₦airaland Forum

Thanks Chief! Your contributions and analysis are always appreciated too.

Goke7:
Anyone who is sore angry with the country should go and rant in the politics section make we focus on the game here!

Meanwhile I love your positive takes and postulations on the Afcon.

A hat trick here with a brace there I feel it's possible.

Why I'm bullish is because unlike JP's haram football from last AFCON, Eric plays more expansive and creates wey more chances per game.

Plus I think we have more creativity compared to last time.

Chukwueze looks like he's hitting that sweet spot as a player so I expect big things from him.

I'm hoping all our wingers turn up bigly.

What's your go to formation Doc for the competition and plan B if we want to switch things up?

TheSuperNerd:
Number 1 is a big call but I will tag your post celebratingly if it happens.

Osimhen is on 31 goals. Yekini had 37. Osimhen needs to bag 7 goals at this Afcon to break the record not equal it. Break!

In other words, Osimhen would need to be top scorer at this Afcon to shatter Yekini's record. In the top scorer race, we have Algeria's Amoura... my eyes are on him too if he does come to the party.

For #4... If Chelle uses him right, I expect it. The Benin performance shows promise.

Everyone deals with loss in their own unique way.

Goke7:
The World Cup loss has really done a number on lots of folks so tey they don abuse everyone and everything that has nothing to do with the game sef. What manner of ptsd 😂

My 5 Hot Takes for Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON:

1. Osimhen will break Yekini's all time goal scoring record at some point during the tournament. Will also win Golden Boot.

2. Nigeria will get to a second consecutive final. Don't know if we will win sha.

3. Fisayo and Ebenezer to be break out stars.

4. Chukwueze to finally have a string of signature performances for the Super Eagles at a tournament.

5. Expect everyone to pitch in but MVP for the team at the end of the competition will be between Osimhen & Chukwueze

This is what I feared in relation to Morocco hosting the AFCON.

Enough fans from participating countries won't be able to attend due to affordability and the Moroccans stiff visa protocols (which is understandable due to it being a transit country for people wanting to japa to Europe.

Unfortunately the Moroccan fans can't be bothered attended non-Morocco games to create atmosphere which was what stood out the much celebrated AFCON in CIV.

Truidstarr:
Dem say Morocco get the facilities and infrastructure.....where the fans? See how stadium for Mali vs Zambia empty. If na Nigeria host...empty seat go hard to see.

The bottom line is can we host? Yes.

Cameroon when they hosted in 2022 hadn't solved their local insurgency issue.

NasirIbnLaAhad:
So you've now admitted: we can only theoretically host if we limit locations due to insecurity, which itself is a massive infrastructure/institutional failure. CAF's standards have also tightened significantly since then.

It's standard practice for countries hosting major competitions to put their best foot forward and launder their image that everything is great and kumbaya. Ask the locals where there are no cameras or government officials monitoring them and they will tell you what's up.

I support holding our government to account to do better however it should be done with facts and not agenda laced commentary.

TheSuperNerd:
Chrisooblog, well said ooo. Moroccan citizens protested so bitterly that the attention on football is too much while their standard of living and educational quality were taking huge hits. It was not funny.

Just as recently as last 2 weeks, more disaster struck in the moroccan coastal town of Safi killing dozens of people "thanks" to Total Energies' fossil fuel presence in those lands. Same french company that sponsors the Afcon and CAF as a whole. They are trying to close it up and look like all is okay in Morocco. Omo, it is not ooo.... CAF and Moroccan Authorities made no concrete comments on the latest tragedy sef.

Even hosting if we wanted to is possible.

In 2009 at the height of the Niger-Delta militancy issue we still hosted the u17s.

To be fair that's different from terrorism and CAF may not want to put qualified countries at risk unless we decide to host all the games in Southern Nigeria plus Abuja.

NasirIbnLaAhad:
I believe this supports the argument she's making. The question wasn't whether hosting is currently a priority but whether we can host if we wanted to, which you've essentially confirmed we can't due to insecurity and insufficient infrastructure. States upgrading stadiums is positive, but tournaments like the AFCON require multiple world-class venues, coordinated security, reliable power, and logistical capacity across regions. Individual state efforts don't equal tournament-ready national infrastructure.

So it comes down to what she said earlier: we currently cannot host major tournaments at the moment.

You're spot on.

Many states have physical infrastructure on ground.

Apart from the stadia I listed in my previous post there's also the Enugu stadium, Katsina stadium, Kano Pillars stadium and Jos township(not sure if it's finished). Adamasigba in Ibadan also comes to mind. Read in some news circles recently that the Kaduna State government is rebuilding their stadium.

Odunayaw:
You don't yet see you're making the point that it's merely a will problem.

There's nothing extraordinary to do in our infrastructure that is needed to host an AFCON.

Hosting AFCON for Nigeria in recent years has been more a case of priority than capacity.

If Nigeria is chosen to host in 2-4 years time I have no doubt it can be done so far the funds are made available.

Today apart from the stadiums in Abuja and Uyo we still have 4 stadiums that can be renovated to get up to standard. The one in Abeokuta, Teslim in Lagos, the one in Benin city and another in Rivers. Fix the pitches, dressing rooms and you're good to go.

For me personally the reason why I think we haven't hosted is that it's not politically expedient to spend money on a tournament when the economy isn't great where millions of people are living below the poverty line.

Morocco we are using as example people in the country there seriously protested the standard of living months ago.

QueenJazz:
ME: Nigeria can't host the AFCON now

FOOTBALL PUNDIT: What do you mean?! We've hosted tournaments in the 80s and in the 90s

ME: True. But look at our infrastructure and football pitches. Our government isn't even taking any action to developing them right now. We need to improve. Our past is good doesn't mean our present can't be better.

FOOTBALL PUNDIT: It doesn't matter! You don't know what you are saying! You don't know football! You're delusional! You don't have sense!

No problem. I was very foolish to even embark on this conversation. You'll never hear it from me again.

Love them too. The vibe and energy they bring is unmatched.

Felt for them especially after the Congo loss. Particularly one lady who was crying unconsolably like say the love of her life break her heart.

QueenJazz:
I love Football Fans Tribe abeg. 😂😂


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoomIVg2APk

My starting XI against Tanzania if everyone is fit.

Nwabali
Ryan (still don't fancy Osayi in RB Position)
Ogbu
Bassey
Zaidu
Ndidi (Captain will start but will love to see more of Ebenezer and Nnadi to see if they can function in that position)
Iwobi (Weaker opposition on paper should afford him more room to be an attacking influence)
Fisayo (Has good attacking instincts. Could also drift to the left giving Lookman space to operate in the center with Osimhen)
Chukwueze
Lookman
Osimhen

Subs: Akor, Fago, Ebenezer/Nnadi, Ejuke, and Simon

It's crucial that Chelle doesn't make the mistake JP made of underutilizing his bench. He's also prone to confusing the profile of his players.

With the right attitude and determination I think Coach Eric has the tools to achieve something special.

NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko speaking about the DR Congo petition on Arise TV.

ALL EYES ON FIFA. ALL EYES ON FIFA JUDICIARY.

The Federal Government's revelation about the Congo vs Nigeria saga.

The NFF and the world are waiting for FIFA.

Listen ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xyIaaFJ6pZ

— OgaNlaMedia 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) December 19, 2025

Easily imagine being fed quality balls by Finidi, Oliseh and co.

9JAMac10:
As at right now. Osimhen is the only player yet to join the squad in camp. Osimhen is lucky he plays in an era where he is the most pivotal player. If not he should be sanctioned for gross misconduct and negligence. Thinking about it can Osimhen make the squad of the 90s super eagles teams ?

Not good enough from Osimhen.

Leading is not only by performing on the pitch but also showing up on time to camp.

I could have given him an excuse that he took special permission to arrive late but he has been doing that too often lately.

There's no time we won't have to institute a code of conduct for the national team.

9JAMac10:
As at right now. Osimhen is the only player yet to join the squad in camp. Osimhen is lucky he plays in an era where he is the most pivotal player. If not he should be sanctioned for gross misconduct and negligence. Thinking about it can Osimhen make the squad of the 90s super eagles teams ?

Hmmm D'Law I no to sure again o. Some respected journalists and analysts who's opinion I value a lot as saying otilor.

Me I don commot mind can't give myself false hope.

Mujtahida:
Bro. Chill. We dey go America.

I don't know why he has that entitlement mentality he should be number 1 without putting in the time and work.

The great Enyeama was dropped by Berti Vogts to the bench for no just reason heaven didn't collapse. Vincent worked to get his place back and wasn't begging or giving ultimatums to be made number 1.

Odunayaw:
Okoye came into the team suspiciously as a third tier club GK. Platter of gold.
Fate handed him starting shirt. Platter of gold.

He shat the bed and rightly lost it.
He did nothing to get the shirt in the first place, did nothing to keep it and has done nothing to get it back.

And what criteria do you have to not rate Stanley over him?

The lad is an entitled freeloader

D'Law e be like say na ya people go land us that ticket las las.

Mujtahida:
Ko Kan mi 😂😂😂. All way na way. I'm shameless like that. The prophecy must be fulfilled.

You're right. Scheduling difficulties would probably play a part but who says it can't happen in Mexico during the last round of playoffs.

All this is just speculation because for all we know we're just clutching at straws.

All this won't have been necessary if the boys had just qualified all the pitch.

benitochakone:
But even if it happens, don't you think a replay should be ordered between Nigeria and Cameroon as the Congolese went through Cameroon also. In the spirit of fairness.

Dangote is no saint but Tinubu aka FG knows any small economic progress we're seeing and will see is tied to the refinery and its positive multiplier effect on the Nigerian economy.

Alhaji Putin knows this hence his posturing all this months.

GloriousGbola:
as a businessman in nigeria - he is very foolish. every govt official is watching and dusting off any records of unfair concessions given to dangote

picking fights with highly placed govt officials when your own hand no clean and tinubu sef knows you trued to fk over his presidential bid?

in the end the court of public opinion of the unwashed masses counts for nothing

Hmmm the way this Congo matter is gathering momentum.

Even Osasu that's not exactly the NFF's biggest fan is on the matter.

Anyway until a miracle happens let's just nurse our failure jeje and plan for the future.

Flavour nabia, Agbim, Egwueke. Keshi (RIP) no try that year in terms of player selection truth be told.

elyte89:
Late keshi had d worst list ever in Nigeria 🇳🇬 to rep us in a tournament..baba carry uchebo, Gabriel , and oda names wey we Neva hear go World Cup

Bruhh! Really annoying that I can't just vex and comot from my mind anything SE. Especially with these set of players.

M7even:
Having a mixed feeling joining this thread again since our disappointing result against DR congo. I thought I was gonna go on a long break. But here we are again. I hope I haven't missed much though.

I like your optimism but the Congolese parliament will just make a retroactive law to make all of this an exercise in futilely if the NFF is truely pursuing this line of action.

Not that I don't want Nigeria to be at the WC if FIFA lands an unlikely hammer on Congo but the chances of that happening is next to none.

Samueltemi337:
In congo you can't have dual nationality so them not renouncing their other nationality after their switch means they are ineligible to play for Congo
FIFA won't recognize them as Congolese
It's just like a player from Ghana representing Nigeria
Hope you get?

Akatugba was trying to be all sanctimonious with his criticism of the list couple of days ago until another journalist burst his bubble by reminding him how he lobbied for Maduka to be called up to the SE when he was just an unknown playing in the lower divisions of German football.

Bossoflife25:
Even Oma Akatugba don dey change mouth after watching Fago today!
Most here don't watch ball nor know ball.
Archive this post!

Congrats maestro

It's not easy taking care of business inside and outside of the other room

To more years of conjugal bliss.

God bless.

semid4lyfe:
On this day in 2017, I tied the knot in the ancient city of Ibadan.

Eight years later, after plenty quarrels and three kids, the match never scatter, and bed still dey shake

Abeg make una clap for me cos e no easy..

Leading to potential miss of the season

After all that impressive running from midfield.

BascoVanVeli:
Calvin could have had the assist of the season but he wanted goal of the season

So this is really true?

I thought it was all social media vibes like the USA 94 Nigeria vs Italy match will be replayed fake story going around that period when we crashed out.

Whatever happens we failed to do the needful on the pitch.

Let it end there.

Goke7:
The problem is that if FIFA does not uphold its statutes, then it risks more future precedents that could be damaging to the game. This is why they had no choice but to uphold their rules when SA fielded an ineligible player against us, despite no one knowing initially.. I'm not sure how FIFA will handle this now, since Cameroon is also involved. Tunisia was the country that started all these player ineligibility things after a game had been won and lost. Perhaps FIFA should amend their statues that once a game has been played and decided, all eligibility issues and complaints will not be entertained. My thoughts.

Hello house Season's Greetings!

Its been a minute. The disappointment of our failure to qualify for the WC was too overwhelming hence my prolonged absence. I only came out of my enforced seclusion to comment briefly on the AFCON squad and disappear again. Might come back depending on how well we do in Morocco.

Now to the squad. Overall I think it's a good squad outside of a few 'strange' selections.

Goalkeeping department for me is the biggest surprise with the exclusion of Okoye and recall of Uzoho. So we're an injury (highly likely) away from Francis being our Number 1 throughout the tournament? Issokay

Satisfied with defense call ups nothing to query. The quality of Aina & Benjamin will be missed while the experience of Ekong can't be replaced however most of the chosen defenders were there last year when we got to the final so I think they should be able to cope. Looking forward to seeing the highly rated Blackburn fullback Ryan.

For the midfield it's a pity that one scandalous selection is threatening to overshadow the positive general outlook of the midfield. Shame to everyone who signed off on the choice of Mohammed Usman. To the positives I like the profile of the new additions. Fisayo, Ebenezer and Nnadi are solid selections who will improve the team. Only omission one might query is Chrisantus but hasn't featured much for Palace save yesterday's game. In addition, he hasn't exactly wowed me the few times I've viewed him in the SE that said his exclusion for the sake of Usman is a disgrace.

Attack is ok not too many complaints. I don't rate Onuachu but based on current club form he's full value for his place in the squad. Salim Fago is another addition I seriously question what the criteria was used in calling him up. Don't expect him to feature much. Dessers is a bit fortunate to be included based on his last performance in the GWG. Tolu's lack of game time cost him. To be honest most of our striking options have been poor or below par. Awoniyi, Moffi, KC, Sadiq have all been underwhelming this season so far so can't fault their exclusion in all honesty.

Personally, I think this squad is capable of winning the AFCON however do we the determination, unity, and tactical ability to pull it off?

We will soon find out.

LET'S GO SUPER EAGLES!

CIV and even Ghana on a good day can turn up.

Gattuso is just diverting attention from how poor Italy have been over the years.

To be fair I don't think he was in charge from the beginning and he has steadied the Azzuri but they are still lacking quality wise.

They can still make it through the playoffs.

Subzerooo:
They piped African countries in recent friendlies, Gattuso said that Europe should have more slots in the world cup as opposed to African countries

Spare a thought for our bredas. Ghanaian player Francis Abu suffered a leg break against Japan in their recent friendly.

Will most likely miss the WC next year.

Wish him a speedy recovery.

Game day!

Guys please just get the job done today even if it's 1/2-0 abeg seal the win and get us closer to the WC.

Pray for good fortune tonight.

We will all smile with joy by the end of today IJN.

Let's go Super Eagles