₦airaland Forum

Napoleon55:
Exactly the position the super eagles needed.
He is coming at the right time.
Our midfield need reinforcement

I keep telling people that Eric Chelle is the best thing that happened to Nigerian football for a very long time. This man is on a mission, we need to get behind him. He is fighting so many enemies and football bandits that are out to destroy our football through greed and personal interests. They are waiting for him to slip up so they can chew and spit him out. He is a terrible business for them.

Napoleon55:
This one is still young to feel England won't call him to choose Nigeria this early.

My inside source is saying he is already in the bag. The SE shall rise again.

charlesemeka85:
good move for him atleast to play in the epl but monetary wise when his age is put into consideration I don’t think it’s the best for him

This boy looks very good playing for Nigeria. Some od these European coaches are just too scared to give young players an opportunity to prove themselves. Benjamin Frederick to me is ready for big boy football. He just need some body to give him an opportunity. Going to a club in the lower half of the league in France, Belgium or Italy will give him that opportunity to show people what he can do. His situation at Brentford is really frustrating. Brentford is currently 6th in the premier league and I don't think the Brentford coach want to break up the partnership of K. Ajer and Schuster for a 21 year old kid. The only way he plays is for Brentford to get on a terrible run and be shipping in goals.

Benjamin Federicks need to find a way to get a loan move in the spring. He is not even in the Brentford match day squad today. He should seek a loan move to Italy , France or Germany and start playing football.

zicky:
But Nwabali is better than Okoye, so by your take Nwabali is better than Bouno. So currently will you pick Nwabali over Bouno? 🙄

Maduka Okoye with a monster performance for Udinese. He saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet for Udinese. Definitely will be on his to Inter Milan or Roma in the summer. Man of the match performance for Udinese player of the season last year. Some football novice are still comparing him to a guy that could not get a club in Africa to sign him while the Bobo will be playing champions league and Seria A football.

AndSunGorilla:
Sir he was one of the best GKs at the last WC just a few months ago.

No he wasn't. The world cup is just small sample size to use and judge a player. Bounou in his prime was a beast and he has been very reliable goalkeeper for Morrocco but you guys are just caught up with name. Father's time is still undefeated. When chealsea bought Kalidou Koulibaly my roommate then who was a chealsea fan was going on about Chelsea winning the premier league with the meanest defense in premier league history I told him that Koulibaly is washed and is not the same Napoli guy he knew because I follow Seria A football closely. We all know how mediocre he turned out to be for chealsea. Maduka Okoye will keep Bounau on the bench of any team in Europe currently. Prime Bounau is clearly better than Maduka will probably ever be.

AndSunGorilla:
Baba I agree with the general premise of your argument but on this Bounou and Maduka matter, you are on your own o. Confirmed, Maduka is a better MODEL.

My arguments is based on current form. Prime Bounou was an elite goalkeeper but he is older now and is not the same player. Maduka Okoye currently is better than Bounou.

[quote author=Blueelf post=141032504][/quote]Maduka Okoye currently is a better goalkeeper than Yassine Borno. Borno is a legend for morrocco but currently Maduka Okoye is younger with higher ceilings. Alot of you guys are completely ignorant on how highly rated Okoye is in Italy. Inter Milan and Roma negotiated with Udinese for his services. Prime Borno is better than Maduka Okoye currently but he is old now and I will take Maduka Okoye currently over him.

darkelf:
Morocco, Senegal have better players at every position bar the no 9 position and it shows. Because both teams are topping African football

The same Nigeria couldn't even make it to the world cup

So yes, its right for them to be worried that a young diomande is at Madrid

Make our U-20 and U-23 players run am if e easy...

I disagree with you completely on that statement. Nigeria's problem is administrative issues. I will take the Nigeria keeper over Morocco or Senegal. I will take Nigerian centre backs over Morocco and Senegal. I will take Nigeria right back, Ola Aina, over Senegal right back. Forget hype, Alex Iwobi is one of the most underrated SE players in history. I will take Alex Iwobi in that CM role over whatever Morocco or Senegal has to offer. Currently, both Senegal and Morocco are clearly better than us in the midfield area. An Inform Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze are on the same level as anything Senegal or Morocco can offer in that winger position. Victor Oshimhen is significantly better than anything Morocco or Senegal have to offer. People, you guys are understimating Nigeria too much here. Nigeria was a penalty kick away from back-to-back Afcon finals, and they were not even a host on either occasion. Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup was a combination of an administrative blunder and a poor attitude from players who completely underestimated their opponents. Go back and watch the Nigeria vs. Losotho game in Uyo and see how arrogant our players were. They were missing clear-cut chances and were smiling, thinking that the goals would eventually flow in like a broken dam. If Eric Chelle were the SE coach, we would have been at the last World Cup.

darkelf:
Meanwhile our best player plays fpr galatasaray

Do you agree with Legend Sunday Oliseh?

Credit: The Play Zone Podcast pic.twitter.com/DlIq5Ys7Jc

— Football Einstein (@Africa_ftbl) October 27, 2026

The only strikers in world football i will take over Victor Osimhen in that 9 position are Kane, Halland and Mbappe. Victor normally should be in champions league contending team. Calvin Bassey is going to Inter Milan in the summer. Chukwueze is at AC Milan and Ademola Lookman is at Atletico Madarid. You don't need to have elite players at every position all you need is 3 to 4 different makers surrounded by good players who play as a unit and you can wreck havoc. Croatia and Norway are a good example of teams where the sums are bigger than the individual talent.

TheSuperNerd:
FDB assist🅰️ for Lazio vs Sassuolo in Serie A.

Lazio running riot away from home as they lead 6-2.

very soon you will start to see people calling for FDB to be replaced in the SE despite for a fact he is getting serious minutes for the top of the table seria A team and is producing. Some of these people are talking like we are Spain. To replace this guy's you have to show the players at thier respective positions that are better than them. Don't go and bring out some random dude that will even struggle to make Lazio U23 as a player that will come and replace him.

zicky:
I don't think someone that plays like an amateur will ever feature in the first team of Villareal, Fulham and currently AC Milan, all top 5 league clubs no seriki or farmers league.

I can never understand the level of hate and disrespect some people have for samuel Chukwueze. Listen am not trying to meke excuses for some of Samuuel chukwueze frustrating performances for Nigeria but some of these people talk like this boy has been complete ass playing for Nigeria which is not the truth. Let me give you guys some stats that might shock people here. Samuel Chukwueze is only 4 goals behind Ademola Lookman playing for Nigeria. Samuel Chukwueze is actually only 2 assists behind Lookman playing for Nigeria. His career stat playing as a winger for Nigeria is 60 games with 7 goals. Why are some people always talking about this boy like he has been a complete train wreck playing for the SE. You want to get rid of an AC Milan starter in your national team like you are Senegal or Morocco. Who are you going to replace him with? Some of these other dudes ya'll are having orgasm over here for are pretenders until further notice. They need to first of all get fit, show that they are good enough to play at the highest level.It starts from getting in to the march day squads of thier respective teams, then get in to the starting lineup and start balling before any of them will even begin to think of benching a fully fit Chukwueze.

SymphonyRad:
Chei you just made it even more tragic, and the sadder part is that.. you're absolutely right. Right now it's just a question of how farther downhill can we go at this point SMH.

In as much as I would love for Nigeria to have a winger like him but the game of football is often decided in the midfield. Take look at the Nigerian 2014 world cup team. The midfield play of prime Ogenyi Onazi and Mikel Obi got that team to second round of the world cup and with a little bit of luck if that Emenike offside goal stood and Onyazi didn't get injured we could have beaten France in that round of 16 game. You can not have a good football team without a solid midfield.

SymphonyRad:
Tochukwu Nnadi is so GOOD!!!

He is transcending. His game is evolving and he is getting better by the game. There is no way on earth this boy sits on the bench for anybody in that SE midfield. The funny thing is that I actually rated eletu ahead of him after watching them at the U20 world cup. Eletu stagnated while Nnadi game continued to mature and develop.

SymphonyRad:
Iroegbunam assisted the penalty for Hull

He is fully healthy now and he is balling for Hull City. Way better than Ndidi and Onyeka when in possession. I like what am seeing. Semi Ajayi has been a monster in this game. He has bern very good. Eric Chelle need to deviate away from this Ndidi & Iwobi midfield 2. The options are there now to try something different. Iwobi and Ndidi midfield will not get us to the 2030 world cup. 72 quality minutes for Hull City. We'll done Iroegbunam. I am impressed.

charlesemeka85:
Onyedika balling well against Dortmund

He is a good player. The frankfurt coach is making a very good use of him playing him in that double pivot role. Onyedika is not a like for like replacement for ndidi. He is a very good player when played to his strength. A partnership which Nnadi in that double pivot could turn out to be golden if Eric chelle could grow a ball and just give it a chance.

I⁣ keep telling people that Nigeria is the only country where people with an agenda will come out and tell you the Sky is green and they will want you to believe it. The Nigerian league is very poor, and anyone that tells you that there are good players there is just deceiving you. Football is a business now; if you can play football, you will not be in the Nigerian League. The only people you have in the NPFL are people not even good enough to play in Vietnam, Tanzania, Libya etc. There is no single player in the Nigerian league that has not been scouted and rejected due to lack of qualities. The people clamoring for players in the local league to be in the national team are only doing it for selfish reasons. They just want the player to be in SE so they can sell him to a backwater league and make profit. You guys remember that SE third-choice goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke immediately moved to Sudan from Enyimba; they stopped calling him. Business transaction completed.

mostob:
This absolutely doesn't count. I expect some people to have figured this out sooner. All this top 5 isshh na just talk.

Dude did you ever play any team sports to a respectable level. In high school I was in Harris County all district team my senior year at Katy High School. I was recruited to a play college ball at University of Maryland and I could not get on the field my freshman, sophomore and junior year. Remember I am only talking about NCAA Div 1 level. Everybody on that Maryland program was 3 to 5 star recruits. Everything that gave me the edge in High school completely became useless due to the the level I was playing at. The best players in the NCAA will get drafted to the MLS then the cream of the crops from the MLS makes it to Europe down the road. There are levels into this game dude. The only people that talk like you are people who were never an athlete or have an agenda.

Gaant football guy on YouTube said that Nigeria has secured the services of a big catch. He said the player in question has agreed to play for Nigeria and currently plays in the Big 5 league. He made it clear he was not talking about Tim Iroegbunam who is already in the bag. Remember I told you guys that Eric Chelle was spotted in Germany and Rumours had it he was there to watch Francis Onyeka. I am really praying for this boy to be the big catch. He is only 19. This boy ceiling is very high. He is a Bayer Laverkusen player on loan to SV Elversbeg in the bundesliga. This boy along side Mubarak sulaiman will solve our creative midfield problems. Both of these guys will provide a solid cover for Iwobi, step in when Iwobi is unavailable or is not playing well. In a year or 2 they will be seriously contending for the starting spot. It could also be the Everton winger Tyrique George.

TheSuperNerd:
Mubarak Suleiman, 19. Slavia.

Last Naija Teen since Iwobi to start a UCL Game.

The kid is a baller. Once you see a baller it is as clear as mud. Quality player we have here. I started following him recently and the kid Sabi baller well well. Sky is the limit for the boy.

TheSuperNerd:
George Ilenikhena scores for Al Ittihad.

بتمريرة رائعة بالكعب من ريوس.. جورج إلينيكينا يفتتح التسجيل في المواجهة 🔥⚽#الاتفاق_الاتحاد pic.twitter.com/F4BIlp1vKD

— رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) October 20, 2026

You saw that quick turn and strike without looking at the goal. That is the natural instinct of a born goal scorer. You don't teach that, it is a natural instinct of goal poacher. Akor Adams does not have it and this is why I don't really see him as a like for like replacement for Osimhen. Akor is more of a support striker.

TheSuperNerd:
Chibuike Nwaiwu impressive for all 90mins in defence and bagged a cleansheet game as Trabzonspor beat Besiktas 2-0 in the Super Lig.

Wilfred Ndidi subbed in on 85mins.

Onuachu sidelined with a muscle injury.

I just rewatched the game and I was impressed with what I saw. His market value is skyrocketing on transfermarket. He is now the highest value Nigerian defender just behind Calvin Bassey. Fulham and Roma are coming back for him in the spring. My suggestion is for him to complete this season at trapzonspor and make the move in the summer. The boy is good and I would not be surprised if he starts for the SE in November. He is definitely way better than Ajay with significantly high ceiling. Complete baller.

[quote author=Philosopher1979 post=140957074]Why the guy come no dey play like this more often for naija.
At Club Brugge he played mainly in double pivot, and he balled. At Frankfurt he is currently playing in double pivot and has been a mainstay on the team. Eric Chelle plays him in the diamond system as a sole DM, and he struggles. Pair the kid in double pivot with Nnadi and move Iwobi in the 10 position and watch him ball. Eric Chelle needs to be more flexible in his system.

Coventry City will be relegated from the premier league with fewer than 20 points. They are bad upfront, Bad in midfield, Bad in defense and bad in goalkeeping.

mostob:

Ejuke is a proper street footballer, the type you don’t coach, let him do his thing.

I noticed he rarely starts for Sevilla because his style can only be sustained for the last 20-25mins of games

He cooked Cucurella so much that Cucu got a yellow card😂 pic.twitter.com/2fFSiriBCJ https://t.co/8JYuGzy8M2

— TobyWrites (@tobyasky) October 19, 2026

Ejuke is one unique player I can never explain. He does the most complicated thing with easy but he complicate simple things. I have always maintained that he is the kind of a player I will just keep on the squad for special situational football needs. His all around game is frustrating but he is player that is capable of doing Messi kind of magic on occasions for you. He can break down a structured defense with his masterful dribbling ability and tricks. You can not really depend on him but he is one player that can be a master key to a difficult well structured team.

TheSuperNerd:
Nnadi's assist🅰️

Power and strength to hold off duels, progressive intent, Vision, Passing, Final Ball nous.

La superbe frappe d’𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭 🇲🇦 🎯#SublimeCôtedIvoire pic.twitter.com/nf3ZP9IP4d

— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) October 19, 2026

I was highly impressed with Nnadi yesterday. He was very good yesterday. We need to start producing technical quality midfielders. I am tired of the Onyeka/Ndidi midfielders who are simply destroyers and runners. Tochukwu Nnadi, Mubarak Suleman, Francis Onyeka, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Alex Iwobi, Dele Bashiru, Tim Iroegbunam and Rafael Onyedika should be our 8 main midfielders for now. 6 or 7 should be picked based on form. Some young talents are coming up but these 8 should be fighting it out for the 6 or 7 spots. Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi should just concentrate on thier club football.

[quote author=TheSuperNerd post=140945141]We have seen Nathan Tella in the GWG. He struggles like his leverkusen teammate, Boniface. Also looks lightweight and easily bullied off the ball when he played for us.

Nathan Tella has only played 2 games for Nigeria, and to completely write him off based on his performances for Nigeria in 2 games is just not fair in my humble opinion. 2 games is just not enough sample size to make a judgement on a player. Ademola Lookman just had two stinkers for Nigeria, but we all know that his performances this month are not who he is as a player. It is very difficult to play well when the whole team is not playing well. Nathan played one of those games in the World Cup qualifier away to Zimbabwe, where the whole team was ass that day. Nathan Tella, before getting injured for Leverkusen, was playing some of the best ball I have ever seen him play. This kid deserves another chance to see what he will bring to the table. He is very versatile and can play multiple positions. Instead of the continuous invite of Moses Simon, who we all agree is at the twilight end of his career, let's give that opportunity to Nathan and let's see what he can do.

If you see how angry I am watching this Colombian rightback keeping Ola Aina on the bench simply because that German coach is just in love with him. Ola Aina need to get out of that club in the winter transfer window. There are definitely market for him in the prem.

Amedino99:
Your beloved onyedika has been with us since 2022. Its been 4 years and he has never for once earned the trust of any of the coach since then to be a consistent feature in the team. A whole 4 years with no defining moment but me advocating for other players means im a hater. I will really love to see the metrics you use to judge players. Intellectual isonu.

He is a good player in the double pivot. Rafael Onyedika is technically sound. I have seen him play in the champions league on numerous occasions for Club Brugge against big teams and he bossed the midfield. He is not a like for like replacement for Ndidi. He is not the destroyer type DM, he is a ball circulating possession base DM. Nnadi & Onyedika double pivot could turn out to be masterpiece with Iwobi playing further up the field. Rafael Onyedika has been consistent starter for every club that he has ever been at which should tell you he is not a bad player. Onyedika does not necessarily need to be starter but he has qualities that can help us in situational football. We simply do not have enough quality midfielders around to discard a 20 plus million pounds rated bundesliga starter.

Nathan Tella playing well for Leverkusen. If I don't see this boy in that November squad I will start calling out Eric Chelle. Nathan Tella is significantly better than Moses Simon. This boy should a lock in the SE when healthy. Enough of this nonsense. We have a player at Leverkusen prior to his injury was playing the best football of his carear. He is now back from injury and is balling. This boy should be an absolute lock on that squad when healthy.

Tochukwu Nnadi performance today is the best performance i have seen from Nigerian midfielder this season. A masterclass. This boy is good 👍

opes:
Saying he doesn't have coaching certification is unfair to him. On paper, he is sound.
Can we say Finidi also didn't have coaching certificates when he first coached Rivers united in continental competition?

Dude why are you making excuses for nonsense. Our football is dieing right in front of you and tou still making excuses for nonsense. Why should the NFF hire someone without a full coaching credentials required from CAF? The man could not even be at the sidelines because of his lack of coaching credentials. A single bad result in November and the SE will out of Afcon and you still here making excuses for nonsense. Disgusting.