA ti take over.

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles in Essentuki

#June16 countdown...

Looks like Ekong and Nacho have sorted out their hairstyle choices for their World cup's Group D opener....

hmmm... I hope these guys know what is at stake. Make dem no spend all their time on fashion. Sometimes ago, it was beard painting. How time flies

forgiveness:
Nigeria to disappoint, Morocco and Senegal to progress: How will the African teams fare in Russia?

With two days to go until the World Cup starts, we take a look at how the African nations will get on.

by Salim Masoud Said Jun 12, 2018

Reuters/John Sibley

With FIFA extending the African quota for the 2018 World Cup, there will be five teams from the Confederation of African Football heading to Russia when the finals begin in June.

In Brazil in 2014, both Nigeria and Algeria made it through the group stages and into the Round of 16 where they lost to France and Germany respectively.

This time around, a repeat performance would represent a good World Cup for the African nations. But how well will they fare in Russia?

We look at each African side and assess their chances ahead of the tournament’s opening this week.

Egypt

In case you didn’t know, Egypt’s fortunes hinge on the recovery of Mohamed Salah.

With an entire system built around countering with the Liverpool attacker’s pace and clinical conversion, Sergio Ramos has inadvertently destroyed coach Hector Cuper’s only plan.

Fortunately for Egypt, though, they have been placed in the kindest group when compared with the other African nations at the tournament.

Added to this – and unlike their African counterparts – they are also proudly defensive under Cuper and play a brand of risk-averse football that could pay dividends in tournament football.

The only nagging issues is the question of who will now score goals on the break for Egypt. With only one recognised striker in the squad, the subpar Marwan Mohsen, the warm-up friendlies have laid the Salah problem bare.

Prediction: Group stage exit. The Pharaohs are not brimming with confidence and it’ll be a miracle if Salah is at his optimum best by the start of the tournament.

Nigeria

The pre-World Cup friendlies have raised more questions about Nigeria than provided answers.

Gernot Rohr appears to be experimenting with a new 3-5-2 formation that he could potentially unveil for the first time in a competitive action in the opening game against Croatia.

The importance of that first game can’t be overstated. It does look like Nigeria will need those sorts of marginal gains to overcome a Croatia team with great chemistry and world class players in its midfield.

Indeed, all the teams in Group D are ranked above Nigeria in the FIFA rankings. The Super Eagles also have issues in critical positions, namely goalkeeper and striker.

The unintimidating history of Croatia and Iceland in the tournament give Nigeria hope but they will really have to overperform to progress to the second round.

Prediction: Group stage exit. They have the potential to defy expectations but they have major issues hanging over them heading into the tournament.

Morocco

The most in-form African side and, judged by his CV since the turn of the decade, the best coach of an African team at the tournament in Tyrone Lannister doppelgänger Herve Renard, Morocco could be one of the surprise packages of the tournament. Renard, the mastermind of miracles in Africa, gives Morocco hope to set themselves free.

Morocco’s style of football and high pressing can leave opponents dazed and confused and, for the last 18 months, it has made them just that. Yet the question remains: can they sustain such intensity against an ultra-technical side like Spain?

It’s one thing doing it in Africa against the hapless likes of Mali and Gabon in front of a baying home crowd, quite another doing it again two of the most astutely coached sides under the floodlights of the World Cup.

There is a danger they could worry too much about Spain and Portugal. First, they have to overcome a well-drilled Iran, probably by taking the game to them, before they look to slay the big beasts in the group.

The versatility of Morocco’s personnel means they should be able to be reactive and proactive.

Prediction: Second round. Slaying Spain is a tough task, slaying Portugal is a more realistic one given their form and the track record of their coach.

Senegal

The Teranga Lions now seem like a team. This may sound like a trite statement to make but that that’s because the core of their problems recently can be traced to getting the basics wrong.

A tactically solid coach would be able squeeze more out of this group of players in key moments that require tactical curveballs. However, they might struggle to reproduce the avuncular manner of Aliou Cisse that has galvanised the squad.

Cisse will look to the spine of this team to activate the target of reaching the second round. Napoli’s towering centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly will set the tone at the back.

An aggressive, dogged midfield that includes Idrissa Gueye and Cheikhou Kouyate will be difficult to play against. Senegal also have one of the tournament’s glittering individuals in Sadio Mane and he will be their main source of creativity, especially in a team that desperately lacks players of his ilk.

The Lions have perhaps the second most favourable draw out of the African sides after Egypt. The second round is a reachable destination but their key players, especially Mane, will have to be at their best.

Prediction: Second round. It’ll be tight as Aliou Cisse isn’t the most wily tactician but Senegal are hard to beat and Cisse has fostered a feel-good factor in this team which may work in his favour.

Tunisia

Goals have always been in short supply in this Tunisia team and the injuries to their best marksmen, Youssef Msakni and striker Taha Yassine Khenissi, give coach Nabil Maaloul an incurable headache.

The men Maaloul may now turn to are Wahbi Khazri and Naim Sliti. If these two can translate their club form into this World Cup, they can bring what Msakni would have brought: goals and assists, albeit without the pizzazz.

Tunisia have shown plenty of heart during qualifying, with laudable results away to Guinea and DR Congo in their wake but it’s hard to foresee them displaying that when playing against such dynamic sides and when they have lost their protagonist to injury.

While Morocco have the cohesiveness and coach as a platform to mastermind a shock, that isn’t quite the case for Tunisia. Even being at their best may not be enough against dynamic England and Belgium sides.

Prediction: Group stage exit. They’ve done well to be at the World Cup but it’s hard to envisage them in the second round.

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/941890580?-20575:8630:3

Isokuso!

Kog45:
Echiejile Elderson 2010 WC

my bad... Didn't know why I forget is name. He his truly A Veteran! No wonder he made the list.

Only 5 of our players (Mikel, Onazi, Musa, Moses and Omuero) have been to the world cup before. I only hope the rest will not be carried away by the jamboree

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles training In Essentuki


Seems this kid (dorning a CSKA shirt) and his folks came out just to catch a good view of Ahmed Musa...



Note: Look at the kid's hands

Musa is popular among the locals.

Hmmm. Predictions and prophesies from both humans and animals flying up and down. Make the tournament start make we see who is right!

Mujtahida:
You are obviously in need of some psyching up cos I can see the pressure getting at you. See me after today's training.

Soetanoreoluwa top top post. Made me laugh. You come join me with that crazy congorascal

hahaha...

Let the dreamers start rolling in their dreams.

I dreamt last night that we defeated Argentina and England only to wake up to find out that England are not in our group. ���

The tension is on!

Why is the Super Eagles' camp so calm and quiet? Not even a sound from flapped wings. I guess they're MOULTING.

They all should be out from their crevices tomorow, Showing their new and beautiful feathers, ready to fly, ready to soar and finally ready to attack and hunt for goals!

Together we shall fly,
together we shall soar,
Together we shall spread our wings and;
Together we shall cover the World and paint it Green White Green.

#FLYEAGLESSOAR!

One thing our players need now is to be Psyched up. I hope our team psychologist is not sleeping.

They need to see themselves as Champions. Going into every game with winner's mentality and superior mindset as these will activate beast and ruthless mode.

They did it against Algeria and Cameroon. Scoring 3,4 goals against African finests. There are is need for them to have the believe that they can do it again - this time around against World bests.

I want to see Mikel, Moses and Ighalo put on serious face. No smiling, no laughing until the did has been done.

It's high time the Super Eagles declare war on their Opponents.

Bolowolowo:
All because of a few friendlies. Talk about cheap loyalty...

haha... So many pessimists with defeatist mindset every where you turn too...

Some de even rank us alongside Saudi, Iran, Panama. They believe more in new comers like Iceland who'll be featuring in their second competitive tournaments.(the Euros and now WC)...

The same France and Spain they've all been singing to high heavens struggled to draw and beat their lowly rated opponents.

Friendlies are what they are- test games and nothing more. Russia, the host nation drew 7 straight games... If it were to be my dear country, the team and coaches would have long be disbanded and dismissed.

No wonder Nigeria doesn't have a DREAM OR VISION. Even if we do, no one BELIEVES IN IT. I think we're wired PESSIMISTS.

nelszx:
With pacey players at the wings that can track back to help the midfield yes it can. Our 4-2-3-1 is another 4-5-1 we've not mastered yet. The only time it worked well was against Cameroon away. That formation needs intelligent full backs sha

the absence of Moses Simon is one of the reasons we are presently struggling with the formation.

No one to compliment V. Moses at the right flank. Shehu has become frail and no one to track back to assist in defending.

So our best bet is sticking to the 3-5-2 formation

It seems 80% of Nigerians have written off this team...

maidaboi:
WE LOVE OUR AVERAGE TEAM
Show your love by liking this post

yes o!

Who ever does not believe or perhaps have lost faith in this team should pack their load(not from this thread) and go and pitch their tents with other nations. Atleast there are other 31nations going to the World Cup.

Since you all know and believe we'll crash out after the third game, then Save yourself from unnecessary and avoidable mental and emotional stress and keep off from anything SEs related matters(you can as well burn the jerseys, stop coming back to the thread to read news and updates).

As for me and others who still have FAITH, we will keep believing and supporting the team irrespective of the outcome @ the mundial.

Icon4s:
Further modified:

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NFF AND THE SUPER EAGLES COACHING CREW FROM MEMBERS OF THE NAIRALAND SUPER EAGLES FANS BASE.


We are ardent followers and supporters of the Super Eagles. Most of us may not make the trip to Russia, we cannot be with the coaching crew, we are not part of the NFF, neither can we kick the balls with the players. However, we can only make our little contribution by way of advice to the NFF and the Coaching crew.We believe firmly in the ability of this team to perform creditably well because we have both the footballing and administrative personnel to make it happen.

We are an assembly of fans who have seen the game for several decades and have followed it with burning passion all through the years. We have extensively X-rayed the reasons for the disappointing ends to our past World Cup outings and hence provided some tips for both the NFF and the coaching crew to critically look into:

1. The need for the NFF to sort out issues of bonuses and players’ welfare on time: We sincerely appreciate the current effort being put in place by the NFF to ensure that bonuses and allowances issues are sorted out ahead of the World Cup. This is a commendable step towards avoiding players boycotting of training session as witnessed in the last World Cup.
2. Majority of the players who qualified the team should be kept. Only players who are better than the current crop should be added. Introducing too many new players had its negative effects in our 2002 and 2014 campaigns. The team should also be a good mix of youth and experience as we hope to achieve a balanced transition in the team even beyond Russia 2018. The best players should be selected devoid of favoritism.
3. Quality pre-World Cup warm up games: We have started with an excellent one with Argentina and should continue in that line. Perhaps a top European and or Asian Opposition would not be bad for us in March, 2018. We propose camping in Russia where we expect high profile friendlies in the window leading to the World Cup
4. Instilment of high level of discipline in the team: This is to curb “over-confidence”, lack of team play by some players, segregation in the team and excessive celebrations both on and off the pitch: These kind of attitude had negative effects in our past world cup outings.
5. Updated FIFA rules must be understood by players and coaches to avoid naïve situations. A simple case in time is with our goalie – Daniel Akpeyi in our most recent friendly against Argentina. Also the same Argentina used it against us at the 1994 World Cup. Ie Cladio Caniggia and Diego Maradona. Also players taking off jerseys to display inscriptions should be kicked against.
6. Our players should learn to react to tackles in such a way as to influence the ref’s decisions in our favor. We have been victims of influenced or lack of influenced referee’s decisions in past world cups. Eg Onazi’s tackle against France in 2014 World Cup would have been a Red Card for Matuidi if the Nigerian players close to the action had reacted appropriately. Brahimi would have been sent off if Shehu had gone down after being head butted amongst others.
7. The technical bench should be fortified to world standard. The NFF should also engage the services of world class sports psychologist and physios

We believe so much in this Team. The NFF and the entire coaching crew are doing a Super Job with the Super Eagles. We can only hope for the Super Eagles to Fly above all expectations come Russia 2018.

*A QUICK REMINDER*

can't believe that the same people who agreed on that number 2 are now singing different songs... SMH.

elyte89:
Aw u take knw...deres no sign of Mikel playing na


What if onazi was like....throw us d egg naah,u dey craze

hahaha. You no go kill person with laughter. Had to check the picture again.

Luckyroro:
Mischief makers, Here's a picture of Onazi and Mikel few minutes ago playing table tennis.

hahaha... These guys are abreast with what is going on. They know how unhappy everyone is with them. I only pity Croatia cos they will be the first victim of transfer of aggression.

Bolowolowo:
Coach Gernot Rohr after today’s loss to the Czech Republic:

“We’ve 9 days to be ready for our 1st match vs Croatia, as at today we are not ready. I am not sad because of this result, the result that matters will be in Russia.”

Why can't people grasp this?!?!?

and some people want me to believe that the man is confused...

Rohr wey nack Hugo Broos mind game jazz na im you say is confused.

The man be like Croatia, all my 21players don play now, go figure out my plan. Hahaha... Oga TheSuperNerd. Abeg help me with a meme.

Humility017:
and so what...because he qualified us means we should stick to clueless abi?
though zidane won 3 champions league in a row...he would have been sacked still if now fails to deliver...

consistency is the key....mere looking at rohr shows he needs help...the old man has lost it.....
and sanusi and co...still haven't gotten over the euphoria of the world biggest football tourney few days time....

*smiles* Rohr confused? I don't think so. I think he is only playing with everyone's mind.

Croatia, Iceland, Argentina, NFF and Nigerians world wide are all confused. But the man is not!

Those calling for Rohr's head seems to have forgotten where we were coming from.
From a poor team which couldn't qualify for 2 consecutive AFCON.

This man decide to pick the job despite so much hullabaloo then. He came on board and the unexpected happen we were handed the toughest group in worldcup qualification history.

No one gave him a chance not even his employers. But he turned the fortune of the team around and we qualified in style without loosing and with a game to spare.

This same man has only lost 1 single competitive game out of 7. Yet still we want him to be sacked. Can we please cut him some slack?

He might not be having it easy and we rosy but the employers and players are not complaining. The players have not even showed any sign of unhappiness with the result. Maybe there is more to these preparation than we can see.

Me, I still believe in this team, I still trust the boys to deliver when it MATTERS and I'm not going to allow some insignificant matches to change my mind.

#SOAR EAGLES

I don't know why I kept on smiling while watching the game. May be because I know what this team is capable of when something is on the line.

Rohr is hidding something. What he is hidding-that I don't know. His team set-ups(starters and substitutes) over the friendlies seems too structure to be real.

The World is in for a suprise. Even the players are not worried.

Oasis007:
Fellow Eagulians.

I assure you all - we gonna see a different Eagle at the Mundial. We are able to keep our Tactics away from the Oppositions.

The Oppositions are as confused as the Fans. They don't know what's gonna happen at the Mundial, kinda difficult for the Scouts spying on us to analyze the Team credibly.

Kudos to Rohr, and I'm kinda satisfied with the 2nd Half Display.

O PARI (In Icon79's voice)