₦airaland Forum

Not sure I would...
Anyhow, this would make for good banter between us, as the season progresses .
Nonetheless, after watching Uche Kanu's performance at the 2019 WWC and the Turkish Invitational, I have since learned to temper my expectations of her.

Speaking of Elisha Sulola, good observation on your part. I have been monitoring her for quite a while now. She is young, very well built and has decent pace (my one concern about her).
She is still very young (just turned 20), but has a solid future in front of her. Recently moved permanently from Spurs to Charlton Athletic, after spending last season on loan with them. This will definitely enable her get more playing time - she pretty much walked into the Charlton Athletic lineup at 19 yrs, which is quite an accomplishment.
https://shekicks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/elisha-sulola.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPN8_78XUAA9LdI.jpg

Schemerkhiz:
No overhype
Rinsola is a very good Forward/Midfielder but right now I will put it to you that Uchenna Kanu is ahead of Babajide in this pecking order. Kanu a better goalscorer, assist.. Both do share similar qualities like the Pace, Strength and Skills, team play likewise...

Don't worry have got her and Ashleigh game's to cover up this season in the WSL including Midfielder Elisha Sulola of Charlton Athletic Women in the Championship. Her performance would definitely bring her in..

Wouldn't even think twice about dumping Orji and Umotong for Rinsola. Plays for a much more competitive league than those two and she has much greater upswing - those two ladies are closer to 30 than 20. Rinsola is 23 and is a MUCH better player than those 2. Willing to bet that she would compete for a start in the SF lineup, above your favorite, Uchenna Kanu.

Schemerkhiz:
Our Forward line is already looking so bulky, who's she going to bench? Considering playing from the left side on most occasions.
And again few of our Strikers (Oparanozie, Orji, Umotong) had returned to the team with Randy having a great time to look at them..

Ifeoma Onumonu is there too on Randy's plan who can fit in any position upfront, on a good day she's a could trouble any Solid Defence line..

Na only class we go chop?
The lady has lost a pace or two, due to added age and weight.
Football is not about gra-gra anymore. Its about speed of thought and play. She will struggle to cope in this day and age of International football.

BascoVanVeli:
Abeg bring back Ugo Njoku. I would rather her to be a right back but what I saw today proves u can't hide class. Baby girl still got it.

This was a very disappointing performance by the girls, in terms of not being able to run up the score.
It really exposed their weakness and poor finishing up front.
Solid on the wings but very poor striker/finisher in Ogebe.

CoolJulian:
They are not serious at all... And they are playing a poor team sef, I wonder what they'll play when they meet a decent team.

Ezenagu with #5
Chipped the keeper and scored into open net.
Very impressive player.

Finally, Ogebe out.

Its more of the Nigerian girls making the same mistake, trying to dribble around the keeper instead of making a square pass to a team mate. The keeper is already off her line and committed. Pass the freaking ball!!!

BascoVanVeli:
Rivers should be up by 20.


That keeper is good.

3-0 Ezenadu.
Alice Ogebe has been an eyesore - had three different 1v1s with the AS keeper and fluffed all 3. Not only that, she has been extremely selfish. She had a 3 on 2 and decided to take a shot from a tight angle in the box, when the smarter play should have been to lay a pass to 2 open RA colleagues. Hit the post. The coach had to call her to the side and give her a tongue lashing (could hear his voice on the sideline - he was pissed). This girl has really declined. Nigeria could have easily been up by 6 or 7. For someone like her with years of foreign experience, so disappointed with her!

On a positive note, Viv has been fantastic on the right wing, ditto that for Ezenadu on the left. Impressed with the midfield play of Abiodun #9 - rugged and a good box to box midfielder. Of course, centerbacks have been solid - Demehin and Njoku. Light afternoon for Ibube Whyte - not sure she even touched the ball in the half, except for goal kicks.

Schemerkhiz:
Rivers Angels warming up before kick-off

The Coach have retained same lineup.

Was invited for a training match and did not feature. So, she is available to play for the SF.

isan:
I think she's already playing for england

Waldrum and the NFF need to go after this young lady, HARD!
I see 'super star' written all over her.

Schemerkhiz:
Rinsonla Babajide join Brighton on a season long loan

Maryann Ezenagu should definitely be the next SF candidate on the list. She was brilliant, confident in herself and was deadly for Rivers Angels.
This is the kind of player you should be recommending to Waldrum, not Njoku (we've been there and done that).

Schemerkhiz:
Ezenagu another young and Superb winger, performed well at the U17 Women's World Cup in Jordan....

Peace Efih My Warri Connect, can play as a Central, Box to Box Midfielder, Attacking Midfield and From the Wing she's good with the ball at her feets

Would give a little more on them later on...

Could have, perhaps...
I think she is better suited for the African game, vs. countries from the rest of the world where the game is based on speed.
She struggles with fast paced teams and gets easily frustrated (that's why she elbowed Sam Kerr of Australia).

She has indeed 'beefed up a bit', and watching her play this weekend against Hassacass proved she is quite comfortable as a CB. Downside is, not only was she a lot slower than before, she played the role of 'enforcer', hoofing the ball upfield for the most part vs. Demehin, who was trying to make passes out of the back.

And NO, we don't need her for the SF. Against a quicker, faster team, she is a penalty kick waiting to happen. She has played her part for the SF - time to groom other younger, more dynamic players tryout for the position. I really don't see her being better than the current options we have (including Demehin).

Schemerkhiz:
Ugo Njoku could have been Superfalcons greatest Right Back with the way she started at first but the hiatus from the team have really affected her game especially after coming back from France Croix Savoie Ambilly FC (2nd Division Clubside) at the end of the 2017/18 season. She added up a lot of weight and the international Friendly game against France in 2017 exposed her a lot cause she was looking so heavy and slow in pace.
Retuning from France she had a break from Football not until this 2020/21 season before she returned to Rivers Angels..
Having returned to Rivers Angels she started playing as a Center Back, probably were Coach Edwin Okon think is better for her right now..

Already told Coach Randy about her alongside Ebere Orji months ago, Let's see if she can work her way back...

Unfortunately, there is no video data on her.
She would need to build a body of work for an assessment to be made.
Understand she was released by Chelsea, meaning she didn't stack up.
Hopefully, we can revisit in the next 2 years when she is 19.
For now, probably not an SF candidate.

isan:
FUTURE SUPER FALCON

Promising midfielder ASHLEY ANTONI AKPAN aka Ashanti is under the spotlight for A2Z today. Ashanti currently plays for Sunderland U18 in England after coming through the ranks at Chelsea.

The 17 year old is fast, dynamic and has the technical ability to operate either in midfield or at right back. Though her national allegiance is yet to be confirmed, she is however eligible to play for Nigeria �� , Poland �� and England ������� at National level.

With the recent influx of foreign based players to their country of origin, do you think Nigeria will be able to secure the addition of this youngster to the national team?
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Congrats to Roosa!

Schemerkhiz:
Roosa Ariyo is in town..... #UD Tenerife, Spain

Congrats to Glory Ogbonna

Schemerkhiz:
Glory Ogbonna has Landed in Umea, Sweden

Game video (if you're able to access it): https://elevensports.com/en/view/event/ckr3ri4kemka20gc62zlwjnww
Nigeria should be able to qualify - they play a Nigerien team next on Wednesday.
Also, had forgotten that Tosin Demehin and Viv Ikechukwu were with Rivers Angels. That explains their exclusion from the SF Austria Camp.

Schemerkhiz:
No home, it's played in a tournament format,
Whosoever wins the tournament qualify for the Champions League proper in Egypt later on this year...

No need for debate, as a wise man once said: an argument without evidence is just BS.
Minute 0.23 of the video. (click the link to 'watch on Youtube')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72VFvqzmzh8
Clear cut elbow against Sam Kerr of Australia

Neobulletzz:
Are you sure about this?

What I saw was she was suspended for 3 competitive matches and that ruled her out of that tournament

And the video exists tho, I just watched it

Did he really? That is debatable, based on Oshoala's comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Q6HzMk_H4&t=6s

BascoVanVeli:
That man discovered one of the greatest African women to ever touch a football, he is talking out of confidence. Maybe he has seen something the coach hasn't seen. Either way he must be allowed to speak. If he can't speak on the women's game who can? It's not about coming online and typing a few sentences, this man is really in the field.

But Alozie, even with her limited experience, pretty much walked into the squad, besting other 'experienced' HB professionals. Ditto that for Ijeoma and Nicole. That says a lot about the caliber and quality of the HB players, don't you think?
Experienced HBs were Glory Ogbonna, Gift Monday and Joy Bokiri.
Club medals are relative. A player can have the most 'club medals' ever from the Indian Women's league (for example) but does that make them a comparatively good enough player? Absolutely NOT!

BascoVanVeli:
Obviously I was talking about playing for Nigeria since Alozie wasn't even on a club roster at the time.

Which experienced home based player did u see on the pitch? When last did they play for the super falcons. Next who did Nicole and Okoronkwo outperform? There are no stats to prove that sir.

Next level or not those players u mentioned have more club medals than probably all the FB combined. Why? They don't play for top teams that fight for trophies. Should I take your logic and claim they can't raise their level to get signed by the Barcelona's of the world Or should I use common sense and realize that they can still offer something to our team.

And your point is...?
As Chairman of the club, his job is to provide transportation and kits (boots, jerseys, etc) for his team.
If someone makes a donation to cover an otherwise big ticket item (like a bus or kits for the team), doesn't that offset 'out of pocket' funds that the club owner would have otherwise been forced to cover as part of his obligation as club owner?

Think of the typical Nigerian pastor, where he pretty much lives on the 'gifts' from his parishioners (cars, planes, cash, etc.). This means he doesn't have to spend much 'out of pocket' to maintain his lifestyle and his only job is to grow his congregation so that he can get more 'gifts'. Same difference.

Also, I have no clue what Ajibade makes, but I am pretty sure she is well compensated by Atletico Madrid. Besides, what difference does that make to the argument?

BascoVanVeli:
Did u hear that he sold the bus or that he is using it for taxi? Did Oshoala also pay for fuel and maintenance of the bus? Will the man wear the boots? For your mind Ajibade and Okeke combined have a quarter of Oshoala money? Oga u have no reason to even say something like that. Where were u all those years that the man was doing it solely by himself?


I have proven he only spoke on college players but u still want to be mischievous and claim to have read bigotry in his statement.

He does not have to make 'millions' for it to impact his livelihood. Did Oshoala not donate a bus to Robo FC recently? Did she not buy jerseys and boots and so forth for the team? Ditto that with Rash and Okeke. Its about perceived benefits that will accrue because they made it to the WNT and subsequently, abroad where they can make money to help fund his project. That is the impact on his livelihood I am referring to, in addition to the potential transfer funds (albeit limited) he may see as being threatened.

So, does the fact that he 'supposedly' loves the Nigeria women's game give him the right to speak disparagingly about other Nigerians, who may have been brought up outside of the country, but also want to represent their fatherland? That is absolutely wrong on ALL fronts. He may not have know better, but what he said is laden with bigotry and ignorance on his part. No right thinking person who purports to love Nigeria should stand for that!

BascoVanVeli:
You see this is the problem. U are talking about livelihood in women's football. So for your mind he takes in millions from his team? As a private club owner that man spends more than he makes. Then there are no transfer fees in football so players like Oshoala and Ajibade went for peanuts.

It is the same love for growing the women's game in Nigeria that is making him speak out. U people just want to change the narrative to fit your agenda. It is completely ridiculous that a coach in a league can be labeled some kind of bigot because he speaks out for the players in that league.

Iffy Onumonu hasn't done anything? Really? Or Plumptre? I mean, seriously SMH.

You talk about college players...did these college players not hold their own and in some cases, out performed the so called home based players with their years or centuries of 'experience', during the Summer series? Did Ijeoma Okoronkwo and Nicole Payne not hold their own against established professionals (at the same level or even better than some of the so called 'experienced' HB players)? Shouldn't that be a red flag to let you know that they may be of a much higher standard than our so called experienced HB players? I mean, is it not about what have you done for me lately?

The likes of Osare (who I REALLY liked as a midfielder), Nku and Njoku, in spite of all their vast years of experience, never really could elevate their game to the next level. They had hit a ceiling in their development and that's why they didn't make it. We need to look at younger players (which Randy is currently doing) and move our Super Falcons to the next level.

BascoVanVeli:
Our league has better players than a lot of places they come from trust me. This is why players keep getting paid to play overseas. Osarenoma Igbinovia, Cecillia Nku and Ugo Njoku are still in the league.

Outside of Toni Payne and Michelle Alozie nobody has done anything that special. U are acting like the coach invited one or two players. The man has probably capped the most FB in history. Invited Alozie even as a training player and then we get to the college players. It is not a crime to wonder out loud about what is going on.

Yes, he is.
He sees the FB ladies as a threat to his production line and livelihood, and cannot process the fact that they are Nigerians too. That is discrimination and its against the bylaws of Nigeria.
The problem is those at home always feel threatened by those in diaspora. Instead of him seeing the FB ladies as an opportunity to improve the overall standing of the SF and therefore, increasing the profile of the HB in the SF, he sees them as a threat to HB in the SF, as if the HB players have a singular monopoly on the players in the SF.
He is too myopic to comprehend that the FB players will force the HB players to improve tactically and strategically, which will enhance the overall visibility of HB players for those foreign clubs who will be attracted to and recruit them.
So he supposedly 'discovered' Oshoala. So what? He will certainly NOT be the first and last manager to do so. Besides, after all these years of supposedly 'discovering' players, he can only point to 3 that have made the 'jump off' and maybe one on the cusp... Oshoala, Ajibade, Okeke and Gift Monday. That is indeed a poor record and its obvious he has been slacking a bit in his 'discovering duties'.
His argument is the same old BS we hear from locals who want their wards in the NT, regardless of how unprepared they are, at the expense of better and more tactically sound players, who are foreign based. That's why the country is currently mired in mediocrity and resists at all costs, any opportunity to use available resources wherever to improve and enhance the country.

BascoVanVeli:
That man is not talking down on anybody. This is the same guy that has spent so much of his own money on developing the women's game in Nigeria. He gave us Oshoala, Okeke, Ajibade and many more. So he has a right to have an opinion on this matter.

Agree.
This brings back memories of the Simpores from E.G.
We heard the same controversy about them being cleared by CAF to play, only for the matter to be escalated to FIFA and CAF and they got banned.
Something just doesn't seem right...

CoolJulian:
I did not even look through the lower part before commenting... I see why they keep accusing her, she bears some resemblance to Equatorial Guinea's Simpore. Something might be wrong somewhere ; she's even got a flat chest... Wow!

Pretty sure if she had been in one of the big schools (Women's football powerhouses), she would probably have become a finalist for the MAC Hermann trophy.
Not saying she isn't good. She is. Just that she is not at the necessary level yet and needs some additional grooming for international football.
Comparatively, I liked Vivian Ikechukwu's approach to the game but growth and potential wise, Esther might have the edge. Ideally, I would like to have both.

Schemerkhiz:
Okoronkwo was Selected to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List by the members of the United Soccer Coaches Women's NCAA Division I All-America committees, For her to be picked as one of those to watch out for, don't that speak volume about her potentials cause that's the biggest award as far as the NCAA Women Soccer is Concerned..!!!
For me I will give her 50/100

Between her and the Home Based that where opportune to get game time at the Summer Series, what's your say??

Tough one for me.
In her debut against Jamaica (2nd half), she was very dynamic and somewhat impressive - she actually scored a disallowed goal (offside) and seemed to be full of confidence. However, when she played against Portugal and the US, she seemed to be out of sorts a bit.

Now, unlike the Payne sisters, Onumonu, Alozie and Plumptre, even though she did play NCAA soccer, she did not have the priviledge of playing the NCAA Div 1 tournament, as she did not play for one of the 'big women's soccer schools', like Duke, West Virginia, UC Berkeley, Tennessee Vols or or USC State, respectively. She does attend modest Lamar Univ. here in Texas, which is a small school and is not renowned for its soccer program, even in the state of Texas. It made sense then, that she would struggle against teams that were tactically based (Portugal and US), which was what happened.

Having said that, she is still very young and has a bright future ahead of her. If she is lucky enough to be picked in the NWSL draft or she can find a club in Europe to hone and harness her skills, I think she might excel. But for now, I really don't think she is ready yet.

Schemerkhiz:
...How do you see Okoronkwo??
Note she isn't even a professional player yet.. Collegiate ��

Its pretty tough for any lady to come back from giving birth and play at her pre-birthing levels.
Pregnancy has a way of making a woman weaker and less agile.
So, not surprised that Morgan looks out of sorts a bit.

Schemerkhiz:
It's over a year ago!

If you scroll thru the pics of the ladies in the Austria camp, you’ll see Ucheoma Kanu.
Page 218, third and fourth pic down.

JohnBullMySon:
Was she even at this recent camp? Because I never saw her.

We obviously don’t have that caliber of players yet. So the next best thing is to groom them, as opposed to playing the same ol, same ol.
The new breed girls we have gotten this year are intelligent, pacey and young.
We need to GROOM THEM!!!

Schemerkhiz:
Yeah made mention of potential Players, but wished they're as efficient and intelligent like her Clubside teammates Lieke Martens, Graham Hansen and Alexia putellas who does feed her well...

Disagree. Been there, done that.
That was tried out for years, with limited success.
The Oshoala-Oparanozie-Ortega trident has been the Nigerian attack for a very long time, with Oparanozie being the weakest link due to her limited pace.
Oshoala is more lethal as the arrowhead of the attack, same as how she lines up with Barca.
We have potential players to play on the wings to compliment Oshoala in the center.

Schemerkhiz:
I think is high time we play Asisat Oshoala from the Wing, not close to the sideline line though, this is where we would be able to enjoy her pace, strength and benefits a lot from it...

Desire Oparanozie, Roosa Ariyo, Ini Umotong should battle it out for the top9 spot...

The guy has bigger issues than he envisages...
He claims to be an Austrian citizen and will therefore be found and prosecuted by the Austrian authorities for conduct unbecoming of an Austrian.
He will likely have his citizenship revoked and deported back to Nigeria.
Whilst back in Naija, he can champion his fight against Buhari to his heart's content.

isan:
Idiot that fool doesn't sound like a nigerian

Read somewhere that Fatuga-Dada is now in camp.
Is this confirmed?