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forgiveness:
Na true?


7 Takeaways From Super Eagles – DR CONGO Clash

May 29, 2018 11:31 AM

Completesportsnigeria.com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU
presents seven major talking points from Nigerian Super Eagles versus Democratic Republic of Congo friendly clash at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Monday, May 28 2018.

1. Uzoho Proved He Is Ready For The Big Task

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Since his debut appearance for the Super Eagles in a friendly game against Argentina last November,( as half time substitute for Daniel Akpeyi), Francis Uzoho has mannned the goal for the three-time African champions against Poland, Serbia and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Though, there were divided opinions on his performance in those games, against the Congolese, he looked solid and ready for the number one job in Russia.


The Deportivo La Coruna of Spain goalie made three key saves and commanded his area well unlike in the games against Poland and Serbia.

2. No Mikel Obi, No Super Eagles?

Super Eagles inspirational captain, John Mikel Obi, didn’t feature in the team’s previous two games going into the game against Democratic Republic of Congo. His absence was badly felt in those games as the team lacked a proper leader with no proper coordination in their play.

In his absence again against the Congolese, the trio of Ogenyi Onazi, Joel Obi and Kelechi Iheanacho failed to stamp their authority in the game and the opponent clearly dominate the midfield.

Mikel’s presence and form will undoubtedly play a key role on how far the team will go in Russia.

3. ‘Oyinbo Wall’ Looked Shaky Again

The once reliable ‘Oyinbo wall’ combination of William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun was once again exposed by the Congolese who made them work harder than expected in the game.

With the duo expected to face stronger opponents in Russia, the fans of the Super Eagles can expect more nervy moments at the World Cup.

4. Simy Nwankwo Showed Promise On His Debut

Though he was isolated up front for most of the game, and lacked quality service from the midfielders, lanky forward, Simy Nwankwo, showed that he has a future in the Super Eagles with his impressive performance.

He was unlucky not to be on the score sheet. His well struck shot hit the post in the first half and he also had a well placed header after the break saved by the Congolese goalkeeper.

5. Poor Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium Turf Affected Super Eagles’ Performance

It is difficult to fathom why the Nigeria Football Federation settled for the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium as venue for this game as against the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium which hosted the team’s home matches in the qualifiers for the World Cup.
The pitch was in bad shape and didn’t give the players the chance to express themselves.

It also exposed the players to the danger of copping injuries which could as well affect their chances of playing at the World Cup. No wonder some of the players preferred to play safe in the game.

6. Echiejile Looked Like a Spent Force

Super Eagles left-back Elderson Echiejile spent 45 minutes on the pitch and hardly impressed as he was pinned back by the Congolese forwards.
Ola Aina looked more lively after replacing him and it is hard to see the latter earning a berth in Russia on the basis of this performance.

7. Ebuehi Not In Abdullahi’s Class In The Right-Back

The Benfica new signing is one of the highly rated defenders in the team, but on the basis of his showing against Dr Congo, didn’t prove he is good enough to pick a shirt ahead of the Bursaspor defender Shehu Abdullahi in the right-back position. Ebuehi lacked the calmness and overlapping ability of Abdullahi

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/7-takeaways-from-super-eagles-dr-congo-clash/

I was enjoying this guy's analysis not untill I got to the bolded.

The Calmness and Overlapping ability of Ebuehi is incomparable. That guy is highly calculative. He times is runs and movements perfectly coupled with great positioning which makes his recovery amazing.

How I wish we can have his stat for yesterday's game. Dude didn't put a foot wrong aside the moment he wanted to dribble and gave away possession.

jieta:
BREAKING: Rohr Drops Akpeyi, Moses Simon, 3
Others

Gernot Rohr, Super Eagles Technical Adviser, on
Tuesday wielded the big axe as he dropped
Goalkeeper Daniels Akpeyi, injured Moses Simon,
Chidozie Awaziem, Kano Pillars Junior Lokosa and
Stephen Eze.
He will take recuperating Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme
to Russia as the unregistered 24th player.
25 players will leave for London on Wednesday
with two player remaining to be dropped. He will
name his 23-man list on June 4, two days after
England friendly. https://independent.ng/breaking-rohr-drops-akpeyi-moses-simon-3-others/amp/

all these news agencies are causing confusion jare. This one will say Ajiboye another one will come out with im own list and put Akpeyi.

Make dem shut their mouth up, if dem no get concrete news.

kennysville:
I want to believe you are quoting the wrong person! Why? Because I never spoke about Iwobi at all. I was talking about Etebo. What is amusing right now is the bolded.
If in a champions league final, they found means of taking out MoSalah, whats stopping opponents from doing the same. Or do you think they are not observing? Dont you feel they are seeing much more than we do, studying our games. Dont you think they know how valuable Mikel is to our present team?

A little bit of foresight will help as over dependence on Mikel is what is costing us right now.

thank you for this. The thing de give me concern. Though I think the formation that can help us in Mikel's absence is the 3-4-3 formation. With Ogu and Ndidi as the Midfielders. But another blow to that now is that Moses Simon won't be playing. Look at this set up.

UZOHO

EKONG-BALOGUN-AWAZIEM

EBUEHI-NDIDI-ETEBO-IDOWU

MUSA-IGHALO-MOSES.

I'll love Rohr to try this out in our quest to find lasting solution to Mikel's absence. It might just work out.

daveP:
who else noticed when Rohr shouted at his bench that they should be warming up instead of sitting and watching? Those players thought they won't feature in the match cos they felt big already@Ighalo and controls. Lol


I'd love a player like Bale.... Fuming at being on the bench and then come on and outshine the perceived oga nla that's is flopping.

i wanted to ask why Rohr was shouting at his bench. But sleep no gree me ask. Well if this is the reason, the players need to gear up attitude wise.

tbaba1234:
Dele Ajiboye
Stephen Eze
Uche Agbo
Daddy Moses Simon
Junior Lokosa.

Dropped...

No surprises!!

2 to go..

If this true, then Rohr is planning to stick with the core member of the team. But Lokosa's performance yesterday was enough to take him to London. Well the coach knows more than we do

OMANBALA1:
How do these guys expect somebody like Nacho to die on top that ridiculous pitch?

I so much believe in this team. I don't know why? One thing 'm sure of is- they'll deliver. Let the World Cup begin.

They will see sleek and pin-point passes and marvel. The goal is a sign that Rohr and the team are working.

One player that caught my attention today is TRYONNE EBUEHI. That guy is GOOD-NO HYPE. If he can play like that on that ridiculous pitch, I can't imagine what he'll be like in a well trimmed and mowed pitch. No wonder He pocketed Di Maria.

Just Imagine Mikel, Moses, Ighalo and Ndidi coming into the scene. We 'll be unplayable and that's when the Super Eagles will fly and Soar.

Oasis007:


See wailing and gnashing of Teeth for what?! On a Pitch like ridges at Ota Farm? LMAO!

Offensively Ola Aina is far better than Echiejile. Moreso, Echiejile with his Experience, would have cost us a one man down with his reckless, career ending Tackle in a competitive Match.

If we can give Excuses for Iheanacho, Etebo and Co for failing to live up to Expectations due to the bad Pitch, why ain't we giving the same Excuse for Aina too?!

Joel Obi was outstandingly poor, Onazi also, we lost the midfield Battle and was dominated like we played our Home-based Team, but we are discussing Aina.

You and I know that ain't a Penalty, and with the Aid of VAR, such a Mistake won't be made at the Mundial then why the Fuss?! Aina linked up well fantastically with the Attack, he partially brought the best out of Etebo, but taaaah...... he caused a Penalty, he's not ready, he must be dropped - like wetinnnnnnn!

If we are to judge Players based on Today's Friendly Match, then it's better we discard the Team and replace them with the B Team.

If anyone deserves to be tried against England at Wembley, it's definitely Olaoluwa Aina. He learned his Trade on world class Pitches not on Farmland Ridges.

hahaha... See finishing.

Me, I am not worried. I just they pity any team wey go take us with hand of levity. Them go chop am for World Cup proper.

Friendlies are not competitive and the difference is as wide as the gap between your upper jaw and lower jaw when you yawn(I can see you doing it). *winks*

forgiveness:
Nacho only played twice as a LW under Pelle and those matches he came in as a substitute.

However, his best role is becoming clearer when he is played as a SS.

I watched Nacho play as RWF. I think it was in a preseason game. He score via a low cross from Sterling. Can't remember the match.

Note: I no get liver for argument. If you think otherwise, you are right. But I'm stating what I watched

pelezico:
Based on what we have seen in the last 3 games I think what will happen is that rohr will.be sacked after the WC because of a disgraceful showing and Nigeria will go looking for a home based coach and the merry go round begins again.

The game against England will be a formality of the continued mediocrity that we have seen. The SE do not know how to keep possession which is our mainstay. Nope we are looking at a pounding at the WC.

those guys were playing with caution.

I promise you, you'll see a different SEs in Russia.

M7even:
You just understand why Victor Moses brags with this team. The other players are no better than him. Simple

I REPEAT MOSES IS THE WINGS OF EAGLES WHILE MIKEL IS THE HEART AND EYE OF THIS TEAM.

Icon4s:
He leaves gaps behind.

Aina don shoot himself in the leg.

Aina is better going forward. But defensively I think Echiejile is better.

Icon4s:
Nops

thanks. That should be Calabar.

Is this not thesame stadium that hosted our 2014 WCQs? Chai! Are we progressing or regressing? SMH

tbaba1234:
Ebuehi is a baller abeg!!

you can say that again!

Goal o o! Ekong.

Lokosa 19?
Joel Obi 23? Can someone help me with the name of the commentator?

Why Balogun and Ekong? This is too risky.

I hope Ebuehi is fit.

Odunayaw:
HABA

I lie?

Rohr:
confirms Moses Simon's injury.

He wants to see Simmy and Lokosa.

No room for any player outside the 30 man list.

See Akpeyi o o o! See im face like someone purging.

Danielnino00:
Tbaba1234, icon4s, joebie ..shey we won't get FIFA sanction with the players who are supposed to b on 10 day rest starting today??
or is d rest not that compulsory ?

they won't. They didn't feature in their club's last league matches.

Match Live on
SuperSport 9
SuperSport 2

Icon4s:
One of those hasty wrong conclusions.

baba, I'll only play Iwobi on the wings only if Mikel is playing.

I have seen Iwobi play in the GWG as a WF so many times without Mikel and he was woeful in those matches.

My deduction wasn't based on a game but games.

Petrobros:
They say Iwobi is a flop at the wings, they say he is Ineffective. A player that scored 2 goals in the WCQ when played from the wings position.
They just want to throw a big game player like Iwobi to the bench.

Iwobi's effectiveness on the wings depends on Mikel's presence in the Midfield.

forgiveness:
But that is their natural position and that is where they play in their clubs.

Because I don't want to believe Rohr will not find a replacement for Simon and go to the world Cup with Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa. That will be unimaginable.

We all know Iwobi flopped many times on that wing and he is not consistent. So, he can't be trusted on the wings except as a SS or AMF.

We also know that Iheanacho has not played well on that wing since Oliseh played him there and when Rohr played him there too though he wants to see him play there again today but I have seen him played there and I don't think he can bring what Victor and Simon bring to the team on the wing. He can't be trusted.

Therefore, I don't expect Rohr to gamble with players who are not known to play a role well in crucial world cup matches.

It doesn't make sense to anybody.

Players must be played to their strength.

Well, today's match will decide the outcome of the list.

Will Iheanacho and Lokosa perform on the wings? If yes, no wahala but if not, make him put Etebor for wing abeg or do the needful by calling a LW from the numerous that did well this season.


Afterall, Lokosa and Simy were never part of the team but they made the team and people here have already forgotten their stance on 'team cheimistry' by clamoring for the inclusion of Simy.

Anytime I remember NACHO's stint under pep, sometimes I see it as waste of time as his football development was stunted.

Under Pelle, Nacho played well as an AMF, SS, RWF and a CF and he got goals in those positions with amazing performances...

I just thank God the young man left and he is getting back his feet. I'm seeing him having an explosive World Cup outing.

OMANBALA1:
Rohr might bring him in as sub. It 'd be nice

me too no understand.

Me no too de like this friendly line-up. Agbo and Agu no de there.

Make God protect the rest from Injury.

kennysville:
We need more shooting drills in the team. Especially loose balls. Enough of all the wayward shots our boys shoot sometimes. Its time to shoot to hit the target and not over the bar stuff...

#Accuracy

Exactly, Drills will bring out the best from the players. I can remember the team underwent through drills prior to the double header against Cameroon and we did well with our shots. Was so surprised that day to see Mikel hits volleys with precision.

kennysville:
Bigger plan abi? Where is fairness then? Why do we have centre referees? Is it not to create a balance and fair officiating of a game? Have u stopped to imagine what would happen if there are no referees and no linesmen? Then it might ad well be gladiators in the Coliseum! Blood and bones will fly everywhere.

My brother, such plans are devilish and needs to be condemned. Else we might as well just give the Trophy to the pre determined winner before any competition. No need for all the troubles. When did soccer become wrestling? Its slmost like players now have a way of consoling themselves that the worst that could happen is they taking one(yellow) for the team. Where is the fairness? Seriously these rules with holding of a player, hugging a player from movement in the 18 yard box and impeding a player should be reviewed. We are not watching fast and the furious.

The world is getting to a point where Good is bad and Bad is actually good! Referees need to do their freaking job!

Fairness? That has long been dead long time ago. It's been dead since the time football has gone commercial. We need stop believing that FIFA's Fair Play message.
Football governing bodies across the world are no longer FAIR in their dealings. These guys do everything humanly possible to retain power and influence. The same is what we see on the field.

The refs too are not exempted. They bend the rules to favor which ever team they want to win.

Now back to the main issue. Ramos last night was an Hero to his team - a true captain and at the same time a villain to the rest of the world.

Later, while thinking over the incident that happened, I saw Ramos as a true definition of a leader. Dude stood up to rescue his team from a state of quagmire. He took out the threat to their glory. He subtly influenced the refs decisions till he was able to extinguish the remaining fire burning in the heart of the Liverpool team.

Just imagine if Mikel had done the same in 2014 against France, who knows what would have happened. But our man was only smiling and trying to be fair. Maradona, Suarez(against Ghana) and those I have mentioned earlier are just few examples of players who threw Fair Play out of the window and their actions in one way or the other took their teams to glory.

In summary, the Objective of a game in any competition is to WIN (which is the bigger picture). Coaches tell their players to focus on the OBJECTIVE and not the PROCESS. We need to learn some of these tricks as they will come in handy at the world cup. Don't forget recently Shehu would have got Slimani sent out in our last WCQ game had it been he simulated and exaggerated the head butt. But he was forming strong man and fair play. The same Slimani went on to score us after that incident.

We need to ask ourselves this question. When last was a player sent off(got red card) against the SEs.? Sometimes you need to reduce your opponent to 10players before you can edge them. Ramos understood this and that was why he reduced Liverpool technically from 12 to 10men- that's why you saw him smiling.