₦airaland Forum

mostob:
That's not an excuse. Infact, that first start is when he should be overly-audacious because he is trying to fight for a starting spot.

What excuse are you talking about exactly?

Playmakers are supposed to control the midfield while dictating the play, not their job to create a lot of chances. Their main job is to dominate the play by their awareness and techniques! Go figure with Xavi or Modric. They control the midfield and also dictate the play while keeping the ball flowing to the attackers, as well as raising/upping the flow when needed.

Even the Seri that dominated Nigeria's midfield in the final, how many chances did he create?

Of course some are quite audacious by creating a lot which is also good and Aribo is actually capable of creating, going by his display in the last afcon but the Guinea Bissau match was his first start in the afcon, hence he would be cautious. However he controlled that match. Aribo controlled that match which was what Nigeria's team needed because Guinea Bissau couldn't threaten Nigeria or get a sniff but had to resort to feeding on scraps until Aribo left, after which Guinea Bissau started playing like world champions and even scored a goal which was cancelled.

As I already stated, those who were wailing because Aribo didn't create much in that match were quite stupid because as soon as he left the match, guinea Bissau got back into the match and created some good chances while even scoring a goal which was cancelled. As a matter of fact, Aribo's performance against Bissau actually reminded me of his CM performance against Sudan in the last afcon where the match suddenly changed to Sudan having much control as soon as Aribo left the pitch which was to rest him since Nigeria was already winning 3-1 in bag . Only thing was he wasn't as creative as he was in the last afcon.

Speaking of creativity sef, I recall Aribo's forward pass to the forward run of Bassey or was it Simon? before Simon made a floating pass to the run of Osimhen who almost scored a goal but missed it. In fact, the team were having a blast in that match, aside the fact that Nigeria midfield were dominating the play while limiting Guinea Bissau to feed on only scraps until Aribo left the pitch and the game became open with Guinea-Bissau creating good chances and even scored. So yeah, Aribo didn't create much like he always did but he controlled that midfield!

As I said already, Go check Aribo stat against Bissau, if your eyes are blind. Of course he wasn't audacious by creating much like he did in the last afcon but that was expected since it was his first start of the tournament however he controlled that midfield.

komekn:
We are saying the same thing essentially.

Modern top level DM can not be one dimensional.

All these attributes do you see them in Ndidi , Onyeka and Onyedika.❓

I haven't seen enough of Onyedika to make my opinion on him. I know he's not a playmaker but If he can read his position quite well, as well as be able to provide passing option for the defence while building up the play from the defence. He could be decent if he could do that. He would only need a playmaker beside him who would take it from there.

komekn:
Let's talk about the DM and or holding midfielder role. That role is absolutely crucial, and it's the core strength and for many it's where things are orchestrated from.

Classic example is Rodri Spain and Manchester City. He can attack shootong and short both feet, with an array of passes that are precise long and short. He can tackle, anticipate and intercept..He has the skill set to dominate in 1v 1 situation, his ball holding and ability to do defence splitting passes excellent he can dribble and is unpredictable. Add to that the ability to defend,
robustly and tackle aggressively.

What I've described is the modern day quintessential quality top level DM ( Holding Midfielder orchestrator)

Now tell me which of these attributes can be associated with Onyedika, Onyeka and Ndidi, who you want to build the team around.

A few informative screen shots to anchor ⚓ my opinion which is not just mine alone. See below

A system is only as good as the players you have playing it.

I think 🤔 you should have a rethink.

Holding midfield role has 2 different types. There are playmaking holding midfielders like Alonso, Kroos, Rodri, Busquet etc. While there are defensive holding midfielders such as Rice, Bissouma etc..

Generally, holding midfielders should have good awareness, ability to read the game, good positional discipline and ability to provide passing lane option for the defence in order to build/transition the play from the back defence. Their job isn't to run around.

On the other hand, the playmaking holding midfielders have got playmaking attributes such as good technique, much better awareness, ability to dictate the tempo of play etc, added with the aforementioned attributes already mentioned however they may not be as defensively solid as the defensive holding midfielders but they've equally got the ability to read the game and good positional discipline nonetheless as a holding midfielder.

Nigeria is the largest African exporter out there and is far better than several African countries as a matter of fact.

Anyways, best for Nigeria is to ensure Nigeria key into the advantage of this by ensuring more production at home. Nigeria have got good soil and good climate for agriculture for example. Hence more Agricultural products through mechanized farming and agro industrialization. The State governors and senators have to key into it by investing more in the combination of mechanized farming and agro industries as a matter of fact.

yinkeys:
Nwabali poor position in that corner kick
He didn’t time or track the ball well
He came out and they scored the corner
1st goal was partly his fault
The second goal, Aina was caught off balance trying to recover and didn’t expect that winger would switch to crossing mode quickly
It was really quick plus Ekong didn’t pressure Haller I believe
Sad day
Our boys were so close.
They will have to go again next year and learn from their mistakes in hostile North African zone
I was tensed watching the game yesterday not to talk of the players who were seeing a sea of orange throughout the stadium
Was very hard to pick out Nigerian fans
I no sure say dem reach 1000 sef
I doubt Okoye is good enough to make the eagles though
More experience and mistakes then he’d be ready

Wouldn't blame Nwabali much. He tried in the tournament. Same way I wouldn't blame Aina who also had a good tournament in the defence. I can't blame the defence much. Point was the defence had a lot to deal with because Cote D'Ivoire dominated a lot and controlled the play while constantly setting free their attackers to overwhelm Nigeria's defence. It was only a matter of time when Cote D'Ivoire would break through, except if Nigeria's midfield had dominated the play to force back Cote D'Ivoire but Nigeria's midfield couldn't. Aina was mostly left one on one to deal with Cote D'Ivoire's constant attack without much help from the wing forward in front of him and he actually handled it well most of the times while reducing Andriga to only crossing few time. First Cote's goal was from a corner kick which the left defence couldn't handle. While second goal was from a late cross which Ekong couldn't handle.

As I said, the defence had it coming because it was constantly getting overwhelmed since Cote D'Ivoire dominated and controlled the play.

Anyways, the team tried. As I already said, I didn't expect anything after they lost to Guinea just before the beginning of the tournament.

minfelix:
with this statistics, nobody should come here again and hype one nonsense golden generation playing an 8team- Afcon tournament and getting beaten at almost all the final…imagine cameroon beating you in 3finals…abeg abeg mae una free iwobi and co, their predecessors were the main all time underachieving over-hype golden generation….Iwobi this Iwobi that.
intimidating young Nigerians playing their heart out for the nation…i follow Bafana Bafana page…see the massive support and how they rallied behind their players after that penalty loss to eagles…our own because Aina loss penalty some idiots have started talking him down….all these useless black smelling teeth analyst masquerading themselves as super eagles fans na God go punish ina…
Frustrate Okoye to quit eagles
Frustrated Vic Moses to quit eagles
Frustrated Ighalo to quit eagles
now they wanna frustrate Iwobi….walai if i be osimhen and any f**king blame comes to my page i will hire boys that will handle the page to give u guys the back to back vawulence and quit ina f**king eagles team…i love the response uzoho gave all those useless critics that period

You call it frustration but it's best to look for better options which is quite needed. In fact, if the coach hadn't changed much of the lineup that lost against Guinea just before the tournament, Nigeria wouldn't have got anywhere in the tournament.

On Iwobi, he could play as a forward.

mostob:
Just curious, what stopped him from being audacious?

It was his first start of the tournament.

Nomyth:
Well, Ghana had one of the best Midfielders this Afcon which is kudus, how did it end for them?

Kudus is rather a forward/10, like Lookman. Ghana's midfield wasn't also good like Nigeria's midfield wasn't however they didn't have the solid defence to act as buffer like Nigeria had.

Nomyth:
I think we are over flogging this midfield issue.

If the midfield is that bad, how did we make it to the finals?

And no, Ivory Coast did not defeat us because of our poor midfield but because of our ultra defensive tactics.

Even without Seri in the group stage, Cote D'Ivoire flogged Nigeria's midfield in the group stage, Nigeria only rode on scoring a penalty plus Nigeria's solid defence, let alone when Seri was now at the heart of their play dictating the play yesterday.

I have always felt the midfield was Nigeria achilles in the tournament. All what
Nigeria mostly did was bank on the defence to keep out the opposition and then the forwards to score while the oppositions mostly dominated much of Nigeria's midfield and if the forwards couldn't score, rode on a penalty lucky foul to score. Well, the referee didn't want to give us any penalty yesterday but rather kept pandering to the host instead 😅 Anyways, the team tried because I wasn't expecting anything to begin with after they lost to Guinea before the beginning of the tournament.

Double post..

..

Double post..

zicky:
which Aribo control which midfield against GB, oga go watch that match again. A game which fan was calling for the introduction of iwobi. Neither iwobi nor Aribo can control the midfield same with iheanacho, but with the 3, iwobi is better.

Same Guinea Bissau who couldn't get a sniff at Nigeria goalpost but were feeding on scraps until Iwobi came into the midfield, after which Guinea Bissau started playing like world champions and even scored a goal which was cancelled?

Those wailing while calling for Iwobi introduction into the midfield were dumb as a matter of fact because Aribo controlled that Guinea Bissau match which changed for Bissau as soon as he left the pitch.

Aribo's performance against Bissau actually reminded me of his CM performance against Sudan in the last afcon where the match suddenly changed to Sudan having much control as soon as Aribo left the pitch which was to rest him since Nigeria was already winning 3-1 in bag 🎁. Go check his stat against Bissau as a matter of fact, if your eyes are blind. Only thing was he wasn't audacious by creating much like he did in the last afcon and that was expected since it was his first start of the tournament but he controlled that midfield.

Omanambala:
There is also a problem with playing him near the 18yd box. He cant play long balls, he can't shoot, hi aerial abilities are very poor. I don't care what Iwobi does but I don't need him in SE. He is very weak as a man

Iwobi could be used as a wing forward. Of course He's not a CM who can control much of the midfield. As a wing forward, I dunno since he played as a 10/a forward in the last afcon but he could make do as a forward, who knows.

You trespass anyhow, you see anyhow.

zicky:
Nigerians always want to look for a scapegoat, he's not the cause of the team losing the finals, neither was he the cause of the team playing the way they did, if Aribo was there in place of iwoji, it will still be the same result if not worse.

I doubt. Did you see Aribo in the last afcon tournament? He was fantastic! Funny it was same Iwobi who spoilt the last afcon as well, aside the goalkeeper.

In Aribo first start against Guinea Bissau in this afcon, Guinea Bissau could only feed on little scrap while Nigeria controlled much of the midfield till Aribo left. Only thing was he wasn't audacious by creating much like he was in the last afcon but it was expected since it was his first start in the tournament however he controlled that midfield. In fact, It was only after Aribo left the pitch that Guinea started to get sniff at Nigeria goalpost and even scored a goal which was cancelled. As I said , if a team could control the midfield, much headless chicken running wouldn't be needed much.

GUNITGuy:
they wanted to repeat the S.A fluke were south africa possessed the ball throughout . i wonder why Nigerians never got worried about the teams ability to possess football in a technical way untl yesterday.. They were lagging behind in almost all the teams the teams they met ...Little or no goal on targer, Just waiting for osimen foul to get a penalty or mistake by the opponents defender ...Thats not a good tactic to build a team

That was why I kept saying that the midfield could do better.

If a team midfield could control the play with technique, awareness etc, headless chicken running in the midfield wouldn't be needed much. The midfield failed yesterday, like they failed in the tournament!

That was why Cote d'Ivoire improved with Seri.

Onyeka was supposed to be the holding midfielder since Iwobi isn't one. But Onyeka lacked the awareness, technique and reading to even do any of that. As for Iwobi 🧐..

Nigeria just need a midfielder who can control the play. That was what turned it around for Ivory coast for example (Seri).

I don't know who can do that for Nigeria. But I feel Aribo can. He did that in the last afcon for example. He also controlled much of the play against Guinea Bissau although he wasn't audacious by creating much like he did in the last afcon, considering it was his first start in the tournament however, he controlled the play while Guinea Bissau could only feed on little scrap before he left the pitch. Another I feel can do such is Onyedika since he's a holding midfielder who tends to provide passing option for the defence as a holding midfielder. So both combo should be able to control the play at least.

komekn:
When teams face a skilful fast forward player known to cause danger you always DOUBLE UP. Have you ever seen defenders allowing Mbappe, Ronaldo, Zaha etc to go 1v1 on your defense.

Aina had Adingra mostly covered in the first half even the first 25 minutes of the second half . But he was having too many 1v1 Chukwueze was not able to go forward and should have been backtracking. By the second half our boys were getting exhausted and completely gassed out, too much work.

Our midfielders were outnumbered and out skilled in the most negative defensive posture you can find. We could not win any second balls.

If Iwobi was placed much closer to VO and in a more forward position it may have been different. But he was playing DM and conceded the midfield.

I was surprised Onyeka was not sent off because he was working tirelessly and getting several fouls. Particularly because the referee was clearly biased. He stifled VO aggressive game with wrong calls against him and warned him.

From the get go any physical touch with the CIV players and they are rolling around like you hit them with a sledge hammer ⚒️.

This was made worse with our negative defensive posture literally inviting CIV to attack non stops 🛑

I even felt Aina did well against Adingra despite being left alone against him without the wing forward helping out Aina to track back while Cote d'Ivoire's midfield mostly controlled the play and constantly set free their wingers. Despite that, Aina ensured Adingra was reduced to only crossing few times but like we all saw, Aina was constantly left alone 1 v 1 against him without much help from the wing forward in front of Aina.

If the midfield had controlled the play, Cote d'Ivoire would have been reduced to nothing and wouldn't have worried Nigeria's defence much. The defence failed to deal with the corner kick set piece and a late cross before Haller's goal.

komekn:
When teams face a skilful fast forward player known to cause danger you always DOUBLE UP. Have you ever seen defenders allowing Mbappe, Ronaldo, Zaha etc to go 1v1 on your defense.

Aina had Adingra mostly covered in the first half even the first 25 minutes of the second half . But he was having too many 1v1 Chukwueze was not able to go forward and should have been backtracking. By the second half our boys were getting exhausted and completely gassed out, too much work.

Our midfielders were outnumbered and out skilled in the most negative defensive posture you can find. We could not win any second balls.

If Iwobi was placed much closer to VO and in a more forward position it may have been different. But he was playing DM and conceded the midfield.

I was surprised Onyeka was not sent off because he was working tirelessly and getting several fouls. Particularly because the referee was clearly biased. He stifled VO aggressive game with wrong calls against him and warned him.

From the get go any physical touch with the CIV players and they are rolling around like you hit them with a sledge hammer ⚒️.

This was made worse with our negative defensive posture literally inviting CIV to attack non stops 🛑

I even felt Aina did well against Adingra despite being left alone against him without the wing forward helping out Aina tracking back while Ivory's midfield controlled the play and constantly set free their wingers. Despite that, Aina ensured Adingra was reduced to only crossing few times but like you stated, Aina was constantly left alone 1 v 1 against without much help from the wing forward in front of Aina.

If the midfield had controlled the play, ivory would have been reduced to nothing and wouldn't have worried Nigeria's defence much. The defence failed to deal with the corner kick set piece and a late cross before Haller's goal.

komekn:
When teams face a skilful fast forward player known to cause danger you always DOUBLE UP. Have you ever seen defenders allowing Mbappe, Ronaldo, Zaha etc to go 1v1 on your defense.

Aina had Adingra mostly covered in the first half even the first 25 minutes of the second half . But he was having too many 1v1 Chukwueze was not able to go forward and should have been backtracking. By the second half our boys were getting exhausted and completely gassed out, too much work.

Our midfielders were outnumbered and out skilled in the most negative defensive posture you can find. We could not win any second balls.

If Iwobi was placed much closer to VO and in a more forward position it may have been different. But he was playing DM and conceded the midfield.

I was surprised Onyeka was not sent off because he was working tirelessly and getting several fouls. Particularly because the referee was clearly biased. He stifled VO aggressive game with wrong calls against him and warned him.

From the get go any physical touch with the CIV players and they are rolling around like you hit them with a sledge hammer ⚒️.

This was made worse with our negative defensive posture literally inviting CIV to attack non stops 🛑

I even felt Aina did well against Adingra despite being left alone against him without the wing forward helping out Aina tracking back while Ivory's midfield controlled the play and constantly set free their wingers. Despite that, Aina ensured Adingra was reduced to only crossing few times but like you stated, Aina was constantly left alone 1 on 1 against without much help from the wing forward in front of Aina.

If the midfield had controlled the play, ivory would have been reduced to nothing and wouldn't have worried Nigeria's defence much. The defence failed to deal with the corner kick set piece and a late cross before Haller's goal.

komekn:
When teams face a skilful fast forward player known to cause danger you always DOUBLE UP. Have you ever seen defenders allowing Mbappe, Ronaldo, Zaha etc to go 1v1 on your defense.

Aina had Adingra mostly covered in the first half even the first 25 minutes of the second half . But he was having too many 1v1 Chukwueze was not able to go forward and should have been backtracking. By the second half our boys were getting exhausted and completely gassed out, too much work.

Our midfielders were outnumbered and out skilled in the most negative defensive posture you can find. We could not win any second balls.

If Iwobi was placed much closer to VO and in a more forward position it may have been different. But he was playing DM and conceded the midfield.

I was surprised Onyeka was not sent off because he was working tirelessly and getting several fouls. Particularly because the referee was clearly biased. He stifled VO aggressive game with wrong calls against him and warned him.

From the get go any physical touch with the CIV players and they are rolling around like you hit them with a sledge hammer ⚒️.

This was made worse with our negative defensive posture literally inviting CIV to attack non stops 🛑

I even felt Aina did well against Adingra despite being left alone against him without the wing forward helping out Aina tracking back while Ivory's midfield controlled the play and constantly set free their wingers. Despite that, Aina ensured Adingra was reduced to only crossing few times but like you stated, Aina was left alone against him without much help from the wing forward in front of him.

If the midfield had controlled the play, ivory would have been reduced to nothing and wouldn't have worried Nigeria's defence much. The defence failed to deal with the corner kick set piece and a late cross before Haller's goal.

komekn:
When teams face a skilful fast forward player known to cause danger you always DOUBLE UP. Have you ever seen defenders allowing Mbappe, Ronaldo, Zaha etc to go 1v1 on your defense.

Aina had Adingra mostly covered in the first half even the first 25 minutes of the second half . But he was having too many 1v1 Chukwueze was not able to go forward and should have been backtracking. By the second half our boys were getting exhausted and completely gassed out, too much work.

Our midfielders were outnumbered and out skilled in the most negative defensive posture you can find. We could not win any second balls.

If Iwobi was placed much closer to VO and in a more forward position it may have been different. But he was playing DM and conceded the midfield.

I was surprised Onyeka was not sent off because he was working tirelessly and getting several fouls. Particularly because the referee was clearly biased. He stifled VO aggressive game with wrong calls against him and warned him.

From the get go any physical touch with the CIV players and they are rolling around like you hit them with a sledge hammer ⚒️.

This was made worse with our negative defensive posture literally inviting CIV to attack non stops 🛑

I even felt Aina did well against Adingra despite being left alone against him without the wing forward helping Aina out while Ivory's midfield controlled the play and constantly set free their wingers. Despite that, Aina ensured Adingra was reduced to only crossing few times but like you stated, Aina was left alone against him without much help from the wing forward in front of him.

If the midfield had controlled the play, ivory would have been reduced to nothing and wouldn't have worried Nigeria's defence much. The defence failed to deal with the corner kick set piece and a late cross before Haller's goal.

komekn:
When teams face a skilful fast forward player known to cause danger you always DOUBLE UP. Have you ever seen defenders allowing Mbappe, Ronaldo, Zaha etc to go 1v1 on your defense.

Aina had Adingra mostly covered in the first half even the first 25 minutes of the second half . But he was having too many 1v1 Chukwueze was not able to go forward and should have been backtracking. By the second half our boys were getting exhausted and completely gassed out, too much work.

Our midfielders were outnumbered and out skilled in the most negative defensive posture you can find. We could not win any second balls.

If Iwobi was placed much closer to VO and in a more forward position it may have been different. But he was playing DM and conceded the midfield.

I was surprised Onyeka was not sent off because he was working tirelessly and getting several fouls. Particularly because the referee was clearly biased. He stifled VO aggressive game with wrong calls against him and warned him.

From the get go any physical touch with the CIV players and they are rolling around like you hit them with a sledge hammer ⚒️.

This was made worse with our negative defensive posture literally inviting CIV to attack non stops 🛑

I even felt Aina did well against Adingra despite being left alone against him without the wing forward helping him out while Ivory's midfield controlled the play and constantly set free their wingers. Despite that, Aina ensured Adingra was reduced to only crossing few times but like you stated, Aina was left alone against him without much help from the wing forward in front of him.

If the midfield had controlled the play, ivory would have been reduced to nothing and wouldn't have worried Nigeria's defence much. The defence failed to deal with the corner kick set piece and a late cross before Haller's goal.

rainluv:
wetin musa no go see for gate
wetin aina no go see for superstar Andringas play

Hehehe 😂😂🤣
Who is this nitwit? Does this cretin even deserve my attention?🤔

Aren't you the cretin who doesn't know what a corner kick means? 🤔

Lol.

She put hope on the eagles. I didn't put any hope on the eagles to begin with, especially after their defeat against Guinea just before the tournament. That was why I said they surprised me while constantly adding that the midfield could do better.

Anyways, it was a good outing overall for the eagles.

rainluv:
This sifia pain you are feeling caused you to quote me twice?😂😂

Yen yen yen yen 😏
The good for nothing aina let Andringas outplay him twice!! Not once but twice!!😏
It was his position they used to score those two goals.., very open and empty!
It's the Coach I blame for not substituting the idiot! They studied us well and knew his route was the leak... weakest and most useless link we had on the Field

He should better quit and go mine skulls😂

You should keep quiet!

First goal was scored through a corner kick. Or you don't know what a corner kick means?🤔 It was the defence from the left side who fell apart for Kessie goal after a cross was delivered from a corner kick set piece.

As a matter of fact, Aina has been one of the best players in the tournament. He was part of the reason why Nigeria defence became better from the shambles before the tournament. In yesterday match, the midfield hardly dominated possession nor helped out the defence while leaving Ivory to control the play and constantly freeing their wingers which put a lot of pressure on Nigeria defence. The wing attacker in front of Aina did nothing to help out to defend while Aina kept defending alone yet he ensured he limited Andriga to only crossing in the few times Andriga beat him for speed. It was the central defence, Ekong who fell apart for Haller's goal.

First Ivory goal was scored through a set piece corner kick cross while the defence fell apart too.

Naajjii:
Onyeaka the best Nigeria player in the game was a problem, how do you watch your game? You are blaming Onyeaka instead of blaming the coach his overly defensive style.

Onyeka had always been part of the problem alongside Iwobi in the midfield. How do a midfielder make 12 passes in 86 minutes? Little techniques and Hardly provided passing lane for the defence. Always playing like a hounding forward who chases ball upfield when he's supposed to be a midfielder! Abeg!

Catapault:
I wish Eberechi Eze had chosen Nigeria instead of England.

That midfield was crying out for Eberechi Eze.

He was supposed to be our new Jay Jay.

He even trained with the team a couple of times in the past.

Oh well...

Who knows. I think He's more of a 8 or 10 cum winger than a playmaker who controls the midfield because I remembered Gallagher dominating him in the central midfield.

One thing I would say apart from the poor midfield was Iheanacho should have probably started in the place of Chukwueze in the attack. Or Simon could have continued to play on the right attack.

Catapault:
Why can't we find another JAY JAY OKOCHA for goodness sake in this country?

Even a HALF Jay Jay talent?

We have to ACTIVELY SOURCE AND SUPPORT ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS from the Nigerian league, and help get them to the next level where they can man the midfield.

Dunno. Although I believe the combination of Onyedika and Aribo midfield could have controlled that game. Aribo had a good outing in the last afcon for example. Both Onyedika and Aribo are good at providing passing options for the defence, aside from Aribo being energetic and ball carrier when needed.

For example, Aribo in just 4 minutes made 10 passes which is half of Iwobi's 23 passes in 78 minutes while Onyeka made 12 passes in 86 minutes. Imagine if he was on the pitch for longer, he would have at least taken control of the possession away from ivory coast. As I said, He had a good outing as a CM in the last afcon. With him and Onyedika who's also adept at providing option for the defence, Nigeria could have controlled the match.

kokoA:
Normally Pesiro na useless coach naw, we have just been lucky. How can you have players like Osimhen, Lookman, Simon, Chukwueze, Ihenacho, Mofi, Onuachu, Musa and be playing defensive game? Which African defence can withstand such an attack?

It wasn't really a defensive game, especially with a 3- man attack but the point was there was nothing happening in Nigeria midfield to feed the attack. It was mostly the wingbacks which often support the attackers aside the attackers helping themselves out since the beginning of the tournament but this time around, the wingbacks had a lot on their hands, considering Ivory midfielderrs dominated lots of possession and controlled the play while constantly freeing their attackers who kept worrying Nigeria's defence whereas Nigeria midfield couldn't do anything to offer both the attack and the defence.

It was a good outing overall. I didn't even expect anything from the eagles after they lost to Guinea just before the beginning of the tournament.