₦airaland Forum

chrisooblog:
forgiveness i concur that we should at any opportunity seek to get our best legs (in your case foreign born players) but the truth is it's not as easy and straight forward as you make it seem. most of these anglo-nigerians grew up in the english system so they will be tracked most of the way. players like solanke, barkley, dele alli etc were monitored by the english fa right from when they were kids so once they come good on their talent the national teams of england quickly snap them up. plus most of them being born in england makes them feel less nigerian (if they even feel so) and more english. if you observe carefully the few brit-nigerians we eventually get to play for nigeria excluding moses and iwobi are usually less talented players like efan ekoku, anichebe, aluko, rueben agboola who the english never considered for their national team so they choose nigeria as a second option. like icon4 rightly mentioned iwobi already had links to nigeria through okocha, with moses we were a bit lucky because the english fa dropped the ball concerning his case besides that he was born in nigeria. just be observing dominic iorfa his father is an ex super eagle international when push comes to shove see if he won't eventually switch to nigeria.

from your posts i also see you think that nothing has been done trying to get these foreign born players to feature for nigeria. bros you don't know how much ground work has been done approaching these guys. sidney sam german\nigerian was approached even begged with a world cup selection yet he preferred germany even if that meant sitting on the bench. patrick owomoyela the same thing, nedum onouha we sent emissaries to beg he use us do shakara said he ''feels'' english plus so many cases to numerous to count.

with alaba yes it was a faux pas on the nff's part but that was more of break down in communication. if they had assured him he would be picked in our other national teams (21s, 23s) and properly explained to him the reason for not picking him for the under 17s he might not have been so quick to switch to austria.

like most posters have said any foreign born nigerian has to demonstrate willingness to play for nigeria just like v.moses, l. balogun, carl ikeme, iwobi did before they were called up. even at that it's not every adamu, emeka and segun we should call up all in the name of ''foreign born player''. any such player we call should be better than what we have presently in our national teams. nigeria has many talented players born here or abroad so the chances of a few falling through the cracks are high but the nff should at all times ensure we get the best legs to play for us.

Bros, i am not saying all the best players are foreign born. No! All i am saying is that we should get the best legs regardless of where they come from or who be their godfathers. Because recently i observed that you must know somebody before you can be called into the national team which is not suppose to be so.

Therefore, it is necessary for us to drop the biased formula of selective selection of players into the National team which are always based on sentiment, nepotism, na my brother... etc else we will continue to breed mediocre players and that will always bring the down fall of our football as we recently witnessed.

Now, you said Dele, Solanke, Barkley were monitored by the English FA right from when they were young. Right? Then do you think Iwobi and Victor Moses were not monitored right from when they were young? Or are you saying they don't have talent? Do you know how good Victor Moses was when he was at crystal palace? Do you know Barcelona tracked him at that time?

Bros, as long as they were capped by england at the age grade system then you should know England's eagle eyes were on them. So, saying England monitored some and didn't monitor some is already flawed. Saying they feel more English is also flawed because you don't know their mind.

Bros, as at the time nigeria got Victor Anichebe, Sone Aluko, Evan etc they were prospect too. We saw what Sone was made up of when he was at Rangers and his first six months at Hull city, he was smoking hot. But despite that Keshi preferred a home based player(Ejike Uzoenyi) and a seria b player(Nnamdi Uduamandi) to him. Players that never really had impact or added value to the National team. We also saw what Anichebe brought to the National team before they neglected him after he got injured during national duty. I can go on and on but time will not permit me to expatiate.

You said i don't know how much ground work had been done trying to make those foreign born players to feature for Nigeria. Maybe i don't know but if you know please kindly tell me more about it because all i know is that Nigeria always approach them when it is too late. That's it. Ok, what ground work are they doing to make Solanke, Sheyi Ojo, Onomah, Tiago Ilori( someone said Ndidi is better than him when Ndidi was still a bench warmer) is play for the national team? Remember, the Solanke said he would play for Nigeria if invited but...

Lastly, Iwobi was approached when he was nobody in Arsenal to train with the Under 23 by Siasia. Fact! Victor Moses who initially rejected bluntly to play for the national team was approached by Siasia before he agreed to play for the national team. In fact, he gave the condition of playing a Fifa-sanctioned competitive rather than a friendly match before he will play for us. We agreeded and he came to play. So, there was no where these lads demonstrated or showed any willingness to play for Nigeria publicly or officially. We went for them and Siasia was the man behind almost all the moves. We must show interest in them first if we really need their services. Thanks

Icon4s:
I know the angle from which you are looking at it. But I have to ignore and reply you with a plain mindset.

Though both players are Nigerians but one is more Nigerian the other.

Dele Alli was born in England though also eligible to play for Nigeria.
While Alex Iwobi was born in Nigeria and also eligible to play for England just also like the case of Victor Moses.

Besides, Iwobi's uncle, Austin Okocha played a major role in Alex's decision to play for Nigeria. And again before Oliseh approached him Iwobi had already made himself available for Siasia's U23 Screening late in 2014. Dele Alli I doubt would have made himself available to Siasia even if invited.

Dele Alli and Ross Barckley are too English rooted to even consider Nigeria as a choice of Nationality.

@bolded no 1, That is what i am talking about. Some Nigerians are more Nigerians than others hence the selective selection. Is that not what you mean?

2, is there any confirmation from the lad to back up your claims or is it from the figment of your thoughts or from the NFF?

3, is that the tactics used in discriminating or sideling other Nigerians from playing for the National team?

Icon4s:
This is where you get it wrong. Some are more special than others.

You want us to approach every Anglo-Nigerian player we see in England?

Sorry, we only need the exceptional ones.

Yes, you are right we need only the exceptional ones that is why Sunday Oliseh went for Iwobi ahead of Dele Alli.

Hmm, you are very correct and that's why, in Nigeria an Academy player deserves to be called to the National team ahead of established premier-league players.


Even Alaba is now enjoying the double standards criteria. Very good for Nigeria Football. # clapping.

In this case it was different. Sunday Oliseh met with Iwobi in England. I think same method should be applied to lure Nigerian players born abroad to play for Nigeria. Afterall, one no special pass others.

Exclusive: Samson Siasia Lobbying Top Politicians To Retain Super Eagles Job


Published: April 07, 2016


Exclusive: Samson Siasia Lobbying Top Politicians To Retain Super Eagles Job
Dream Team VI coach Samson Siasia is lobbying top politicians in his bid to retain the Super Eagles job, which is against the wishes of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick.

The former Nantes striker has always maintained that he never lost a match during his first spell as the Super Eagles helmsman but didn’t prove he was qualified for the job in the present dispensation, with the national team picking only one point from a possible six against Egypt and failing to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

“Siasia has made contact with politicians to help him retain the job, it is the same thing he did when Goodluck Jonathan was the President but I don’t think he’ll succeed this time,” a source at the Nigeria Football Federation told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“Several foreign coaches have applied for the vacant Super Eagles job, including Westerhof and a German but Pinnick is hell-bent on appointing Paul Le Guen and didn’t even bother taking a look at the CVS of other candidates.

“Some top staff at the NFF wanted Siasia to fail when he was appointed interim coach, so they can look for an excuse to appoint a foreigner.”

Against Egypt in Kaduna, history repeated itself with Mohamed Salah scoring in stoppage time to deny Nigeria a win just as was the case in the 2012 AFCON qualifier versus Guinea when Traore netted in added time which knocked the Super Eagles out of the race.

The Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, is not totally against the idea of Pinnick hiring an expatriate coach per se but has told the NFF supremo that he must source for funds to pay the foreigner.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=18588

Fifa Ranking : Super Eagles Rated The 14h Best Team In Africa

Published: April 07, 2016


Fifa Ranking : Super Eagles Rated The 14h Best Team In Africa
Football governing body, Fifa, on Thursday morning published its latest ranking of National Teams.

Compared to their position the previous month, the Super Eagles have dropped five places and now occupy the 67th position while they are 14th in the continental ranking.

Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt are the top five teams in Africa in that order.

Nigeria’s next opponents in a competitive fixture,Tanzania, have also lost five positions and sit in the 130th place in the updated ranking.

In the global ranking, 2014 World Cup vice-champions Argentina lead the way followed by Belgium,Chile,Colombia and Germany.

The next ranking will be published by the official website of Fifa, fifa.com, on May 5, 2016.

Top Ten African Teams
1) Algeria
2) Ivory Coast
3) Ghana
4) Senegal
5) Egypt
6) Cape Verde Islands
7) Tunisia
Congo DR
9) Guinea
10) Congo

Igho Kingsley

http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=18584

Nigerian Exports: Fatai,Etuhu Subbed In;Ibe,Araba Benched;Omoh Makes Allsvenskan Debut

Published: April 07, 2016


Nigerian Exports: Fatai,Etuhu Subbed In;Ibe,Araba Benched;Omoh Makes Allsvenskan Debut
Allnigeriasoccer.com reviews the performances of players of Nigerian descent in the matches that took place on Thursday across Europe, including the quarterfinals of the Europa League.

We begin with the Europa League. Kehinde Fatai fired blanks as Sparta Prague lost 2-1 to Villarreal at Camp El Madrigal. The 26-year-old hopped off the bench in the 73rd minute.

The ex-Flying Eagles striker has 13 goals to his name for the Czech side this season, with five netted in Europe.

It finished all square at Signal-Iduna-Park as Borussia Dortmund fought back from a one-goal deficit to play out a 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Sheyi Ojo traveled with the Reds squad to Germany for this one but failed to make their 18-man squad, while fellow England youth-teamer Jordon Ibe was an unused substitute.

In the second round of matches in the Swedish Allsvenskan, Michael Omoh lasted the distance in his first-ever start in the top-flight as östersunds FK lost 2-0 at home to Dickson Etuhu’s AIK Stockholm.

Ex Fulham and Manchester City midfielder Etuhu came off the bench in the 70th minute. Samuel Monday Ayinoko, who has trained with the Dream Team VI in the past, watched proceedings from the bench for the home team.

Falkenbergs FF number 18 Hakeem Araba was an unused substitute as his side were humiliated 5-0 by early season pace-setters Djurgården in Stockholm.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=18592

ARSENAL GIVE MARC BOLA FIRST PRO CONTRACT

by Staff Reporter
Thursday Apr 07, 2016. 18:40


Arsenal have given young defender Marc Bola, who has England and Nigeria nationalities, a first-ever professional contract.

“Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to Marc’s continued development at the club,” announced ‘The Gunners’.

The youngster himself tweeted his delight.

“Pleased on Signing My First Professional Contract At My Dream Club,” he said.

The 18-year-old defender, helped the U18s reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup this season, has come through the Arsenal Academy.

He was recently promoted to the Arsenal U21s.

The central defender or left back is athletic and very good in the air.

Only recently, the North London club finalised on a transfer of 17-year-old Kelechi Nwakali after he led Nigeria to clinch a record fourth FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/824735672?-21310:8643:t

April 4, 2016 ↔

Awaziem Stars In Porto Loss, Omeruo Helps Kasimpasa Beat Besiktas


By James Agberebi:


Nigerian 19-year-old centre-back Chidozie Awaziem (pictured above) was in action for FC Porto who lost 1-0 at home to Tondela in the Portuguese Primera Liga on Monday night.
Awaziem played for 90 minutes, his sixth league game for Porto this season since his senior debut on 28 January, and he is yet to score his first league goal.
Luis Alberto’s 59th minute goal proved to be the winner for Tondela.
In Turkey, Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona featured in Rizespor’s 0-0 home draw against Kayserispor.
Oboabona played for 90 minutes in the match and got yellow-carded in the 63rd minute.
Former Super Eagles forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni was an unused substitute for Kayserispor.
Still in Turkey, Kenneth Omeruo returned from injury to feature for Kasimpasa in their 2-1 win against Besiktas.
Omeruo, who missed the Eagles double header against Egypt in the 2017 Affrica Cup of Nations qualifier, was on for 90 minutes.


http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/awaziem-stars-porto-loss-omeruo-helps-kasimpasa-beat-besiktas/

Iwobi, Abdullahi, Aluko Score; Oshaniwa Sees Red, Ikeme Keeps Clean Sheet


—Oduamadi, Nwakali Debut; Orelesi Shines In Albania


By Johnny Edward:
Alex Iwobi scored his second league goal of the season for Arsenal who avenged their FA Cup ouster to Odion Ighalo’s Watford with a 4-0 thumping at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday..
The Nigerian international provided an assist for Alexis Sanchez to open scoring for the Gunners in the fourth minute and the Chilean repaid with a fine cut-back for the 19-year-old to score with a simple finish before the interval.
His compatriot Ighalo was replaced during the interval as his goal drought in the Premier League extended to eight games. Ighalo has scored 14 EPL goals in 32 games for the Hornets this season.
At Villa Park Mikel Obi returned to Chelsea’s starting line-up after playing 180 minutes of international football for the Super Eagles who missed out on next year’s African Cup of Nations.
The new Eagles skipper played all 90 minutes as the Blues cruised to a 4-0 bashing of Aston Villa in his 19th EPL appearance this season.
Emmanuel Emenike made his fourth start for West Ham who drew 2-2 against Crystal Palace. He has played seven games for the Hammers in the EPL since arriving at the club in January and nine in all competitions.
His compatriot Victor Moses watched from the bench as West Ham hosted his boyhood club. He has made 16 appearances, scoring once.
In the Championship, Sone Aluko scored his third goal of the season for Hull City who thumped Osaze Odemwingie’s Bristol City 4-0 at the Kingston stadium on Saturday. His former national teammate, Odemwingie, was replaced in the 65th minute by Luke Freeman.
Carl Ikeme kept his eighth clean sheet of the season for Wolverhampton Wanderers who drew goalless at home to Ipswich Town. Ikeme has conceded 32 goals in 26 appearances for Wolves this season.
Read Also: Loscuito Backs Eagles Against Egypt, Won't Rule Out Tanzania
In Germany, Anthony Ujah extended his goal drought to five games in the Bundesliga after he failed to score in Werder Bremen’s 3-2 loss to Borrusia Dortmund on Saturday. He was replaced in the 86th minute by Lukas Froede.
Ujah who last scored for Bremen in February has nine goals to his name from 28 games.
In Scotland, Abiola Dauda and Juwon Oshaniwa were both handed their eighth and 20th appearances for Hearts who lost 3-1 away to Efe Ambrose’s Celtic with the latter getting sent off in stoppage time.
It was Oshaniwa’s first ever red card in European league football. Ambrose was benched for the entire duration of the game.
In the Albanian top flight, Nurudeen Orelesi was in fine form in defensive midfield as champions Skenderbeu defeated Villaznia 2-1 on Saturday.
The former junior Nigerian international was on for 90 minutes and was one of Skenderbeu’s best players on the night.
In Finland, Nnamdi Oduamadi made a winning debut for his Finish side HJK Helsinki who defeated IFK Mariehamn 2-0 on Saturday.
Oduamadi who is on a season-long loan deal from AC Milan was replaced by Lassi Lappalainen in stoppage time. His compatriot Taye Taiwo was also on from start to finish in the encounter.
In Norway, Chidiebere Nwakali came on for Mathias Rasmussen in the 70th minute on his debut for IK Start who lost 1-0 home to Viking. Suleiman Abdullahi grabbed the only goal of the encounter for the visitors in the 27th minute of the encounter at the Soer Arena. Nwakali is on loan from Manchester City.


http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/iwobi-abdullahi-aluko-score-oshaniwa-sees-red/

April 7, 2016 ↔

5 Reasons Why Siasia Should Stay As Super Eagles Coach


The Nigeria Football Federation have not hidden their intention to hire a foreign coach to take charge of the Super Eagles after the recent failure of the team to reach their targets.



Nigeria prosecuted the ill-fated 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with three coaches, and before Samson Siasia came on board on interim basis, the mantle was held by Sunday Oliseh whose promising start ended with a face-off between him and his employers.

As the NFF and the sports minister Solomom Dalung deliberate on the pros and cons of appointing a foreign coach, Completesportsnigeria.com’s IZUCHUKWU OKOSI examines why it will be in the best interest of the team to have Samson Siasia continue as the coach of the Super Eagles…

1. ATTITUDE OF FOREIGN COACHES

Most foreign coaches who work in Africa are mainly employed during crisis situations. The FA will go for them believing that their expertise and orientation will help steady a sinking ship.

However the foreign coaches tend to take the FA for granted. They give the impression that they are doing the country a favour. They mostly insist on living in their own countries, rather than the countries that employ them.

They usually work like visiting experts and do not spend enough time to monitor local talent.

A good example to cite in this instance is the face-off between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and former Chelsea manager, Avram Grant.

The Israeli had stayed away from Ghana longer than usual and had to be written by the GFA before finally accepting to relocate to Ghana from England.

2. FOREIGN COACHES ARE EXPENSIVE

Employing a foreign coach will be expensive.

And let’s face it, its not as if the NFF will hire the likes of Jose Mourinho, Giovanni Trappatoni, Diego Simeone, Michael Laudrup Guus Hiddink (who will leave Chelsea at the end of the season after the end of his interim stint in charge of the Blues), Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini who will leave the club at the end of the current season as Pep Guardiola arrives at the Etihad or even Christian Gourcuff who only on Sunday quit his job as the national team coach of Algeria and the other world class coaches presently available.

The Glass House will regretfully go for coach(es) who have not made any meaningful impact in world or African football in recent memory. And even these coaches will want to earn at least four times what Nigerian coaches earn.

It is instructive to note that the NFF have complained of lack of funds. Will they sustain that expensive luxury as the sports minister, Solomon Dalung, asked during a session he had with the NFF chieftains on Tuesday in Abuja? The answer is possibly not so encouraging.

3. SIASIA’S OLYMPICS DUTY
Samson Siasia has always performed well with youth teams.

The former Super Eagles striker will lead Nigeria’s U-23 national team to Rio in Brazil this August for the football event of the 2016 Olympics.

With the promise his team have always shown at youth tournaments coupled with the fact that the Super Eagles have players of an average age of 23, the future will indeed be bright as Nigeria will have players under Siasia who could play for at least another ten years.

Read Also: Musa: Mikel, Not Me, Deserves To Be Eagles Captain
The likes of Alex Iwobi, Isaac Success, Oghenekaro Etebo, Azubuike Okechukwu, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Kelechi Nwakali, Musa Yahaya and so on are expected to feature at the Olympics.

The likes of Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo could play as the over-aged players.

That transition from the U-23 team to the Super Eagles setup who will start the last round of qualifiers to the 2018 World Cup in October will only bode well for the team and Nigerian football in general.

4 DISCOVERY OF MORE HOME-GROWN TALENTS
Despite the bittersweet relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Stephen Keshi, one positive that cannot be taken away from the one-time Strasbourg of France libero is his desire to work with some few home grown talents.

The likes of Godfrey Oboabona (then Sunshine Stars), Ejike Uzoenyi (then Enugu Rangers) and Sunday Mba (then Warri Wolves) to name but a few are quality players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) who have either won the Africa Cup of Nations or played at the FIFA World Cup as home-based players.

Agreed, when players in the Nigeria Professional Football League get lucrative deals abroad, their game could improve due to the world class facilities, coaches, teammates etc at their disposal, but conversely, there are some players in the local scene that have proven to have sheer talents and are hard workers than the over-pampered foreign exports.

A foreign coach for the Super Eagles may not be favourably disposed to travelling round Nigeria to watch NPFL games and unearthing the next gems especially as there are supposedly security threats in some parts of the country.

Such a coach will be more interested in monitoring players abroad than developing the game at the grassroots.

Samson Siasia is expected to follow the footsteps of the likes of Keshi and even Clemens Westerhof before him by handing opportunities to these talents back in the Nigerian league.

5. SIASIA WILL CONVINCE MORE NIGERIA-BORN STARS TO REPRESENT NIGERIA
Samson Siasia was keen to cap former Arsenal youngster Chuks Aneke but unfortunately he lost his Super Eagles coaching job after the failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Only recently Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi chose to represent the country of his birth, Nigeria, and not England.

A pattern here shows that Siasia loves giving opportunities to young talents. After all, if you are good enough, you are old enough.

The likes of Kenneth Otigba (Herenveen in the Dutch league), Moses Odubajo, Chuba Akpom (both Hull City) Dominic Iorfa jnr (Wolves), Dominic Solanke (Chelsea), Tosin Adarabioyo (Manchester City) could be the next youngsters to follow Alex Iwobi to the Super Eagles in the nearest future.

Samson Siasia will give chances to more young talents who could be in dilemma over which nation to represent.


http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/5-reasons-siasia-stay-super-eagles-coach/

bigomoh:
Being singled out for plaudits from a brazilian playing for barca says a lot. Nor be beans.how come no one has extended invitation to this your ajagun since he plays for a champions league playing side.


I've watched ajagun play wella, he's not better than etebo,azubuike or sodiq. You can be playing in a lesser league and be better than those in more established league, abi is not from a non league side that vardy came from before being the toast of the premiership?

Invitation to where? National team or the age grade?

We have seen a player while playing for Barcelona fc never got invited into the Nigerian national team. So, that one no bi criteria to determine a good player.


Well, it is your opinion. If they are that good like Vardy, clubs will come for them. I have seen them all play but i can tell you that Ajagun is better.


Hehehe! Better players play in the best clubs in the world as long as you are visible to the eyes of scouts. Talent is never hidden.

Orkpekyandega:
Chisom Chikatara scored 48 goals in 71 games, excludind the 4 he scored in CHAN.

CC: Forgiveness.

Can you please break it down?

bigomoh:
I'd pick him over ajagun. Nothing wowing about him. In other news I was at Agege Stadium today to watch MFM v Rangers. Nwobodo put in a shift,nice silky player who I'd also pick over ajagun. And there's also one valbuena-esque player in the MFM side. His one touch-and-go passing is a joy to watch.

Is there anything wowing about a player who failed test with Standard liege?

Is there anything wowing about a player who has been in Europe since 2012 but is still playing in the second divisions of France and Belgium?

Is there anything wowing about a player who was not deem fit to play in the ligue 1 after his team got promoted from ligue 2 but was instead loaned to a second division club in Belgium(not even first division)?

I am talking about Sadiq Popoola who i have followed since 2012 after 36 lions successful traded Ezekiel Imoh to Standard and tried to trade him but eventually failed.

Very funny you rated Azubuike Okechukwu and Etebor Ogehnekaro over Abdul Ajagun.

This is just Azubuike Okechukwu first season in a second division in Turkey while Etebor Ogehnekaro is still training with an Academy in Nigeria.

And you are comparing them with Ajagun who had played 2 and the half season in a club that had made statement in the UEFA Champions League and is still currently playing in a club than those you mentioned?

If sentiment is not attached for selection, i will not pick Azubuike Okechukwu, Etebor Ogehnekaro and Sadiq Popoola on my list based on technical facts.

Nwobodo? very funny.

I don watch Eyimba(NPL Champions) life and direct but i never see Ajagun mate.

Icon4s:
Same mistake he made against Egypt. We were 1-0 up rather than sealing the result with a more defensive change he was busy experimenting with like-for-like substitutions. He has nt learnt not to underrate opponents. He thought Egypt was dead and buried.

That is it.

AMUNEKE CALLS UP VICTORIOUS EAGLETS TO FLYING EAGLES

Amuneke calls up victorious Eaglets to Flying Eagles
Victorious Eaglets at Chile 2015
by Staff Reporter
Wednesday Apr 06, 2016. 18:23
World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets Class of 2015 have dominated the 30 call-ups by Nigeria U20 coach Emmanuel Amuneke.

The victorious Eaglets from Chile 2015 include goalkeepers Akpan Udoh and Amos Benjamin as well as John Lazarus, David Enogela, Kingsley Michael, Funsho Bamgboye, Chukwudi Agor, Joel Osikel, Ejike Ikwu, Udochukwu Anumudu, Osinachi Ebere and Orji Okonkwo,

Team secretary Ibrahim Aliyu Lawal disclosed that 30 invited players will be camped at the Serob Legacy Hotel, in the Federal Capital Territory, ahead of the first leg of the fixture scheduled for Bujumbura on the weekend of 20th - 22nd May.

The return leg will hold in Nigeria two weeks after.

Amuneke has opted to have a three –day open screening for new players ahead of the team’s camping for a 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Burundi.

Burundi progressed to be eligible to square up with Cup holders Nigeria after the Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew from the race.

Amuneke has called for open screening between Thursday, 7th April and Saturday, 9th April before a group of 30 invited players will arrive camp in Abuja on Monday, 11th April.

INVITED PLAYERS:

Akpan Udoh, John Lazarus, David Enogela, Kingsley Michael, Funsho Bamgboye, Chinedu Madueke, Chukwudi Agor, Joel Osikel, Ejike Ikwu, Udochukwu Anumudu, Amos Benjamin, Osinachi Ebere, Orji Okonkwo, Chiaha Chisom, Suleiman Abdullahi, Kehinde Ayinde, Anas Mohammed, Douglas Uzama, Ayodeji Bamidele, Jack Ipalibo, Ernest Agenor, Najib Hamza, Johnson Umah, Chukwuebuka Okoroji, Gavi Thompson, Bright Etaghara, Samuel Obehi, Timothy Idoko, Abbas Usman, Yinusa Abdul



http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/824546608?-21310:8643:t

safarigirl:
Y'all bee arguing as if NFF will allow anybody see progress sef.

Okay, the Iwobi we got, wetin dem use am do over 2-legs of AFCON qualifiers?

You think it's by packing foreign-based players in National teams? So if they play for U17 and U20, what guarantees do you have that they won't switch allegiance to England or Portugal dem? After all, didn't Iwobi play U17 and V Moses U20 for England before switching to Nigeria?

Do you know all the great English kids the English age grade teams passed up to field Iwobi and Moses? And what did they get in return? Just when the kid seems to be bearing fruits, he dumps them.

This argument is highly irrelevant and petty, so y'all drop it. No be by inviting players, are you willing to play them? A good player will get frustrated eventually and decide to feature somewhere he'll be played. Una think say if Iheanacho had a choice, e for play for Nigeria after what Manu did to him at U20? Same BS Siasia pulled once again at the qualifiers.

Y'all better take your argument to NFF cuz na dem dey spoil business for una

Cc Bascovanveli, thegoodjoe and forgiveness

Well, you made a valid point with NFF being the problem but i think the coaches also have to share part of the blame. Afterall, the decision to field players all lies in coaches hands.

BascoVanVeli:
Don't mind TheGoodJoe i am sure he is a lawyer or should have been one. The problem is us. We Nigerians are too proud, we don't even want to admit Alaba was a loss, while Wenger openly lamments losing players when they were 14 and 15.

@bolded is the point. If they know the reason France and Germany is capping foreign lads into their national, they will quickly follow suit.

Icon4s:
NFF and Siasia were aware a one goal win was enough. Because of our "pedigree" then they just felt Guinea must nt finish ahead of us.

@bolded is the point they failed.

NRIPRIEST:
Well,let it be known to you that tribal sentiments has been dragged into this great thread.....Somebody even openly said a part of the country is being marginalized in football. As if there was a great talent obvious to everybody from region X and he was ignored because he was not from region A. We know the couch who took an inexperienced player and some grandfather who can't stand on his fit for a good 30minutes to the world cup just because they are his tribes men...hehe

Nigeria
Head coach: Festus Onigbinde

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Club
1 GK Ike Shorunmu 16 October 1967 (aged 34) 34 Switzerland Lucerne

2 DF Joseph Yobo 6 September 1980 (aged 21) 14 France Marseille

3 DF Celestine Babayaro 29 August 1978 (aged 23) 24 England Chelsea

4 FW Nwankwo Kanu 1 August 1976 (aged 25) 33 England Arsenal

5 DF Isaac Okoronkwo 1 May 1978 (aged 24) 12 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk

6 DF Taribo West 26 March 1974 (aged 28) 38 Germany 1. FC Kaiserslautern

7 MF Pius Ikedia 11 July 1980 (aged 21) 9 Netherlands Ajax

8 MF Mutiu Adepoju 22 December 1970 (aged 31) 49 Spain Salamanca

9 FW Bartholomew Ogbeche 1 October 1984 (aged 17) 4 France Paris Saint-Germain

10 MF Jay-Jay Okocha (c) 14 August 1973 (aged 28) 56 France Paris Saint-Germain

11 MF Garba Lawal 22 May 1974 (aged 28) 34 Netherlands Roda JC

12 GK Austin Ejide 8 April 1984 (aged 18) 3 Nigeria Gabros International

13 DF Rabiu Afolabi 18 April 1980 (aged 22) 5 Belgium Standard Liège

14 DF Ifeanyi Udeze 21 July 1980 (aged 21) 15 Greece PAOK

15 MF Justice Christopher 24 December 1981 (aged 20) 7 Belgium Royal Antwerp

16 DF Efe Sodje 5 October 1972 (aged 29) 7 England Crewe Alexandra

17 FW Julius Aghahowa 12 February 1982 (aged 20) 17 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk

18 FW Benedict Akwuegbu 3 November 1974 (aged 27) 16 China Shenyang Haishi

19 DF Eric Ejiofor 21 July 1979 (aged 22) 12 Israel Maccabi Haifa

20 MF James Obiorah 24 August 1978 (aged 23) 2 Russia Lokomotiv Moscow

21 MF John Utaka 8 January 1982 (aged 20) 4 Qatar Al-Sadd

22 GK Vincent Enyeama 29 August 1982 (aged 19) 2 Nigeria Enyimba

23 MF Femi Opabunmi 3 March 1985 (aged 17) 2

Sir, kindly, pinpoint to the "inexperience player" and "some grandfather" on this list.

We are learning every day and today i want to learn from you. But make you provide details and facts or in Icon4s voice "technical facts" . Thanks

bigomoh:
Ive known sodiq right from his playing days at st paul,shasha akowonjo to Spartan fc agege and oniwowo of pako iyana ipaja. He was part of the initial U17 squad that included the likes of omeruo,stanley okoro before he was dropped at the last minute. What a good player he is,diminutive midfielder with a bag of skills and an eye for goal. I doubt siasia will include him in the final squad being the business coach that he is.

Really! But who em go displace for that list?

Maybe Etebor Ogehnekaro, Azubuike Okechukwu and Abdul Ajagun.

tbaba1234:
BARCELONA’S BRAZIL U-23 STAR PRAISES SODIQ POPOOLA

Brazil U-23 midfielder Rafinha Alcantara has heaped praises on 21 year old Nigeria midfielder Sodiq Popoola for his showing when Nigeria shock the U-23 of Brazil 1-0.

“I’m very much happy to return back to action but not so happy we lost although we gave our best, we must give credit to Nigeria, they deserve to win” He said after the game to Globesporte.

“I was very impressed with the way the Nigerians play, the energy and tireless running particularly their number 19, he was simply unplayable” He concluded.

Popoola who was also praised by the team interim handler Fatai Amoo after his display in the game struck the bar with a shot very early into the game which was turned in by Ubong Ekpai for the game’s lone goal.

He presently plays for RFC Seraing in the second division in Belgium where he has scored four times from the 20 games he has played for the 11th placed team.

The former 36 Lions protegee started his career in France in 2013 when he turned out for the second team of French side Metz.

*Interview was done two weeks ago after the game, it just came to our notice.

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/04/06/barcelonas-brazil-u-23-star-praises-sodiq-popoola/#more-2437

I will modify my list.

Icon4s:
Bros dnt get it mixed up. We needed to win by 2goal margin to top the group.

At commencement of that game against Guinea, We were nt sure whether a one goal margin win could see us through cos all the matches were being played simultaneously. We needed to win by 2 goal margin to be sure of qualification. It was after we drew the match that we then found out that 2-1 win could have been enough after-all. We drew 2-2.

Besides, there was this slogan then that "if u cant beat Guinea by 2 goals then u dnt have any business being in the AFCON". Siasia was trying to prove he and his boys were good enough to beat Guinea by the required margin.

But come o. Siasia is fond of conceding very painful late goals.

I developed a sharp head ache from screaming after Guinea equalized.

I was never used to Nigeria crashing out of AFCON qualifiers since I have been following the tournament in 1988. In 1996 and 98 we were suspended not tht we failed to qualify.

How come he and NFF was crucified by the public and media? An article was written by a journalist about our chances of qualifications with just a win.

Even before the match ended that day, report already came that we have chances of qualifying at 2 goals to one.

Icon4s:
You are always the one pointing out tribalism when there is none.

no comment

Icon4s:
You are laughing. Check ur self in the second sentence of that biglangston's comment.

is ya conscience pricking you?

Remember, you only pointed a finger but 4 is pointing back at you.

Icon4s:
But you know some of these journalist can be over zealous.

Samson Siasia is going to the Olympics for the second time so he should know d rules as per number of players to make the final squad.

I dnt trust these journalists. They cook up things to add flesh to their stories.

But how come Siasia didn't know then that a draw was all we needed to qualify for AFCON in 2012?

I don't thrust dem all.

Icon4s:
Was the bolded statement made by Siasia or the journalist that made this write up? Final 23 man squad?

Meaning the NFF and Siasia have nt seen this article:http://www.rio2016.com/sites/default/files/users/rio2016_files/fifa-football-en_0.pdf

SIASIA PROPOSES COLOMBIA, HONDURAS FRIENDLY MATCHES


April 5, 2016

Dream Team VI Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has submitted his programme for the Rio 2016 Olympic football event after his adventure with the Super Eagles failed to qualify Nigeria
for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The coach, whose fate will be tabled before the expanded meeting of the board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung today, told reporters that his Olympic blueprint incorporated proposal for friendly matches to be played with Columbia and Honduras.



If ratified by NFF, the matches will he played in Brazil, where Nigeria will camp for one month after an extensive training in Europe.

Siasia said he planned to open a training camp in Nigeria with a legion of home-based players as soon as the federation approves his programme.

“We will go into camp with some home-based players the moment we get the green light from the federation. The exercise will allow us assess the boys to determine if some of them can be included in the final 23-man squad for the Olympic Games. We hope to camp in Europe and spend one month in Brazil, where we will play friendly matches with Honduras and Colombia,” Siasia stressed.

While he was away as the caretaker coach of the Eagles, Fatai Amoo was put in charge of the U-23 team which stunned Brazil 1-0 in a friendly match, organised by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) at the Estadio Kieber Andrade in Caciacica Vittoria.


https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/04/05/siasia-proposes-colombia-honduras-friendly-matches/&ved=0ahUKEwjuod3o2fnLAhVHzRQKHZNOBaUQqQIIHDAB&usg=AFQjCNHgM90qKXXBMnWNlzNzrbswedmAiQ

@bolded means Siasia said it. Some of these Coaches and NFF don't know anything about football rules. They just go there to.....

Icon4s:
You are Right bro.

Some times it is good to sit back and watch 2 or 3 guys argue a course and learn a lot of things. Kudos to TheGoodJoe and forgiveness. You guys rock.

Hehehe! Thanks but you never answer my questions ooooo.

bigblangston:
Wonderful debate coming from these two titans, Anyone trying to bring in tribal issues into these should check himself if he's not tribalistic himself, no where was it written in the debate that ethnicity was made a yardstick for preference, This is how wonderful analysts are known. Good job guys. Icons vs Bascovanveli tagged LEGEND(icons) versus ICON (basco) next on the list

Hehehe!

joseph1013:
Knock-Out. Badt guy!

But it's not true that the Dutch league is more competitive than EPL. And you know it!

Chai...but the way you capitalized on his anecdotal stats is classic. You're such an evil man!

@bolded

Of course, i know EPL is more attractive and competitive but i don't agree they are very difficult for an Eredivisie players to excel. And it doesn't make them inferior to EPL players.

Of course, God don talk am before say every imagination of man's heart is only evil continually. But i have been forgiven.

SIASIA PROPOSES COLOMBIA, HONDURAS FRIENDLY MATCHES


April 5, 2016

Dream Team VI Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has submitted his programme for the Rio 2016 Olympic football event after his adventure with the Super Eagles failed to qualify Nigeria
for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The coach, whose fate will be tabled before the expanded meeting of the board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung today, told reporters that his Olympic blueprint incorporated proposal for friendly matches to be played with Columbia and Honduras.



If ratified by NFF, the matches will he played in Brazil, where Nigeria will camp for one month after an extensive training in Europe.

Siasia said he planned to open a training camp in Nigeria with a legion of home-based players as soon as the federation approves his programme.

“We will go into camp with some home-based players the moment we get the green light from the federation. The exercise will allow us assess the boys to determine if some of them can be included in the final 23-man squad for the Olympic Games. We hope to camp in Europe and spend one month in Brazil, where we will play friendly matches with Honduras and Colombia,” Siasia stressed.

While he was away as the caretaker coach of the Eagles, Fatai Amoo was put in charge of the U-23 team which stunned Brazil 1-0 in a friendly match, organised by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) at the Estadio Kieber Andrade in Caciacica Vittoria.


https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/04/05/siasia-proposes-colombia-honduras-friendly-matches/&ved=0ahUKEwjuod3o2fnLAhVHzRQKHZNOBaUQqQIIHDAB&usg=AFQjCNHgM90qKXXBMnWNlzNzrbswedmAiQ

TheGoodJoe:


So how did I combine the two seasons as one as you want to combine Bony's first and second season as his EPL goals in a season.

I said Bony scored 16 goals in his first season in the EPL. You said no. 25 goals.

I told you it is not true that in one season he scored 16. You said is it not two seasons?

So please show me where I combined two seasons as one. Because, that clearly showed me separating each season.

This what you said.

TheGoodJoe:

When did I say that an Eredivisie good goal scorer can not score in the EPL. I am asking you, which of the league is harder.

If you do not know, why are you arguing.

The best player of the Eredivisie in recent years, Bony is benching in Man City.

That is enough to tell you how difficult it is in the EPL.

Pelle benches in some games.

This is what i replied

Sorry, Bonny scored 25 goals in his first season in EPL
11 goals in the second season

In the Eredivisie

3 goals in the first season

15 goals in the second season
Chai!

First season in EPL 25 goals, ok minus the EPL league Cup goals, 25 - 9 = 16 goals EPL goals

Second season in EPL 11 goals. Abi i lie?


First season in Eredivisie 3 goals only.
Second season in Eredivisie 15 goals

As you can see,