₦airaland Forum

Icon79:
You're a fulltime mugu! How exactly is Argentina going down? Or you do swallow everything you hear from the so called pundits on TV?

Right now, Argentina has exactly the same chance of qualifications as Nigeria, OK. They just need to beat Ecuador (who incidentally are out of it) to qualify .... the same way we just need to beat Zambia to qualify. We can qualify tomorrow and the Argies can qualify on Tuesday, that's just the bottom line.

The truth is, only one country (brazil) has qualified in the South American group. Four places are still open - that mean, even the second placed Uruguay can still miss out, same with Chile, Columbia, Peru, and Argentina. Tuesday would decide who goes to the world and who stays home amongst the 4 nations.

If I am a betting man, I would put my money on Argentina ahead of countries like: Chile who are playing Brazil away and/or Colombia who are playing Peru away. So my prediction is that the Argies would finish the job by beating Ecuador, but if the worse comes to the worst and they fail to beat Ecuador, they can still qualify via playoffs - depending on the results of the other fixtures. So the talk of Argentina's demise is very premature, IMHO.

As a matter of fact, they were very unlucky not to win yesterday. Lionel Messi hit the post in the second half and created numerous opportunities that his team-mates were unable to convert. Sergio Aguero would've probably buried some of those chances, if he were available yesterday.


O pari

If Argentina no go World cup, one obstacle to winning the world cup is out.

I no go lie. I never see both played.

Mujtahida:
I don't think the Germans are as insecure as England. All this foreign born doesn't freak me but walahi if we get those two German trained guys, Felix and Torunarigha in our defence I will really be happy.

Hopefully, we qualify for the world cup and lure them with the glory of participating in the world cup.

Mujtahida:
I don't think the Germans are as insecure as England.

If they are not, why did they cap Sidney when they heard he turned out to play for Nigeria?

PROVERBZ:
There is a British spy here

I know it

Every British Nigerian we discourse here someone always brings it up on their forum


We will find that leach

Na who be that?

Mujtahida:
Gone for where? Are you seeing Felix near this present crop of German players? He stands better chance to play for us. Germany is awash with talents.

It's a matter of time. Germany is aware Nigeria wants to poaching him.

Kog45:
I watched Felix Uduokhai of recent,d guy is good but i don't know his commitment to Nigeria.

Felix Uduokhai is highly rated by the Germans and he's aware of that.

He's as good as gone except he desperately wants to go to the world Cup.

EEGA:
We need Felix Uduokhai,Jordan Torunarigha,Dominic Iorfa (Jnr).The NFF should get this guys before the WC.

Tiago Ilori too.

Mickael2:
I see light, well MAINLY light but some darkness still and I will explain why.

I have seen some people saying we can sit back if the Zambians sit back forcing them to come out and play, home ground does not support that. If I pay 5k to sit in the VIP corner and you are playing 0-0(plus a boring game) after 60mins, I will join and start chanting 'all we are saying...' and if you have been in that situation before you will run mad, and go all out attack forgetting what the coach said, this is what happens to Madrid, once it's 60mins and they are yet to score, the boos start ringing and the players get disorganised and become easy picking. If Zambia can withstand our attack till the 60th minute mark we are in trouble.


Another point, the coach is going to show them some clips of that first leg. Trust me the Zambians had 3-4 very good chances that should be put away, if they have a proper team psychologist he will point out the fact that they have become more clinical since that match(I think they beat Algeria with only 2 shots on target), that is a nitro-level confidence booster. There mindset will be if we can create just that same number of chances like we did in the first leg, considering the fact that we are more clinical now and their gk is worse than ever, we may be able to put one away and hold out for the remainder of the game. If they score the first goal we have a big problem, I am not sure we have won a game that we conceded first under Rohr, he is not a tactical genius.


Also, they may watch our clips from their first match against us down to our last match and notice one thing, our midfielders(Mikel is included) all take atleast 20mins to settle into any game and that is a bad omen. If they can take advantage of that by attacking through the middle instead of the wings in the first twenty minutes then they are sure of two good chances, that is assuming Onazi remains Onazi and is caught out of position a lot of times in the first half and Ndidi remains Ndidi who would rather concentrate on attack rather than defence.


Finally they will watch that first leg again and discover that their lord and saviour(Echejile) who provided them with 3 good chances in the first leg is still our LB. Now Leon is a good CB, but he is different from Omeruo in the sense that he is always quick to rush out whenever a player beats his LB, now this is not really a bad thing but with proper tactics it becomes a bad thing. Create an overload and Leon is dinner, that is let the RW beat Echejile and while Leon comes out to mark the RB runs past Leon and receives a pass, that means Leon is out of the equation and assuming Onazi isn't back covering they have a safe passage to our 18.

Now they have to pray that all these things go according to plan and they must remain clinical. If after the first twenty minutes they haven't scored then they should pull back and choke every attack and wait patiently for that 60-70th minute mark. All in all this will not be a blowout, quote me anywhere. You do not destroy Zambia, it is impossible, highest two goals, you do not see them at the wrong end of a proper hiding

Na ludo you think say you dey play?

BascoVanVeli:
Juventus want to top Onyekuru’s £42,000-a-week pay at Everton


By admin -
October 6, 2017, 5:09 am

Italian champions Juventus are willing to pay far more than the £42,000-a-week Nigeria forward Henry Onyekuru earns at Premier League side Everton, top sources have specially informed SCORENigeria

Struggling Everton, who the player signed a five-year deal with in the summer, now plan to recall him in January, just as Juventus have indicated interest to buy out his contract, according to Tuttosport.

“Juventus have shown keen interest in signing Henry and I think Everton want him to stay,” the source told ScoreNigeria.com.ng

Everton to recall loanee Onyekuru January

“In fact, Juventus are ready to pay more than £42,000-a-week he signed for at Everton.

“I know his dream is to play in EPL, let’s wait and see.”

Onyekuru has scored four goals for Anderlecht while on loan this season.

By Olusola Alao

http://scorenigeria.com.ng/2017/10/06/juventus-want-to-top-onyekurus-42000-a-week-pay-at-everton/

Onyekuru Onyekuru Onyekuru! How many times I call you?

*pulling my left ear* no near Italian league oooo else dem go send you go Seria b or their academy.

Just stay jeje for where you dey but if you think you can break into Juva team den go for it.

BascoVanVeli:
Joel Obi returns from latest muscle injury


By admin -
October 6, 2017, 7:12 am

Torino midfielder Joel Obi will return from another muscle injury by the weekend, SCORENigeria has been told.

Injury-prone Obi suffered his latest injury in the middle of September and doctors gave him three weeks to return.

“He will return in three days,” a source close to the player simply told SCORENigeria from Italy.

The 26-year-old central midfielder missed four games as a result of this left thigh muscle injury, which he received in a Serie A clash against Benevento.

This was after getting off to a bright start this season.

He had played three games and scored a goal for ‘The Bulls’ before the injury.

http://scorenigeria.com.ng/2017/10/06/joel-obi-returns-from-latest-muscle-injury/

That's my boy.

komekn:
Awoniyi is now near 21 he should really be cutting it and proving his quality. The chance if him ever playing for Liverpool seems to be a pipe dream now.

Firstly, I stated Championship and EPL.

I consider Awoniyi a forward player and a hybrid type attacking midfielder.

Using his parent club Liverpool fc, I know the club quite well. Currently ahead of him is in the context of Nigerian origin players are Solanke, Seyi Ojo, Bobby Adekanya and Oviemuno Ejaria. That's 4 all in the same club and all Nigerian origin. I could go into the U18's and 16s but that would be overkill.

Then let's look at other clubs Chelsea is a strange place for Youth players. Has the best youth set up in England wins everything year in year out. But almost zero teenagers get any playing time. Awoniyi wouldn't make it in Chelsea's U18 team.

Currently, Tega, Ike Ugbo look better prospects. Can I add Ademola Lookman from Everton.

But let's look at the Championship as well currently Tega on loan from Tottenham is making waves at Aston Villa and Onyedinma at Millwall. I am looking at stand out players not ones just making the numbers.

How can you compare academy players with a player doing well in Belgium pro league?

Even the pro league seems better than the Championship but you're pitching academy with professional league.

I can't see any forward doing better than Awoniyi in the Championship currently.

Based on the statistics on ground, Awoniyi is not the least in the Belgium pro league.


No 1, Dennis Bonaventure

11 games

8 goals

1 assist




No 2, Peter Olayinka

13 games

4, goals

8 assists



No3, Taiwo Awoniyi

8 games

4, goals

3, assists


No 4, Henry Onyekuru

12 games

5 goals

0 assist


No 5, Samuel Kalu

9 games

1 goal

1 assist



No 6, Moses Simon

9 games

0 goal

0 assist


Cyriel Dessers is also doing well in Eredivise


13 games

7 goals

2 assists

Mickael2:
I guess Pinto is very very good

Wetin concern me?

komekn:
Gbenga was then and still is an enigma too me, how on earth did he make it into Barca. In that class of players in the 1999 U20 Flying Eagles, he was not the cream of the crop, but far from it.

He had nothing that was exceptional that made him stand out. The NFF were so bamboozled if I am right made him captain.

If he's not good how come he played for Barcelona and even won the league or trophies with Barcelona?

Don't forget he left Barcelona for Benfica.

Icon4s:
Yisa Shofoluwe. Maroc 88 was his hit tournament.

He IMO introduced the Modern day wings back play.
But he also had his lapses of gaps behind which is typical of most over-lapping Full backs.

But to say no one has ever replaced him perfectly is not true.

Eguavoen was what Shofoluwe was not and vice versa.
Eguavoen for Eg was not as mobile as Shofuluwe but his covering of his portion of the pitch was excellent.

Chidi Odiah did both the overlapping and marking quite well. He IMO was the last real RB we had in the Super Eagles.

Efe Ambrose was not a natural RB as you know, however he did creditably well in that position, combining well with the attackers and also covering his own portion of the pitch. He alongside Shofoluwe, Eguavoen and Odiah belong to our class of best RBs.

There was also Gbenga Okunowo. He started as a midfielder but got converted to a RB. He also was very mobile as a RB. Played for Barcelona at one time but fizzled out so quickly.

Mubi Oparaku had size issue else he would have made a wonderful RB.

Gbenga Okunowo didn't fizzled out quickly, he was ignored for long despite been a Barcelona player.

He got his invitation when he was at Benfica.

I don talk before and I go still dey talk, some players will still be ignored even if they play for holy Angeles club of heaven.

Orkpekyandega:
Hmmmm this is not the Forgiveness that I know.

Hahahahahah! Which forgiveness do you know?

Which area? How much?

Icon79:
Safari, you're obviously a CR7's fan. No surprise there, most women are

Don't get me wrong, Cristiano is a fantastic player. One of the best strikers ever. But where I get mad is when people try to compare him to the most complete player to ever play the game aka Messi. There's no contest. Cristiano gives you goals, Messi gives you everything!
The only reason why serious people are still making that comparison is because FIFA and UEFA are desperate to make Cristiano the face of football. He's much more marketable than Leo Messi, for obvious reasons:
#1. Pretty boy (now they can sale the game to billions of female fans around the world)
#2. White Euro boy
#3. Speaks good English

The whole FIFA's marketing stunts actually started the time of David Beckham and the real Ronaldo (the Brazilian one). Ronaldo was the best player in the world by far but Beckham was the one getting all the accolades and the marketing deals. Go figure ....


O pari

Oga! Fine boy no dey for football, ask Ronaldo de lima.


You are even referring to Ronaldo when em dey throw-way leg like Ronaldo de lima. In short, Ronaldo did a lot of tricks at Manchester United then.


Forget, Ronaldo is a better player than all you have now though equal with MESSI. Forget.

DrKlever:
lol @ e dey take hands pack the goals enter

Hahahahahah! Very funny guy.

I just tire ooooooo.

Mickael2:
CR7 is not a football, a goalscoring genius yes but not a football genius. Come on, apart from posting astronomical goal scoring returns, what else can Ronaldo do with the ball that.....Hazard cannot better? His goalscoring ability is at a genius level but generally he is not a footballing genius

Dude! What did I hear you say?

Walahi, you no dey stop to surprise me.

You think say na hand em dey take pack the ball inside net?

The technique to score goals no be beans.

Scoring goals look easy in your eyes because he got the technique that makes him score goals with ease.

Daejoyoung:
Confidence is more important, because it can't be imbibed in a day, but recklessness is easier to overcome or guard against, so I'll go for Ezenwa.

As long he doesn't cause another lose of points unnecessary.

junnyjake:
You know I have this image in my brain of you always with a smile on your face as evident with your use of smilies regardless what's happening.


Even though I don't agree with you most of the time, I respect your conducts.

Wa sere jare.

Hahahahahah! Na so..

edi287:
You mean getting fired for winning a game?? How does that account to failure? Keshi started off well while Siasia and Oliseh messed everything up. Our failure to qualify has absolutely nothing to do with Keshi. Blame Siasia and Oliseh for that if you may.

Ok. I no gree.

Kog45:
AVB took Chelsea to quarter final?

My man Di Matteo took Chelsea to quarter final after turned d 1st leg 3-1 lost to Napoli in d 2nd leg by winning 4-1.

My man anything to say again

Pls stop ridicule d big boss

Stephen Okechuckwu Keshi made his debut for Eagles in 1981 at d age of 19 and made d team to Libyan 82,later bench Chairman Christian Chuckwu during d tourney.

Keshi remain d youngest player to captain Eagles at age of 22 in 1984 afcon

The big boss left d country in frustration after Group Captain Tony Ikhazoboh ban him from national team just coz he represent NNB in WAFU cup final and couldn't make Lagos camp d same day

As God we have it Stade fc in Abidjan safe his career by signed him up,after 6 months,Lokeren in Belgium came calling and signed for Lokeren.

Keshi moved to Belgian giants Anderlecht after a season with Lokeren and paved way for so many Nigerian players namely Austin Eguavoen,Samson Siasia, Etim Esin,Ademola Adeshina,Chidi Nwanu,Peter Rufai,even a Ghanian Nii Odartey Lamptey,just to mention a few.

Big boss was d first Nigerian to ever played in final of any UEFA competition (Anderlecht vs Sampdoria)which Anderlecht lost by 2 goals to nil courtesy of famous Italian Legend Vialli.

Keshi moved from Anderlecht to Strasbourg in French league,singlehandedly took Strasbourg from 2nd division to division 1 and paved way for young Nigerian players like Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara who was signed by Strasbourg through Keshi's recommendation.

Big boss was d first Super Eagles captain to qualified Nigeria for world cup,despite a terrible knee injury that sidelined him for months, Keshi returned and captain d team against Algeria in Algiers,a very tense match that we need a draw,thank to Findi goal.

Till today he remain d highest goal scoring defender in Nigeria,his goal ratio better than King KANU.

Also only player in Nigeria to lead Super Eagles to 2nd round in d world cup as a player and coach.

Keshi remain d only player in Nigeria to lift sfcon as a player and coach,so respect to a great Legend that comes out of Africa.

The first African to coach three Africa national team,namely Togo,Mali,Nigeria.

Keshi w be remembered for qualified tiny Togo for biggest football event in d world(world cup)

Truly he failed to qualify Nigeria to 2015 afcon,but his pedigree as a player and coach cannot be debated or ridicule.

Respect to d big boss Stephen Okechuckwu Keshi.

Of course, I respect him as a player but as a coach?

Daejoyoung:
I don't think Akpeyi has the confidence of Ezenwa, but it seems to me that Ezenwa could be reckless sometimes.

On two occasions, Ezenwa showed his recklessness while Akpeyi is not trustable.

Mujtahida:
But for Akpeyi you have gotten this covered. So your first paragraph is the way to contain the Zambians?
Are they more pacy than the Cameroonians? Do you see them coming to get us or seat back (which I feel is what they would do having adopted that strategy in their away match to Algeria) and wait for that prime counter since they know (as can be gleaned from their fb page) that we are more under pressure and would be most likely the one to attack

Honestly, I don't know who is better between the sticks hence my choice of Akpeyi.


We are not under pressure to win, they are. So, I presume they will go for early goal to put us under pressure.

So, I think we should defend in the 20 minutes of the first half and see what they're up to.

While defending, we are also counter attacking with rapid speed.

Those Zambians are faster than the Cameroonians.

tglobal:
I truthfully dont understand what you mean. What could he have done to ensure he wasn't part of the failure? He was in charge of just one match and he won. What should he have done otherwise?

He shouldn't have started the process of failure.

He should have stayed clear from the onset.

He shouldn't have gotten himself fired in the process.

TheGoodJoe:
You only ask questions most times. Do you have opinions?

Opinions are nothing in the face of facts.

Now, answer my question. Please.

Kog45:
meaning AVB d foundation coach of chelsea champions league cup should be praised not Di matteo who took over d poor foundation

Did u realised that Keshi won his only match before he was sacked,Olishe took over but could not finished and Siasia finished d campaign

Till today Olishe always refer Siasia as d coach that failed Nigeria not him.

Pls take Keshi out of d pictures,though he failed in 2015 after winning 2013 Afcon u called fluke.

Of course, AVB contributed to that success na. After all, he took them to the quarter finals.

tglobal:
Haba, forgiveness.

Keshi was coach for only one of the matches (against Chad) and we won 2-0. Unless you can get more than 3 points in a match, i don't see how Keshi contributed to the failure of the team to qualify.

Failure na failure no matter how you take fail.

Keshi was part of the failure crew. EOD.

We know when Siasia was the Super Eagles Coach for the first time, he played beautiful Football but at the end of the day nobody cares to know because failure na failure.

goldfish80:
Maybe you're related to Dunga or you were privy to watch him when he played in the streets to know he had immeasurable technical abilities that he sacrificed for the team. The Dunga the world saw was a thug. Just like Roy Keane, Diop, Thomas Graveson, Gattuso, Deschamps and the rest skin heads I have over the years watched play the DM role.

There used to be one guy who played for Iwuanyanwu in the 80's and 90's I'm sure Kog45 can remember his name. His only job was to come in and break the leg of the opposition's best player's leg. Guess what position he played? DM of course!

DM's are meant to be strong, powerful and they usually take one for the team. Do you know what it means to take one for the team in this context? That means to kick the opposition when they are threading dangerously to goal..

@bolded, are you referring to Fernando (abi wetin dem dey spell am) of Manchester City?

He fits into your illustrations.

Mujtahida:
This argument on legends is becoming legendary. Are we suffering from paucity of issues to discuss that we have to go back to this beat up topic.
Guys let's deliberate on this
Abeg Joebie give me your outline for the best tactical approach to this Zambia game. Wing play abi midfield thrust abi combination of both? How do we contain the pace and athleticism of the Zambians.
Cc
Forgiveness, goodjoe, mickael2, goldfish80, kog45, bigblang, Chrismario, etc

If there is no space you can't run and if there's a wall you can't but stop.

4-4-1-1 is my formation when defending. 4-2-3-1 when attacking.


..........................Akpeyi........


Shehu............ Balogun......... Troost......... Aina/Echiejile


Victor.......... Onazi.............Ndidi................... Simon

................................... Obi

......................... Ighalo.