₦airaland Forum

Me sef go troll SA well tonight but this disgraceful performance by them only makes me vexed morw at Nigeria allowing this crap to happen. We messed up gaaan. I still maintain we need to raise the standards on how we analyse their games going forward.


How did these guys qualify convincingly over us? Why did we now get ginger when playoff was involved? Mehnnn!!!

Goke7:
💯 after a brilliant Afcon performance we should be seeing better performances from the boys! If Ronaldo had converted his chances all these dem try no go Dey. Maybe a team should whitewash the eagles so we can admit the inherent flaws that still exist in the team

Especially for that Performance at Afcon. It should be getting better. Senegal and Morocco are still getting better since then. CIV is even getting better. Im tired of us here trying to soften reality abeg. By now absence of 1 or 2 should not be a hindrance. Sadly that's just what it is.

TheSuperNerd:
Throwback Thursday

Jay Jay Okocha at PSG, 2001/2002 season…..

JayJay in the same team with Arsenal's future coach and USA's future coach

If not for the komodo dragons that are in charge of our Sports Administration and all, Someone like JJ should be head coach of at least one of the male teams. They've made it harder for the better ones to get near while we've seen one terrible one get the job and ruined things. Na handler-puppets just full all the cadet teams. They can't say No or demand better in any level. The system sucks alot.

JJ and Amuneke getting recognition on global stage but na potbellied politicians full Glass House. Nigeria!!


Are we going to get another Stephen Keshi soon?

Let me just say this here



Im seeing some rather dismissive posts about the performance yesterday. I know we can't all agree on how that game seemed but all these excuses and sidelining or overlooking is not helping this team. This is the peak of Nigerian football.


They're now absent from b2b World cups, and why we know some factors off pitch contributed, i think it is high time we demand even more from everyone that wants to wear this jersey. PLEASSSEEEEEEE.


Demand a higher standard in performance. Let's stop all these "eh. They still try. They still kept the scoreline at 2-1 against a fifa top team" and all that other pseudo-supportive tripe.


The anger felt at the 2022 WC miss at Abuja still lingers. The team knows they've let hundreds of millions down and have highlighted that in their press talks several times. But here we are once again!!


The bar has to be raised, everyone!!


Yes we have some lapses in the midfield but this team still relies heavily on individual brilliance, and some players that complain when not given the chance got it and fluffed it. Why should Ndidi who is way older be balling way better than an u30 player in the first place.?


We'll be fine but let's raise this bar. It doesn't mean we are harsh. They deserve anything they get for any mess up, especially for those that waste glaring chances and take things with levity.

See what CIV played France days ago. Habaa!!!


We need to raise the bar pls. Henceforth, IMO, im not going to be lenient whatsoever as regards performance. There's even a way you'll play and you'll lose but fans will know you gave your all on that pitch for 90mins. Yesternight was not such a night. It wasn't.

Mujtahida:
I really don't understand that FDB

The guy for just help himself and try a chemistry project with Iwobi. That would hav made him indispensable but he's overall surplus to requirements right now. He might do well as wingback sha.

minfelix:
Chukwueze is gradually losing that spark…he is threading the form of Iheanacho that made coach to discard from selection

Gradually ke? The spark was long gone since the qualifiers. When he pulled some assists, i was unfazed.

COOL10:
Another friendly against Portugal and once again our so called Nigerian "technical crew/backroom staff" decided to "famz" the Portuguese players, especially Ronaldo. The last time it was Finidi getting annoyed with Moses Simon because of Bruno Fernandez's shirt.

That's the issue. I think it also affected the mental approach to the game as well. They're psychologically tuned to see them as demigods.

Cr7 got pissed at some point at the famzing. He however was really comfortable with Bassey, Bruno and Akor Adams compared to the rest. Lol

Goke7:
Hmmmm!

The stats proved we were more on rhythm breaking than on setting the pace. Perhaps its time to try the Japanese style. It is easy to adapt to and we have players that fit. That 2 shots on target is an eyesore. Perhaps Lookman and Osimhen might have made it 6, who knows. But shooting still needs serious improvement.

Napoleon55:
Morocco is not even among the traditional powerhouse in African football talk less of world football.
They belong to the second tier powerhouse.
They need to maintain this form a bit longer to be among the main powerhouse.

No African team is qualified as powerhouse in senior world football.

main powerhouse
Nigeria
Cameron
Egypt
CIV
Ghana
Senegal

Second tier
Algeria
Morocco
Tunisia
SA
etc

Slightly agree with you but they and Senegal are ahead ahead across the years. As someone said, its not just talent that decides the label, facilities to groom such is key.


It was hilarious that the recent success of Zadok reignited the passion to train even better because the agent said he'll come back. I hope a dozen more get such chance too sha🤣

Odunayaw:
Which good? That we were all over the place and down 2 goals in the first place and might I had a shitty under the body gaffe by Uzoho?

It was good. Na gk spoil that game though. And it was way better than this portugal one.

Joebie:
Femi nko?

Femi did well as CF sha but he's a good add. Can't wait

Goke7:
Respectable score line but terrible performance

We need solutions for big games

This is the fact you just stated.

Once na big game, e dey be like na our players dey respect the opponents especially if they adored them on tv. But that one no concern Francophonie. Lol. They go ball you to stupor.

The way we played England that year was good too. 2-1 as well. That 2-1 and this 2-1 big difference dey.

I pray we get our own Bernado Silva one day. We need this possession and recycling revolution for all national teams. No be run run counter and individual brilliance abeg. Philosophy that hurts opponents is why Morocco and Senegal are currently powerhouses on the global stage. One day sha. This coach looks hungry.

Clint02:
So Chukwueze nor fit run with ball! My God

Because of Chuks i was praying hard that Nwaneri switches for us. No serious competition for this guy. Infact I'll take an Iheanacho at that wing over chuks

mostob:
Bro.. It's not even about the goals. His positioning is poor. There's how a goalie will position and XG will rapidly increase.

i tell you. Very terrible positioning. We've seen gk that were let down by their player leaving space but they positioned well to deny.

Martinez for Argentina is example. Becker and Raya too.

The search for goalies must continue under Eric Chelle if e wan win Afcon o. Else....

He also needs to drop some dead weight egbon from this team abeg.

I've mentally checked out from Maduka Okoye abeg. Naaaah. This consistency is unique. I can't make a case for him. There's a subset and Uzoho is currently in it, im about to add Okoye to that subset. 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️


That leaves Nwabali(rubbish antics) and Arthur Okonkwo(fresh) as the two to rely on.

This terrible treatment on the tarmac given African teams is an eyesore. Naaaah!!!

TheSuperNerd:
Some of the Biggest Winning Margins in African Women's Football History.⚽🔥

🇿🇦 South Africa 17-0 Comoros 🇰🇲 (2019 COSAFA Women's Championship)

🇰🇲 Comoros 17-0 Sudan 🇸🇩 (2028 Olympic Qualifiers) NEW

🇿🇲 Zambia 15-0 Mauritius 🇲🇺 (2019 COSAFA Women's Championship)

🇳🇬 Nigeria 15-0 Niger 🇳🇪 (2019 WAFU Women’s Cup)

🇬🇭 Ghana 13-0 Guinea 🇬🇳 (2004 WAFCON Qualifiers)

🇰🇲 Comoros 13-0 Sudan 🇸🇩 (2028 Olympic Qualifiers) NEW

🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 11-0 Niger🇳🇪 (2022 WAFCON Qualifiers)

🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 9-0 Niger 🇳🇪 (2022 WAFCON Qualifiers)

🇳🇬 Nigeria 8-0 Morocco 🇲🇦 (1998 WAFCON)

🇨🇲 Cameroon 8-0 Gambia 🇬🇲 (2022 WAFCON Qualifiers)

Sourced by PulseNigeria.

I really feel for Sudan, Niger and Comoros mehn. 😱😱🥶🫨

isan:
You can only beat what's in front of you and that's what magudu has done ...when that tough opponent comes and magudu fails you can say whatever but right now you've nothing to say ...for me magudu falcons plays better football than waldrum falcons ....can waldrum score 5 goals against Zambia ? He will score 1 goal then sit back

Let me just reapply your stance back at you then.


Since Waldrum has been there and we all saw how he did vs these superpowers, something we've never seen in 2 decades, then accord him that respect.

Did the football we played vs Canada and England at last mundial trump whatever we played at the La Decima? Tok true?

We have been playing "better football" on the Wafcon level for too long. It has never been in doubt. But when we reach international waters, we are drowned. Waldrum restored that level. To qualify for Olympics kon be problem until this man. To take a top ranked team like France and England to the last breath was unexpected for a caf team. Waldrum did that.

We'll fly the "better coach flag" if Madugu can repeat a KO stage football if he's going to take this team to the mundial. Till then....

Waldrum has faced the tougher and more highly ranked opponents and changed some bizarre records for the Super Falcons on the international stage. Madugu has excelled on the African continent only.


When Madugu makes the ladies play in such a way the average naija fan sees an L vs an International team but is happy at the fight the girls put up tactically, maybe we can put them in the same discussion.

You want to suddenly argue he's better? Let's not forget this team was cheated twice enroute afcon finals under Randy.

Present continuous

Victor Moses scored Nigeria's last world cup goal.

Ahmed Musa scored 4/23 of our total goals at 6 world cups

Since 1998, our total goals tally at one tournament has dropped till 2018 when we scored 5. Any coincidence this had to do with the rise of 9s and the decline of 10s like Okocha?

We've also NEVER relied on control and possession. Just counter attacks and individual brilliance(Musa and Kalu Uche)

Each year, we keep getting different managers for the mundial but so far, it looks like we've never fixed what was broken despite all the blessings in personnel.


Alex Iwobi has been a large part of our creativity engine room since Rohr took us to 2018. That's almost a decade. While he's not like his uncle, we still seem to struggle when he's not on board.


As it stands, we aren't even serious about Iwobi replacement anywhere as even the cadet teams are dead unlike the female teams.

If it was going to take 5years to create one teen from the lab to be what we need, intentionality and rigour, we will solve this half problem we currently face.



Our midfield needs to rise again.

2 or 3 Midfielders that played in Nigeria in 2009 u17 have been in vogue until this year from other countries.

I think i respect managers that analyzed and saw this problem and took a different but efficient approach to this vacuum, JPES in particular. What he did that year was a temporary fix.


However, we can't continue like this. We need to grow our own Iniesta, Xavi, Busquet from the same level and watch them grow together and see at least 2/3 grad from u15 to u17 to u20 to u23 and senior team. We can kickstart such a project and yield immense results regardless of the bottlenecks that comes with it.

From 7 goals to 3 goal to 1 is shameful tally.

AndSunGorilla:
Ehen, when a team loses, a coach gets the stick, when they win, he must get the flowers even if his half time talk is go and so calisthenics on the field.

That's leadership for you.


Many Great Managers lost a final as luck was the difference and they still get the stick or the buck stops at their table. That's for highly tactical managers o.

Not to tok of managers that didn't impact the team tactically.

Not to talk of managers that were temporary handlers and clinched silverware with an already solid team.


All will still get the final buck of greatnes or blame on their sleeves. That does not now mean that they are indeed obviously the big difference.


Samson Siasia is a good example with u23. He lost many finals and still no Nigerian is in doubt of what he does to players approach to games.

I can't believe someone just said Madugu is better than waldrum. Chai.


Make i stop before they say na sentiments 😣😣

minfelix:
Like this im even limiting Morocco win to only vs Haiti🤣

Their backline go hearam

Amedino99:
Young, plays in the premier league for a traditional top 4 team already, scored in the premier league. His 3 lions debut was only a matter of time and never in doubt. The last english talent that plays for a top 4 team and we wrestled from England was iwobi. And that was only possible through Okocha and the fact that we gave him his first cap without even minding that he had no prior senior team minutes under his belt. Take out okocha out of the equation and we wont have iwobi right now. We play under unfair circumstances in this player transition climate.

Sad we have funny rules when it comes to Nigerian football space. Nonsense talk like "his time will come" OR "Many are ahead of him. He should be patient" naim dey kee naija footie. And na 90s set tok this nonsense pass.


No be say we sabi pass those that are doing it sef.

17yo, 18yo. Others are breaking the barriers with raw talent, we still dey do pyramid of seniority.

If Ngomoha, Nwaneri and Zadok were in u17 camp, Na bribery and corruption dey go use drop them. If they're lucky to make u17 team and dazzle, they no go gree Eric Chelle to include them directly into senior team.

Damioduso1:
Morocco will beat Scotland abd qualify has second place team behind Brazil or even too Brazil self



Senegal may finished second or third in the group they will also qualify


Algeria may finished Second or third and qualifier has best losers if they can beat Austria

The. Likes of Ghana, Tunisia, Cape Verde, DR Congo group stage exist likely

only 2/10 fit do anything significant. SA and CIV go sha see net to score compared to these ones.

opes:
Salah won more than 7. How about Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien?

Should be 5 and 7. I don't think it's more than 7 for Salah.

minfelix:
Morocco will chop Scotland and Haiti like fufu….Senegal group is tough sha(France and Norway)

these two may not do much in the world cup even if i also expect their pedigree to show. I hope so too.

I don't expect much from the CAF reps in this World Cup despite the 10 slots. Based on their groups quality and personal acumen, i only see 2 going to the KO stages

CIV and maybe Algeria


The group Senegal and Morocco are in will be dicey.

List of Africa's most decorated EPL based Players Trophy haul

Didier Drogba: 14
Riyad Mahrez: 12
John Obi Mikel: 11
Yaya Touré: 8
Nwankwo Kanu: 6
Kolo Touré: 6
Mohamed Salah: 7



It is currently hard for any Super Eagles player to dare play for a top 6 EPL team, talk less, top 4.


The two Nigerians that did this did it for London clubs(Chelsea and Arsenal)


If we want to see a repeat of these Nigerian numbers, then one SE player has to not just break into a top 4 team, they must become an integral part across at least 5 seasons without change of managers ending their relevance to the team. That's the standard.


I saw a list of the trophy wins of SE Players across their respective leagues this ended season of 25/26 and my throat got dry. Taye Taiwo na Marseille Legend but none of the SE defenders fit get top club to enterand unseat the player in the position. Na soso mistable clubs or nontop 5 league football.


What's Cypriot League sef? 😤😤

Whatever excuse will be cooked, we need to see SE players back at the top with EPL teams abeg. To not make it an only EPL team, make i add French join.

We might need to sign a good DM too.


But nothing will please me most for that Attack to click as we've already settled this Defensive mentality side. Yes we beat Bayern o. But of we get attack like theirs

Diaz and Olise fearless and decisive and masters of take ons and switch moves, e go sweet.

What's even funny is how it is obvious our attack is still on hibernating mode. They're not on their best and most lethal level even as we've gone this far. The way that back line is solid and chemistry and all, that kind telepathic understanding between the forwards go sweet. And one of the ways to achieve this is partnership style. Two or three players that understands each other and how their brains work when attacking, just like dem Pires, Henry, Bergkamp Ljungberg that year. Most times these guys barely look up before a pass cos they already know henry or Pires will be just there.


I can't wait to see our attack shadow the defense in reputation next season, especially now that Pep is not here with his crazy run ins momentum.

It's annoying to see Bruno have way better workrate than Eze at this age.

I pray for her rise up again

BlueRayDick:
You actually think Havertz will move away from Arsenal at this stage? Isn't it clear enough that he's one of Arteta's fave?

Also, I don't see Arteta moving away from Odegaard in that AM/CM role. Being the team's captain gives Odegaard some kind of insurance that will always guarantee his place in the team except he goes completely out of form and Eze is given chance. The fact that Odegaard has very good work rate while Eze is the exact opposite will always make Odegaard Arteta's preferred choice in that middle except we get another player which seem to be very unlikely.

I think Merino will most likely play more as a false 9 like he did last season when he was banging in goals. I just hope that will not stop Berta from getting a decent striker to fill the vaccum Gabriel Jesus' departure will create in our frontline.

Na why i put am under possibly na 😀

They might get Odegaard replacement early on sha. Eze doesn't look like who wan put body for press. Na yoriyori football him like. 2022 season football for sweet for Eze but e don tey.