₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
It is one thing to know the formula and another thing to get the desired result to boost your ranking points.

FIFA no longer makes the formula secret. U can actually calculate ur ranking points even before a game is played. Like a kind of forecast. That may even inform u of the decision to play which country so as to secure maximum ranking points.

Immediately Nigeria drew Senegal i calculated our ranking points and those of other countries closely above and below us. From that i stated Nigeria would move to 5th in Africa and top 40 in the world.

Not something difficult.

Lol.. If you can explain to me how Romania got into the world top ten and displaced Italy and France I go comot cap for you

TheSuperNerd:
Fifa Ranking : Super Eagles Back In Africa Top Five

https://allnigeriasoccer.com/football_pics/54700Ekong.jpg



Football governing body, Fifa, on Thursday morning published its latest ranking of National Teams.

Compared to their position the previous month, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have climbed one place, and now occupy the 40th position, while they are fifth in the continental ranking.
Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon and Burkina Faso are the best four teams in Africa in that order.


Our other two rivals to book a ticket to the 2018 World Cup - Algeria and Zambia - sit in the 54th and 97th place respectively in the updated ranking.


Our main African Nations Cup qualifying foes South Africa and Libya occupy the 64th and 91st position in the global ranking while the last opponent Seychelles are ranked 196th.

Brazil, Argentina and Germany are the top three teams in the world, followed by Chile and Colombia.


The next ranking will be published by the official website of Fifa, fifa.com, on 4 May 2017.


Top Ten African Teams


1) Egypt

2) Senegal

3) Cameroon

4) Burkina Faso

5) Nigeria

6) Congo DR

7) Tunisia

Ghana

9) Ivory Coast

10) Morocco



Source: http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=22623


So no Algeria in Africa's top 10.... wow Their Afcon performance and poor WCQ showing so far must have contributed to their fall out of the top 10.

A student in Finland developed a formula to beat this FIFA monthly rankings. Wales and Romania used this system to their advantage and broke into the FIFA top 10 world rankings,earning for themselves top seeds in their world cup qualifiers group.
The Nff can adopt their method if they are interested in soaring up the rankings.

TheSuperNerd:
Free Again Leicester City Star Ahmed Musa Denies Beating His Wife, All Charges Dropped Against Him


https://owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image-40.jpg


Ahmed Musa has been cleared off all allegations of domestic violence lodged against him by the Police following a complaint of domestic abuse against the 24 year old.

Musa was questioned by the police over allegations of beating up his wife and mother of his two kids Jamila, but was subsequently released after questioning with no further charge launched against him.


” The whole arrest thing came like a shock to Musa, very funny because he went out with his wife, only for him to be arrested upon arrival. They went to celebrate her birthday. This is weird”, a close associate of the player told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I don’t get where the whole issue started from but there is no truth in it. Even the police had to release him without pressing charges. Musa has never hit anyone in his life talk more of his wife.

” A perfect gentleman like Musa will never ever hit anyone. He is not that type, please this bad press has to stop, It’s not fair on him and his family”.


* Daniel Martins


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/04/06/free-again-leicester-city-star-ahmed-musa-denies-beating-his-wife-all-charges-dropped-against-him/

Who invited the police in the first place? The police don't barge into people's homes on the suspicion of domestic violence.

Icon4s:
You cannot say he is not interested.

Bulk of his players are in Europe and he will need to monitor then. Salisu and co should monitor the ones in the NPFL and NNL.

I read somewhere Rohr said he is interested in growing Nigerian football from bottom up. He even talked about giving the super falcons technical assistance.
Also given his background at the DFB and the work he did in Burkina Faso where he ran an academy. In my opinion, he's not doing too well to monitor the local league am afraid.

Icon4s:
See, Rohr does nt have to visit every match venue or watch all MFM and Ikorodu United games.

He has assistant coaches who can do so.

Secondly kickoff time for NPFL games is usually 4pm and that is when a whole lot of league games in Europe would in be on course. That is where almost the entirety of the Super Eagles play and u want him to spend that prime time watching one Ikorodu united vs Wikki Tourist? Haba!

In that case, he should come out and say he's not interested in the local league. What's the need for the pretence?

Icon4s:
What of last season when we also had Ikorodu United. Abi na this yr Rohr join Super Eagles?

How many Ikorodu games did Rohr attend last season? Can't recall any.

Icon4s:
Do those other teams not come to play in Lagos?

Many haven't played Mfm this season.

TheGoodJoe:
Dele Alli is getting a regular run. Not a better player. If Dele Alli was at City, who will he keep on the bench? Silva, Kevin De Bruyne?

De Bryn is too overrated please. He's a good player but not exactly as good as he's been made out to be.
I will take Dele Alli over him in a heart beat without remorse.

Ali will walk into the starting line-up of 95% of Europe's top clubs let alone city.

Icon4s:
And some peeps will say he does nt follow the local league. comments like "he needs to dig dip to unearth a rare gem". How far dip can he go beyond watching an NNL game?

He only attends games in and around Lagos. He is yet to travel to o the south east or south South region. Let's believe he is acting on security advisement not to visit the north. What about other region outside Lagos and environs?

tglobal:
@goldfish, Chidi Nwanu didn't have AFCON experience before USA 94 neither did Taribo in 98

Like safarigirl pointed out, our AFCON winning CB pair didn't even have a lot of national team experience before the tournament and we are not even going to win the world cup next year anyway.

Regarding the bolded, 23 or the 24 teams in the tournament came up short. Nigeria had one of the best defenses at the stage we went out of the competition and they kept out the bulgarian attacking force. Our vulnerability was set pieces which was responsible of for 3 of the 4 goals we conceded!

I have studied teams who have made it to the later stages of the world cup in the last 8years and I came to the conclusion that you need experience in the heart of the defence.
That diamond that is the Gk, CBs and Dm is the most important unit in a championship winning side.
This unit could have been solidified if we had played a major tournament since 2014. Unfortunately we haven't and this is a little bit of a handicap. Its not about the personel but about the unit.




Talking about Chidi Nwanu, you do realise we had an experienced Rufai in goal, Okechukwu and Sunday Olise. It is not am unstable unit at all.

Most people do not realise, we had a great chance of winning the world cup in 1994.

Our defence shipping in 2 goals after we had gone 1 goal up, against a 10 man Italian team was a huge let down.
Imagine the scenario if we had won that game, we would have played an underachieving Spanish team in the quarter finals. The same Spaniards we won in 1998 with a below ebb squad.
In the semi finals, we would have faced our side kicks, Bulgaria. The same Bulgarian team we won 3:0 in the first game.
In the finals, we could have faced Brazil. The same Brazilian team a squad of part timers that was the USA held to a goalless draw.

Icon4s:
That why i have always maintained that Omeruo's presence in that defense is key.

Or do we call back Yobo, Obaobona and Ambrose? Since na CBs with tournament experience u dey find.

I think that's the reason Rohr have been calling for Enyeama. He would have brought a fine balance to the CBs.
Omeruo is a key man in the defence. It will take an unrealistic fellow to write him off.

safarigirl:
...but our CBs at AFCON 2013 did not have big tournament experience and we won the trophy with them, was it not Omeruo and Oboabona that executed 90% of the tournament?

We are playing at the mundial next year (hopefully) not Afcon. World Cup is all about experience

Icon4s:
I say again, that is no problem. Balogun and Troost are matured and experienced enough to suit into any tourney be it AFCON or WC. Omeruo i am sure u know his level of exposure.

Where are those Nigerian CBS outside this team that have those tournament experience?

I understand ur worry but that is what we have for now. After all the 1994 WC defense did nt have any WC experience.

Remember we are not Brazil, Germany, France or Spain.

What that defense needs now is cohesion. If there is any CB that u feel is better than what we have now bring forward his name.

Of course, I believe Troost and Balogun can hold their own. Am rather worried that they haven't played together in a big tournament,that sort of exposure counts when push comes to shove.

Even the 94 CB partnership of Okechukwu and Co had played a couple of Afcons before the world cup, though they still came up short against Italy.

Icon4s:
Just single out Balogun on the lack of tournament experience. Echiejile and Omeruo have been to AFCON and WC. Ekong played in the last Olympics.

Honestly, I dnt have issues with our CB. What is needed is for Rohr to play them more together for them to achieve cohesion.

. I'm talking about our CBs not defence as a whole.

You know how I rate the Olympics. Let's not go there

komekn:
For now Ebuehi is too lightweight in my opnion if he keeps improving maybe. With regards to Aina he already displaced Omeruo.

Its a sad fact that all our CB are far off the mark of being top Quality.

I think our CBs lack big tournament experience/exposure,not that they are lacking so much in quality.

Not qualifying for 2 straight Afcons have been a huge minus to our CBs. Most times, players experience an epiphany after playing in big tournaments.

Since when did the police become the judge, jury, prosecutor and executioner? How did they know the boys there were chasing where Internet fraudsters? What investigations did they carry out to ascertain these guys were fraudsters?
Anyone who visits the Nigerian prisons will be amazed by the number of innocent ATP's rotting away for years in jail on frivolous and trumped up charges by the police.
As far as am concerned, the police were chasing random pedestrians and unfortunately shot a bystander. Rip to the dead.
Fvck the police

TheSuperNerd:
Yeah.... but I won't be hypocritical about it..... England make it sound like they even need the youngsters when all they really wanna do is prevent other teams from getting better and even stronger with extra quality talents.... talents that England won't give heed to in a million years even.

But when they (the players) start shining for their chosen national teams, England start whining as if they had plans for them.

The truth is that they spent a lot of resources developing these players through their cadet teams from the U15's through U23 in most cases. They rightly believe they have patent over these athletes.

TheSuperNerd:
England Move To Stem The Loss Of Youth Internationals After Recent Capture By Nigeria

https://owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image-60.jpg



The Football Association of England has initiated moves to stop the rise in the loss of youth international, who are eligible for other nations.

Owngoalnigeria.com England based writer Michael James had a chat with a member of the FA, who voiced out the FA unhappiness over the recent loss of around five talented players groomed in their youth set up to other nations.

The issue of losing Wilfred Zaha of Crystal Palace was still dominating discussions in the FA office, when news arrived that around four players educated by the youth set up in England are close to pledging allegiance to Nigeria.

The trio of Ola Aina, Chuba Akpom and Ebere Eze trained with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in London last week, and even took part in a training match among the players organised following the cancellation of the proposed friendly game against Burkina Faso.

”We have initiated moves to curb the menace of losing talented teens to other nations. No doubt we can’t stop them from playing for nations they are qualified to represent but we can control the numbers, because it’s on the rise”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com


”I’m sorry I can’t reveal the steps we have taken, and other plans we have but for now we are deeply concern about the trend, and we know a lot of our nationals are worried as well. It’s a trend we will nip in the bud”.

* Michael James


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/04/04/england-move-to-stem-the-loss-of-youth-internationals-after-recent-capture-by-nigeria/




Cc Sir Goldfish80, Sir Komekn


Sir Goldfish... you recall our little discussion on the "England someday coming up with measures to halt this dual nationality and country switch palava".

Sir Komekn.... you recall this issue too and in fact you have a strong emotional voice on the issue.


Now I ask... what could England (The FA) be possibly up to as regards halting or controlling this situation?

Anyway.... Time will tell....

Of course this move is expected. They believe they should have the first refusal of any player who they have invested in their career. Put yourself in their shoes,you will do the same.

Icon4s:
Your last paragraph. Nigeria learnt the bitter way.

Experience is always the best teacher.

Problem is we keep forgetting.

Our two best Flying Eagles teams did nt have the same coaches from U17 to U20. And they were never U17 champions. So no automatic promotions and the U20 coaches scouted for the best available players with the believe that the team at U17 level was nt good enough. And that yielded results.

Go back to our results at U20 two yrs after each time we win U17. Manu U20 boys even with the 2nd round exit were better than the others.

I've read through your opinion about the Amunike U20 crash. I believe you've made some valid points but I think the issue boils down to the structure the political class operate at the FA.

In my opinion, the technical department of the Nff didn't do their job. I've always believed that the technical department of any FA should be the strongest. This department is responsible for charting a course for the development of football at all levels in the country.
It falls within their responsibility to put up policy of recruitment into the various cadet teams. If they had done their job properly, we wouldn't be in this quagmire.
Failure to qualify for both U17 and U20 Caf championships is a disaster to put it mildly.

If the technical department was in tune with international standards they wouldn't have allowed Amunike to recruit only academy players to prosecute the AYC qualifiers. The John obuh team that won the AYC had a fusion of league players like Terry Envo, Ajagun, Uche Nwofor and the likes while the Manu U20 team had the likes of Sokari, Nwobodo, Ifeanyi and so on.
If these successful teams had these players, it begs the question, Why take an exclusive U18 academy boys for AYC qualifiers? What was the method to the madness? This brings me back to the technical department of the FA.

In my opinion, the quality of personel in the technical department should be reviewed. I don't think people like Lawal, Ikpeba, Jay Jay Okocha and likes should be there, with all due respect. I don't know if James Peters is still in that department but if he is still there like I suspect, then his position should be reviewed.
The technical department should be manned by competent technical people. Their job description shouldn't be just to recommend coaches or interview prospective managers.

I will wholeheartedly support the hiring of a foreign manager to head the technical department. I was quite open to the appointment of Tom Saintfield a few years ago as the head of technical Committee. I stand down.

komekn:
Joseph Yobo was at Standard Liege before going to Marseile and then Everton.

I was talking about players who came through the Belgian league within the last 15 yrs.

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles Coach Scouts Remo Stars Sensation Victor Mbaoma Against Katsina United


https://allnigeriasoccer.com/football_pics/63969Yusuf.jpg




Super Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf was among the important guests at the Gateway Stadium, Sagamu, where Remo Stars took on Katsina United on matchday 17 in the Nigerian Professional Football League on Sunday afternoon.


Ahead of the 2018 African Nations Championship qualifiers in August, Yusuf is scouring the Nigerian top flight for the best talents and his first port of call after the international break was Sagamu.


Two of the Remo Stars players Yusuf definitely came to watch are skipper Victor Mbaoma, who has caught the eye this season and Oche Salefu.


“Salisu Yusuf was at the Gateway Stadium but he won’t disclose the names of the players that he came to watch or those that impressed him, ” a Remo stars official told
allnigeriasoccer.com .


“Victor Mbaoma and Oche Salefu are the two best players in the squad and they played well yesterday. They have been performing well this season. ”


Victor Mbaoma, who has scored seven goals in the NPFL this season, trained with the Flying Eagles ahead of the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup.


**Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : npfl.ng

Source: http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=22590

Salisu should look at Remo no9 Jersey Awazie. He scored an eye catching goal in mid week. Left three defenders on their backside before roofing the ball into the net. I like the looks of him

forgiveness:
Hehehehe!

You are inconsistent, chaii!

That was why I asked you to explain what you meant by living up to expectation?

And what are your expectations?

I am only taking you at your word. That's all.

No pranks.

You have been a football fan for years and you want me to explain to you what a player living up to expectations means?

I will advice the op to go for computer Engineering if you're up for it. Computer Engineering is more versatile as you get to study about electronics, programming (low level programing/machine codes) , robotics and telecommunications. You have more opportunities and more frontiers to expand.
If you're interested in high level programming which is the corner stone of computer science, you're better advised to sign up to a decent computer school where you will learn the packages you choose practically. Some of the best programmers and app designers I know did not study computer science.

forgiveness:
[i][/i]

When your 2nd to the last paragraph cleared up with the statement above?

Bigger things in this context means Osaze went on to have a fulfilling career for both club and country.
Looks like you played a lot of pranks when you were younger.

BascoVanVeli:
Petulant, I dey laugh die, so oga forgiveness u edited this man's words? Abeg say it ain't so o.

Forgiveness is a piece of work.

forgiveness:
If it doesn't concern you why make such false and misleading statement?

That was very petulant of you. I clearly said Peter Utaka never played in a bigger league not Joseph Akpala.

For instance, Peter Utaka was the best striker in Belgium, scoring goals like it was going out of fashion. He lead the goals scorers chart for 2 seasons before he left. But somehow he never got a chance to play in a bigger league .

forgiveness:
You have to admit you flattered when you said they didn't play in bigger league, na before you start talking about them living up to expectations. Agreed?

What's my concern with the league they played? Am talking about players leaving up to there promise and you're taking about clubs they played for?
Anybody can play for any club. Thomas Graveson once played for Real Madrid.

BascoVanVeli:
Here are some talking points in the NPFL this week.

1. MFM and Stephen Odey were dramitically brought down to earth. Fidelis Ilechukwu on his return from a CAF B coaching course was forced to watch his club go down 4-0 to Nasarawa. Fidelis responded by saying just like the PSG coach did not know how barca beat them 6-1, he too was speechless.

2. Player of the month Sunday Adetunji continues his and Abia warriors impressive run of form with a brace against ABS. His 2 goal were enough to secure all 3 points.

3. Prince of the Desert Samuel Mathias is about the best young winger in Nigeria. He enhanced that reputation by getting the match winner against Kano pillars. His goal lifted El-Kanemi into second place.

4. Mfon Udoh told the Rangers defence and goalkeeper that he would pay them 10,000 naira each if he didn't score yesterday. He went on to score the match winner. Mfon has scored 7 goals so far this season but the crazy part is that he has been playing as a full time winger. He has become a true leader of the club and he is proving to be a great captain who leads by example. IMO he is a much better player now than the one who broke the goal record.

5. The struggle continues for Wikki, Rivers and Enugu. I am in a loss for words and especially excuses. I hate to use the R word but it is really possible. Imama was given a 3 match notice and so far 1 draw 2 loses.

Can you please skip reporting anything about Rangers? I get migranes whenever I read about Rangers matter.

forgiveness:
In the last 15 years simply means from 2002 to 2017, ba?

Rabiu Afolabi still played in the Belgium pro league between 1997 - 2003.

Wilfred Ndidi still played in the Belgium pro league between 2016 - 2017

Joseph Akpala still played btw that time frame yet he moved to bigger club Werder Bremen.

Marvin Ogunjimi never considered Nigeria. EOD.

Tosin Dosunmu still went to France.

Patrick Ogunsoto made his name in Greece before coming to Belgium only to shine for one season.

Now, explain what you mean by living up to expectations?



Edit the first @bolded paragraph then I will exclude Celestine, Oliseh and co.

Because you generalized.

The second @bolded is also false because Akpan Afolabi pl

So what happened when Akpala moved to a bigger league? Did he leave up to expectation? When he played for the super, did he live up to expectation?

You can clearly see I pointed Osaze and Ndidi as those who seemed to progress after there stint in Belgium. I wonder why you brought up Ndidi again?

Just see how hard Toure trying to squeeze in Afolabi, it quite petty of you to be honest . However, it doesn't change anything.

Why should I edit the first paragraph when the 3rd paragraph cleared up with time frame I tried to establish?

BascoVanVeli:
Abeg how many Nigerians have won the Belgium playoffs like Moses Simon? I feel Belgium is good for our players because they actually get big roles there unlike other leagues and it is actually a very good league.

I think Akpala won it back to back. I may have to verify

forgiveness:
[right][/right]


@bolded shows you are very very wrong. Why?

Tosin Dosunmu moved to bigger things in Europe (Austria Vienna and Nancy)

Joseph Akpala move to bigger thing in Europe(Werder Bremen).

Rabiu Afolabi moved to bigger things in Europe (Napoli, Sochaux and Monaco).

Peter Utaka moved to bigger things (money).

It was never due to lack of talent, he followed money when he wasn't given enough chance to prove himself in the Nigerian national team.

He was the best wherever he went.

Celestine Babayaro moved to bigger things in Europe (Chelsea and New Castle).

Daniel Amokachi moved to bigger thing in Europe (Everton).

Sunday Oliseh nko? From Belgium pro league to bigger bigger things (Reggiana, FC Koln, Ajax, Juventus and Brossia Dortmund)

Stephen Keshi nko.....


Marvin Ogunjimi played for the Belgium national team. Therefore, he can't be considered a Nigerian.

Am not sure Celestine Babayaro, Olishe,Afolabi, Keshi and Amokachi played in Belgium within the last 15yrs.
I specifically gave a time frame. You were too quick to read.

Just like I pointed out earlier, Nigerians who took Belgium by storm over the past 15 yrs really didn't leave up to the promise. That is a fact weather you like it or not.

Joseph Akpala for all his endeavour didn't have a solid international career. He didn't find any bearing whatsoever in the national team. A few caps and cameos here and there. He didn't really cut it if you ask me.

Tosin Dosunmu at a time was rated the better talent than Obafemi Martins by Kashmao Laloko who coached them both in Nigeria. Tosin in his debut game for the super eagles couldn't even trap a bag of cement. The lack of confidence in the game discouraged coaches from giving him a look in. I couldn't believe this was the same guy who scored goals for fun with Westerlo.

Peter Utaka is a baller any day. I personally rate him very high. A guy who have won top scorer in virtually every league he has played. He was not favoured by national team selectors for some odd reasons. However, I think he should have played in a better league when he moved. He is that talented.

Manashe Isiaku?

Patrick Ogunshoto?

I mentioned Marvin Ogunjimi because he was touted for the super eagles at point. If this thread was in existence back then, you would have made a song and dance with his name.

N/B: These guys I mentioned were the hottest players in Belgium in their days. Neither Kalu, Moses Simon, Etisi and Onyekuru have had half the impact these guys had in Belgium. I stand to be corrected.

forgiveness:
I remember those days, Belgium pro-league was very popular.

As you have rightly said, I expect agents to focus on selling their players to Belgium if can't secure from the top 5 leagues in Europe.

There's nothing so magical with Belgium as you're making it out to be. So many Nigerian players have torn Belgian league apart but still didn't crack it at any major league.
Who remembers Tosin Dosunmu, Patrick Ogubshoto, Peter Utaka, Joseph Akpala, Marvin Ogunjimi (foreign born just like you like them), Manshe Isiaku etc...

For instance, Peter Utaka was the best striker in Belgium, scoring goals like it was going out of fashion. He lead the goals scorers chart for 2 seasons before he left. But somehow he never got a chance to play in a bigger league. Some of the aforementioned names like Akpala and Dosunmu couldn't hack it when they were given chances in the national team but they usually went on rampage at their clubs.
The last I heard about Marvin, he was in Borat's country. That is why I am careful joining the bandwagon of this Belgian revolution.

As far as I can tell, only Osaze have gone from Belgium to bigger things in Europe over the last 15 years till Ndidi showed up.

1+1 is not always 2 in football especially with transfers. Just about anything is possible. I sincerely hope the Nigerians in Belgium currently, move on to greater things than their predisesors.