₦airaland Forum

joseph1013:
On your second point, the form of the '94 squad cannot be compared with this one.

Yekini was a top scorer at Olympiakos
Amuneke was at Sporting.
Amokachi at Club Brugge
Okocha at Frankfurt
Adepoju at Santander at La Liga

In fact save for Keshi, the first team was filled with players playing REGULARLY for their teams in Europe.

That team was solid. It was not for nothing that everywhere you go in the world, it's the members of that team that foreigners keep asking you about.

Even player for player, the '98 team was more solid player for player than this present team.

So it's only someone who has not followed the Eagles for long that agrees that all we've ever had are average players.

But that's a distraction. This team is my favourite team. And it's because of the unity and love they exhibit.

I'm 80% certain we will qualify from that group. And 50% we'll get to the semi finals. And it's all because they play for each other.

Yekini was the top goal scorer in the Portuguese liga.

Evan Ekoku scored double digit goals in the EPL and scored in UEFA cup.

Victor Ikpeba was among the top goal scorers in the Belgian league with 17 goals in 1993 before he moved to Monaco where he scored in UEFA champions league.

Finidi was with Ajsx.

We had players in Anderlecht.

Kog45:
Thank you.I can say it anywhere that our US 94 team were average but solid as a team.

How can we define average in this context?

Kog45:
My man France 98 squad was overrated.A team with players who have passed their prime, players like Rufai,Yekini,Eguavoen, Iroha,Okafor.

Hope you remember we took injured Amokachie to WC,Oparaku was not that solid like Atlanta 96 even his club status was suspect,Taribo was a suspect all through,check Denmark match,Kanu not able to replicate his Atlanta magic,just playing like normal player,Finidi form had dropped,Amuneke not the real guy again,Okocha as usual continue where he stopped against Italy,playing to the gallery.

The business minded guys in that team are Sunday Olishe,Adepoju Mutiu,,Celestine Babayaro while Victor Ikpeba, Wilson OrumaTijani Babaginda,Godwin Opara who are ready to prove a point where always on the bench,remember Ikpeba,Oruma,Babangida had a goal each at France 98.

My point is this based on paper the players look solid but as a team they are not solid,beating Spain was one of those things and beating Bulgaria was the confidence of US 94.

My man i don't rate this team.

You so right on points, sir. You really followed.

I was mad seeing the injured Amokachi on the WC list and those boys eager to prove themselves left on the bench.

E don they wey business and impunity reigned supreme in our players selection.

Mujtahida:
Out of 23 players you could only mention 4 yet you guys keep hammering on the point as if we had players in the 94 set lighting up the top leagues in Europe. Siasia was a bench piece not a regular. I respect the 94 team but I will not lose sight of what is beautifully unfolding before my eyes. For you guys the team will change from average to super once players like martins, solanke etc are in the team. But that is a fraud. Fact is Nigeria doesn't produce stellar players in the ilk of the greats of the game. How many Nigerian players have played consistently for the top three teams in the world from the mid 90's to present?
Average but they will get the job done. Just watch and see.

At least, admit you were wrong in the first place then we go forge ahead with the other two things you raised.

Did we have players lighting up top leagues in Europe prior to the 1994 WC?

This question showed you didn't follow the team because we had players lighting up top leagues in Europe.

We had players lighting the Portuguese liga, EPL, Belgium Pro league and Eredivise. These were top leagues in the world as at then.

The next is, are they average?

If they were average, why were they recognized with individual awards?

Even with all those players we achieved nothing, how much more going to the WC with some unfit and bench warmers?

Top Ten Most Influential Nigerian Players In 2017 (10-7) : Mikel, Martins, Obi & Simon

Published: December 28, 2017

Top Ten Most Influential Nigerian Players In 2017 (10-7) : Mikel, Martins, Obi & Simon
The fast-winding year had been a great one for most Nigerians who proved sensational enough in pulling off different grades of successes with the national team and their respective clubs to a quantum point in terms of performance evaluation.

With this piece, allnigeriasoccer.com would thus, run down the top ten most influential Nigerian players for the year 2017, the list detailing from below.

(10) Joel Obi — With glimpses of his eye-catching performances for Torino this season, there arose a wide outcry for the former Inter Milan playmaker to be called back to the national team fold and it is a no-brainer why.

The 26-year old midfielder who has two assists and two goals to go with in just 10 league appearances is one of the most creative players for The Maroons who sit tenth on the league table and it would be interesting to see him reprise that with the Super Eagles yet again.

(9) Obafemi Martins —Martins had an undoubtedly prolific season with Shanghai Shenhua, scoring seven goals in 1159 minutes from 13 Chinese Super League matches, though the highlight of his effervescence would come in the Chinese FA Cup where he inspired the Shanghai outfit to the title, scoring in both legs of the decider over Shanghai SIPG.

Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr had yet reiterated that the national team's door is still open to the 33-year old who last donned the green and white back in 2015, and it is little wonder why he continues to get a look-in.

( Moses Simon — The 22-year old attacker who is always full of tricks and feints was that good as Nigeria thumped every of their group opponents enroute to Russia.

Back in Belgium, the KAA Gent starlet is far from resting on his laurels, notching five goals and two assists for The Buffaloes who sit fifth on the Belgian First Division with European competition clearly in view.

Fast, fleet footed with a keen eye for goal, Simon is perhaps, his team's dependable trickster whenever he is in action.

(7) John Obi Mikel — The inspirational figure at the heart of this very successful Super Eagles side.

The Tianjin Teda man might no longer be a flashy No 10 but his ability to control proceedings from deep with a calm efficiency and astute reading of the game which is almost peerless.

Deployed in a free and advanced role for Nigeria during the qualification series, the Super Eagles's skipper has recently added goals to his toolkit, as he showed against Algeria and Cameroon.

But for his timely decisive contributions from midfield for his Chinese side, Teda Tigers might have been facing up
to relegation.


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/917097653?-21310:11479:1

Nigeria: Omeruo, Nwakaeme, Olanrewaju May Miss World Cup in Russia

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

By Christian Okpara

Unless his club form improves tremendously, Brazil 2014 World Cup star, Kenneth Omeruo will not make Nigeria's squad to next year's edition of the Coupe du Mundo. Also in danger of missing the party are Anthony Nwakaeme and Kayode Olanrewaju, both of who were in the fringes of the squad during the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying series.

The Guardian has gathered that Coach Gernot Rohr has a 33-man list from which he will select his final 23 players for the World Cup.According to some insiders at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Rohr already has his first 15 players and will determine the remaining eight spots through the various friendly games lined up for the Super Eagles as preparatory matches for Russia 2018.

Omeruo, Nwakaeme and Olanrewaju are in the list, but sources close to Rohr say they are among the eight who must prove why they should be in the squad to Russia during the friendly games.Former Super Eagles stalwart, Obafemi Martins and Ramon Azeez are said to be on the fringes of the team and could only get serious attention if any of the players that featured in the qualifiers got tournament threatening injury. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama's case is slightly different as his inclusion depends on what he does at the club level before the final World Cup list is made.

Confirmed - Onyekuru to Miss Russia 2018
Injury May Force Onyekuru to Miss Russia 2018
In Coach Rohr's 33-man list are goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and Francis Uzoho. Vincent Enyeama is on standby.The defenders are Elderson Echiejile, Shehu Abdullahi, Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun, Tyronne Ebuehi, Bryan Idowu, Chidozie Awaziem and Kenneth Omeruo.Skipper John Obi Mikel leads the midfield, which has also Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Mikel Agu, Ogenekaro Etebo and Alex Iwobi, while in attack are Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses and Moses Simon.

Others are Henry Onyekuru, Kayode Olanrewaju and Anthony Nwakaeme.At the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Nigeria listed three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and seven attackers in a squad criticised for being too light in some areas, especially the defence and midfield.

Now, Rohr must decide the type of players he wants in his final squad, but there are indications that he may opt for players that can play multiple roles for the team.According to the source, some of the players already assured of inclusion in the final squad barring any serious injury are Mikel, Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Ogenyi Onazi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Ola Aina, Shehu Abdullahi, Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Oghenekaro Etebo, Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa.

"Coach initially put Henry Onyekuru down as an alternative source of goals, but the boy is now injured and may not be fit enough for the challenges of the World Cup."The plot will become clearer when we start the friendly matches next year. That will be when such players as Brown Ideye and Ugah will get the last opportunity to stake their claims to the team," the source said.

Onyekuru's coach at Anderlecht yesterday revealed that the on-loan Everton star has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.



The striker suffered the injury against former club Eupen on December 22.Recent scans show the injury to be more serious than initially suspected.

"He could be out for as long as six months," Anderlecht coach, Hein Vanhaezebrouck told reporters.It is a cruel blow for the 20-year-old, who had played in 19 league games and appeared in four Champions League matches for the Brussels outfit.He was given a run out in Nigeria's last World Cup qualifier in Algeria in November when he came on in the second half of the 1-1 draw and was hoping to make Gernot Rohr's final 23-man squad for Russia in June


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/917075601?-21310:11479:1

Mujtahida:
Amokachi was not tearing anything in Belgium. He joined super eagles while he was in ranchers bees of kaduna. He later went to Belgium. Siasia was warming the bench in Belgium. Kog45 has given a list of the club's the golden generation were playing in and they were all average players playing for average teams. Some were not even playing. They were permanent bench warmers. When i pointed it out to you the last time you said 2027 is not 94 but here you are hyping amokachi. You guys hammering on the fact that our team is average don't understand what a team is all about. Its the same mentality that gets Nigerians hooked to certificates. We need a team with a winning mentality. That's all that matters. The story of the rabbit (stellar player/team) and the tortoise (average player/team) comes to mind.

Daniel Amokachi had won two Ebony awards and placed 3rd once prior to the world. In short, he won the award prior to the WC and he was the 8th highest goal scorer with two digit goals.


Rashidi and Amuneke were AFOTY award winning players prior to the WC.

Siasia was playing with Nantes in Ligue 1 prior to that WC.

komekn:
He hasn't scored in the premiership but if I'm right hr scored in a couple of cup games.

He hasn't.

komekn:
Iorfa definitely
Seyi I'm sure of
Bobby Adekanya ready to go
Onomah I can not confirm yet.

But there has to be some commitment from Amaju and the NFF towards these boys not necessarily in public.

Bobby Adekanye signified to play for us as far back as when he was in Barcelona but Emmanuel Amuneke rejected him.

Pls, do.

Danielnino00:
How many of them have declared their interest to play for Nigeria??

if they are really passionate about the national team,they won't wait for the NFF to approach them first..

How many wey don declare received a call?

daveP:
Seems like Enyeama would get a club come January. Angers cso on his radar!

Good.

darkelf:
Oya come back home to the world of champions (Liverpool)

Hahaha! I still dey peep with one eye ooo.

komekn:
Tell me more

Solanke is yet to score but he has an assist.

junnyjake:
Is Belgium really a top league??

Even Onazi with his time at Italy and Turkey, an established international was denied a permit.

Just sidon dey looku looku.

Humility017:
the thing is...is he willing to play for the super eagles....?
we don't want another player that will give us Tammy treatment and use us draw up Southgate attention.....

I really do admire the lad...same with ejaria...
but I fear if those kids think and wanna play for Nigeria....

if you're convinced they don't mind play for us....let us know...we can start drum support for their call up....you never can tell where that gonna leads to

Onomah wan play. Sheyi wan play. Iorfa wan play. Tomori wan play etc wan play.

Danielnino00:
I'm a Liverpool fan and I've watch solanke enough to know how good he is... And I won't deny that he is presently a better player than Iheanacho albeit having scored zero goals for Liverpool so far..


But what concern us with him? I don't get this ur chronic obsession with the foreign born players oo.. That was how u kept ranting about Tiago Ilori the other day??

Abeg,the only thing that makes these guys feel Nigerian is their parents.. All of them have their eyes on the three lions,we shouldn't bother about them at all until they put on the GWG...

If u are really passionate about the national team like u claim, u won't stop so low to be comparing somebody like Iheanacho that has scored 8 gaols in 14 games for d super eagles with Solanke that's still riding on his U-20 world cup glory....

How do you know?

Dedebanky85:
Which kind yans be this? If the coach knew, then why did he pull him off? The pressure Naija was putting on them was increasing by the minute. They had to alter their formation to take out an attacker. At that time Bebeto was more rated than Ronaldo and they still had Bebeto on the pitch. So why we no chop 7. I could also say if we had Oliseh them for score only 1.

What was the score when Ronaldo came off?

Ronaldo was the best in world.

MetalJigsaw:
Are you sure Rohr is really looking for a replacement for him? Cos here hasn't invited any. He's not even spoken about it.

Yes, he is and that's why Sokari is in the line but I think we have better ones.

komekn:
Actually he has not Solanke has scored two goals in cup games.

KC has scored one goal this season in the cup.

Tega Abrahams who has been much aligned has scored 4 goals in the EPL and 1 in the cup.

I don't think so.

komekn:
I agree he could get him a starting berth with at least 10 championship clubs.

But it's not going to be easy, he is going to have to adapt and work very very hard. And they will expect results almost immediately.

KC has played quite a lot of games for the U23's at Leicester how many goals has he scored Is he the top goal scorer in Leicester U23 and or in the U23 league

So it will be a big test.

U sure he can survive in that league? I think France is better.

goldfish80:
I don't have to be there on the training pitch. We saw him every match day.
We saw a guy who cannot outpace his markers, struggles to beat his man, poor first touch, poor with his back to goal, lack of aerial dominance, constantly isolated, poor footwork.... I can go on.

Some of us have the nerves to question the status quo.
Pelegrin's opinion is not bible.

na so e suppose be.

BascoVanVeli:
If any it was Pep. Pelegrini openly told reporters that Iheanacho was a 10 not a 9.

Why did they play him as CF?

darkelf:
And as a passionate Liverpool fan, I'll say one thing

Solanke is overrated and may not be better than KC after all

I am also a passionate Liverpool fan. Na Celestine Babayaro and Mikel Obi carry me go Chelsea.

Look well again.

BascoVanVeli:
He has still scored more than Solanke this season.

Where? The U23 league?

Oh! Where he normally scores. Carling cup.

How many goals?

TheGoodJoe:
I said, are you in Guardiola's mind? Guardiola plans to stay long in City and we put a buy back clause. This counters your point. You have nothing to back it.

Coach of Manchester City Pep Guardiola is hoping out of favour Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho will leave the club permanently in the summer as opposed to the option of leaving on loan.
Iheanacho has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, but his impressive statistics in front of goal has made him a top target for most teams in Europe.
German clubs Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund have sounded out his representatives while West Ham and Everton have also inquired from his representative if he will be willing to join them this summer.
Any deal for Iheanacho will most likely be a deal that involves the 20 year old leaving the club permanently with Guardiola needing the cash to fund some of his top target this summer, without necessarily dragging the club into problems with UEFA Financial Fair Play Rules.

http://leadership.ng/2017/05/21/guardiola-wants-iheanacho-sold/

This is something.

I get am before no bi property. Quote from people on this thread but thy don't want to eat their humble pie.

TheGoodJoe:
Says who, you? Are you in Guardiola's mind? Na wa. Please City insisted on a £50 million buy back clause before letting him go. That is enough to show how much they rate him.

Finito.

Did I mention Man City?

I said Guardiola wanted him sold out and doesn't want a loan.

TheGoodJoe:
Manchester City did not want to sell. I doubt loan was on the deal. We had two natural strikers ahead of Iheanacho. If we play a two striker system, Nacho becomes important. However, Nacho was ready to move and try his luck somewhere else.

Keep in mind that there is also a case of increase in wages which is also important to Nacho. A loan move will not achieve that. If Nacho was to stay, then it would be on City's terms. Hence he wanted to go, I doubt blaming the club is logical.

We saw players like Delph sitting on the bench and developing. Baffling how a young player like Nacho seems too big for the bench. Even the likes of Morata and Llorente sit on the bench some times.

Guardiola wanted him sold and never wanted a loan.

Danielnino00:
Are u now saying Solanke is better than Iheanacho??

Go and watch both closely then come back and tell us what you see.

BascoVanVeli:
Solanke has not scored a single goal in a high flying Liverpool team. He has not scored a single premier league goal in his whole life. Nacho u have suffered!

I get am before no be property. No be so una tell me three seasons ago?

Where is Iheanacho this season? That is the koko.

kennysville:
Lolzzzzz haba.... Why na? He is not a tribalist oh! He is just a yoruba dude ... to the core.... Dasall.....!

So, they are just an Igbo dudes to the core because den wan die put for Kelechi Nwakali, Chidiebere Nwakali, Azubuike, Uzoho and Iheanacho to be in the the team regadless of where dey play and at the expense of players doing better than them?

Double standard.

BascoVanVeli:
Solanke has still not achieved anything in the EPL. If Nacho was on either Liverpool or City right now he would be scoring goals even from the bench unlike Solanke who has no goals yet.

For Man city Iheanacho will score goals but sorry he can't for Liverpool because no tap in goals are available.