₦airaland Forum

I hope we realize that CMR are also licking their lips at the somewhat weakened path to the semis/final.

Expect fireworks on Saturday.

kingphilip:
I'll prefer CIV doesn't make it past this round so that they don't pick up form in subsequent stages.

Frankly don't see that happening.
This CIV has too many frailties.

The only reason I want them to progress is to boost the stadium attendance.

Daninya33:
8 players have decided to retire from the Algerian national team.

Michael Olise should not forget to pitch his tent with them ASAP.

These guys are like samurai.

I expect Musa to do same after AFCON.
Players talk up his positive off field influence.
NFF fit make am backroom staff like Finidi.

Olise is playing the waiting game hoping for a France call up whilst using Algeria as a smoke screen. I hope he doesn't start reminding us about his emotional connection to his paternal roots when we become his last option.

The upsets in this AFCON has spiced it up.

A lot of disrespect from supposed minnows 😁.

At this rate, we could have 2 African sides progress to at least the quarter-finals of the 2026 world cup.

zicky:
Ghana Fa just annoce the sack of Chris Houghton,

Quite unfortunate. Houghton has coached at very high levels but the results with Ghana aren't that great.

My opinion- any African team looking for a European coach should make a pick from those familiar with the continent with a decent track record. It makes adaptation easier.

The ultra defensive tactics has put us in a situation where a few key players one more card away from suspension..Nwabili, Bassey, Onyeka got booked whilst no Guinea player was booked by the ref.

If the team survives to the quarters, we may just have Uzoho in the post. Very clever for a team supposedly playing tournament footie

.

So much talk about the depth of Naija's attack which is quite deceptive, particularly on the flanks.

Lookman is showing signs of his quality in this tourney but the other wide men are comical...once I see either of them on the ball, I know something funny is about to happen.

Where are JP's defenders??

A narrow win over a poor CIV isn't a biggie.

Eyes don the clear small small

All the advice wey Finding dey give Simon Moses no dey work. Chai

These teams be defacing this AFCON rubbish football.

Barryseal:
Chukwueze really fell off. He's not playing like an Ac Milan material.

His performances in the GWG have not been up to the level he showed during AFCON 2019.

His decision making in the final third is worrisome...just like Simon Moses.

Would love to see more of this version Lookman and maybe Nathan Tells after this AFCON.

Using negative tactics against the whipping boys of the group is quite queer.

daveP:
There has been 11 goals of the tournament in my reckoning so far. More than half being Screamers.


Super Eagles, abeg join the list tomorrow. Let's see screamers too. Please. We know you can do it.
Who saw that RVP World Cup goal replica? Omo!! Var shapali had sense and allowed it stand. Mauritania i think. I love the goals in this Afcon. Especially those with sleek, fast buildup.

The standards at this AFCON are pretty high.

One can understand why our world cup qualifiers are tough even with the expanded groups.

Nacho looks like the player to produce a sublime strike in this squad.

This Burkinabe side are giving the 2013 vibes.

Wouldn't be surprised to see them in the semi's or final.

Elnino9:
Lolz..nobody talked about Kenneth omeruo necklace wahala...😂😂😂

It was frankly an annoying sight .

Person wey suppose go link up with defenders follow coordinate during high pressure as veteran but was rather immersed in the frivolity of putting on a necklace.

yinkeys:
William Troost Ekong is a wicked guy
He wanted to murder that CIV goalie
He should be our number one penalty taker
It shows he’s practiced over a million times

He sure practiced penalties a lot to have the calmness and trust of his team mates to take that...in such a tense moment, straight down the pipe..the goalie must make a dive.

Just had a flash back of Gyan vs Uruguay 2010...that was the sort of penalty to take but one needs the calmness to execute.

Let's savour the win but the conversion rate of the team has to improve cos as the tourney progresses, there will be paucity of clear cut goal scoring opportunities.

Pleasantly surprised by Onuachu's hold up play.

Aina and Bassey did a lot.

This CIV is an average team..it takes nothing away from Naija though. It's always sweet beating a rival in their backyard.

Tournaments aren't suitable for trying out untested formations. The more reason why our friendlies should see more tactical tweaks during games to give the team/coach the opportunity to have a level of tactical flexibility.

JP is stuck with 433 and it's variants throughout this tourney. The team might switch to 442 if he finds himself chasing a game.

zicky:
Kanu sef no try, I can't recall the Afcon 04 or 06,kanu won a pk, then the talk of kanu not having an Afcon goal was loud. Many fans was expecting kanu to take the pk, oga leave the pk walker komot. That incident vex me

Kanu's penalty miss in Lagos in the AFCON final against CMR must have haunted him for long.

Would like to see how the midfield shapes up against the physical Ivoriens.

Aribo might struggle as usual.....

Expecting to see Onyedika, Onyeka and Iwobi at some point.

Midfield is so thin that we can't afford an Iwobi suspension/injury.

There will be eye brows raised if a fit Alhassan is omitted from the invite list going forward.

I believe Nwakali would get his own chance AGAIN at some point but he needs to put in a shift to make it difficult to overlook him.

Ghana's loss is like a Nigerian win.

With all their badmouth online when SE drew.

Most of the minnows have improved..the gap isn't as high as it was 10,15 yrs ago.

I really can empathize with those critical of Osimhen...to transit from a great to a legend...a player needs to turn up in those key moments..

Aghahowa gave fans those vibes during his peak..man would show up when the chips are down.

Osimhen's issue appears more mental to me.
He needs to borrow Nacho's calmness in front of goal..he makes big errors during those big moments...But I think with time he would overcome it.

Nacho remains the most clinical Naija forward of this era...

Funny..Aribo for Yusuf.

Why not Onyedika.

A ball playing goalie and centre backs are crucial against teams pressing high.

There was high possession turnover from the two teams in the final third during first phase build up in the opener yesterday.

Nwabili should start cos of his ball playing abilities...his reflexes can't possibly be worse than Uzoho's.

Opening matches aren't the best yardstick to judge a team though avoiding defeat is good in the first match.

Results under JP are erratic ..good and bad results sandwiched such that it's difficult to tell if the Portuguese clown is actually building something tangible.

Danielnino00:
https://owngoalnigeria.com/2024/01/02/leicester-city-coach-expects-ndidi-iheanacho-to-be-sent-home-from-super-eagles-afcon-camp/


Wahala

Na wa.

Why invite 25 when he could've invited 27 given this injury concerns.

Odunayaw:
JPes should be sensible and call up one more midfielder before it's too late. Toh

That's pretty obvious.

Watching his interview on NFFTV about the list, his response gave the impression that he sees the midfield as a 'single position' like the Centre back, full back, right winger etc.

Kog45:
Well,to many his opinion is insult to us,not qualifying from a group that have Cote d'voire,Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea seems not possible.

Cote d'ivoire is a host country so all we need is to win our first match and at least get a draw against Cote d'ivoire,our last match against Gujnea Bissau would be difficult based on what happened during qualifiers,defeated us at home and also lose to us at home.

The Ivory Coast are typically strong starters in AFCON so they are favourites to top the goup(plus home advantage).

It will be really shameful if the SE fail to qualify from the group in an expanded AFCON with best loser slots.

This is JP's last chance at redemption with the team.