₦airaland Forum

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Elijah has voiced his concerns regarding the potential of 22-year-old Benjamin Tanimu ahead of Nigeria's upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya.

Tanimu is among the players selected for the crucial clash against the Mediterranean Knights, but he faces stiff competition from six other defenders included in the 23-man squad announced by interim manager Austin Eguavoen.

In an interview with allnigeriasoccer.com, Elijah expressed doubts about Tanimu's readiness and abilities, emphasizing that the young defender needs to demonstrate consistency and strong performances at the club level.

"For me, I am still having second thoughts about him. I am not too sure about him," Elijah stated.



"I think he needs to do more in playing matches for his club. We need to see him at the top of his game."

Elijah further articulated that being invited to the Super Eagles should not be seen as a privilege but rather a deserved recognition based on merit.

"It is not just about bringing people because of connection. No, he has to be a good player in his team, playing consistently and with confidence," he remarked.

Currently, Nigeria tops Group D with four points following a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin and a goalless draw against Rwanda in Kigali.

Tanimu recently joined League One club Crawley Town on a two-year contract from Tanzanian club Singida Black Stars.

However, since his move in September, he has yet to make an appearance for the Red Devils, raising further concerns about his potential as the Super Eagles prepare for their important qualifier against Libya.

With crucial games ahead, Tanimu will need to prove himself to secure a spot in the national team, especially as Nigeria aims to maintain its strong performance in the AFCON qualifiers.

Bruno Onyemaechi is miles better than Zaidu Sanusi

TheSuperNerd:
Fisayo is a better ball striker but he is no creator like Iwobi. Fisayo can pass and progress plays with quick passes and use his body in duels but he doesn't have as broad a vision of the field like Iwobi does.

Iwobi remains the main man in our creative midfield unit. Fisayo's biggest plus is his ball striking.

We need another creative head in the team.

spot on, u hv said it all 💯

chrisooblog:
Nice one from Dele good positioning for his goal.

Chukwueze and this his end product sha! Facing the opposition GK and you decide to cut the ball to your left instead of hitting with your right one time.

Onyedika and Frank should be starting for now. Raphael progresses the ball better no doubt. Iwobi and even Ndidi might need some time on the bench.

Seems we struggle to play to the strength of our forwards if he's not named Osimhen.

Kudos to defense third competitive clean sheet in a row.

Tactically still not there AE needs help.

All told what is important is the 3 points unto the next game.

what type of help does AE need?😳

minfelix:
I love how AE kept them on their toes till last whistle by pumping in more force power….if una hire guardiola, this is the same result we will see, with the the game plan of libya…you cant outscore them with more than 2goals…we even scored a clean goal dey ruled offside, also had a clean penalty call…lets just get ready to see games like this from lower african nations visiting us in our home…they will only try to come out and play us in their own home and thats where we should stamp that MANCITY-esque authority on them….all these guys are beatable and are all real ekuke teams
Benin
Rwanda
Lesotho
Zimbabwe are small kids to us, esp this current SE squad

I still dey wonder how that Lookman goal take he offiside

CAF should do more by introducing VAR

Nff should get Tino Anjorin. I love the competition in the midfield of late and I need more of that

Emmy450:
These Libyans are really funny, 🤣🤣

They ran to the ref after the final whistle to confirm if it's indeed full time ,
When they where waisting so much time before the goal they didn't know? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

typical North Africans

TheSuperNerd:
A tale of the last 2 lads to wear the #10 GWG Jersey.

Joe Aribo - 2 goals in 34 caps.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - 2 Goals in 5 caps.

Fisayo's ball striking is shouting!!

I don’t know why he barely get playing time at lazio

The coach features him for in their UEL matches

Hotepking:
But this has been common knowledge based on the performance of our midfielders, I'm not saying anything new or unpopular...Iwobi will be happy his creative burdens have been relieved by the emergence of Dele-Bashiru.

At the end it's good to have more depth and competition.

💯

Hotepking:
A midfield of Onyeka, Onyedika and Dele-Bashiru is what we need going forward, these guys just bring more youth and dynamism to our midfield...Iwobi should play from the wings and Ndidi can come off the bench to see out the game for us.

after 3-4 matches na u go still cry mk dem change the midfield combination 🤣

mrwilliams9:
Stop ooo, Iwobi played ball for us. Boys did well against a deep block from Libya.

We needed to be more clinical but let’s get the 3pts and move. We need another 3pts in the away fixture so we can start rotating the squad.

you Dey mind oh yes members?

Pple wey no sabi watch ball

CornOak:
IWOBI has created at least 3 good chances in this game.

our best player on this first half

Iwobinho 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Iwobi sabi ball

COOL10:
Gernot Rohr's Benin Republic have scored against Rwanda. As it stands they're on top of the table.

ok

Roma are eyeing Nottingham Forest fullback Ola Aina.

The defender joined Forest last year from Torino.

The Nigeria international is on a contract that expires next summer and La Gazzetta dello Sport says Roma are showing interest in the 28-year-old.

The Italian giants are considering making a bid for Aina in January.

Forest is said to want €12-15m to sell Aina over the winter market.

Mr Lulu to AS Roma? 🤔

SamueItem337:
From all the things you just listed up there you still saying he hasn't been tested is totally off

ok

SamueItem337:
Nor be every thrash you think you suppose come here come talk
Nwabali was not tested against South Africa?
He was not tested against Ivory Coast or Angola?
Which other test him need
Maybe you go enter pitch go test am

against Angola he made a good save which was the only clear cut chance the South Africans had

Against SA he shone in the pk shoot out which I mentioned in my previous post

I’m not saying he is good or doesn’t deserve his place as the starting keeper but all I’m saying is that I would want to see him against more potent and deadly attackers

I never said that Maduka is better than him ooooo

Fenerbahce aims to renew the contract with Bright Osayi-Samuel.

⏳ The yellow-dark blue team will meet with the representative of the Nigerian football player after the international matches.

SamueItem337:
What the hell are you saying 😒
You sound so off

but na true na, CIV na the toughest opposition the team don play since he debuted

I go like see am against more dreaded attackers in world football. If possible in a friendly

As the thing pain u e be like u wan introduce him to psg?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Since Nwabali took over the GK starting shirt for the team the toughest opposition we hv faced is CIV 🤔😏

Mk we meet better ranked teams in friendlies Mk dem bombard our 18 yard box with fierce attacks and shots fess Mk I check something 😊

Kog45:
I watched Maduka keenly last season and it all started against Cagliari in Copa cup,he was massively impressive and that match was the turning point that made him Udinese number one but fast forward I watched three of his matches this season ,especially against Inter Milan…..in all honesty he has improved but to be sincere he is not better than Nwabali I saw in Afcon

i will pick Nwabali ahead of Maduka but we all shouldn’t be carried away by the number of clean sheets Nwabali had in the afcon/since his debut for the super eagles because the team had the best Defensive unit at the last afcon

Nwabali didn’t face much danger in goal expect the PK shoutout against SA and the finals against CIV which the team lost due to Fatigue

I love Nwabali’s composure but I still believe he is yet to be tested in the colors of the national team

zuchyblink:
Ovie Ejaria agrees move to Zamalek SC. 🚨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The 26-year-old formerly played for Liverpool, Sunderland, Rangers and Reading.

He has already arrived in Cairo.

#Transfers
#AfricanFootball

😳

Pidginwhisper:
Both ahmed Musa and Shehu are qualified to play this tournament right?

also qualified to play in next afcon and World Cup

Joezinho:
How did awoniyi got an invite over dessers?

Awoniyi who can’t get playing time over old man Wood in Nothingham Forest. How can a grandpa be benching you a 27 year old striker?

Chuba Akpom, Cyril Dessers and Josh Maja are doing better than Taiwo Awoniyi. Awoniyi has not had a good game for the Super Eagles before; he is not even playing for his club. Other serious countries invite players base on their current forms but this figure head coach is inviting the likes of taminu who is yet to break into a 3rd division team. SMH

because he is more experienced

QPR have reportedly signed 18 year old Nigerian striker Charles Agada 🇳🇬

[quote author=ChrisKels post=132349179]Yea, Austrian league isn't the strongest of the leagues but man, Chibuike Nwaiwu is a delight to watch in that CB position.

https://twitter.com/EaglesTrackerNG/status/1843697179720069617?t=rrxYO_mBVPHlkCZrty3XuQ&s=19[/quote]🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Hotepking:
Una carry Aboki go put as NFF chairman and now we're about to lose George Ilenikhena to France, as shaky as Pinnick was, one thing I'll always miss about him was how he was proactive about approaching our dual nationals during his stint. George Ilenikhena was easily the one player we could have gotten without the least worry and hassle with split commitments and nationality switch process wahala. I mean what would it have cost NFF to actually invite the guy against Libya and give him a cameo appearance at the 80th minute off the bench to officially cap-tie him to Nigeria? Fucking low IQ idiots, but if it's to invite league 2 benchwarmers with ties to political godfathers to the national team, they won't disappoint with that one.

Eguavoen should beat Libya home and away most likely, but that is merely papering over the cracks cause this NFF have shown themselves out as utterly clueless and short-sighted. I feel bad for the likes of Arokodare, Chuba Akpom, Dessers
and Akor Adams who are all having great seasons at their clubs but don't have the option of switching to another country that is actually serious.

We don’t need George Ilenikhena cus he can’t bench Osimhen and Boniface

As for Akor,Tolu,Akpom and others they re not needed too when we have experienced heads like Iheanacho and Awoniyi

Experience is key to the foundation of every national team. We ought to be clamouring for the recall of Musa,Ighalo and Efe Ambrose instead of relying on greenhorns

maidaboi:
After shouting saying we too like to dey complain

Few minutes later

Na you dey complain 😂😂😂

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Hbd Baller #MRLULU 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

aicon4s:
Una think say National team football na club pre-season friendly? Dey Play

oga rest u knw nothing about football.

Try and make case for Musa as well since Iheanacho deserves his recent call up. Atleast both are experienced

If Tanimu can be one of your best super eagles defenders recently who am I to question your choice of Iheanacho at the expense of in form younger strikers performing week in week out in europe