₦airaland Forum

Sorry to burst your 'Oparanozie bubble' BUT, with a squad of 23 and 3 goalkeepers being mandated by FIFA, you can only have 20 outfield players.
It would make absolutely no sense whatsoever to take 7 strikers and then handicap yourself by being stuck with 6 / 7 midfielders / defenders (or vice versa), when those areas are CRITICAL to a team's success and require more options (teams weakest link). No credible coach will do that. Max number of strikers is usually 5 or 6, considering you only play 2 or 3 at the most in each game.

That said, I understand your obvious bias for Oparanozie but realistically, it would be a miracle if she makes the squad. Why? The last time she featured for the SF (Buhari Cup), she was beyond POOR. Its no surprise she didn't even make the WAFCON team. I think she is on the outside looking in, considering the following are COUNTRY MILES ahead of her and are in line for a world cup spot:
1. Oshoala
2. Onumonu
3. Ajibade
4. Kanu
5. Okoronkwo
6. This will be a toss up between Franny Ordega, Monday Gift, Roosa Ariyo, Chinny Macleans, Vivian Ikechukwu and perhaps, Rinsola Babajide. Realistically, judging by how they have performed recently on the national stage, it will be a toss up between Franny and Monday.

Also, Oparanozie is a unidimensional player - meaning she only plays as a top striker and lacks the pace or 1v1 dribbling skills to play on the flanks, something virtually everyone else in the frontline can do and do much better. She is therefore redundant. Even at that, her recent production rates as a top striker are POOR (she has not lit up the Chinese league with goals, even with its poor standards).
Someone like Franny is versatile - she can play as a striker or a flank striker (in a 4-3-3 formation). Same with Monday and to a lesser extent, Vivian.
Truth of the matter is the deck is staked up against Oparanozie. You really need to come to terms with that fact.

Deltamani:
For me i will have to pick Ordega ahead of Gift.. Ordega is more of a Playmaker from the Flank.. An inform Ordega is unplayable, and she’s always one of our best Performer at major tournaments though her WAFCON performance was unacceptable..

How do you see this 7 forwards?

Desire Oparanozie
Asisat Oshoala
Ifeoma Onumonu
Esther Okoronkwo
Rasheedat Ajibade
Uchenna Kanu
Fransisca Ordega

Between Desire, Oshoala and Onumonu upfront as no.9 ( Oshoala can go to the flanks too depending on what Randy wants)
Esther & Kanu on the Left
Rash & Ordega on the Right

How is it a 'Full time job' when the activity set is less than 5 months out of a full year?
For example, in the US, most school districts across the country pay their school teachers for only 9 months out of 12 calendar months because that's when school is in session. Same with professional sports players, who get paid for the length of season (and may choose to amortize their 'pay' over 12 months). So why should coaches be paid for the full year, when the season runs for less than half of that? Makes no economic sense whatsoever.

lovewins:
The national team job is a full time job. We can make exceptions for part time when the need arises, but we shouldn't in a bit to justify an anomaly make an exception the rule.

Actually, the problem IS money (or should one say the lack of it). You have a setup where adequate funds are not intelligently appropriated by the Nigerian govt, who then imposes redundant oversight (Sports Ministry with their bureaucratic nonsense) and ends up short changing the NFF. The Nigerian men and women's senior national teams are 'Franchises' and should be treated as such (Pinnick fully understood that and tried to actualize that. That was why he successfully sought and obtained sponsorships from Adidas, MTN, Guinness and Air Peace), but was impeded by those in authority. It makes no sense to have flunkies in a sports ministry, who can't even profitably run a bread selling business, run a multi-billion naira industry (Naija football) successfully. The end results are predictable. It is incredibly foolish to believe that Nigerian football will progress under the current setup. We are seeing the unraveling of Nigerian football and its only going to get worse. Unless the setup is changed and football is made to run as an independent business - like the telecoms, music and Nollywood industries.

Also, it is kind of odd that a country so 'rich' (according to you), seems incapable of paying the remunerations of its coaches and players for months. A country owing billions of dollars in foreign debt, where poverty and unemployment is awash across the country. This same dynamic permeates both the public and private sectors in Nigeria. So, yes, it IS about money (as well as poor management, incompetence and theft being offshoots of that).

lovewins:
The problem isn't money, it never has been and it never will be. The problem is the mismanagement of what we already have. You'll be disgusted if the NFF makes her book public, and you'll see how much money go into frivolities. So crowdfunding won't solve this, it will also be mismanaged.
Management problem is the reason why the NFF can't brand the team enough to attract funding. Also, female team coaches usually do not earn much compared to the men. The highest paid women's team coach earns about £400k yearly, most top coaches earn significantly lower with the top coaches earning an average of $200k yearly. That is about 150M naira yearly to get the services of a top coach. Are we saying the most successful team in Africa can't earn that? This is small money compared to what some of the BBNaija celebrities get a endorsement deals. We just do not have the right people in the right places to get this done.

I have not been known to be a fan of Desire Oparanozie and my feelings haven't changed.
HOWEVER, I will give her props for her comments during an interview last week, with regards the current state of affairs of the Super Falcons.
Enjoy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssAXFY6H-jI

Well, the truth is a lot of African countries have caught the female football bug and are investing heavily in the game - Morocco, Zambia, Tunisia and several others, to name a few. Zambia has several of its players playing in the top leagues in Europe. The same approach is with several European and South American countries.

So, it is unfortunately presumptuous to think that Nigeria will continue to dominate, when our football (and everything else in the country) has stagnated. Others around us are investing heavily and improving in the sport, while we Nigerians continue to sit on our behinds, twiddling our thumbs and hoping we will continue to dominate teams as we did in years past. Not going to happen!

During the competitions/friendlies you listed, it was obvious there was some experimentation going on, as we never had all our best players available (due to injuries, suspensions, etc.). So for me, it makes sense that the team would lack the necessary cohesion. Yes, they came 4th during the WAFCON, but as far as I was concerned, Nigeria was the best team in that tournament (in terms of balance, depth, and team strength).
I am looking forward to the final selection for the WC and hope (fingers crossed) that injuries would not impede our ability to present a very strong squad.

Deltamani:
Some of our people will come out and tell us that Randy Waldrum has improved the Super Falcons. Whenever I see these Praise Singing comments it makes me feel sad for the state of women's football. At WAFCON, Summer Series and US, CANADA and JAPAN, the team looked predictable. One route approach.....And you will come out and tell us the team has improved with this Oyinbo yoriyori.......The Super Falcons are no longer like before.....I just pray things turn better......All is not well

The 2 years includes the pandemic, doesn't it?
Not sure how a development program could have been successfully executed with such a disruption.

Deltamani:
Hmm, but since the results isn’t coming after over 2years what do you do?

Man After the WC Randy have to go..

So, I have often wondered... Why does any national team need a full time coach, when the activity engagement for a national team is less than 5 months in a year?

Nigeria has assistant coaches on our national team, who do absolutely nothing but collect an annual paycheck. They should be the ones doing all the ground work, including scouting on the domestic / international front, and making player recommendations to the coach. The coach will organize player camps and make final selections and implement strategy. That is what Randy is doing (including arranging friendlies).

I see absolutely nothing wrong with the NFF's approach, especially since they are cash strapped and the Nigerian economy is in shambles.

lovewins:
Hmmmmmmm.

I sincerely this Waldrum's adventure with the Falcons end with the World Cup.

How on earth did Nigeria drop the ball with getting her?
https://m.facebook.com/CapelliSport/videos/%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F-womens-history-month-hb-k%C3%B8geteachers-and-parents-from-other-teams-and-my-te/1099356600626476/

Deltamani:
Isabella Obaze sold in record deal

HB Køge has sold Isabella Obaze to an as yet unannounced foreign club. The transfer transition is carried out with immediate effect and brings in HB Køge Women's largest transfer sum ever.

"It has been a difficult decision to let Isabella go, because we would have liked to see her continue here at the club. But we also want to be fair to our players and let them go abroad when a good opportunity presents itself – and this is it for Isabella. She has done fantastically after joining as a reserve from Kolding and she has developed into an A-national team player in HB Køge. We are proud to have contributed to that," says HB Køge director Per Rud about the sale.

Isabella Obaze joined HB Køge on a free transfer in January 2021 and is therefore leaving the Swans after two years at the club. She made her debut for the Danish national team at the Algarve Cup in February 2022 and also managed to win two Danish championships and play UEFA Women's Champions League football during her time at the club.

"On all parameters, we see this as a success story. For the club, but of course first and foremost for Isabella, who has been a fantastic person and figurehead during her time here. Now the time has come for her to take on the next challenge in her career, and we feel we have shown timely care and are well prepared for her departure," says Per Rud.

With the sale, HB Køge's internal record for the largest transfer fee received for a female player is broken. Previously, the sale of Kaylan Marckese to Arsenal F.C. the most profitable for HB Køge Women, but that record is now taken over by Isabella Obaze's move abroad.

Tell that to the Seville FC coach who has played her in that position several times now.
Fact is that she is a very versatile player and can play in multiple positions, including both outside back positions, amongst others.

Nigeria should be thankful we have a player of such immense talent.

isan:
someone should tell waldrum she's not a left back

Your take and mine on the relationship between Pinnick and Akinwunmi differ.

And why should Pinnick continue to intervene, regarding the affairs of the NFF? Afterall, like you aptly stated, he has done the introductions of Gusau to the sponsors and he has stepped down. The handoff has been completed. Besides, its none of Pinnick's business anymore, since Nigerians made it clear they have had enough of him!
Its now SOLELY on Gusau's head to move the ball forward but instead, he seems to fumbling and doesn't have a clue as to what to do.

lovewins:
Not true though.

Persons familiar with the matter reported that pinnick and Akinwunmi were at loggerheads. They almost always didn't see eye to eye. He also had affirmed in different public fora that he'll rather support the north to take over of he were to step down.

You'll notice also that just a few weeks ago, Pinnick and Gasau both went round Nigeria visiting corporations in lieu of preparation and sponsorship for the next world cup.

That is not even relevant right now. If truly he was principal to the numerous friendlies we had prior, then he should pitch in to ensure the girls success. Gasau wouldn't object.

Please!
That was all politics - based on the fact that Pinnick got a lot of flack from the north because of his prolonged fight with Chris Giwa.
The person he wanted to support was Seyi Akinwunmi (a southern candidate) would have been a no-no with northerners and that was why he supported Gusau.

lovewins:
Gasau is Pinnick's man though. He was his choice candidate and he ensured he did everything to make him president. So we can't as it were blame Nigerians for something Amaju orchestrated.

And that is the problem with Nigerians... we always feel comfortable with incompetent and inept leaders.
How and why someone like this became president of our FA is beyond me.
Pinnick understood that football is all about controversy, which drives fan base intrigue and growth, which in turn drives sponsorship. From jersey designs to coach selection to sponsorship from industries. Pinnick understood how it works and leveraged that knowledge.

This guy lacks the charisma, know-how and intelligence to make a positive impact in our football, or at a minimum, build off what Pinnick left behind.
Brace yourselves for a very dull and unproductive next 4 years!!

Deltamani:
Gusau na Big time low budget Amaju, I just hope things turn better for the Falcons or better still he does half of what Amaju did for the Falcons in terms of Friendly games..

By now the Falcons would have known their Friendly Game Opponents for the February FIFA Window

But most Nigerians wanted Pinnick gone, accusing him of all sorts of things.
Now you have Gusau, who has been sitting on his rear end doing absolutely nothing!

It looks like Nigerian football is in for a very rough ride these coming 4 years!!

isan:
this are all true, NFF should start the team preparation now and waldrum should work on his player selection and stop playing players out of position....if pinnick is still the president he would have line up a lot of friendlies by now but here we are now

Tosin Demehin has the preferred stature and the right attributes for a center-back.
Those with 'intimidating physique' are usually slow and immobile.

Deltamani:
Young Stade de Reim of France Center Back Blessing Demehin…


I like my CB with intimidating physique… Maybe Demehin should add up a little flesssssssh?

Not a single Naija college player on the upcoming 2023 NWSL draft list.
Yet, we have a Ghanaian, Moroccan and South African on the list.
Na wah!

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2023-nwsl-draft-live-registration-list

Looks like you grossly underestimate Rofiat Imuran's pace.
She will match up against all the candidates you listed (and she is the only natural left footed LB we have).
Agree with you on Ogbonna.

Deltamani:
I had to take something’s into consideration concerning the full back positions..(Left/Right)

The three players picked Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne and Patricia George are possibly the best we can talk of for now.. Rofiat Imuran is the other Option i can add to that list as possible option again..

I had to remove Ashleigh Plumptre and Tony Payne from this..

Again Glory Ogbonna is a Capital NO NO for me.


••• Pass: long and short pass; Could possibly be a draw between. Alozie and Patri, N Payne comes in at 3rd

••• Aggressive; Aggressiveness is needed to defend. One strong Clinical tackle can strike fear to opposition attackers…. Patricia, Alozie and N Payne.

••• Dribble; If a fullback make an interception; its dribbling ability can be shown when they initiate counter. Together with passing and pace, full back can turn defense into attack effectively creating an opportunity for the team.
Patricia is ahead here, Alozie follows then N Payne.

••• Tactical Awareness- They should always be aware of any movements which happen behind the center backs. Often we get to see a diagonal pass and the center back is not aware of the run behind her, It is then the responsibility of the fullback to close that run down and support her center back. Patri, Alozie and N Payne..

Stamina and Speed - The fullbacks should always have the stamina and speed to maraud up and down their flanks to provide that extra support to their wingers in attack and at the same time fall back to defend in case of a counter attack. Patri is the quickest, Nicole Payne at 2nd and Alozie 3rd.

••• Physicality - They should be brave and physical enough to go for those crunching sliding tackles. Patri is such a bully and a physical player, she wins this, Alozie 2nd and N Payne for the last spot.

••• Good Crossing ability - This is one of the major skillset a good fullback should have. With the ball a good fullback should be able to make a good cross every single time as they are always on the run and that allows them to deliver better. It also reduces the burden from the winger to put the ball into the penalty box all the time when she can rely on her wing partner to share the responsibility.
Patri and Alozie are good ball crossers from the various games have watched them play, I don’t think the likes of N Payne and Imuran can beat them to this..

Rofiat Imuran finally made her debut during Stade de Reims 4-0 win away to Dijon on Dec 10, 2022, which was the last game of the year.
She came in for regular left back Notel in the 90th min.
Wish her many more opportunities in 2023 that should hopefully prepare her for the World Cup.

lovewins:
...Imuran is a better fit, she is a balance of what a coach could use defensively and offensively, her crosses however can be suspect sometimes. Also, she's yet to prove of she can replicate her u20 exploits at the big level.

Why is the Netherlands out of it for her?
A player can play in any country willing to grant her employment. Afterall, Toni Payne played for Ajax Amsterdam, did she not?

do4luv14:
Then Netherlands is out of it for her, And if She move there will be doing so as an Euro citizen

That's incorrect.
Case in point - Tyrone Ebuehi and Troost-Ekong, both of whom have Dutch and Nigerian passports.

Kingsley's case was rather complex, as he had applied to the Netherlands and was granted a refugee status, while he later on was granted German citizenship (on the basis of his refugee status).
His applying for a Nigerian passport would have jeopardized both his Dutch and German citizenships, something he wasn't willing to do.

do4luv14:
I thought Netherlands does not allow duel citizens,

An example is KINSLEY Ehizibu of the SE

Plumptre is the best CB the SF currently have.
Imuran's case is a bit strange - hopefully its not visa issues like Gift Monday had.

justicechichex:
Going forward, i think Ohale and Demehin should be the SF's CB pairing. And what about Imuran, is she injured or what? She hardly makes the bench talkless of starting 11.. Abi no be Reims she dey again?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BKiy2PBxfo

Like for like? Not sure....
Otu seems much slower on the ball compared to Ucheibe.
Likewise, Ucheibe has a higher ball turnover ratio, as her passing accuracy is highly suspect.

Nonetheless, its nice we have both ladies in our squad. Hopefully Debbie Abiodun can step up into the fold...firstly, she needs to be picked up by a good team in Europe to finesse her skills.

Deltamani:
Seee ehhh Christy Ucheibe and Regina Otu both are typically same kind of player (like for like), They go hard on the ball and very energetic… But with Ucheibe recent performance i will have to pick her ahead of Otu…

Sharing a 100% between them right now it wound be Christy Ucheibe 55% and Regina Otu 45%

Not sure her valuation should be that high, having watched her play. Anyhow, congrats to her.

Watch as the NWSL starts to attract some of the top players in the world over the next couple of months. This may be a way of elevating the quality of the US players after the noticed decline.

Schemerkhiz:
19years old Melchie Dumornay, also known as Corventina, is a Haitian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Stade de Reims and the Haiti women's national team could become the most expensive player in the history of the NWSL in the United States with a juicy $1.5 million contract for 4 years! The biggest contract offered by a team in the league.

If the Haitian signs, she will earn $375,000 thousand per year. Record.

With all due respect, she was hardly consistent against quality opposition.
Against Nigeria in the WAFCON match, she wasn't spectacular and when one considers Nigeria was playing with 2 women down, that's somewhat telling.
In the finals against S. Africa, she was pretty ordinary in the game, if I recall.
In the CAFWCL match against Bayelsa, she was pretty much MIA, as she was under lockdown by Glory Edet. In the finals, the SA team was also 2 women down and she shone.

Like I stated earlier, will really see if she justifies the hype in the WWC when she comes up against quality opposition. She does have the POTENTIAL to be an influential player but for now, I chose to adopt a more cautious approach.

daveP:
she's been consistent though. Thus the hype.

Don’t know what these fellas here are talking about.
Fatima Taugaunut is good, but she is not that special - at least not on the level as our SF ladies.
No need to overhype her

daveP:
Tigernut was hot in wafcon too na. But game of endurance and experience vs Falcons proved she has a long way to go. We'll see. Small space wey Tiger get, prey don give up.

Mamelodi Sundowns just got whopped 4-0 by the ASFAR team, right in front of Mosepe who owns Mamelodi Sundowns.
Nigeria needs to get their sh!t together if they really want to make an impact on the continent.

Get a properly funded league in play or else, Nigeria will be left behind. Morocco's investment and 4 year roadmap just paid off.

I would refer you to a similar conversation we had about Debbie Abiodun. We all saw how she somewhat struggled to assert her dominance in some games at the U20 WWC - even though you would recall you stated she was 'ready' for the SF team at the time (I do recall stating a contrarian argument with you about this).

My philosophy has always been to not get carried away with good/great performances against 'less quality' teams/players, but rather, assess our players performances against top quality teams (or players) to determine their 'readiness'. That is what really matters, with regards the SF.

I'm not sure where Randy ever stated that Christy Ucheibe was not 'good enough', ditto that with Okobi (even though I stated my belief that she is no longer relevant to the Super Falcons).

Regarding Demehin, Tosin posted measured performances against top class teams at the U20WWC, as well as during both friendlies against World Champs USA, PRIOR to her being signed by Stade Reims. On the basis of such performances, her walking into the team was not an altogether shock or surprise.

BascoVanVeli:
Why is she not there yet? U are yet to give a quality answer.

Please don't even go there about previous invites. Christy Ucheibe was also deemed not good enough and we all know how that ended up. The same coach told Ngozi Okobi she wasn't good enough but now he won't drop her even after she called him out publicly.

Well last I checked Africa is part of the world. But if u are talking Europe and co, why not? Every player I mentioned will make it in any league in the world. Same reason why Tosin Demehin can league Rivers and walk into a French side.

U called out the whole team, I am not a mind reader. How I'm I to know u only meant the Nigerian players?

Glory Edet is NOT there yet. She has shown she has the POTENTIAL to be a starter, but she is definitely not there yet.
For the record, Glory Edet, has been previously invited to the SF camp (within the last 18 months) and deemed not good enough then. Has she improved since? Possibly. Did she play well in this edition of the CAFWCL? Yes. Is she good enough to START RIGHT AWAY for the Super Falcons? Absolutely not!

BascoVanVeli:
Yes Glory Edet and you forgot to add that she was involved in almost all our attacks. IMO she is good enough to start right away.

By 'International standard', that meant playing at the WORLD level. The fact that a player excels in a Continental competition (Continental Standard) does NOT, by any means, imply that player is of 'International standard'. HUGE difference!

BascoVanVeli:
International standard? The whole Bayelsa attack are international standard but it just happens that the Super Falcons have a lot of quality players. They could start for 90% of the continent.

Not sure about the relevance or indeed, your reference to Cameroonian players as it pertains to the SF, as they will NEVER be in line to play for Nigeria (which is the primary focus here). I stand by my previous assertion.

BascoVanVeli:
Precious Emmanuel is also a quality midfielder even Ornela Touta who is Cameroonian. Can't forget Gabrielle Bawuo who is easily a top 5 goalkeeper in the continent.
Saying none of them are international standard is just crazy. Maybe their defense was suspect but the team is really good.

As usual, blame the white man.
So, out of curiousity, didn't Pinnick appoint Edwin Okon as the Chief Scout for the Super Falcons? Isn't it HIS job to scout and make recommendations to Randy, especially the HB players?
So, WTF has he done so far, except to recommend that 'whale of a goal keeper', you know, the one that kept for Rivers Angels last year in this same competition, who was quickly dismissed from the SF camp by Randy (and rightly so). Yet, its all about Randy being the one to blame, but all the hanger-ons (you know, the so called 'supporting staff', who do absolutely nothing but sit their fat behinds on the bench and chase estacode) get a free pass?
Na wah!

justicechichex:
True.. That number 9 gave everything she had and she's good as well.. Randy no fit take note coz em dey e country dey teach university students...

I believe you're referring to the #9 (Glory Edet - RB) not Etim.
Even though she did a good job marking out the Morroccan player Taugnut, don't believe she is ready to start for the Super Falcons just yet.
For me, she was by far the only player on the Bayelsa team worth recognizing. The others were simply not up to international standard.

BascoVanVeli:
Glory Etim the best player in the tournament. She is good enough to start for the Super Falcons today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVguGxG-L_s
Game is on CAFTV ((YouTube channel)

daveP:
Any link for this game pls?

Game is on CAFTV YouTube

Any link for this game pls?[/quote]

So, what (or should I say how) did the exposure she got at the last CAFWCL with Rivers Angels help her potentials?
What about all the other (and higher profile) exposures she got, including the WAFCON, matches with some of the top 10 teams in the world, etc do to enhance her help expose her as a precocious talent, which y’all continue to say she is ?
Y’all really need to stop overhyping this girl - she really is an average player at this point in time.
Let’s leave it at that.

Danielnino00:
I said the same thing right after the WAFCON... The CAFWCL would have been a good exposure for her....
Let's hope we see her on the pitch soon again.. the girl has a lot of potentials.....