₦airaland Forum

Pray it doesn't turn out that way egbon.

Kog45:
Wahala be say when Olympics comes na to fall yakata

US really hammer Paraguay wetin no good lol.

Nice seeing some Nigerian representation in Balogun who scored twice (small consolation)

Poch looks to have the Americans well drilled. Quarterfinals look like a realistic prospect for them.

You saw the future Doc 9.72s pity it was wind aided so can't be deemed official.

Kanyin is smashing that African record at this pace.

However the highlight is definitely Star Man Ogazi!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS 43.37s!

Fourth fastest man ever over 400m!

Pray they both stay healthy, fit, and in form for the next couple of years. Very optimistic of them medaling at the world champs next year and Olympics in 2028.

Honorable mention to Israel Okon clinching silver at the NCAA in a time of 19.99s despite being injured.

TheSuperNerd:
Na NCAA final I dey wait for. Let him just take Gold there first. More Sub 10s to come... but I expect another 9.8 in the final.

Meanwhile we have a Javelin Champ at the NCAAs. 23 y/o Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi. 82.26m just below his PB but enough for the win.

We have fine athletes rising, my good man.

Nicolas Jover would be having a fit

mostob:
DaveP Chrisooblog

Seeing the way these Canadians are wasting corner kicks eh is just somehow. 9 corner kicks, no goal. Na wa o

This World Cup sef.

A player being denied entry? C'mon!

Not a WC historian but has this ever happened?

This pandora box they are opening with all this entry denials.

What stops a player in future tournaments being denied entry by their host country because they don't like his politics?

TheSuperNerd:
Thomas Partey denied entry Visa into Canada. Will miss Ghana's 1st game.

https://x.com/i/status/2065477729529499841

Ok.

forgiveness:
Instead of you to admit your error, your usual self will resort to harm twisting and bojuboju tricks.

Elopa explanation can woe only those who does understand the game and those who are prejudice against Ajayi else he won't mention limitation when all players have limitation. Na from myopic eyes em take talk am and you took it in hook, line and sinker. That's disappointing.

We are talking about National team and individual brilliance. This is a personal opinion not set in stone. Maybe you think your opinion is the CONSTITUTION we have to abide by.

For real Doc.

TheSuperNerd:
Na NCAA final I dey wait for. Let him just take Gold there first. More Sub 10s to come... but I expect another 9.8 in the final.

Meanwhile we have a Javelin Champ at the NCAAs. 23 y/o Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi. 82.26m just below his PB but enough for the win.

We have fine athletes rising, my good man.

And you're standing logic on its head.

So if you're saying Ajayi played CB when Benjamin was fit what does that imply Mr. Comprehension skills?

If you can't grasp what EElopa explained that's your problem not mine.

Ajayi was porous for the SE when he was younger so I that your shalaye about better recovery when younger won't fly.

Ambrose that played highest in Scotland is better than Aina?

I no follow argue with you again. If you like say Ajayi is the best defender we've had in 20 years na you know.

forgiveness:
You lack comprehension skills or you are deliberately twisting my point.

At no point did I say Ajayi was the reason Benjamin didn't play CB against Congo. The point is, Ajayi played even when Benjamin was fit. EOD.

Eelopa submission lacks substance. It can't stand the test of truth. He was prejudiced in his submission because we saw Ajayi thread the ball forward many times. Na only agenda people go come here they lie. Infact, Ajayi loves doing that alone. Watch match.

Benjamin is better in recovery because he is young and pacy while Ajayi is getting older and slower.

Ambrose better pass Aina for that in Green white green. Osimhen is better because of APOTY. Spot the difference.

Egbon you're now getting the point we're making. Due to the limitation of 60-70% of our players our national team will never reach the heights we dream and hope for.

Yes SE is not like club football where you can discard and buy players but we need to sharpen our scouting and squad selection skills to get to the next level.

The players we currently are only good enough to maybe win AFCON. I say maybe because Senegal, Morocco, and Ivory Coast are improving everyday and will leave us in the dust if we don't wake up.

Kog45:
Oga going by your explanation 60% of our players should be discarded cuz they are limited...see football is a game that only tactics wins it....Cameroon players in Italian 90 are very limited and what happened..see football goes beyond limitation,coaches uses what they have to win simple.

Ajayi rusty or not rusty we know what he brings to the table. He's not a horrible defender but he's also not great.

As Eelopa so eloquently explained Ajayi is limited and will unlikely reach the heights of a great defender in contrast to Bassey and Benjamin who are on that path.

You're being economic with the truth suggesting Ajayi was the reason Benjamin didn't play CB against Congo. Have you forgotten so soon how us fans were clamoring for Fredricks to play RB due to how poor Osayi was during that period?

Novice player yet Chelle trusted him to play a position in a high stakes game like the WC qualifier a position he hadn't played before for the SE o!

I've seen Benjamin play high pressure WC qualifiers and he was consistently our best defender in all those games that's enough proof.

What does your last paragraph even mean? Ambrose has won AFCON and gone to WC is he better than Aina? Is Emenike better than Osimhen because he won AFCON?

Honestly SMH.

forgiveness:
Oga! Ajayi was rusty because he wasn't playing for his club. That's why he wasn't called in the first place. This was prior to the qualifiers.

When he got his foot back in his team, he got invited again. That's pure fact.

Now, concerning Congo match, he claimed if Benjamin was fit, Ajayi will seat but I used that as a reference point to prove otherwise.

Ajayi still played when Benjamin was fit. Why he played in that maych no concern me. How is that revisionism? Abi em no play?

Point is, it is the coach that determines which player plays in any game.

Fredrick is better even without doing anything for SE? Who go remember him better? Until he performs at AFCON and gets us a medal, we can say he is better but for now it is your wishful thinking and only on nairaland.com.

Gbam! Wish I could give this a double like.

Nothing more to be said.

EElopa:
Some of you guys can't seem to understand that there are levels to football. If Nigeria's Super Eagles are serious about winning the AFCON or perhaps making a deep run in the 2030 World Cup, a player like Semi Ajayi needs to be weeded out of the team. I have nothing against Semi Ajayi; he has represented his country well and, to be honest with you, has performed better than significantly more talented players in that position. There are levels to this game, mate. Did you even watch the South Korea game yesterday? Did you not see how every single South Korean player on that team was completely comfortable on the ball and could run and advance with the ball and how they all could thread the ball comfortably to the midfielders without aimlessly booting the ball down the field? Semi Ajayi is not a ball-playing defender, and every time he gets the ball, he simply does not have the ability to comfortably carry the ball and thread in a pass to a midfielder. Go back and watch Nigeria vs. Morocco and see how the Moroccan coach specifically tasked his players to press hard against Nigeria every time the ball goes to Semi Ajayi. Benjamin Fedricks, Emmnuel Fernandez, and Chibuike Nwaiwu are ball-playing defenders. These are the kind of players that take a team to a different level because they can advance with the ball and they can thread a pass to a midfielder in behind a hard press. This is the reason Emmanuel Fernandes is attracting interest from Dortmund; Benjamin Fredricks will soon be a starter at Brentford and Bayer. Laverkusen submitted 20 million euros for Nwaiwu, which Trabzonspor rejected. Seyi Ajayi has done well for Nigeria, but he is a limited player, and there are levels to this game, mate. If Nigeria wants to get back to the levels we were in in the 90s, players like Semi Ajayi and Sanusi should be thanked for their services and retired from the national team. Good guys but are simply limited players.

Exactly! Ajayi like you rightly said has earned his stripes however if I know my team will face a high profile forward with tools to hurt me Semi is unlikely to be my first choice especially when I have Benjamin available.

Any argument against Benjamin should first remember his performance against Gabon when he displaced Aubameyang, traveled with the ball from the midfield and still had the presence of mind to give Osimhen a perfectly tailored pass. Which of our CB in recent memory has done that?

The only part I disagree with you is Ajayi place in our hierarchy of defenders. After Bassey and Benjamin Ajayi. Ogbu, Fernandez, and Nwaiwu still have to prove themselves even if you feel they have a higher ceiling than Ajayi.

Sugarboyy:
I don't think Ajayi was very poor, rather I feel it was just his normal way of defending. Aside being good aerially, to me he doesn't have any other qualities as a defender. I will pick Fernandez, Nwaiwu and Fredrick over Ajayi in the SE CB position.
That said, I don't think Chelle removed Ajayi in that match because he was playing badly, rather to test new formation and that's why Bruno a left footed was moved to the CB to pair Bassey, another left footed when Fernandez was on the bench

Egbon I think you're referring to Zaidu. He was the one the Portuguese winger deleted before unleashing that shot.

The first goal Akpan lost his man who passed to Neto. Ajayi tried to engage Neto but he was too sharp with his movement in beating Semi before he scored.

Kog45:
I just watched one of the goal again...Bruno failed to mark the scorer,fact he gave him the space to shoot and nothing Maduka can do about it,the two goals Maduka view was blocked cuz the scorer drove Bruno from LB to the edge of 18 yard and took the shot and the samething happened through RB......well on Ajayi,i asked him why he was so harsh on Ajayi?Bassey was even caught out of positions than Ajayi in that game but Calvin Bassey was brave in his game,but his point on Ajayi i no understand o cuz calling a player washed just like that...the team did well with the absence of Osimhen,Lookman,Aina and Osayi

Ajayi is a solid CB that still years to offer in the SE not doubt.

That said I think you're engaging in a bit of historic revisionism.

Benjamin played in the RB position because Osayi was shaky in that position in the prior games we played and the coaching crew felt since it's Congo who don't carry so much of a threat and Ajayi not being a liability in the defense we should be able to cope.

Benjamin mind you was benching even Ekong so it wasn't so much if Ajayi was figuring for his club but who was the best in that CB role.

When everybody is fit Benjamin is a starter.

Ajayi is solid backup but Fredricks is better.

For example Akor is a good striker and solid player but if I have to choose between him and Osimhen to start bros na Victor all the way.

forgiveness:
Why did Ajayi play CB against Congo when Benjamin was fit? Stop talking trash.

Benjamin got opportunity to play because Ajayi was rusty. He didn't get to play at the beginning of the season but as soon as he got playing time, he was called immediately. That tells you how much Chelle rates him.

Moreover, Ajayi has played regularly in AFCON and contributed in getting us to the finals. Until the aforementioned players get us to that level, we can have a reasonable debate but for now, they are understudying Ajayi.

Of course, Ajayi is old and we can start looking for his replacement. I mean age and future planning are the only factors that will relegate Ajayi in that team. No mu.mu coach will drop him for juveniles.

Well said! I think Nigerian fans we suffer from two extreme views. We have the best talent and are world contrasted with we are absolutely overated and piss poor.

The truth is we are a mid tier national with some outstanding talent that if we play to our potential should easily be qualifying for WCs and reaching/winning AFCON finals.

Now the harsh truth is that we're currently not close to the top tier sides and that will take at least 2 decades of talent discovery, organizational acumen, and sustainable financing to fill.

At the moment we can only settle for giving the best teams a run for their money. Beating such teams means A. we were either lucky on the day. B. They were uncharacteristically terrible or C. Both.

SymphonyRad:
I don't know why this is so hard for these people to grasp, the absence of one or two top level players significantly affects the dynamics of a game...if we had Felix Agu, Aina, Nwabali, Osimhen, Lookman, Benjamin, Nwaiwu and even Femi Azeez...our odds of converting those chances Akor, Chukwueze and Moffi missed would have been higher. The presence of these aforementioned players would have made that game more cagey and competitive...the fact that we didn't field our best backline (Akpan was too green, Zaidu is not good enough to be our starting LB, Ajayi was rusty and is behind Benjamin and Fernandez in the order now) yet limited a world class Portuguese attack to shots outside of our box actually shows we did better than expected.

100% We didn't come up with the rules they did.

Sugarboyy:
If we support S/A at this world cup, them fit use am accuse us say we they collect their jobs

Bruuh!

charlesemeka85:
SA DEY PLAY NONSENSE AS ANTICIPATED

EVEN THIS MEXICO TEAM IS THEIR WORST I HV SEEN IN MANY YEARS

Off topic Kanyinsola ran 9.94 another sub 10s. 9th in his career.

@Supernerd @PDPGuy hope he can become the male torch bearer in the sprints which we have lacked for so long.

Thanks Doc. These are the options I want our handlers to be unearthing enough with energy and power!

TheSuperNerd:
AM is hard to see as almost no African midfielder stays an AM in Europe for long but the Slavia wonderlad, Mubarak Suleiman is a technical workhorse. Good at AM (played there in the UYL & his first 2 slavia senior games) and also a box to box CM. I would give him a try. Lad has already been mentioned to Chelle but the coach has not specifically asked for options yet in that role. He was more focused on RB as that was the position we had zero personnel in headed to both Poland and Portugal friendlies.

Also, once Christantus Uche gets it going again in Spain, he will be another strong option at AM, CM. We saw him at Getafe at AM and CM... aside the CF/SS roles Bordalas utilised him in.

Another is Ebenezer Akinsanmiro... a mezzala CM profile... and ofcos David Moses of Slavia Praha.

We have seen Nnadi, Tijani and Alhassan (again) but it is clear we need more quality depth in the middle especially with Onyedika still trying hard to convince.


As for more CM-beasts... CIES-recognised U21 youngsters like... Ridwan Popoola (see video below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxipLJFVgII?si=wEwuUQvHiEcqj242

....and John Otomewo (see video below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6NBtJ0uzVk?si=75s6SWxejDgXkQ_Q

....can be given chances as they look like profiles that instantly bring beastly qualities alongside heightened on-ball quality to the middle.

There are others like Mukhtar Adamu and co but I would want those ones to get more senior apps under their belt.





At LB.... Zaidu would be history once an in-form Felix Agu returns and once we give chances to Isaac James (Alverca) or Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice). Bruno cant be the only LB we rely on.

Was eagerly waiting to hear your opinion on Azeez Chief. Correct player, ambidextrous, and crosses well with both feet.

In your informed opinion why doesn't Nigeria produce technically procient CMs and AMs? In the past we had Oliseh, Adepoju, Oruma, Jay Jay and co. Nowadays nobody can turn and beat the press. Advancing with the ball too na fight! Heck most of the SE midfielders can't hit a shot on target to save their live.

Ibime:
Super Eagles done get 4 better wingers

Lookman, Philip Otele, Femi Azeez and Zadok Yohanna

Osimhen go too chop assist from Femi Azeez leg. My type of winger, no time wasting, chop and cross or chop and shoot

I never want to see Chukwueze, Simon and Ejuke again.

For me Chelle and all our scouts diaspora or otherwise need to find an AM, and CM like their lives depended on it.

Yes another LB to eventually replace or compete with Bruno (As far as I'm concerned yesterday should be Zaidu's last cap)

I think we're ok with the strikers we have. Moffi or even Onuachu would thrive if our midfield was more creative and dominant. Awoniyi still has something to offer I think.

Trust me bro once we get our creativity in the middle of the park sorted it will be everywhere stew.

lbrichman2:
I love how Bewene and Azeez grabbed the opportunity..

We need atleast 2 CMs, 2 LBs and 1 more striker

Or even check the ball with your right then pass to Moffi on your left but na dribble with top class defenders around you option he take.

Thankfully Azeez is around the corner so we don't have to manage his yeye play again.

mostob:
Play the ball forward and run across the defender. It's either the defender foul him or Moffi get a free run.

Chukwueze is just not serious

My brother I weak.

Osimhen's pass to Akor against Algeria just came to mind.

lbrichman2:
Even me that's not a professional, I know to just pass the ball in front of the defender for Moffi to run to and be one on one with the keeper

Chukwueze is too frustrating and hasn't grown over the years

Good workout yesterday for the SE.

No shame losing to one of the best teams in the world and WC favorites.

I personally think the game was a great way to gauge the team's current level. For Africa in the short term we're good but for long term competitiveness and success at global level there's load of work to be done.

For immediate and long term success, emphasis should be placed on scouting and grooming highly technical and creative type midfielders. Whether in the diaspora or local level we should prioritize looking for midfielders who will give our midfield that creative spark missing at the moment. Energy is covered we need more flair and ball retention skill set.

More LB options required as cover and competition for Bruno.

These are my humble thoughts, now player ratings from yesterday's match.

Okoye - 6: Good solid performance. Made a few nice saves. Couldn't do much in preventing the goals he conceded. Needs to be more vocal and commanding in controlling his box area so his defenders will try harder to prevent shots on his goal.

Akpan - 5: Decent debut. Struggled in phases of the game but wasn't atrocious. Not easy facing that high level of competition on your first international bow but he will improve.

Bruno - 6: Very solid performance. Often snuffed out danger. Couldn't contribute as much offensively which is understandable considering the caliber of the opposition.

Ajayi - 5.5: Was caught out a few times but generally solid. Was calm in possession. Gave the ball away a couple of times but was firm when needed.

Bassey - 6.5: One of our better performers on the night. Energetic, robust, and unyielding. Knew when to commit a technical foul especially when we were under pressure. Though his ball distribution became porous especially in the latter stages of the second half.

Ndidi - 6: Best midfield performance for me for the team on the night. Calm in possession and tried as much as possible to progress the play especially during transitions. Tired out as the game wore on.

Nnadi - 5.5: Ran his sucks off and battled bravely against his more established opponents which wasn't an easy feat. Struggled to impose his game reflected in his mixed passes. All told very creditable performance. Did well too in the forward press.

Iwobi - 4: Not the best of games for the Centurion. Gave the ball away a couple of times and seemed off the pace. Worked hard in the press but couldn't keep up with the Portuguese midfielders who breezed past him on occasion. His trademark incisive passing in the final third was missing yesterday.

Fisayo - 5: Energetic and full of running. Apart from his assist for the goal didn't do much worthy of note from an attacking standpoint. Was effective in the press.

Simon - 5: Showed flashes especially in the first half but didn't really trouble the Portuguese backline that much.

Akor - 7.5: One man battalion. Troubled the Portuguese defense and didn't give them a moments peace throughout the 1st half. His pressing was spot on and was our main attacking threat. Almost single handedly fashioned his goal out of nothing. Impressed with how he badgered Dias off the ball before collecting FDB's pass to calmly slot in. Wasn't as effective in the second half due to lack of adequate supply.

Subs:

Zaidu - 3: Poor performance bordering on diabolical. His energetic and robust play is no longer covering his lack of tactical and technical nous. We definitely need an upgrade in that LB position like yesterday.

Moffi - 4.5: Worked hard in pressing but couldn't do much also due to lack of supply.

Bekene - 5: Came in and settled the RB better. Did very well to intercept a few Portuguese counters. Wasn't able to contribute offensively due to pressure from the Portuguese.

Onyedika - 4.5: His inclusion initially looked to have settled the midfield and brought more stability but his lack of bravery and attacking intent turned me off. I expect better for someone of his technical abilities.

Onyeka - 4.5: Worked hard but struggled to match the more technically adept Portuguese midfielders.

Onuachu - 4: Works hard and puts himself about but struggles to fit in with the teams general tactical setup. Not an attack on him as a player but just the brutal truth of what he brings to the team currently.

Chukwueze - 3.5: Deviod of the instant impact of the bench he was expected to bring. Spoilt a very promising counter.

Full makes to Eric Chelle and the technical crew for setting up the team well. Different personnel in different positions and the outcome could have been better.

Water Break.

Portuguese started the 2nd half strong.

Chelle did well with the subs to restore a bit of balance to the game.

Iwobi coming out of his shell now with more runners around him.

Is someone actually blaming Okoye for that goal?

EElopa:
How can anybody who watches ball blame the goalkeeper for that goal? some of you guys are really got to be kidding me. Some of you guys have an agenda towards this boy, and it is really sickening. Absolutely sickening and disgusting. The Portuguese goalkeeper currently rated among the top 10 goalkeepers in the world conceded a goal that if Okoye had conceded, the whole Naija Okoye hater twitter would have been on fire.

Very good first half. Gave as much as we have been given so far.

Good front press. Midfield has held its own against arguably the best midfield in the world at the moment.

Impressed so far by Akpan. Pity Neto's goal came through his side of the pitch.

Akor my SE player of the match so far not just because of his goal but his overall energetic play mixed with quality.

Bassey, Ndidi, Nnadi, and Akor so far my standout performers.

Yes we gave the Portuguese a few easy openings but I can overlook because we were trying to be positive in a few transitions and left ourselves sparse at the back.

AndSunGorilla:
Look at you, you don't have faith in your own country!!!!!

World Cup starts tomorrow my predictions

Winner: Brazil with my full chest. Something just tells me the Samba Boys could win an unlikely six title. Weather favours them too.

Golden Boot: Mbappe/Kane.

Tournament MVP: Vinicius if Brazil wins. He will be absolutely key to them winning.

Breakout Star: Yamal.

Golden Gloves: Allison Becker.

Surprise Team: Norway. Think Haaland and Odegaard will reck havoc.

African Team: Tipping Ivory Coast to reach the Quarters, Senegal don't look too dynamic, Morocco don't have that surprise factor again.

My money is on Don Carlo.

TheSuperNerd:
Every World Cup since the first edition in 1930 has been won by a nation coached by someone of same nationality.


Top Favorites for the 2026 WC and their coaches are:

- Spain (Spanish Coach - Luis De La Fuente)

- France (French Coach - Didier Deschamps)

- Portugal (Spanish Coach - Robero Martinez)

- Argentina (Argentine Coach - Lionel Scaloni)

- England (German Coach - Thomas Tuchel)

Can Martinez's Portugal or Tuchel's England break this tradition? WC kicks off tomorrow (June 11)... so time will tell.

Jackson sef!

The Senegalese need to clear their heads. This is the big leagues you need to bring your A-game from the start.

No room for slow starts.

TheSuperNerd:
Friendly results...

Senegal 0-0 Saudi Arabia.

Could not break down the Arabians. Nicolas Jackson red card too after coming on.

Bro your argument is bordering on gas lighting now.

Everyone has given very realistic and logical takes on the realities of living in Northern Islamic communities and you're still insisting on 'respect'

What "disrespect" did that woman in Abuja evangelizing on the street commit before she was brutally killed?

We should not normalize condemnable behavior by trying to use "disrespect" as a camouflage.

monerozi5590:
This thread is just a reflection of how Southerners think about Northerners. This thread is a good case study.

This thread is made up of more than 99 percent Southerners. So no need explanation anything again. You guys should carry on with with whatever you think. I am done here.