₦airaland Forum

safarigirl:
My greatest scare is the defense, not even the goalie.

My only hope is that we score more than we concede.

Our defense is experienced and descent enough to handle any attacks in this AFCON.
We don't have a Big commanding figure behind the defense (IE the goalie). We had that problem too in the last AFCON.

safarigirl:
But Enyeama was not the penalty stopper for us too, Ejide was the better penalty stopper.

Some teams have their penalty stoppers, who isn't necessarily the #1 goalie.

It was not even Ejide, it was initially Ayenugba. But with time Enyeama grew into becoming a penalty stopper.

If Maduka cannot be our penalty stopper who in the current team do you think can do that? None has that pedigree so far. And it is a cause for worry. Penalties conclude several knock out games in the AFCON.

safarigirl:
This is a very controversial opinion, but the more I see some takes about some of our players, the more I believe that the 90's Super Eagles team is one of the worst things to have happened to the newer generation players and fans.

For a team that could not even make it past the Round of 16 at the World Cup, were they really that great? If you want to call Cameroon in the 90's, you can say they reached Quarters, Ghana in the 2010's also reached Quarters, the 90's Eagles at best, played scintillating football with mid results.

So, why do kids who were born years after this reign or were not even old enough to enjoy this reign, have to constantly live up to a reign that, to be honest, was not even so awesome when you look at results?

Which day, someone said calling up Dessers was an 'insult' to the Super Eagles because his stats were not 'good enough', and when I inquired on how it could be an insult when we have had the likes of Sani Keita and an aged Ameobi respresent us at the World Cup. And oga was replying me with, "I'm talking about Super Eagles in the 90's blah blah blah..."

Even me sef, I don't know anything about the 90's Eagles, I do not have any recollection of those days and a great number of Nigerian football fans today, don't know anything beyond stories and a few clips of that team, so, why do some people constantly rubbish the efforts of these younger players? Why can't we see them as new?

How do we foist the weight of Okocha on a young Mikel and even after Mikel has retired, we now want to foist the same weight on an Iwobi?

Why will some fans not allow that generation to rest and start citing moments more people can relate to, like the 2013 AFCON?

Please, the Olympic team of '94 will be clocking 28 years, fhe '98 World Cup team is as old as Maduka Okoye, managing our expectations also means changing the glasses we use in our judgement of players.

I understand the root of your opinion on this matter.

I Watched the Green Eagles of the 1980s, I watched the Super Eagles of the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and now 2020s
For those of us Who have seen these different decades/generations of Eagles players, no doubt, we will tell you that the 1990s generation was the best. We were better than that 2nd round finish of 1994. Even FIFA ranked Nigeria 5th just before the WC started and slipped down to 11th in the first ranking just after the WC.
That 90s team was really great. Another factor is that so many countries had great teams that era. Likes of Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands also had their greatest teams that era. Playing against them, you stood a little chance.

It is only normal for people to rate the current team based on previous teams. In fact, in my head, the current generation is the weakest.

JohnBullMySon:
Which of the goals conceded against Sierra Leone was due to sloppiness? Ter Stegen conceded eight against Bayern, does it make him a poor keeper?

You should know that good keepers are not judged by conceded goals but by quality of saves. He made good saves against Tunisia, against Cape Verde and against CAR. He might not be an outstanding keeper yet, but here we judge him too brutally and yet make excuses for Uzoho. Pound for pound he is clearly better than Uzoho.

That goal Maduka conceded against Cape Verde away really exposed his Lack of enough technical knowledge of goalkeeping. Only cadet team goalkeepers concede such goals.

Role of the goalkeeper is always very important for a tournament like the AFCON.

A goalie is always a key figure in the defense. If any of our knockout games goes into penalty shootouts can we be confident enough with Maduka as a penalty stopper?

JohnBullMySon:
Maduka is good. Una no jus like am.

I am still not comfortable with him. I would still be more comfortable with a more tested Uzoho.

safarigirl:
A
Akpeyi is a decent goalkeeper.

I don't know what you expect, but he is decent. Even the great Enyeama had his own gaffes as our keeper, so, what are you on about?

I think some of you have a warped idea of the scorelines Nigeria used to have and that is why you constantly attack some of these goalies. Even Ezenwa, as shaky as he was, was a decent goalkeeper for us.

The only true calamity we have had between the sticks in recent times, is Agbim.

Some of us have seen a worse calamity than Agbim. His name is Abiodun Baruwa aka Omo Alhaja.

Our Goalkeeping department is my greatest scare.

ChrisKels:
Hey guys! Am I the only one who doesn't rate Algeria against other top guns like Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco and Ivory Coast?

Mr Francophone is here
How your in-laws from Senegal, Mali, Ivory coast and Morocco?


Well, for me, Algeria would be a team to beat but i don't think their 'favorites' tag is absolute like some members here are putting it. I see teams from West Africa coming out strong in this AFCON.

jihday:
the mentality is ‘we’ve always done it and we can still do it’. Even in year 2000, nobody gave them any chance in that final plus they struggled through the tournament but on the day of the final they played their best game and should have wrapped it up by halftime.

You get it.

humility33:
You're right
Cameroon have a good AFCON history even when they're overlooked they always prove wonders

It is called Pedigree as a football nation. Same thing that makes a country like Italy win tournaments meanwhile teams like Holland, Belgium and England would be struggling from generation to generation.

On paper and current form teams like Senegal, Mali, Ivory coast, Ghana and Morocco might be ahead of Cameroon but I would rather put my money on Cameroon to win it. Not Just because they are the host but because they have proven from generation to generation that they have that tournament winning mentality. They have that Champions pedigree.

samtol4:
Not always so sir. The best team does not win every time. 2013 Nigeria team was not the best team . Ivory coast was the best

Now, this is what I am talking about. Ivory coast was the best before they played Nigeria but Nigeria eventually dominated and won that game. Someone like darkelf would predicted a 4:0 defeat against Nigeria

There are some teams that are no pushovers when it comes to the AFCON, irrespective of the kind of team they present. Nigeria is one of Such.

darkelf:
Oga mi, nothing dey to study

In life, the best team wins. The team with better cohesion and devoid of drama wins

The team with good Football Admin wins. The team with disciplined players win

Nigeria is 2/10 on all these criteria I just mentioned

Just the same way I warned you guys of Mikel in the last AFCON

No worry, una eye go soon clear

The team you might consider as the best team before the tournament can turn out not to be the best team when the tournament proper starts. Football is not mathematics.

Talking about the best team always winning, this doesn't happen all the time.

darkelf:
Nigeria should be in tenth place

Egypt or Tunisia in 4th and 5th

Apart from that, nice list

Pundits that have followed the AFCON well enough will always rate Nigeria to finish in top 4.

Kog45:
Oh my God it was 1999 in Dutse Jigawa state,nothing like GSM and the satellite network was bad,am always on the road to Wudi(police college) in Kano State to watch matches cos a friend was serving in police college.

I can imagine

darkelf:
All this una talk na to give una self hope

Algeria will win and there's nothing any of you can do about it

Senegal will get to the finals and either Morocco or Egypt or Tunisia will place third

Nigeria with their shoddy preparation and Olosho-loving players will be lucky to smell the Quarter finals

I don talk am - Bookmark this comment

And If I end up being wrong, I will deliver a public apology

Hahaha. You have to go back and study the African Cup of Nations Bro.

drDoom3:
Bookers rated teams based on rankings rather than on current form. Algeria had amazing form before the AFCON, those were the early days of their current unbeaten streak. FIFA was just not fair to them in the rankings but everyone knew they were good.

For booker's that really understand the AFCON and have followed the tournament decade after decade, you cannot rate teams to Win the AFCON based only on FIFA ranking and current form. There are some typical AFCON teams, that no matter the strength of the team they present they are always a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the AFCON. Such teams are Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria. Little wonder that in the last 30 years they have won the AFCON the most.

And there are some teams that would always be rated high based on FIFA ranking and current form but would end up breaking the hearts of their fans: Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, Ivory coast. Algeria belonged to this group until 2019.

I know a lot of people would not fancy a team like Cameroon but I am tipping them as one of the tip favorites to win it. I also rate Nigeria ahead of Senegal and Ivory coast to win this tournament.

Kog45:
The only upset that came up was Zambia winning it in 2012 and relatively 2013 due to highly rating of Cote d'voire team.If any of Algeria,Senegal,Nigeria,Tunisia,Cote d'voire,Egypt wins it not a surprise but outside aforementioned teams then we can talk of upsets.

What of Cameroon winning it in 2017? Were they the highest rated team?
Even in 2019, before the kickoff of the tournament Algeria was not the highest rated team to win it. It was Senegal and Egypt. Nigeria was even rated higher than Algeria in terms of probability of winning.

joxxy01:
Unfortunately for me i can't watch this afcon, coz i was posted to a village with no light and no network and no water, for my youth service... Anyway, I wish super eagles the best of luck

There is always that year in a Man's life. Mine was the 2005 FIFA U20 WC. I was on Youths service in a remote village. I missed all our group matches, plus the second round match. I managed to watch our quarter final game against Holland because I traveled to Lagos for an aptitude test. But for the semi and final, I traveled a long distance to go watch them and came back to the corpers lodge at the middle of the night

Kog45:
We just need to do the needful against Egypt,at least a draw.

I am being positive in the game against Egypt. We are supposed to win that game.

samtol4:
Well said bro. The second round fixture likely to be Algeria vs Egypt or Algeria vs Nigeria �� from what I saw on the fixtures

All this Algeria you people are mentioning. This is the AFCON .Make e no shock una o

Kog45:
Yes you are right,upsets do happen but we just need to rate different teams on paper and I want to say Algeria is a team to beat,also Senegal but Nigeria,Tunisia,Egypt and Cote d' voire are not pushover.

Historically, the most rated team on paper more often does not win the AFCON.

Also there is the factor of Climate/weather. North African teams struggle when the AFCON is held outside of North Africa. They perform best when the AFCON is played in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or Egypt. But when the AFCON comes to sub-saharan Africa they more often struggle.

I am predicting that this AFCON is going to either a West African team or Cameroon.

1. Nigerian player of the year
Victor Osimhen
Wifred Ndidi
Kelechi Iheanacho

2. Nigerian female player of the year
Chiamaka Nnadozie
Asisat Oshoala
Rasheedat Ajibade

3. NPFL player of the year
Anayo Iwuala
Olisa Ndah
Ojo Olorunleke

4. Most impactful new inclusion (2021)
Kingsley Micheal
Innocent Bonke
Taiwo Awoniyi

5. Best Ogedengbe goalkeeper of the year
Maduka Okoye
Daniel Akepyi
Ojo Olorunleke

6. Stephen Keshi defender of the year
William Troost Ekong
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi

7. Samuel Okwaraji midfielder of the year
Wilfred Ndidi
Joe Aribo
Frank Onyeka

8. Rasheed Yekini attacker of the year
Kelechi Iheanacho
Victor Osimhen
Taiwo Awoniyi

9. Most improved player
Taiwo Awoniyi
Kelechi Iheanacho
Frank Onyeka

10. Super eagles goal of the year
Alex Iwobi goal Vs Sierra Leone
Paul Onuachu goal Vs Benin republic
Kelechi Iheanacho second goal Vs Liberia

11. Best assist of the year
Will be back with this

12. Team of the year
Akwa United
Enyimba
Super eagles


CC:
Thegoodjoe
Icon4s
Drklever
Safarigirl
Andrew44, andewwbaba444

Danielnino00:
Thank you.
I would also like to suggest that we include the super falcons player of the year award.
I think it was excluded last season due to the inactivity of the super falcons...

That's right

Danielnino00:
This is from last year.
I suggest we use this same nomination category.

CC: Thegoodjoe, andrewbaba444, Safarigirl, icon4s, Drklever

Ok noted. Thanks.

What are the rules for nomination?

Danielnino00:
Gentlemen,Ladies, comrade... After counting the votes made for the nomination committee with Drklever, there's the top 5 standing.

1. Thegoodjoe- 34 points
2. Andrewbaba444- 32 points
3. Safarigirl- 26 points
4. Bascovanveli- 14 points
5. Komekn- 9 points..

On this note, the following monikers will make up the nomination committee;
Thegoodjoe, Andrewbaba444, Safarigirl, Danielnino00, Drklever and icon4s (honorary member).

Any member of the nomination committee that doesn't wish to participate for whatsoever reason should please indicate ASAP.
The thread used for the nomination process will be used.. The link will be posted later.
Nomination starts tomorrow!

Thank you.

Well done

Beloved03:
I nominate only Semid4lyfe.

E get why. This year he must push the mundial to the front page by force, an ordeal he has always avoided for unknown reasons.

Smiles....

Meanwhile....
Tbaba1234, where ever you are, please say Hello to us. At least let's know you are very ok.

Danielnino00:
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
Sequel to my post yesterday where I expressed my intention to take over the responsibility of organising the annual Nairaland Nigeria Football award as requested by Icon4s this year, I'm glad to announce that the award would go ahead as planned, and I'll be coordinating it with Drklever.

Four people from this thread will join the nomination committee alongside me and Drklever, with icon4s being a honorary member.

On this note, members of the thread are to nominate 3 monikers they wish to be part of the committee. Unlike how it was previously done where we would nominate only one moniker, I suggest we nominate 3 each so as to make it more flexible and have more people nominated.
Here's how the nomination selection will be sorted;
3 points would be awarded to the first name nominated, 2 points to the second and 1 point to the last.
Example: I nominate Danielnino00, Drklever and icon4s. in this case, Danielnino00 will have 3 nomination point, Drklever will have 2 and icon4s will have 1.
At the close of the nomination process, the 4 monikers with the most points will be added to the committee. Any moniker that's selected to the committee but doesn't wish to participate for any reason whatsoever will be replaced by the another one from below the top 4.
Nomination starts now and close on Monday, December 27th 2021.

Thank you.

I nominate:

Safarigirl, TheGoodJoe and Andrewbaba44

Danielnino00:
The year is almost at an end and we haven't been able to start anything about the annual Nairaland Nigeria Football award started by Chief icon4s a few years ago. I'd hate to see us miss out on this year edition, seeing as the award as become sort of like a traditional part of this thread.
On this note, I hereby volunteer to coordinate the award this year as requested by icon4s.
However, I will be limited to coordinating it online only, meaning I won't be able to tak over the responsibility of having the award designed or delivered to the glass house.

Anybody that wish to join me in coordinating it should please indicate.
Thank you.

Kudos, Daniel.
Thanks for taking up the responsibility.

And some single ladies were already rejoicing

elyte89:
Heavily loaded with olodos

Abi na error prone ekong b loaded or aging balogun with slower pace..to me DT defence needs proper shuffling, dem just many for deer esp d center backs

Abeg forget that thing. Na so una talk for Akpoguma, las-las he even worse pass the ones you called olodos.

The Felix Agu needs to come and prove he is better than the so called olodos, first, before we talk of dropping anyone for him.

charlesemeka85:
German-born Werder Bremen star Felix Agu says he is now open to representing the Nigerian national team and is now waiting to hear from manager Gernot Rohr ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

The versatile right-back was contacted by Rohr to play for the Super Eagles in 2019 but declined the invitation because he was already representing Germany's U21 national team.

Aged 22, Agu's time with Germany U21s is all but up, and he wants to switch his allegiance to Nigeria, where his father originally hails from.

He played only two friendly games for Germany's youth team, hence, he doesn't have to request for a one-time change of association from Germany to Nigeria before wearing the Super Eagles jersey in Cameroon.

Asked the last time he was contacted by Rohr, Agu said to Deich Stube : "I haven't heard anything for a long time. Maybe it will come again.

"At that time I canceled the Nigerian Association because I wanted to go to the German U21s first. Up until then I had never been to the national team and I wanted to get used to it.

"Now my time with the U21 is over. But it wasn't a decision against Nigeria, it was a decision to keep my surroundings that are more or less familiar. Now I am open to the topic."

Agu is credited with 40 appearances in the German 2. Bundesliga and has eight assists to his name, while he has fifteen games under his belt in the top-flight.

You are welcome to the party. But know that there is no automatic slot for you. We are heavily loaded in the defense already, so come and prove your worth first.

darkelf:
He can call both of them. Drop Samuel Kali and Simon Moses/Chuks

Very Funny. Even Emmanuel Dennis, with his current form, I cannot say categorically that he is better than any of these 3 wingers you listed. He needs to come again and play a full international game on African Soil and prove he is finally ready to break into this team. As for Victor Moses, it is still a NO for me.