₦airaland Forum

Chief you're not the only one who watched the SE during Kanu's tenure there wasn't any fluid or liquid anything.

Oliseh was the glue who held everything with his sharp passing that allowed for this smooth transition you speak off.

TheGoodJoe:

You are saying average based on goals. Not average based on overall contributions. Kanu's game was more than just a striker. He played a lot of deep roles which made the team fire offensively. Kanu operated deeply a lot, that the other strikers could never offer. This is in regards the Super Eagles. That was why he was a regular.

Chief only France wasn't there every top team was there Spain o, Germany o, Netherlands o you name it.

Marjoribanks:
That World cup doesn't really have great teams. Even the Italians wobbled and stumbled to the final playing out a boring nil nil draw against Brazil. No Spain, France, Netherlands etc

I'm happy you brought up the Bergkamp comparisons someone who didn't just assist but also scored for Holland at major international tournaments.

The goal against Argentina in the 1998 WC comes to mind.

charlesemeka85:
Kanu is not an out and out striker but a supporting/Auxiliary forward player who plays better behind a number 9

Kanu’ genius hv never been he’s goal scoring prowess but creativity, link up play and finesse

Kanu was just like he’s ex team mate in arsenal Bergkamp who wasn’t really a goal monster but blessed with high footballing IQ and technique



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


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMKtR4rUwE0

Daniel Aiyenugba the son of Dele ex-SE goalkeeper saving a pen during a shootout. Chip off the ol' block

Daniel and Dele Aiyenugba's penalty save 🧤.

Who does it better? Son or Father?

Share with us your opinion about this iconic moment.#ValueJetCup23 pic.twitter.com/zFciTg3Xur

— ValueJet Cup (@ValueJetCup) August 9, 2023

Bulgaria that got to the Semifinals not strong opposition?

Marjoribanks:
Yes, the team was good however, the team did not even defeat any strong opposition. Losing to an Italian team that played with 10 men for more than 45 minutes is unforgivable! That world cup was there for the taking.

If those 2 goals are guaranteed yes I sure will.

Plus you make it sound as if Kanu was creating chances galore every game.

Papilo had his moments emphasis MOMENTS but his overall contributions compared to the praise he gets doesn't measure.

TheGoodJoe:
Will you take a striker that scores 2 goals in a match to a striker that makes the team score 5?

Growing up, I even thought Kanu Nwankwo was a midfielder. That was how deep he operated. He made us tick and the tacticians that worked with him appreciated him for that.

The others were scoring more but did not get to such height. Kanu got us firing and was ahead of others.

In 2000 Senegal was about knocking us out in the quarter finals Oliseh, Amuneke and Aghahowa came to our rescue. Semifinals another Oliseh master class.

Kanu contributed sparingly in other tournaments but was always missing in action during clutch moments. Look at Iniesta for instance when Spain and Barcac needed him in the most crucial moments he delivered and people still rate him despite his relatively poor goal scoring and assists record in comparison to his world class peers.

I think the reason why Papilo gets a pass is because of his exploits with the 96 Atlanta team and his time with Arsenal.

Philosopher1979:
in afcon 2000 he had a hattrick of assists against Tunisia.
His ability in midfield was the only thing that kept us going
from 2006 to 2010.
In the period we will play rubbish and kanu will come in and change the game from midfield
I remember our matches against senegal and zimbabwe in afcon 2006, 2008 or 2010
i can remember.
He was a magician who changed the game from midfield.
Kanu trumps amokachi and siasia in his ability to control the midfield and create chances.
He simply was more of a midfielder was more creative, could play possesion football
and made life easier for our forwards

Chief I knew you were going to shalaye in one way or the other.

Kanu was primarily a striker brought in to score goals so if as a forward you couldn't net a single goal in 9 good competitions I will seriously question if you are better than other forwards who apart from scoring also contributed their fair share of assists.

As per recognition anyone can win a popularity contest but actual numbers and performances on the pitch can be seen by anybody.

TheGoodJoe:

Kanu Nwankwo brought far more to the team than goals. That is why he was key and regular. His operation of deep and bringing the other forward players into game was a prime tactical strength of the team. That was why he played for the likes of Ajax when they were winning Champions League and reached the finals and Arsenal in their most dominant time.

The goals of Siasia and Amokachi never got them close to such level or recognition.

Plus Ndukwe scored in the first half. Cameroon caught us on the counter in the first stanza.

Midfield that day was too open leaving Oliseh and a tactically undisciplined Okocha to handle the late Marc Vivian-Foe, Lauren and Olembe Olembe.

jihday:
small correction, in that Afcon 2000 final especially that first half we were thoroughly outplayed by Cameroon, if we had someone like Uzoho/Okoye in goal, there won’t be any need for Nigeria to come out for second half

Prime Kanu that couldn't score a single goal for Nigeria in 9 senior international tournaments better than Amokachi and Siasia?

TheGoodJoe:
Prime Taribo will bench prime Chidi Nwanu with ease. Seems you are forgetting that Taribo at one time was the best defender in the Series A, at that time, Serie A was highly rated. Chidi Nwanu never got close to that height. Prime Babayaro beat prime Iroha hands down. Prime Babayaro was a star Chelsea player and a performer in Europe.

Prime Kanu ahead of Amokachi and Siasia any day. Men Kanu did it at Ajax and put some good shift in a Superstar studded Arsenal.

Is the bold confirmed? I saw the proposed budget but I don't know if everything was released cos Nigerian government has been known to delay in release of money. This doesn't invalidate the rest of your excellent points.

lovewins:
While I agree that funding is an issue, it isn't the primary culprit when it comes to many of these federations. Corruption, mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability and lack of respect for players tops the list of the money problem with this associations. I'll give examples

1. Do you know the federal government released $1.75 million to the NFF for the FIFA women's World Cup? [/b]Out[b] of that money guess how much the NFF budgeted for the players? $69k only (sixty-nine thousand dollars). A part of that money was for bonuses for the back room staff, but most of it (More than $1.2M) was budgeted as travelling expenses and estacode for NFF and ministry officials for their trip to Australia. The NFF only budgeted $100 per day as players allowance but NFF officials were getting as much as $900 per day for doing nothing. You see, they have a spending problem. Just last year or so, FIFA have every member association $1M for the development of women's football in their countries. NFF instead of investing the money in something worth while instead decided to share it. You know it's difficult to track money shared. How does sharing money to NWFL clubs and Sport writers association develop female football?

2. The NBBF's problem started in 2016 when Kwese sports decided to sponsor Nigerian basketball with 12 Million dollars. Not even sure the NFF has seen that kind of sponsorship money from one company. The beginning of the end of Nigerian basketball started from there. There's been no league since 2016 because of this as different factions took the matter to court and the court instead just put a stop to the league.

If you are a reasonable person, will you put your money in things like this? We don't have a sponsorship problem in Nigeria, BB Naina gets as much as 2 Billion Naira from one sponsor just for one season of their program. If sponsors see you as something worthwhile to invest in money will come.

That's when he's using his right foot. His left foot is a weapon of mass destruction when he uses it well. You are right about the pace and grit part.

charlesemeka85:
iheanacho is the best finisher in the national team but he’s issue is he lacks pace and grit as well as poor first touch

1v1 with the keeper his conversion rate is 95/100

Iheanacho is talented you can question his output and poor form but his abilities on the ball when he's playing well not many in the SE can match. Check out the goals he's scored at club and national team level and tell me they don't compare favourably to the best players in the game.

Helper1000:
maybe you don't know what talent means.. you see the super falcons... from the back to the middle.. they are all gifted.. and if not for injuries on oshoala. She's gifted too.. some people just know how to play football and were opportuned to get signed . Natural talents are always exceptional

I understand the fact that you cannot divorce the state of the economy from the ability to fund sports but we have a decent private sector with a reasonable amount of cash that if you partner can at the very least pay and cover the running of the two senior national teams (Eagles & Falcons) and not just wait till tournaments to be famzing support.

MTN for instance really created enough SF content around the world cup. This will be a perfect time for the NFF to engage them so they can put their money where their mouth is.

In the mean time the NFF should also use all those grants from FIFA to build a benefiting national team base in Abuja with a male and female wing which will include training pitches, gym, medical center etc. If a privately run club like Remo Stars can do it then the NFF has no excuse.

So it won't seem we are always bashing the NFF they should continue the commendable step of playing top international friendlies as they have been doing over the past 3-4 years.

Ppogbae:
It's crazy how this is our national sport and it barely gets any sufficient funding.

But it's the same story for track and field, basketball, rugby, and many others. The only functioning sports federation so far is cricket from what I've seen.

Are our sports federations running on bank loans due to poor funding? Are funds being embezzled? What's going on

Wow quick quick like that?

Still have my doubts about the move but wish him all the best should the move materialise.

Marjoribanks:
Gift Orban to Tottenham almost done and personal terms already agreed!

D Law please don't add headache to my pain by discussing about those two individuals

Mujtahida:
Nnadozie is a natural. An instinctive goalkeeper who has an inner reading of the movement of the ball and is some how at the right place at the right time. And when the ball comes at her, she saves it.
Compare with Maduka Okoye and Uzoho. No sense of the movement of the ball. Ball comes at them. Piom e don enter post. Cost us advancement at the Afcon and WCQ.

A good goalkeeper is a gem.

Apart from Ohale I feel our senior players could have stepped up to the plate more.

Asisat I love her to bits but she was mostly awol. Ordega was a shadow of herself. Oparanozie just had one job today. Onome almost retired.

All the same the round of 16 was my initial hope for them anything else would have been bonus. They exceeded my expectations by far.

Great move if true. I still rate Chidozie and feel with constant game he could a decent defender. Something still makes me feel he be the defensive stalwart we've been hoping for all these years.

charlesemeka85:
Owngoal reports that super eagles defender Chidozie awaziem hv joined French ligue 1 side Nantes

Super proud of the SUPER FALCONS.

They are truly exceptional Ladies.

They gave everything.

Losing on penalties is always gut wrenching but that's the nature of the beast.

As far as I'm concerned they didn't lose a single match.

I hope their male counterparts the SE can see an example of how to play to your maximum at a major tournament.

NFF I know it's always rocket science with you guys but don't mess up this potential golden generation of players you have at your disposal.

France in exchange for Russia is the same difference at least with France you can make them behave to a certain extent but Russia hegemony using the Wagner group as their proxy isn't something that should be encouraged.

Just40:
Why will you send troops when the current situation benefits Nigeria the most?

Getting rid of French influence in these countries will benefit everyone in the subregion

I understand the reasoning behind wanting to intervene to remove the coupists in Niger but the potential consequences of such a move negative or positive is what I can't predict.

GeneralDae:
What say you about Niger? Should we send troops or just let it slide again due to conspiracy theories flying around of being Western puppets?

He must really have yarned some awful stuff to be worse than David.

OasisX:


.....his past posts [tweets] came back to haunt him. He called Senators, Móron. Called Aso-Rock, AsshòleRock and so on.

I no fit lie, he did more damage than even David Hundeyin, but he is smart and highly intelligent. He is a youth, 42yrs old. An Orphan and has achieved a lot.

From the highlights I've watched the ladies are exceptional 3-point shooters.

The Okonkwo chick (hope I got her name right) na real baller! Tournament MVP candidate

lovewins:
Dillard is a damn good baller but I still think we carry the day. The Dtigress biggest asset in this competition has been their defence. Even when their attack was atrocious and then turned over the ball too many times, they still didn't concede too many points from turnovers.

Also, checking Dillards stats a large chunk of her points come from free throws. She's taken 45 free throws while Amy has taken 17. Won't be easy but we should carry the day.

Yeah I agree. With proper guidance and trust from the coach he can only improve.

charlesemeka85:
one among few super eagles players I hv so much faith in currently

Bassey is a bag of raw potential yet to be tapped. Ajax will regret selling him off while Fulham will reap the dividends in 2-3 seasons time

Real wow. Personally if Lille or Lens are still interested I would turn down the Spurs move. For starters apart from the fact that I don't think he's ready for the step up to the EPL the pressure of replacing a whole Harry Kane might be too much for him but hey football tends to surprise so let's see how everything works out.

charlesemeka85:
wow 🔥

Agree EPL might be too soon.

Ligue 1 is the perfect platform for him to step up his game.

elyte89:
He shldnt go to Tottenham ….aseju ni Tottenham, Lille/marseille ti wa okay😎

You no know before? Osimhen's performance pained a lot of people last season but disguising won't let them admit.

Victor has been steadily improving every season but to doubt his abilities is still their default setting.

Disappointing but would be lying if I said I was surprised.

Danielnino00:
It seems like a good number of people on this thread are convinced that Osimhen won't be able to replicate his last season form for Napoli this coming season, hence the clamour for him to leave...

Una just dey form fanboy...una no rate the guy's capability at all...

I agree on the bold. Not that any of the cuts would make a significant dent on the cut of governance but such a symbolic act would further show seriousness of government.

izzou:
[color=royalblue]I didn't like the fact that he didn't say anything about cutting the cost of governance.

But asides that, good one.

I wanted him to create palliatives for the people, and he did. I wish i can lay my hands on that 1 billion loan.

Governance no easy.

We move![/color]

Saudi club Al Hilal make 140m euro bid for Osimhen.

Honestly! Let the poor girl serve out her ban not treat her like she deliberately wanted to injure somebody. Two matches is more than fair enough.

FIFA should also spare us it was 'dangerous play' bs cos if they 'cared' that much they should have also found a way to sanction the Australian defender who kung-fu kicked Ohale.

daveP:
And now she can't play till quarterfinals. Unless fifa is telling us what we are afraid of hearing😂

Congrats to the SF for making it to the second round. Nobody gave them a hope of making it out of the group not especially with all the controversy that followed the team in the build up to the tournament.

Keep backing and supporting the girls against whoever we face in the second round at the very least they deserve that much.

Kudos to Waldrum and the ladies again for another disciplined performance.

Probably 1994-1996 era.

Attack: Yekini, Amokachi, Siasia with Ikpeba and Kanu as backups

Wingers: Finidi, Amuneke with Tijani B. and Garba Lawal as backups

Midfield: Oliseh, Okocha and Adepoju with Oruma and Karibe Ojigwe as backups

Defense: Uche Uchechukwu, Chidi Nwanu, Keshi, Uche Okafor, Taribo, Eguavoen, Celestine Babayaro and Ben Iroha

Goalkeeper: Rufai, Ike Shorunmu, Dosu Joseph and Emma Babayaro

Coaches: Westerhof, Bonfere and Amodu not world class but decent tacticians who could win you matches more often than not.

Amedino99:
maybe it's a curse. But then Has there even been a time in which we were fully stacked in all positions like the gk, defense, midfield, attack and coaching crew?