₦airaland Forum

TobiTobiTobiWhy:
https://travel.jumia.com/blog/ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Lagos-Nigeria-August-2013-BellaNaija.jpg

This is a very old picture. Take it off abeg. It does not reflect the current beauty of the country

Kog45:
Yea I know Arabic is different from Islam but quite a number of Muslim speak and write it without issues.

Yes because the Quran is Written in Arabic and so they MUST learn the language so as to be able to read their Holy Book.

If our Holy Bible was written only in Spanish for eg, same way we would have be obligated to learn the Spanish language so as to be able to read the bible.

The thing about languages is it requires interest and devotion. You can learn any language even Chinese even as difficult and as complex as the letters appear if you put your resources into it.

Then there is also another factor: Some people are naturally gifted at languages.

do4luv14:
only you!!!!!!! Chaiii, iszoky

good say you no sabi ISOKO

I can manage to make some meanings when I hear people speak it.

I worked extensively in the Niger-Delta. The only major language there I don't understand "jack" in is the Ijaw (Ijo) language. Too fast a language. Sounds like speaking in tongue: labrabrabrama mebrabrabra like that . I don't know who composed that language sef. I give am hand.

I understand Itsekiri so perfectly well. I Speak it too and even forgot to add it to my list of languages.

Kog45:
Good,pls tell me how u learn Arabic coz is not easy to speak Arabic if u are not Muslim.

I took interest in it at Secondary school and learnt it. Although our wicked French Teacher drove us into it. We had an option of French or Arabic

I love their letterings and learnt it from using the common "Abjadi" sequence ie starting with "a" (alif) and ending with "gh". I am sure you know the lettering are from right to left and you also read from right to left. It was quite challenging as a Christian but I managed to learn the words to some extent. Till date when I see Arabic inscriptions or words I manage to pronounce some of them. Some of my in-laws are Muslims and are always amazed at the way I pronounce their children's Arabic names.

But note one thing: Arabic is different from Islam. It is a language just like Spanish, Latin or French etc.

Kog45:
Arabic?

Yeah

Loogan:
Under-17 World Cup: Age cheats under scanner on global stage
AGENCIES
Published : Oct 5, 2017, 5:00 am IST
Updated : Oct 5, 2017, 5:01 am IST

With the absence of Nigeria, and with three-time winners Brazil weakened, the tournament is regarded as open and unpredictable.

England players at a tune-up session in Kolkata on Wednesday. They face Chile on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
England players at a tune-up session in Kolkata on Wednesday. They face Chile on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: The Under-17 World Cup starting in India on Friday should feature only players born this century, but officials are taking no chances after title holders Nigeria were caught in a major age-cheating scandal.


All players at the competition, which has helped launch the careers of Neymar, Ronaldinho, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, will have their wrists scanned by MRI to check they weren’t born before January 1, 2000.

The measure was confirmed after Nigeria, who have won the tournament a record five times, bombed out of qualifying after they lost 26 squad members who were found to be over-age ahead of a key clash in August.


Age fraud is also rampant in other countries, according to football officials, prompting Fifa to bring Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment to the 17th edition of the tournament, which is taking part in six Indian cities.

MRI scans can determine whether a player is below 17 with 99 per cent accuracy, experts say, as they can show whether he or she has stopped growing — which usually happens after 17.

“While it is the responsibility of each member association to ensure that their players meet the age requirements, Fifa has decided to conduct magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist at its U-17 competitions,” said a Fifa spokesperson.

Play gets under way on Friday in New Delhi, where two-time champions Ghana play Colombia at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, while New Zealand clash with Turkey in Mumbai.

With the absence of Nigeria, and with three-time winners Brazil weakened, the tournament is regarded as open and unpredictable.

England prodigy Sancho joins team
In Kolkata, Borussia Dortmund’s English midfielder Jadon Sancho joined his team mates for the tournament’s group league stage.

Sancho was named player of the tournament at the U-17 Euros earlier this year, where England finished runners-up, losing in the final to Spain on penalties.

Sancho joined the team’s first official practice, four days ahead of their Cup opener against Chile.

Sancho did not travel with the team as he arrived separately after getting a last-minute release from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

The London-born teenager has scored 13 goals in 16 games for England and is expected to be a key player if they are to progress to the last 16 in a “group of death’ featuring twice champions Mexico, Chile and Asian winners Iraq.

Mexico arrive
Mexico reached Kolkata on Wednesday following a pre-conditioning camp in Spain. The 21-member El Tri were accompanied by a 16-strong staff including chief coach Mario Arteaga.

Mexico, who open their campaign against Asian champions Iraq on March 8, were the last to arrive here from the Group F teams.

Why these particular references to Nigeria

junnyjake:
Nope, Spanish is the only intl language I speak.
Yoruba, Hausa, Igede, English, Spanish, Waffi Pidgin.

I speak Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, Urhobo, English, Arabic and of course pidgin.

Taliban:
Chief Icon4 what about the mathematical genius Devin Odegbami. What about Adokie Amesemaka. What about Muda Lawal who played for the national team for several years.

That is my first 11. you can create yours

PDPGuy:
Mine would be:

--------------- Enyeama----------


---G.Shehu-----West---U.Okechukwu---Iroha---


--------------Oliseh---Mikel--------------


-----Babangida---Okocha------Amuneke----


-------------------Yekini---------------


This squad (in each players prime) could plausible advance to a World Cup semifinal with the right tactics, and luck on their side.

Garba Shehu??

OK. your choice.

Firstly, I will replace Garba Shehu with Austine Eguavoen.
Replace the duo of Okechukwu and Taribo with Keshi and Christian Chukwu.

Then I will switch to a 4-4-2 formation, replace Mikel with Okocha in CM, replace Babangida with Finidi and then introduce Kanu Nwankwo as supporting striker to Yekini.

Mujtahida:
Truly you and Baba Icon4s deserve your high places in the hallowed Hall of(kai na only thesupernerd sabi talk am) well, fame - the way you two recall our football history with ease is really remarkable. I doff my hat for the both of you.

Kog45 and Icon4s it's possible that you guys watched that match(that happened only in the colorful imagination of Nigerians) that has become one of Nigeria's notorious urban legends: the match with India where the ball was turning into a Lion once it gets to our goalie. India it was said won the match 100-1. It was said that FIFA banned India from international football cos of that match

Hahaha thanks for the complements.

We remember because we were really committed to it. Plus NTA then had the habit of repeating so many of those legendary games. For Eg I know how many times I watched that miracle of Damam game plus the China 85 final. I have both videos on my laptop courtesy of YouTube.

Talking about the Nigeria vs India game, the truth is....















it never happened.

We heard the same story even as kids then.

Chrismario:
Why is he not popular?
I'm just hearing it also

Typical of defenders.

In years to come some people will say they don't know Chidi Odiah or Efe Ambrose.

Afam4eva:
I don't even know the names of 70% of our players by just seeing their faces. Who's that Albino?

And you are proud to say this.

Mujtahida:
Chidi Odiah didn't play too many matches. Injury issues if I recollect well enough.

That was towards the later part of his career.

He featured well at the 2006 WC qualifiers and 2006 AFCON. Those matches were enough to rate him

Joebie:
OPPONENT WATCH

---

Zambia Arrive Abuja, Team To Depart For Uyo Tomorrow
October 4, 2017013


The senior national team of Zambia popularly call the Chipolopolo arrived Abuja, the capital of Nigeria earlier today ahead of their World Cup 2018 Qualifiers clash against Nigeria ‎at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

They will spend the night in Abuja, where they will be lodged at the prestigious Bolton White Hotel ahead of their journey to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state venue of the game.

Zambia need at least a draw to keep their hope of qualifying for next year World Cup alive after back to back win over Algeria during the last round of games.

Nigeria who are leading the group need a win to gain an unassailable lead with a game to spare, and they will be gunning for victory over Zambia like they need in their first qualifiers in Ndola.

The Super Eagles triumphed 2-1 in Ndola with goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi, but Zambia have recovered from the loss and are now the only team in the group with a chance of overhauling Nigeria.

Ade Emmanuel
--OGN

I wish them a safe trip to Uyo.

daveP:
I Consider them great team players, but position wise, na! Exception for Ambrose, however overlapping he was.

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.

daveP:
Since Yisa Sofoluwe, the RB position has never seen a perfect replacement. Hopefully, Ola Aina changes that this weekend.

What do you say of Austine Eguavoen and Chidi Odiah. Efe Ambrose was also great at RB.

Laveda:
The Lagos State police command has arrested two Uber drivers who specialised in robbing women of their valuables at gunpoint.

The drivers, Fosta Rufus, 30, and Franklin Jogbodo, according to the Special Anti Robbery squad boss, Mohammed Sanusi, picked up their targets around Lekki, Ajah and Victoria Island areas of Lagos.

This is the second of such arrest of Uber drivers in Lagos. It was gathered that the suspects were accused of robbing their victims of valuables such as jewelry, expensive phones and cash, and their victims are mainly ladies who go out at night.

Lagos State police boss, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, said the suspects sometimes would follow their victims to an ATM machine from where they would force them to withdraw cash at gunpoint.

He added that the suspects have admitted participating in three different robbery operations in the past. “On one occasion the suspects collected the sum of N86,000 from their victim using her Access Bank ATM. They have both confessed to the crime.”

He said that a KIA Rio with registration number BDG 376 EP used in perpetrating the crime and other valuables, which including Samsung Galaxy 7edge plus and iPhone 6 plus, allegedly collected from their victims identified as Nancy Nzuegbo and Eze Chinonso, were recovered from the suspects.

The Lagos police boss said he has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to maintain police visibility in major roads and neighbourhood across the metropolis.

“I have also directed them to carry out constant raids of back spots. We hope to sustain the current low crime rate in the state” he said.

In his confessional statement, Franklin denied robbing anybody, saying it was his friend, Fosta who dragged him into the problem. He said he was the one who introduced Fosta into the Uber cab business.

According to him: “I met Fosta while working with UBA as a driver. I met him again sometime this year. I helped him to register as an Uber driver. It was him who collected the phones that were found on us from some ladies.
More here:

http://orjisblog.com.ng/2017/10/04/uber-drivers-arrested-for-allegedly-robbing-female-clients-at-night/

Those names sha.

Napoleon55:
any time i remember Zambia hoping on their U-20 boys to come and outplay our senior national team,i will just feel pity for them.
maybe they r new on age grade football.

The thing is each time Zambia manages to produce a descent youth team over time it culminates into a descent senior national team.

In 1988, Zambia produced an Olympic team that got to the quarter finals of the Seoul Olympics. Those players were progressed to the senior team and they finished 3rd at the 1990 AFCON. That Zambian team also got to the semis at the 1992 AFCON. However in 1993, tragedy struck during qualifiers for the 1994 AFCON and most of that golden generation of Zambian players perished in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Gabon. They managed to raise a team that faced Nigeria at the 1994 AFCON final. But they never really progressed from their. That era ended.

In 2007, Zambia produced a team that reached the 2nd round of the U20 WC. They lost to a Nigerian side that had Brown Ideye, Ezekiel Bala, Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Adefemi Olubayo, Chukwuma Akabueze, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, , and co. They progressed that their U20 team. They lost to Nigeria via penalties in the quarter finals of the 2010 AFCON and then won the AFCON in 2012 by beating CIV via penalties.

In 2017 they have raised a team that reached the quarter final of the U20 WC and again they have progressed a good number. But if you look at the previous trends it took them at least 2years before they started making any statements on the continents. It simply means that it would be too early to expect those boys to achieve same fits as their predecessors. Maybe from 2019 or 2021 AFCON.
You may say football is no mathematics but I will tell you that : 1, you cannot cheat nature. You also saw how our young Super Eagles fell to SA.
2, In football, some how, history has a way of repeating itself. Just like their predecessors, it cannot happen for them from this year 2017. They should look forwards from 2019.

So for them to hope they can beat Nigeria with those boys on Saturday, I shake my head.

Napoleon55:
any time i remember Zambia hoping on their U-20 boys to come and outplay our senior national team,i will just feel pity for them.
maybe they r new on age grade football.

The thing is each time Zambia manages to produce a descent youth team over time it culminates into a descent senior national team.

In 1988, Zambia produced an Olympic team that got to the quarter finals of the Seoul Olympics. Those players were progressed to the senior team and they finished 3rd at the 1990 AFCON. That Zambian team also got to the semis at the 1992 AFCON. However in 1993, tragedy struck during qualifiers for the 1994 AFCON and most of that golden generation of Zambian players perished in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Gabon. They managed to raise a team that faced Nigeria at the 1994 AFCON final. But they never really progressed from their. That era ended.

In 2008, Zambia produced a team that reached the 2nd round of the U20 WC. They lost to a Nigerian side that had Brown Ideye, Ezekiel Bala, Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Adefemi Olubayo, Chukwuma Akabueze, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, , and co. They progressed that their U20 team. They lost to Nigeria via penalties in the quarter finals of the 2010 AFCON and then won the AFCON in 2012 by beating CIV via penalties.

In 2017 they have raised a team that reached the quarter final of the U20 WC and again they have progressed a good number. But if you look at the previous trends it took them at least 2years before they started making any statements on the continents. It simply means that it would be too early to expect those boys to achieve same fits as their predecessors. Maybe from 2019 or 2021 AFCON.
You may say football is no mathematics but I will tell you that : 1, you cannot cheat nature. You also saw how our young Super Eagles fell to SA.
2, In football, some how, history has a way of repeating itself. Just like their predecessors, it cannot happen for them from this year 2017. They should look forwards from 2019.

So for them to hope they can beat Nigeria with those boys on Saturday, I shake my head.

Modified: Zambia exited at the quarter finals of the 1992 AFCON losing 1-0 to eventual winners CIV.

Mickael2:
Ndidi-Etebo-Mikel of course

Onazi been snatch your geh friend?

komekn:
Agbo is very prone to making very rash challenges in this regard he could be a liability. We don't need him getting a red card and leaving the team a man down.

They will just be calling names. Untested players for that matter.

solonnachi:
FIFA has sanctioned Nigeria 30,000 US dollars for crowd invasion into the pitch in the Uyo during the match against the Cameroon team.

They will fine us again after Saturday's game.

Tanzania 0:6 Nigeria.
Watch all the goals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRVISDxx-6s

Tanzania 0:6 Falconets.
watch all the goals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRVISDxx-6s

Mickael2:
the combo isn't exactly working well, Mikel is working well for the team, totally different more like Mikel-dependencia, making the Ndidi-Onazi combo look good but whenever Mikel leaves the pitch we die

Oya from the list of available players give us your preferred midfield combo.

I said it after the Cameroon game in Uyo that Ezenwa looked like a goalie that can chop 4 goals with a tougher opposition.

Rohr even said Ezenwa is 4th choice.

BascoVanVeli:
First thought in my mind is that we will line up with the same Cameroon XI but I could also see us lining up like this,


----------------------------------Akpeyi------------------------------------

Shehu----------------Ekong------------Balogun------------U know who


--------------------------Mikel-----------Ndidi-----------------------------

Moses---------------------------Iwobi------------------------------Moses

---------------------------------Ighalo-------------------------------------

Mikel will definitely play the AM position.

One of Simon and Iwobi will have to start from the bench.

The ........Ndidi........Onazi
.......................Mikel combo seams to be working well. I don't see Rohr changing that.

safarigirl:
Cc Seun, semid4lyfe, mynd44, icon4s, joebie, icon79, thegoodjoe

I don't even know this fellow and I have said NOTHING on this thread for ANYONE to come at me like this. But this is how some people come out of nowhere to seek relevance on top my head.

Please, ask this uncle what I said that has him spitting saliva in this manner.

He obviously has a crush on you.

Imagine all the 3 times he has commented here are centred at you.

Hahaha.

fellory:
Is this Safarigirl for real?Uncouth,mannerless,troublesome,trucculent,overbea ring and very rude.Is the exhibition of these traits a deliberate attempt at attracting attention to your self.This is probably my 3rd comment on this thread and the other two comments were aimed at addressing this caustic tongue of yours.Are you crazy? Can you behave like someone with some form of home training.Don't let me address your issue on this forum again.Omo ala e leko

Bros, just take it easy on our Safarigirl abeg.

We don't want another fight here. And if you don't like her comments then just ignore and move on.

However, if you love her just toast her straight and stop beating about the bush. Hahaha.

Danielnino00:
seems like it is..

But we all have our preference..

I'd like to see Etebo start tho.. In case the Zambians decide to shut our attack from the flanks,we can do damages from the midfield and Etebo would be useful there...

Etebo in place of who?

Danielnino00:
. Alright folks... Its a new day... And just 4 days to D-day....

Which midfield combo would u prefer vs Zambia?

Ndidi- Onazi-Mikel

Ndidi-Etebo-Mikel

Onazi-Etebo-Mikel

That midfield combo is settled na.

No debates.

BascoVanVeli:
The NFF ��‏@thenff
.@OnaziOgenyi � stats Vs Cameroun 2 Games 16 Interceptions 12 Ball Recovered. 1 Assist
Stats via @Tofetsports

Yet this is a player some here wanted out of the team.