₦airaland Forum

Goke7:
who dey midfield?

If I speak

kennysville:
If we no get confidence wetin we come get?

My brother, I said nothing before this game, I had a hunch we will be in for a shocker. I was rather taken aback reading all sorts with people predicting how we will spank Ivory coast.

On balance of play we simply didn't deserve to win. We even got lucky Ekong scored from that set piece.
The defence didn't trust the midfield, they kept lumping it up to Osimhen.
The fans themselves were over confident. Where all the confidence was coming from, I had no idea.

Danielnino00:
So Ibrahim Sangare has Nigerian ancestry through his mother..

That's interesting

No he doesn't.

mostob:
Haller and Adingra starting tomorrow will be a game changer of we're not careful. All those long balls Krasso was wasting will be well utilized by Haller.

We will need Simon tomorrow to help with Adingra otherwise I would have opined Moffi or Nacho should start alongside Osimhen.

Exactly. Haven seen how a tall frightened our defence against SA, it's a given they will start Haller.

Mujtahida:
I watched it but I didn't see how he gave Ekong especially any problems oo.

For a striker to have that many highlights it tells the story he was a manace in the game. Some strikers go through an entire game without a single shoot on target and maybe something like 5 touchés the entire match. Someone like Halaand in cagey games, if he doesn't score sits on this table.

Odunayaw:
That you are using this video as your proof of "the problems" he caused just defeats your point.

Only 3 things worthy of note. The release to Tau, the forced save from Nwabali and the turn-shoot.

The rest of the video DIDN'T show him out muscling our defenders. On the contrary he ends up falling all over the places when he gets a challenge.

The only player he never duels in our backline is Bright.

Again, it is not for nothing I jested "No-Evidence Makgopa". His best game was against Morocco by finding space between their CBs something he was never able to do with us. That is why his shots in the game had to come from way outside because Mokoena had to screen for him.

You're welcome to overblow Ekong's fitness but you'd almost make a mockery of video proof to make a point that he had a bad game against SA.

Thank you

If the video proved the contrary then I wonder who was then causing the problems for Nigeria? If nobody was causing problems then the match should have been a walk over for us.

Mujtahida:
This is a totally incorrect assessment of the game. Ekong was as usual the pillar in that defense making crucial blocks, keeping shape, joining the attack on several occasions more than in other matches. And this incidence he got carded was not a show of weakness. It was wisdom.

If you watch this comp keenly you will see Ekong was employing the tactics in local parlance called "handover". I don't know how to best describe it but watch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWFHFFEkp8E?si=WGE7rfNVAoVbcNgk

comodo:
I don't know the match which you watched. So you expect Ekong that has been in the field for more than 100 mins to catch a player that have not played up to 20mins. Tell me say na joke. I guess u didn't notice that Ekong matched him stride to stride until he made sure that he was not the last man before he took the guy out.

What's your point exactly? Are you sure you read through my back and forth with him before writing this?

Odunayaw:
I was expecting you'd keep pulling things out of thin air.

Makgopa had a decent match. But it is not for nothing I came here to yab him as "No-Evidence Makgopa" after the match. He had one of the lowest ratings for his team.

Maybe you're confusing the players because most are baldies.

The only shot he had all game was that turn and shoot.

This was his comp. If there was any player who we had problems dealing with, it was him. His threat was evident.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWFHFFEkp8E?si=-uXkRbwjqde4S8Sa

The Ghanaian analysts talked about him prior


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW5CieiGipo?si=_gslIZAqsPwJcnIW

I'm a pure football fan, I like to watch and learn not taken to prior bias. We know Ekong hasn't been 100% fit. His tigh issue is well documented. He missed one match but he's battling through the competition. If we play with 2 CBs, Ekong and his issues will be exposed. The 3 CBs compliment each other that's fundamental.

Odunayaw:
Makgopa worried Ekong? Which match did you watch?

Outpaced once AND the only time there was a foot race is now most of the game?

What match did you watch?

You're being too emotional, I didn't say Ekong is a bad player I'm telling you that particular game was his worst.
Like you have no idea Magokpa had a fantastic game? If a No9 is having such a game who do you think he's walking?

Who are the coaches listed to take over from Peseiro? The NFF should have 5 candidates at the back of their mind now if they are real professionals.

Marjoribanks:
I held similar opinion not until we played South Africa.
Even most analyst believed the South Africans carved us open on both the left and right side cos Sanusi did not play and Aina is not comfortable playing as LWB.
No country has been able to open up our defense like the Southies did.
Bassey looked so uncomfortable in that game.
Sanusi defensive qualities and pace make things easier for Bassey.

It was Ekong who didn't look comfortable in that game. Let's not kid ourselves, that was Ekong's worst match in this tournament. That Bafana numb 9, Evidence Makgopa worried Ekong so much in that game. He practically took Ekong on a dog walk almost all game.
That yellow card Ekong got which we all applauded was infact a show of weakness as he was outpaced most of the game. I want to believe it was the tigh injury he's carrying but if he's not fully fit, please and please, Omeruo should start tomorrow.

mostob:
Oops so sorry bro...
I remember a particular arsenal match. we were hugging and dragging ourselves. Like a minute later, I felt some cool breeze finding their ways into my chest region. I looked down to find out what was wrong only to discover about three buttons have been ripped off. Football is just crazy.

How far about the phone now?

Its well my brother. Fixed now

mostob:
I felt the tension..I had to pour cold water on my head twice or so.

Yesterday's match and that WC final, I don't know which one raised BP pass.

After Iheanacho's pk, a random dude hugged me so tight that he cracked my Samsung screen which was in my pocket. Went to the repairers for screen replacement today, they said its 250k

By the way, I hope everyone on this thread is OK. Been reading alot today about comrades who lost their lives during yesterday's game.
Read about a Nigerian who died after Oshimen's goal was cancelled and penalty awarded against. Talk about roller coaster of emotions.
The last time I felt this sort of tension during Nigerians match was 2006 Afcon semi final against Tunisia. They started by misrepresenting our national anthem then to a score draw and penalties. I pissed on my body during that match walahi. Roger Lamier, the French Tunisian coach told a reporter years after that Nigeria gave him hypertension during that match.

BankyGee:
Victor Osimhen, Frank Onyeka, Stanley Nwabali and Troost Ekong make the Sofascore Team of the Week for semifinals of the 2023 AFCON 🇳🇬💚🦅

Evidence Makgopa should be in the list. He really worried our defence all night with his skill and pace.

mostob:
Well....that isn't a valid proof bro. He might have dived because he misjudged the direction of the ball. He doesn't look like someone who was injured.

I have nothing to gain. That guy kept clutching and his right shoulder after clashing with Lookman. During the shootout, he avoided diving to the bad side. I thought our players didn't notice but looking back at the video I noticed almost all our penalties went to his damaged side and he kept diving to his left. It's a pattern. Iheanacho broke the pattern and nearly paid for it. It's just a personal observation.

mostob:
What if it was a bait. Some smart GKs use this tactic.

All his dives was to his left. That tells his right shoulder was legit hurt. Apart from Ekongs Pk which he banked on him shooting straight to the middle before he dived after the ball.

To their credit most of our players played towards his right or straight down the middle like Moffi, apart from Kelechi whose pk he could have caught when he played to his favoured side.

Goke7:
Iwobi should take a cue from Victor Moses, he can do more and should do more. The Ola Aina we are all praising today was never like this before, he simply did more

Iwobi dropped a stinker last night. The team was carrying him like a passenger.
Thankfully, we had only 1 passenger, if we had 2 passengers, SA wins the game by 2goal margin.

Nigeriagood:
worship who? Ndah is a 26 year old 6ft 3 starter for Orlando pirates that's all I also watch the dstv premiership

Go on X or any other social media platform and check what Orlando Pirates fans think of him. Their love for him is pure madness

komekn:
Did you create that narrative in bold from your imagination.

How good is your Dutch? Chrome translation plug in will work just fine.
https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/784114/voetbalprimeur-elftal-van-de-eerste-seizoenshelft-rechtsback.html

charlesemeka85:
Oga Zirkzee hv only been good this season

He flopped at Bayern and Anderlecht before Genoa took him

Since when did Bayern and Anderlecht buy bad players?? A simple eye test on him will tell you he's a baller but you choose to look at who is buying who. I used to be like you when I was in secondary school, I loved reading back page transfer rumours.

zicky:
If that Nacho pk is replayed the same way, William still won't catch it. It was very precise, the worst that will happen is for the ball to hit the bar.

Iheanacho had to drag the ball as far wide to the keepers left as possible, risking hitting the post. One could tell he was weary of the GK pulling a save. The keeper kept banking on diving to his left(his good side) to make a save. Even Aina's pk he dived to his left.

kennysville:
top 5 league yi nooni problem....
IYKYK

We see Ajayi's struggle to complete simple passes but you have a skillful CB like Ndah but top5 you say?

charlesemeka85:
Zickzee will get a big move next summer. Man united are seriously monitoring him for a possible recruitment next summer

If that happens the Dutch will come calling

This coming from you? When last I talked about him, you basically poo pooed on him saying if he was good, he will be wanted by a big team. Good to see you come around, should be a lesson not to scout players until a "big team" is being rumoured to go for him.

Goke7:
is it not SA that wanted to play penalties? Now the SA coach is screaming that his team played better the it was supposed to be SA and not Nigeria in the final? They had forgotten Cape Verde was better in the semis but they won, shoulder injury my foot. Our players must have know about injury though

They played better in the first half but the game evened out eventually. Their team speed was something else, blazing through our midfield at times. It was amazing.
Hopefully, the national team selectors look the way of Ndubuisi Ndah. He's like the Van dyk of Orlando Pirates. They practically worship him there. He's Nigerias best kept secret.

Blueelf:
He won't come

You see the thing with this FB is, if thwy really wanted to play for us, we wouldn't need to beg them

He would never play for naija. They feel that showing support this way and donating to naija charity causes is enough

If the Dutch managers keep ignoring him and Nigeria work on him, you never know.
Tyrone Ebuehi remains the only FB who willfully accepted to play for Nigeria when he was one of the best young players in Holland. Hopefully he gets to the next level in is development sooner.

I dont know if anyone in our technical area noticed the South African GK had a shoulder injury. He was in pains on his right shoulder. I was screaming that our pk takers should place balls to his right.
I think Omeruo was the only player who seemed to take advantage of this information. Williams almost caught Iheanacho's pk because he placed it on his good side. He dived to his left most of the time.
These minor things can make a difference. Our bench should take note.

Come home king. Your technical ability in this team elevates us to a solid FIFA top 15 side.

Your own no go loss madam
Women eh

Amedino99:
you are grasping at straws here my guy. Osimhen's first call up was in 2017. He played 45 minutes in his first game and 5 minutes in the second match. From his first callup right till the starting of the 2019 afcon, out of a possible 24 matches, he was only called up for 5 games. He was clearly still not an established member of the squad. How did you expect him to start over prime ighalo that was our starting striker then. The boy was even in Belgium as at then. This agenda no even follow at All

But you were quick to pull up stats about Martins playing so so and so games with how many goals and if multiplied he still had lesser goals than Osimhen. You wanted a young 20yr old African boy with no name, from primevera to start games ahead of Vieri, Crespo, Adriano?
Obafemi was just like Eletu who people praise for just training with Inter's main squad,same age Oba was rubbing shoulders with the big boys.