₦airaland Forum

Fine margins in this knockout phase.

The QFs will be much more even. Now AFCON gets really interesting.

Dodgy decision not to check VAR.

Tanzania has exposed this Moroccan team despite losing. Can't see this team defeating Senegal at this AFCON.

Tunisia have good organization but deservedly failed to scale the R16. Don't see them representing Africa well at the mundial though they WC qualification record is impressive.

Playing Onuachu and Osimhen upfront was quite an experiment. Surprisingly, Onuachu was the one who dropped deep at times whilst Osimhen occupied the centre halves.

The team's spatial awareness and offensive transition has been the best I have seen in a long while.

It is foolhardy and somewhat shameful expecting FIFA to disqualify DRC on the premise of our interpreting their National constitution.

If the guys get an AFCON title, that would help their legacy and which has taken a battering already. Osimhen is destined to be Naija's all time goal scorer. The only disappointment could be the lack of WC appearances on his resume.

This SE team is soft in the sides. Ola Aina's absence and Zaidu's dip in form are the major contributory factors. Any serious organized team will focus on our flanks to cause issues.

The 3-5-2 formation masked the weaknesses of this team whilst amplifying the strengths.

And this is the team some would like to see against SA and DRC at AFCON?

NFF have better lawyers than actual sport administrators. Any country playing against the SE need to do thorough background checks on their players for suspensions and legibility before hand.

At this rate, even if DRC fielded ineligible players, it is best the go to the mundial. Quite shameful was Cameroon giving DRC a more competitive game than the SE. Can't imagine Naija getting all these helping hands but undoing themselves all along. The players are the ones that have their legacies at stake not the fans. Most of them will never play in a world cup till the retire. Let the next generation players (Benjamin Fredrick et al) pick themselves up from there.

NFF should take their L in Peace. If Naija finds a backdoor to this WC, the laxity and delusion it will build in our football administrators can only be imagined.

Can't remember an AFCON we went into with this much apathy from the fans. SMH

The loss against Italy during US 94 and missing out of this world cup in the manner we did must be the most painful moments in SE history. Edafe's claim about this set of SE players may just be true after all.

Happy Chukwueze is showing his quality in the EPL. Like Patrice Evra stated, the Serie A made him feel like he was on a holiday while playing for Man Utd.

Chelle needs to exploit the apathy towards this AFCON by commencing a gradual rebuild looking at possibly a 5 year plan. Most of the current players will be past their prime by then.

NFF should revive our cadets teams U_13s, U_15s etc else when the real slump will come by the 2030s, the SE will need calculators to qualify for AFCON.

F

elyte89:
Where him Dey against Congo

Na dis line I go talk till next World Cup 😏😏😏😏

What do we gain from these kind of performances if the players will watch the WC just like the fans?? These guys bottled their best chance to leave an indelible mark.

Omo this thread sha. Title don change to 2030 world cup in 2025 🤣. The team will need calculators and a strong Sangoma by then.

The upcoming AFCON promises to be an interesting one from a neutral perspective though.

I think the sensible thing to do is to begin a rebuild using the next 2 AFCONs to keep the team competitive and relatively young by 2030 else the story will remain the same.

Sarsaparilla524:
Una don see this news..

Even if true, these SE players will bottle the intercontinental playoffs. No need creating more false hope. Let them enjoy the world cup as viewers just like the fans.

The capitulation of the team on the grand stage has more to do with the mentality of this set of SE players than their actual abilities.

JP complained that the team did not show their level against CIV in the last AFCON final. Same thing under Chelle. Apart from Osimhen and perhaps Bassey, most of the players don't come across as mentally strong. As a collective it gets worse.

This is a generation of nearly men not a golden generation.

.

A team that couldn't utilize the lifeline offered by the playoffs doesn't deserve to be at the world cup.

The passion for the SE is going to dwindle to a point where people would start boycotting SE games if the decline continues (as expected). See how quiet this place is on a Saturday.

The next NFF board should revive the U_13s and 15s. Sad that this generation of players will be remembered as nearly men.

Sarsaparilla524:
VO9 will be out for about 5-6 weeks.
AFCON is in 40 days.
Ekong might have quit international football.

Na Osimhen I feel for pass all the players. Man gave his all. He must be really gutted.

The funny thing with Naija is that I can almost bet that the team will still need calculators come 2029. Our attention span is limited. The NFF board/NSC will carry on like nothing happened.

This should go down as one of the biggest failures in our sporting history. An expanded world cup with possibly 10 participants from Africa doesn't have a Nigeria!!!!

The Super Falcons are the ones turning up lately.
Tipping them to get to a word cup semifinal before the men do.

The SE midfield has never been the same since 2018 when Mikel's decline began. We have so many runners, tacklers etc but no genuine CAM/CDM that can control the tempo of a game. Until we get a genuine replacement, teams with superior midfields WILL ALWAYS expose the limitations of this team. I think it is high time Akinsanmiro and others are given a chance to prove themselves.

Naija mentality of relying on sheer talent while de emphasizing adequate preparation and planning has come back to hunt us.

This generation may end been remembered as a set of underachievers, not necessarily due to their own making.

More worrisome is the fact that the youth teams are now also faltering. I still maintain that the SE will face a steep decline from 2030.

Desabre is the first coach to outfox Chelle on the continent so far with the SE. On the balance of play DRC are deserved winners.

The absence of a genuine midfield controller was apparent for large spells yesterday. DRC were on the front foot for most of the match.

Sadly, this team misses out of a world cup in their prime. Naija may qualify for 2030 but by then, the squad will be aged and declining. What an anti-climax!

Fatigue getting to the Congolese now. A goal in this second period seals the game for either team

DRC finishing CMR within 90 minutes has given them a big physical advantage today.
This may go to penalties if the team sees our extra time successfully. Fingers 🤞

Our Frenemies on the continent (SA, Bredas etc)will be watching this match keenly hoping the SE falter😅. May the all be disappointed.

Naija needs to be at world cup come 2026. Naija has been in the rebuilding stage for close to a decade ( the spine of this team still has the U-17s from 2013 and 2015 and the FB players).

This team is entering it's peak. In four years time, the team will need some rebuilding with many players past their prime. 2026 - 2028 is the prime of this team. By 2030 the spine of this team will be past their best years.

Whatever kind of win will against DRC. Go Naija!!!

Yekini's tally could have been higher if we didn't boycott AFCONs 96 and 98,.. particularly 96 even though the goal king was already in the twilight of his career at that time.

Tipping osimhen to get over 70 goals before he retires. His commitment to the national team is exemplary and hopefully we don't miss out of tournaments.

CMR vs DRC was like an audition for Senegalese wrestling (Lamb).
DRC have these big tall players and appear to pose a threat with set pieces. We conceded too many corners against Gabon in the second half.
Sunday promises to be an exciting but physical game. I hope we come home with the victory and hopefully no injuries.

Osimhen has an extremely strong mentality. Those misses during the game would have completely dampened the spirits of most players. Man soldiered on till he got his goals.