₦airaland Forum

What exactly was her body of work to warrant making the team of the decade? This is not an African rating, but a world rating.
She did not do anything of significance to be on the team of the decade. Nothing at all.

BascoVanVeli:
They lost their credibility when Desire Oparanozie didn't make their all decade team.

I had listed earlier some of the players who had won the award. Most, if not ALL of them, were rated world class in their careers. Some even winning the balon d'oro.
That should give your some context.

Princezibk:
I’m overjoyed 😁! But how huge is this award 🥇 I foresee he winning Future African best player too ♥️♥️

Onyi and Ousmane, winners of the 2024 MAC Hermann trophy's for College soccer in the US.

Yaaayyyy!!!!!

She won it! She won! I am soooo proud of her
https://www.machermanntrophy.org/ (watch from min 15)

I am still in bewildered awe at all she has accomplished so far. This is truely the feather in the cap for her. This award is HUGE!!!!

Mia Hamm. Kelley O'hara. Michelle Akers. Alley Wagner. Christine Sinclair. Christine Press. I mean, look at the caliber of those who won it previously, ALL of whom are FIFA women's football greats!

My Prediction: I will go out on a limb here and state that JOE has the potential to becoming a FIFA balon d'oro in the near future.

Super proud of her!

Ousmane Sylla of Clemson won the Men's MAC trophy also. Proud of the young man.

FIrst time ever in the history of the MAC awards that two Africans would win both the women's and men's trophies.

Onyi ECHEGINI - Florida State University and Nigeria,

Ousmane SYLLA - Clemson University and Senegal.

A GREAT night for African Football !!

Deltamani:
It’s MAC Hermann Trophy night for Joe‼️

You can watch the ceremony tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the link below ⬇️

http://www.machermanntrophy.org

So pretty much their 3 best players are in the Mexican League.

Deltamani:
🚨South African star Hildah Magaia has been signed up by Mexican side Mazatlan Futbol Club from Korean outfit Sejong Sportstoto WFC.

She joins her international teammates Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe in the Mexican league.

Really happy for my baby. Now she can get more playing time, hopefully.
Besides, Salt Lake City is a nice city and I hope she settles in quickly

Deltamani:
Super Falcons Forward Ifeoma Onumonu Joins Utah Royals FC.

Utah Royals FC today acquired Super Falcons Forward Ifeoma Onumonu from reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC.


Onumonu becomes the 15th player on the 2024 expansion Utah side’s roster, for the upcoming NWSL season and players reporting to preseason between Jan. 22-29.

Onumonu has played each of the last three seasons with Gotham FC since joining in 2020 via trade with OL Reign.

With the New York based side, the striker appeared in 40 matches – starting 35, recording 10 goals and six assists in nearly 3,000 minutes. In the most recent 2023 NWSL regular season, Onumonu appeared in 14 matches and started in four, recording 370 minutes and one assist.


Onumonu’s summer was highlighted by her critical contribution to Nigeria’s 2023 World Cup squad

She helped the Super Falcons to a Round of 16 appearance, where the team was knocked out by eventual runner-up England. Onumonu appeared in four matches and started in three, playing 227 minutes for one of the world’s most dynamic sides.

“This is an amazing opportunity to be coached by one of the best who ever did it, tapping into Amy Rodriguez’ history with the NWSL and her being a former No. 9,” said Onumonu, also noting that she will reunite with three former teammates in Utah (Imani Dorsey, Mandy Haught, Paige Monaghan). “Having the conversation with Amy and (Sporting Director Kelly Cousins) was incredibly important to me, hearing their vision and understanding the commitment to and investment in providing the best for the athletes is what persuaded me to play for the Royals.

“I’m quite excited for our style of play,” continued Onumonu. “Amy mentioned that we will look to mix some of what Man City and Bayern Munich try to do – keep the ball, if you lose it, get it back as quickly as possible. This is what interests me – at this point in my career, I want to play with the ball and not run around mindlessly or get caught in kick-and-run. This whole project intrigues me, as I’m always looking to learn more – what better way to learn than to try to emulate a style of play and model ourselves after the best in the world.”

Prior to joining Gotham FC, Onumonu also played for the OL Reign (2019-20) and Portland Thorns (2018), after being drafted as the eighth overall pick by the Boston Breakers in the 2017 NWSL Draft. Before embarking on her professional career, Onumonu was a standout at University of California-Berkeley, scoring 33 goals in 82 NCAA games, the former Golden Bear achieving NSCAA All-Pacific honors and named to the Pac-12 All-Academic Team three times, also distinguished by Soccer America’s Freshman All-America honors.

“Adding a player with Ify’s international pedigree and experience within the League marks yet another milestone as we build out this roster, said URFC Sporting Director Kelly Cousins. “We expect her and the other veterans to implement Amy’s vision and accelerate the buy-in for our cultural development, on and off the pitch.”

Its simple market economics.
Her valuation is at 100K, that's why she's earning that.
No way does a player jump from 100K to 500K 'just because', especially when her valuation is 80% lower.
The owners of Tigres UNAM aren't that generous, especially for a player who is not even in the top 50 players in the world.

Deltamani:
Of course Thembi Kgatlana Market Value isn’t up to $100 but we can’t tell how much Salary she should be earning… If Tigress finds her good enough to earn such amount… Dats Fine!!

Thank Magudu for WHAT exactly??
Not sure I understand where you're headed with this??

BascoVanVeli:
Rinsola has Justin Madugu to thank for her start last week. With Gift starting 2 matches the Tenerife coach went with Rinsola and she earned this start with the assist in the last match.

:lol:
Sure! :lol:

BascoVanVeli:
Gift would tear this Barca side up

You can add Elisha Sulola to the list of available midfielders, as she can play both AM and DM. I honestly do not see Oyenezide as being ready for this level - but...

Upfront, the addition of Rinsola is nice. Would also like to have them start to blend Edna Imade into the squad. We need to throw our full arsenal at these mouthy South Africans and give them a good ass whopping!

GeneralDae:
Remember at the time even Ucheibe was not in that game because Rita Chikwelu was still a favourite to Waldrum despite complaints by fans then.

Now we have Ucheibe, Abiodun and Halimatu in defensive midfield. Attacking midfield position has Payne, Echiegini, and Oyenezide.

For me what is left for us is a reliable left back and at least two more strikers/wingers.

There will always be 'hatorade' for those at the top of their craft. Oshoala maximizes the time she is fit and makes the best of it.
That is the reason why she has been very successful at Barca.
Kgatlana is a nomad - never really settles in one club and is always running towards the next best thing, or club. She is never settled. You don't win anything if you do that.

Please, let them be jealousy jealous. Looking forward to the potential Olympic qualifier with them (provided we get past the pesky Cameroonians). We need to beat them black and blue. The ladies feel that way too!

Deltamani:
I for go greet her for IG but no let me save the time for better People, It’s very clear that this SA and Zambia never liked Nigeria for once… Envy and Jealousy at is peak… Imagine she stated that Asisat was injured in and out but at the end still became Barca Top Scorer in the Liga F.. How did Asisat Score those goals?? Ahbi Liga F da award goals to players without Playing…

Janine should go and rest and face her life, The whole of South Africa Women Football can’t even stand in wherever Asisat Oshoala stands as they’re far below her rank. Let them deal with that jealousy go surely kill them…

Asisat Oshoala ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

She is not as bad as you think. She actually has some good wheels on her (pacey).
Imuran will have problems with her - not because of pace, but physical strength. Imuran gets pushed over easily sometimes.

I believe someone like Nicole Payne will be best to mark her. She has all the requisite tools to neutralize her. If Nigeria is also able to shut down Thembi, then SA attack is as good as useless.

Nigeria can then put the squeeze on their midfield and defense, as both the SA midfield and defense is not really that good.

Deltamani:
What is all this Hype about South Africa….


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRxhX1XEox8?si=w4mWW4gngyzIsTBN


Nicole Michael this, Nicole Michael That.!, I don’t even think she’s quicker than Ajakaye.. Talk about Pace this girl can’t even get past Michelle Alozie and Rofiat Imuran talk more of Nicole Payne who’s arguably our quickest Fullback..!

No way is that girl is ‘15’. Absolutely no way!
We really need to stop lying to ourselves - don't know who they are trying to fool.

Deltamani:
Lol 😂, she isn’t that bad for her age, I hope she gets better and works her way into the U17 squad.

She will definitely grow with more game time as she’s just 15yrs.

Thanks to the stupid NFF people that decided to schedule the Ethiopia tie a day after the ladies flew in from their club stations.
Why is Nigeria 'blessed' with imbeciles at the controls?
Also, the new fellow is nothing but a puppet and a yes man - because if Randy was in charge, he definitely would have pushed back on the scheduling for that match.

GeneralDae:
We went from 32 to 34 mainly due to that draw with Ethiopia.

Perfect way to end her college career and celebrate her graduation with a Bachelor's degree.
Congrats to next Nigerian superstar player and CAF WPOY in waiting, Jen Echegini.

lovewins:
Congratulations to Jennifer Onyi Echiegini

FSU Grad.

The left side of our defense is highly suspect. As I had rightly observed and predicted, Ogbonna isn’t good enough. Never was.
Likewise, I am beginning to wane in my support for Rofiat - she was 💯 responsible for the CPV goal - she completely lost her marker. She had yet to be consistent- granted, she is still very young, though. We really need a quality LB, ASAP!!!. I like Nicole, but not sure what’s happening with her.

The best alternative is Ashleigh, but she needs to start playing as a CB and not as a makeshift LB.

Deltamani:
I did watch the SuperFalcons World Cup game against Australia🇦🇺 this afternoon, I won’t lie Rash is quality.. Randy almost got his Substitution wrong in that game especially when he brought in Glory Ogbonna for Ashleigh Plumptre, the Left side became so weak thank God for Christy Ucheibe who had to slot into the CB position occasionally in between Ohale and Demehin..

Happy for Elisha in her start against CFF Madrid last weekend.
Sad that, after she was subbed out in the 66th min, her team went on to concede 2 goals to lose the game.

I see the following forming the bedrock of the SF central midfield CM roles for years to come.
1. Echegini
2. Ucheibe
3. Ajibola
4. Sulola.

They possess defensive grit, brawn and have the lungs to man the CM position. Also are intelligent players who understand the rules and responsibilities of the position.

Exciting times ahead.

The issue I have with Ajibade is that she oftentimes lacks the ability to see the big picture when she plays.
Specifically, she plays with her head down - always wanting to dribble and not seek out the quick pass or spot the open person. This, to me, is the big downside of her game.
Chukwueze and Okocha are prime examples of people who play that way and that gets you nowhere in this day and age.
She really needs to refine her game and become more ‘team’ oriented. Otherwise, she will end up being another ‘run of the mill’ player, and not a superstar. One would have thought giving her the captaincy would have helped change her mindset, but it seems to have made it worse.

For me, the next potential CAF WPOY candidates from Nigeria are:
1. Jen Echeghini
2. Debbie Abiodun (maybe)

The rest just don’t have that wow factor in them to make a significant impact on the continental or global stage.
But, who knows…

Deltamani:
As for that ZEE Like revelation? Hmmm🧐
Who are those on the mix? Is it Ajakaye? Big9 Akekoromowei? I can’t say…

But we surely have them now that can steal the show in few years times..

••• Rasheedat Ajibade
••• Onyi Echegini


Then maybe the likes of Esther Okoronkwo, Uchenna Kanu, Rinsola Babajide and some others have the talents to steal the show if they do the on and off stuffs. Then also get to the spotlight with their Clubside..

Yeah she did.
She was carrying an injury and played through a pain threshold through last season.
She played way too many games and she needed to rest her body. She therefore asked to be excused from some of the qualifiers. She has already proven what she brings to the table and she was granted that reprieve. Nothing nefarious and no need to fly kites and casting unnecessary rumors.
She will be back soon.

daveP:
She never gave that directly. I'm just inferring. It was unusual and sudden. Didn't make sense till now. But it's her choice. So, yeah-both are valid(reason/suspect)

Either way, her decision to touch the ball robbed Nigeria of a lead in the game. That's my memory of her.
Oshoala would have celebrated the goal but instead, was clearly pissed at her for robbing her of a great goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao5jzYJOhpM

BascoVanVeli:
That's not what happened. She waited for the ball to cross the line before kicking it. We were robbed

Lovewins response was spot on.

Also, we have an upcoming young lady who plays as a winger/midfielder for Brown University in the Ivy League conference (Joy Okonye). Their level of competitive play is superior to that of the Southland Conference, which I had never heard of prior to joining this forum.

The top 11 College/Univ. conferences in the US are: ACC, American, Big 12, Big Ten, C-USA, Independent, MAC, Mountain West, PAC-12, SEC and Sun Belt conferences.

Deltamani:
Lamar belongs to the Southland Conference, should be among the top5 or 6 but I can’t really determine the top5 conference in the NCAA apart from the ACC, Big 10 & 12, Ivy and the Pac 12..

AkinDS you’re in a better position for this

All I remember about Loveth is her decision to head Oshoala's goal bound shot (which was already going over the line for a goal) in the final of U20WWC, when she knew very well that she was offside. That pretty much cost us the match (which Germany won, even though they were outplayed by Nigeria).
I think her career took a nose dive after that.

mostob:
Only God knows what happened to Ayila. She was the midfield general of that U20 team while Ayinde was there to shield the backline. Such a good player then.

Agree.

Back then, there was no NIL and all you could get was a soccer scholarship. With changes to the NCAA and the enforcement of Title ix, there is more opportunity to make an income while retaining your scholarship. Debbie Abiodun took sound advice and is positioning herself for the future - playing for a top notch NCAA D1 School and also getting a solid education.

BascoVanVeli:
U can't blame her for keeping the door open to America. From what I hear she was only a baby when she left Nigeria. But in 2020 she should have known her chances were slim sha.

Thank God Ebere didn't go and suffer for nothing in America. Players were not getting any type of money then and Indiana State has only once been a top athletic program and that was because Larry Bird went there.

For now I don't mind the college. I remember Waldrum talking about Debbie sending money home when she had just arrived Pittsburgh. When u add a free education to money, it is very hard to resist. That said, if a top league calls I feel they have to answer

Depends on the quality of the college conference

PDPGuy:
51 G/A in 39 games is absolutely insane!🤯🤯

Thanks for the highlights
Are you able to have access to the full 90 and post?

BascoVanVeli:
Super Falcons vs Cape Verde 2nd leg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv87CzRe3jE

Congrats JOE!!
What a way to wrap up her college career and how befitting for her to score the final goal of an absolutely fantastic campaign by FSU.
Not only that, but also finishing as FSU top scorer and on the short list for NCAA player of the season.

I cannot imagine how high her stock has risen due to this.
She may seriously need to rethink her pre-contract with Juventus Torino, because I definitely see several bigger European clubs coming after her, not to mention the NWSL here in the US.

lovewins:
16 goals this season. Highest goal scorer for FSU.

Really proud of her

Darn!
That is a very bad injury.
Wish the kid the best of recoveries.

Deltamani:
17-year-old American starlet Onyeka Gamero, who joined Barcelona last summer, has torn her ACL and meniscus, per @MariaTikas 🤕🇺🇸

Even if the coach is 'directed' to invite her? We all know Pinnick at the time pretty much forced Musa on Rohr and even was stupid enough to admit it.
It's not inconceivable that the NFF would try to use her as a bargaining chip - knowing how moronic the NFF chieftains are.

isan:
Well i will never criticize onome for having ambition to countinue reping her country , i will only criticize any coach stupid enough to invite her

Fair enough.
However, there comes a point in time when you have to be able to read the tea leaves and be realistic with yourself.
Clearly, at 40+, she's definitely not a spring chicken and her better days are beyond her. Most serious clubs would rather invest in someone who's younger and has some useful mileage over the next couple of years (which explains why she couldn't get a club overseas to invest in her). Not to mention on the national team scene, where she fallen several pegs down the toting pole, behind the likes of Ohale, Plumptre and even Demehin, I might add.
The writing is clearly on the wall. She should have called it quits on the national front (especially with the fantastic performance the SF had in Au.Nz, when the ovation was loudest) and had her testimonial arranged - Randy would definitely have obliged her and the nation would have given her props and accolades. Now, her legacy would be tainted with abuse and disdain, especially when its obvious she is dragging the captainship, first with Oshoala and now Ajibade, all because of her selfishness and misguided belief of self entitlement. Real Sad!

isan:
You can't blame Onome unless you've a credible evidence she imposed herself on the team , she's right to be angry when she's not picked every footballers that want to represent their country does but it's left for the coaching crew to care about that or not

I think you're missing the intent here.

Onome Ebi is free to do whatever she pleases - she could continue to play football till she's 90 years old, for all I care.

However, when it becomes a matter of trying to superimpose herself on the team, in order for her to actualize her own personal objectives (especially, at the expense of the Women's National team), that's when it becomes a problem.

It is grossly irresponsible of her to go around making snide remarks and complaining about being left out, when the direction of the country, as it pertains to the NWNT (SuperFalcons) is concerned, has been to refresh the team with young and exciting talent. She got a free pass to the WWC (when many, if not all, of her colleagues from the past, were disengaged from the NT - Okobi, Uncle Rita, Faith Ikidi come to mind). And when she stubbornly insists on being team captain, which is clearly and definitely NOT in consonance with the post-WWC direction of the team, that becomes a big issue, especially with us fans.

The intelligent thing to do is step away quietly, much like Uncle Rita and Faith Ikidi did and are being applauded for their mature actions. Those who insist on being immature (like Okobi and Mommy Onome), will be met with the vitriol they deserve. It is an honor and privilege to represent one's country and certainly NOT a right!

isan:
So you think every footballer should hang their national team boots once they clock 38 ? And if they don't they are bad person ?

The full match on display.

Most of their ladies were thick (back there). Even Zinny Coleman (Namibia's captain) has some nice yams on her.
Back to the #5 (Lovita), she played as sweeper and actually had a decent match, relatively.

On a more serious note, look at the quality of the video production from the GFF. The NFF is just useless - what does one expect when their head of media is nothing but a NURTW motor park tout.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sfB_fDaZ64

GeneralDae:
No matter how good she is, she definitely would not be as fast as expected in my opinion. Maybe she does something extra for the team but I'm surprised.

Elisha is another intelligent, up and coming midfielder that could be one to consider in the near future.
Like to see her establish herself in the CF Valencia team first - believe she has great potential.

Deltamani:
I would love to see what Valencia CFF Elisha Sulola have to offer too, She’s typically that Creative Left Footed Central Midfielder who love to travel to and fro too..