₦airaland Forum

And you know for a fact that he doesn’t know who his best players are? Especially after the rash of injuries that has hit the team and new players coming on board?
The bedrock of a solid team is its defense. It is extremely difficult to lose at match IF you have a strong defense.
Nigeria is in a much better space now, defensively, than we were last year. A ton more quality options available to choose from.

isan:
Our coach is technically not good enough , after years with the team he still doesn't his best 11 , he's all about defense , if waldrum could play Ajibade and Oshoala as center backs he will play them there that is how bad he is when it comes to team selection

Peace is currently ahead of her - there is a big difference in playing Uni ball and Professional ball.
Nonetheless, I would select her as well for the experience, as she definitely has a seat at the table going forward, based on her talent and performance so far.

Deltamani:
Going to the World Cup I will definitely Pick Onyi ahead of Rita Chikwelu, Peace Efih and Esther Onyenezide.

But I’m seeing Chikwelu going to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at least to add to her number of World Cup before retiring..

Will NEVER understand what the facination (or should I say romance) is with a spent player who has been pretty useless to the Super Falcons for the past 4 years, having barely scored a single goal, even when the team was going through trying times.
This is someone who is completely lacking in pace, who is a very poor team player and offers absolutely nothing up front. Off the field, she is a rabble rouser who has done a lot to distabilize the team. She is someone who is in some far away league, where she has made little or no impact, goals wise.

Nigeria is blessed with much more exciting players at our disposal:

Asisat Oshoala
Rasheedat Ajibade
Ifeoma Onumonu
Francisca Ordega
Uchenna Kanu
Esther Okoronkwo
Toni Payne
Rinsola Babajide (if and when her transfer comes through)

Thats EIGHT ( 8 ) strikers/wingers, 4 of whom are CFs who are in their prime and who would add more value than mommy. It would be incredibly dumb of Randy or any other coach to bring in a player who is past her prime and has absolutely nothing to offer, but cause problems in camp.

We really need to move forward with a team full of high energy players, not a team with players who are way past their 'sell by' date.

Deltamani:
Their position are stocked up, If Esther Okoronkwo gets back to form which she will definitely go to the World Cup and it’s certain by January/February she should be playing fully cause right now she’s trying out individual training already..
Esther Okoronkwo, Uchenna Kanu on the Left Wing as their main position and you think Flourish Sabastine can dispose them off? Francisca Ordega is in top form right now in Russia, She plays Left or Right Wing, You think Flourish stand a chance?

Rasheedat Ajibade?
Asisat, Onumonu and Desire for sure owns the no.9 with Asisat looking more like a Player that would come in from the Flank ..

If Desire Oparanozie return, Maclean’s is out

She seems to be short on confidence in her abilities, which she can overcome with some psychological help.

Deltamani:
Oshoala finishing is very much questionable….. Her major problem right now…

Looking likely that Demehin, Imuran and Abiodun would make the squad.

daveP:
That Linda Caicedo will definitely go to the world cup next year.

We can't say same for any 3players from the combo of our u17 and u20 teams. Add the Coach we have for the Super Falcons right now and it becomes even worse.

Summary
The girls gave it a shot but it wasn't enough to get to the finals. Kudos to them for getting this far and I know they must be gutted at not making it to the finals. They all hoped that accomplishment would benefit them financially and career wise, as most of them come from humble beginnings. Wish them all the very best going forward.

Picks of the Litter
Based on their individual performances over the 5 competitive games, I would hazard a guess that the following might have a bright future beyond the U17 team.

1. Amina Bello - Her overall performance in each match was good and she has the skills set to become a Super Falcon. Good pace, movement and awareness on and off the ball. She is definitely one to keep an eye on.

2. Opeyemi Ajakaye - pacy striker who caused a lot of problems for many of the teams she played against. Unlucky not to find the net in this competition. Needs to work on her ball control (first touch) and 1v1 skills, but could also be groomed to becoming a winger.

3. Blessing Emmanuel - sleek, hard working midfielder, who exhibited a lot of field generalship, busting up plays and providing the needed support to the attack.

4. Shakira Oyinlola - quiet defender, who sometimes goes unnoticed but seems to always be in the right place at the right time. Did a good job on Caicedo who, by the way, if a full Colombian international and is being looked at as the next best thing out of Colombia. My only concern is her pace, which she will likely work on and get better. One to keep an eye on.

5. Faith Omilana - Similar, if not slightly better, performance with Nnadozie at the U17 in terms of not being able to catch the ball cleanly sometimes. However, her positioning in 1v1 situations is quite good for a 17 yr old. Several point blank saves against Caicedo will definitely bode well for her. Hopefully, she can work hard and position herself to compete for a spot in the SF, as she has all the key elements to become a really good SF goalie. Certainly, one for the future.

Why must everything be about blaming someone?
For goodness sake, these girls are kids, yet you feel it is right to 'blame' them?
That's not cool at all. Cut them some slack. They are devasted enough - no need to pile coal on them

mostob:
The biggest blame goes to Edafe IMO. Immediately she lost that kick, Nigeria crashed out because that totally ripped the confidence of the team apart.

The save she made was on which side? Her right.
She also was close to one played to her right.
Colombians quickly figured that was her strong suit and started playing to her left, which they all scored.
A descent goalkeeping coach would have noticed that and called her attention to it, through signals or some other means of communication (which would they have derived during training).
That's what coaches are there for.

mostob:
she didn't need any guidance for that kick. Colombia played almost all their kicks same way...same direction, what other guidance did she need to figure things out? If she had dived for one of them, that would have changed something.

Shouldn't that be on the Goalkeeping coach to have mapped out a strategy on what to do with each penalty?
Couldn't he have devised a plan during training with Jiwuaku on signals from the bench on which side to focus on?
The keeper needed guidance and didn't get it from the coaching staff.
Instead, we had prayer warriors on the bench, hoping on fasting and praying to see us through.

Gusau shows up and the team incurs a loss.

daveP:


To face Germany na.

Two defenders missed their kicks. Chai. Edafe too suppose chill.

Well the bigger blame rests on Jiwuaku. She no just wan choose side to follow even if it ends up in the net

Per the commentator, 6 members of the Colombian team played in the recent U20 WWC.

do4luv14:
Is it only me, or who though the Colombians are overage, Even the Ref is not protecting our players,

we. should be very very careful, With derelicts near our box

Like I stated, that team was pretty much on cruise control, with a majority of 'veterans of many a WAFCON' on board and few newbies (2016). They had a lot of experience and pretty much knew the drill, what to expect and how to navigate the stormy waters to get to the final.
Juxtapose that against a team of youngsters and greenhorns (2022).

Sorry, but the team she was coaching (i.e. with the U14/15s) was a developmental league team.You have a ton of them in the US. Really doesn't take much to become a coach on such a team or program - if you have played College (Univ.) ball, you pretty much have the credentials to coach such a team. There are hundreds, if not thousands of such teams in the US.

Deltamani:
At least the Florence Omagbemi we’re talking about was actually Coaching the Youth team before she lead the Falcons to the WAFCON Victory in Cameroon.. If she’s not doing well as a Coach there’s no way her team would retain her, she would have been sacked long ago, One thing is to Coach, the other is to know how to cave out wining and also to win trophies…

Randy isn’t that Coach, his CV is fucking Poor..

Even at the Youth Levels Omagbemi still wins trophies back to back..

How can that be a fair and equitable comparison? The teams and opposition in both years were completely different (an old team at its prime, pretty much on cruise control and a relatively new team at its infancy).

Also, the body of work of both coaches is vastly different, like night and day. Let's agree to disagree - I have no intentions of disparaging Flo to make my point.

Your 'ask' will likely never see the light of day, because of folks (like yourself) who would rather run the man out of town. In closing, I would rather benchmark his overall value to the SF based on his WWC performance, as opposed to the AWCON.

Deltamani:
Just because Florence isn’t Coaching a Pro team, Semi Pro or A College Team in the US doesn’t mean Randy is better than her…

I still put it to you that Florence is far better…
Ask Randy to bring an AWCON trophy at least let’s see since both Coaches have led the team to the AWCON on different occasions..(2016 and 2022)

One hard everything in a platter of gold and failed Woefully while the other succeeded without adequate preparation..

Nah wah!

Few questions for you that jump out are...
1. Is Oshoala playing with the same energy levels then as she is now? (consider pace, finishing, passion, etc?). Ditto that for Oparanozie, Ebi, Ordega, Okobi.
2. Is the tactical organization better then, or better now (by that I mean under Flo vs. Randy?)
3. As a team, did the South Africans have better players then or now?

I challenge you to watch how the South Africans played then and compare it to their team now. That should give you a measure of how much they have improved. And I dare say, IF this SA played Flo's team then, I am not sure I would bet against SA winning. They are more organized, more disciplined and a whole lot more confident now.

The improvements for us now are that our football is more refined in comparison to the past, as we have more tactically and strategically aware players now than back then. I look at the likes of Ajibade, Onumonu, Esther Okoronkwo, Toni Payne, Plumptre, Nnadozie and co and smile, knowing that we have much more capable and exciting players than before. Also, and most importantly (which most of you tend to forget), our team is undergoing a major refresh, as a lot of the old guard are...old, and are being phased out. We have pretty much run the old horses to the ground and now we are forced to onboard younger players and have them grow up overnight. So, to expect the team to play like they should be a well-oiled-machine is definitely NOT going to happen immediately.

I say this with the utmost respect for Flo (who I like a lot) but it's funny that the person who you say is not a PE teacher is someone who has struggled to get a respectable coaching gig in the US, after spending many years there. Her body of work (winning the AWCON) should have been more than enough to get a decent coaching assignment. However, that has not been the case.

Deltamani:
AkinDS and Co…

Please take your time and watch this games and tell me what improvements Randy have made in the team from 2016 till date…?

Thomas Dennerby was known for his Long balls and trying out 3 CBs ( Ohale, Ikidi and Onome) at the back which didn’t work well but was still better than Randy


Watch this Nigeria game against SA and see the difference between the First and Second half, then you would know that Omagbemi is a Coach not that PHE teacher.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4DyRvbasBE



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qA3vJpo2QU

How is Randy to blame for Nnadozie's screwup of not holding onto a routine low cross in the 6 yrd box? Common guys, are we groping at straws here?
Isn't this the same defensive posture Nigeria used to hold Morocco at bay for over an hour with two (2) players down? Anything to get at Randy, eh?

lovewins:
In the game against Morocco, even a dummy knew what had to be done, but Randy lost that game. [b]With 1 man down we had a goal advantage, he instead left the girls vulnerable instead of making defensive changes. [/b]It was also clear to everyone watching that Onumonu was tired, yet he left her to play 120 minutes. He's responsible for her missing that penalty cause her legs were gone and she shouldn't have been left in that game.

I guess he is also responsible for players he extended invites to who had to pull out due to injury and visa problems, right? Unbelievable! This is just low on the part of you folks.

lovewins:
Our first game against USA, he started with the worst combination of players possible. Even before the game started we argued here about possible lineup. He corrected it in the second game and we had a much better outing.

He's responsible for who he invites to the team, no one else is. So when we go hard on him as we should, it's because he ultimately calls the shots

Wow!
This has to be the most warped statement I have heard in years of following football

Following YOUR sense of logic, Randy and his coaching crew MUST take credit for stifling the Moroccans for over an hour playing 2-women down and taking them to penalties, a feat NEVER accomplished in world women's football.
You will give him kudos for that, right?

codemaniacs:
It's Waldrum that picks the team..

It's Waldrum and the coaching staff that didn't tell them to mark softly..

O ye of little faith (or in this case, NO faith at all!).

The SF WILL take max pts off Ireland, and will get enough pts off Australia and Canada to qualify out of the group - and this is with Randy in charge.
You can take that to the bank!

Its typical of Nigerians to always want to blame someone else when things don't go the way they want or wish it to go.

Deltamani:
Yeah, she knows the Nigerian side very well but with Randy Waldrum as Coach I’m afraid they might defeat us too…

Both her and Gamero are world class players in the making.

Deltamani:
Vicky Lopez scores two late goals to complete the holders' comeback. The 2014 champions Japan concede for the first time in the tournament as the bow out. Vicky Lopez is eligible to play for Nigeria at senior level, huh? �WHAT A PLAYER!

FT: JPN 1-2 ESP
[Tanikawa 66' / Lopez 87' 90'+3]

Semis are set (26th Oct)
NGA vs COL
GER vs ESP

No way the US or Spain would let either player go, as they are both on track to becoming world class players.
Too bad for Naija.

PDPGuy:
Onyeka Gamero could be a future key asset for the Super Falcons. I was impressed with her close control, dribbling and decision-making at this tournament.
Herself and Vicky Lopez will pose a lot of problems for opposing defenses

Yesss!
Congrats to the young ladies.
Even though this was a smash and grab, fortitude, drive and the will to never give up got us through.
On to the semis!

Good resilience by the girls - now penalties and its any ones game.

And how is your advise working out so far?
Not surprised at your response.

BascoVanVeli:
No I think we have just been making poor passes. If they can settle down and play their game we will win this

The US coach seems to have realized that we have a weak midfield, and opted to play with 3 at the back and 5 in the midfield, hence the reason Nigeria is being overwhelmed.
My concern is the coach might not have an answer to this and it may be a tougher second half if nothing is done to wrestle back control from the Americans.

BascoVanVeli:
They just need to calm down and play their game. They have been nervy all half and still came out with a draw.

Besides, the defense seems to be in sixes and sevens.

And that ref...

lovewins:
I was perturbed really. Why exactly were we committing too many players forward expecially after we were lucky to go ahead?

All we needed was to be more organized defensively and hit them on counter attack; a strategy we have an advantage in.

Very wet field.
Match was delayed due to a thunderstorm and so the playing conditions will be tough.

PDPGuy:
That’s because the coach has reverting to the annoying long-ball tactic.
I also don’t know why most of the players are having issues with controlling ball.

1-1
Nigeria midfield is non-existent, as there doesn't seem to be anyone playing as a defensive midfielder who can break up the opponents play.
US is dominating, as Nigeria is making very basic mistakes and the US seems to be walking through the Naija midfield unchallenged.

Thanks for the clarification.

Deltamani:
That’s Trudi Carter a Jamaican professional footballer, Ebi and Chikwelu teammates. Osarenoma Igbinovia is a Mother of One who’s currently not playing football after giving birth to her daughter 8 months ago.


She’s really a baller, i guessed she might have quit football after marriage ,shes so beautiful, composed and intelligent.

Lady on the far left in the first photo, with the blue “A” baseball cap looks like Osarenoma Igbinovia?
Can you confirm?

lovewins:
Super falcons Meetup yesterday.

Perhaps the only African to have scored against Barca in the Champions League?

BascoVanVeli:
Which kind of history book in a 9-0 loss

Big time flub by Ucheibe.
Thru on goal and made a mess of it
Missed a chance to write her name in the history books.

Noticed that.
One can almost surmise that they are intentional about not giving her a through pass when it was the obvious option. Yet, the Caldente girls always seems to be receiving the ball.

lovewins:
It's borderline annoying sometimes. To think she's really worked on her offside awareness, but they'll rather pass to the side than give the ball to her, especially when she makes some pretty impressive runs.

Sometimes, if that's the only strong point a player has, they tend to stick to it no matter what.
Sunday always struck me as a player who knew that without her dribbling skills, she pretty much was an average (or below average) footballer.
She couldn't tackle, pass the ball, had low off and on the ball work-rate and wasn't that much of a goal scorer.

As soon as teams and coaches found that out and were able to box her out, she became surplus to requirements. That's why she is not even on the radar for the national team and plays for a low rate club.

Deltamani:
Another point again… Is it that her Management or Coaches didn’t speak to her Concerning her style of play or She doesn’t listen and get carried away while in the Field of play…. Cause I used to rate Esther Sunday behind Marta of Brazil in terms of Skills then..

Who ever watched Esther Sunday play from the Junior team days down to her Pro level will understand what am saying..

Question to ask is: what exactly did all of Sunday's dribbling get her, professionally? The top clubs of the world would rather a player with pace, who gets herself into positions where she is a danger to the opposition, than one who dribbles up and down the yazoo without an end product.
Ajakaye will, more than likely, become a bigger and more accomplished player in comparison to Sunday. She has all the attributes that the top clubs want in a player - pace, positioning, strength on and off the ball, team play and ability to score goals (which she did in the qualifiers and still has a chance to score in this tournament).
Her winning the player of the game award twice in succession bodes well for her, in spite of not scoring a single goal in this tournament.

isan:
Let me say Sunday is good dribbler while Ajakaye is only pace