₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_nb0jgdwbY?si=V5b76R8udrwroQ7f

Very apt pre-match analysis by the Ghanaian TV pundits which eventually panned out as Alex Iwobi was exposed defensively in the 3-4-3 set up particularly in the first half.

Difficult one, but wouldn't be surprised if the coach plays a 4-3-3 variant or 3-5-2 in the final to reduce the defensive burden on Iwobi and free him to operate for longer spells closer to the forward line.

Good to hear JP give SA their props for the organization the brought whilst also acknowledging the shortcomings of this 3-4-3 system.

Sad, Onyeka is out of the finals.

NGR VS CIV for the finals.

What a beautiful tourney once again.

Our group wasn't easy after all.

But the Ivorian story is the story of tournament.Qualified as best losers, changed head coach but are now in the finals.Chai

Naija go for the fourth title.!!!!

Odunayaw:
That GK na olodo

The bounce of the ball was deceptive.

Very few goalies will save that.

This CIV will not be good to face in the finals o.

What a goal from Haller.

This AFCON needs a documentary once it is finished.

As for the hexes, Cameroon has been our nemesis in all the AFCON finals we've lost.

Just glad they are watching from home now.

SA found a way to use clever movement and passing to disrupt what looked like an impenetrable defense.

Wouldn't mind if we play 4-2-1-3 in the final.

Nwabili

Ekong. Bassey.

Aina Zaidu


Onyedika. Onyeka/Yusuf

Iwobi

SiMoses. Lookman
Osimhen

It will be risky leaving any team to run rings like SA were able to do during the game particularly in the first half.
I

The goalie situation was a missing piece of the SE puzzle.

If it was Uzoho, no chance.

Man like NWABILI

Nwabili... man of the matcb

Mehn..I don piss for body.

This was SA's game plan from the onset.

Chai, Lookman's miss has come back to hunt the team.

SA don enter final o

Lookman's miss chai.

Should be game over now

Grit is needed now.

Mehn. These guys have to be switched on till the end.

A second goal will kill the game but the guys have to be cautious at the back not to concede.

[quote author=caprikon post=128303170]They will most likely sit very deep just like Naija. Hoping for penalties.

Iwobi's passing in the final third will be a huge factor. I can almost foresee SA conceding a penalty during the game.

Thanks we did it via the spot

The SA guys have breached the space in midfield close to the defence line.

The coach needs to alter the shape to give Iwobi less defensive responsibilities which has been exploited so far by these Southies.

Broos has hacked something about this side.

JP has to make a tactical switch

mrwilliams9:
I saw this posted on another thread.

This what I was saying about Naija actually underperforming a bit at AFCON. We have more SF appearances than Egypt but they have 4 more titles. Even when you take out their 1957 and 1959 wins when Naija wasn’t even a nation, they still have 5.

My prayer is we close that gap by first beating SA then winning the final.

———————————————
Most #AFCON Semi-final APPEARANCES!

🇪🇬 Egypt - 15
🇳🇬 Nigeria - 16
🇬🇭 Ghana - 14
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast - 10
🇨🇲 Cameroon - 9
🇩🇿 Algeria - 7
🇹🇳 Tunisia - 7
🇿🇲 Zambia - 6
🇲🇱 Mali - 6
🇨🇩 DR Congo - 5
🇪🇹 Ethiopia - 5
🇲🇦 Morocco - 5
🇸🇳 Senegal - 5

We've quite a number had near misses at AFCON semis usually in the hands of North Africans or other power houses in West Africa.

I am happy SA are confident of winning this one.

Looking forward to seeing that mouthy Thomas Mlambo and his colleagues in the Supersport studio after the game.

charlesemeka85:
and the same oba had lesser goals in serie A when compared to osimhen?🥱

Caprisun!!

Caprisun as per caprikon.

Obagoal's game time at Inter can't be compared to Osimhen's who rarely makes substitute appearances in Naples.

Like I said, I used the eye test, not stats.

Understand the context before capping your own.

Marjoribanks:
I don't think so! Obagoal played in both the seria A and the Super Eagles. He did struggle in both!

Made my conclusion basically on the eye test.

Osimhen's all round game is better but his finishing, particularly with the ball at his feet needs to improve. He is presently deadlier with aerial balls.

Barryseal:
I'm enjoying the Obafemi Martins VS Osimhen comparison on twitter.
I don't know what you guys think. I personally think Obafemi was a better finisher.

No contest...Obagoal's finishing trumps this current version of Osimhen in that aspect. Osimhen needs to improve his finishing to take his game to a different level.

kennysville:
One thing is sure going into the match against SA, they gonna do operation Covid 19. Na total lockdown. I can promise you they won't come out to play. They don't seem to have any player with physicality and pace of Osimhen which is gonna be a big worry. They know that. Most likely tactic will be to hope we drag till Extra time and hopefully go into penalties. This is why all headers and flicks need to be on point for Naija. No gree for anybody. Make all set pieces and corner kicks count. No selfish play
Make una warn Moses well.

They will most likely sit very deep just like Naija. Hoping for penalties.

Iwobi's passing in the final third will be a huge factor. I can almost foresee SA conceding a penalty during the game.

Hope we score!!!

A good number South Africans truly believe Naija would be easier than Cape Verde.

Talk about payback for AFCON 2000 semi final.

I just wish the profligacy of this team ends on Wednesday. These Southies need a humbling scoreline.

charlesemeka85:
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro scored a brace for inter U19 team against Bologna

So far he has 6 goals and 3 assist in 16 primavera games this season

The heir apparent to the legendary Mikel.

Boy has a wonderful football brain. I just hope his develop pans out as expected. Could play a part in the SE by the next AFCON/World cup

The better side lost.

This could be a blessing in disguise for Nigeria.

Cape Verde guys na wa. Why put the ball in same spot consecutively?

NGA vs SA

Bebe na wa o

Cape Verde are clearly the better side and should win this tie but strange things happen in this AFCON.

There is something about this CIV.

We need to know their marabout.

Men this is something else

Best AFCON ever.

Unprecedented drama and surprises.

What a beauty by Mali.

The coach has done well to bring the team written off by many to the semis but the games left are going to be demanding.

The next opponents have a lot to analyze about this side and set up to stifle the team.

We presently do not have a player in the starting IX deadly with shots outside the box...The SE's low block has been a clickbait inviting the opposing team to play a high line when attacking thereby leaving spaces to exploit particularly on a quick break.

Thankfully, none of the teams left have shown enough defensive discipline to counter that set-up.
Hopefully, we don't concede first in any of the remaining games cos it will require something different from the usual approach to get a result from that situation.