₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
We should play with more bravery. That is my point. I am glad we won but I said I hope we do not play this way again. I Wonder why people are getting worked up.

Can't someone hope again?

More bravery? Are you telling me you don't understand how away games are in Africa?


O you think Cameroon will sit back and watch you embarrass them in front of their crowd?

BascoVanVeli:
That is a theory not a fact. We all saw that Cameroon didn't start 2 of their impact players and introducing them played a role in them turning the tide. Also after losing 4-0 I would expect them to come out more intense than us at home. It is not fair to say stuff like that without proof to back it up.

I don't know why TheGoodJoe is taking like this.

Mujtahida:
Nigeria 0: South Africa 2.
It was positively that caused that defeat. Go back and read our comments days to that match. Icon4s was tempered in his comments and the results justified him.
I don't understand this negativity you talking about. The first leg Cameroun came with positivity and we punished them hard. We weren't negative, we were wise. You wanted swashbuckling football abi? I do too but today at least.

We often stand in the compound of the coward and point to the ruins in the house of the brave man.

Thanks bro. You sabi ball.

TheGoodJoe:
I am more concerned about convincing display than just the score. If you keep playing well, the team will keep getting better and with time achieving nice results with good score.

We should stop towing the line of parking bus.

More concerned about convincing displays than the scores. Chai na wa.

TheGoodJoe:
For Christ sake, we are Nigeria and we are a great footballing Nation. We have quality talents that we could set up and give the Camerounians a run for their money. We were very negative. We could play better than that. Concerning Nwakali, the call-up is not based on merit alone but training with the team.

I think in 2014, Juan Manuel Iturbe had not merited a call-up for Argentina but was training with the team and even followed the team to camp in Brazil for the World Cup.

We must not always wait for the sun to shine on player before calling them up.

Cameroon that played us with bravery, are they Spain?

Before this weekend's fixtures did you think we would beat Cameroon 4-0 in Uyo?

Because of that result our egotism is back. You beat the African Champions 4-0 at home played 1-1 away and you say we are better than the way they played today.

I hear you. We are on the same level with Germany.

TheGoodJoe:
I hope I never watch Nigeria play this negative. We are bigger and better than that. I believe the late Night out on Friday affected the concentration of the team. Rohr took out the Mikel too early and he gets to learn like other Nigerian coaches. Mikel is the thread that holds that team together.

We need to work on having a replacement for Mikel. Someone with intelligence both on and off the ball. Someone who can see gaps in the field and help plug them.

I feel K. Nwakali should be training with the team. Even if he is not making the final squad. We need him studying Mikel closely.

Grateful to Ezenwa for putting his body on the line to save that goal. That was courageous and earned my respect. Glad he did not injure.

Which negative play? You think we are Spain or Germany?

You play against Cameroon in Yaounde and expect to dominate them for 90mins? More so when they are at the verge of crashing out of the WC qualifiers?
You think you can attack in a game like this for 90mins?

BTW go look at the starts and tell me who had more shots on goal and on target.

Nigeria was the better side overall in this particular game.

Talking about possible replacement for Mikel. K. Nwakali has not done enough IMO to merit a call-up.

Alex Iwobi IMO looks more like a player that is more ready to suit that purpose. Etebo too is available.

Talking about Mikel Agu, the way some of you hype players here sef. He was even worse in today's game than the last.

Cameroon are officially out.

Algeria could have also been out if we had won today. But they are still in it. Which is even good for us as they need to beat Zambia tomorrow to still have any slim hopes.

How?

If Algeria win tomorrow they go to 4 points, 6 behind Nigeria. They will need to beat Cameroon(who are out) in Yaounde and pray Zambia beats Nigeria in Uyo.

Remember our final game is against Algeria away. They will need to win by 2-0, 4-1, etc to qualify.

It looks difficult for them but it is still possible(let me think as though I am an Algerian). But this possibility starts with beating Zambia tomorrow. And that is to our advantage because if Zambia wins the gap narrows to 3points and you know we play them next.

I expected the boys to get 3 points and they got 4points.
They exceeded my own expectations.
Kudos to the entire team.

Mickael2:
wait, in ten minutes you will see some people that watch the back of their tv showing up to condemn Shehu. For me the boy was the best player, I don't think he put a foot wrong. But whenever we bring up our RB, people tend to forget that the guy exists, if Aina and Shehu are in the same club, Shehu will give him a run for his money and I would start Shehu personally, he is more balanced defensively, I am not sure he got beaten once

The thing is there are certain players that fans don't like naturally, no matter how well they play. And there are some that even if they score an own goal some fans will still defend that own goal.

I am not for anybody neither am I against anybody. If you want to earn a place in the starting line up you have to earn it. Whether Nigerian born or foreign born.

Danielnino00:
15 penalties awarded in today NPFL game..

If the LMC and NFF fail to do something about the frequent poor officiating of games,then I'm afraid our league is still far from getting better ...

The home team rather than the NFF takes care of the referee's well fare. So what do you expect to have happened in the hotel room the night before the game?

tbaba1234:
Look at this ridiculous table, the difference between 3rd and 17th is 8 points. Why will we not be shambolic on the continent?

Plateau United and MFM to represent Nigeria at next year's CAF Champions league. Na wa.

Sunnypa11:
Papa Gassama is a no nonsense referee, he will splash them MTN and Airtel but Nwakaeme is needed, we must field rugby players not paper weighted players like Musa and Simon

paper weighted players? Are we going over this again?

TheSuperNerd:
@bolded.... Make that into the phantom zone


Interesting.... same lineup... What do you have to say about the view of replacing Echiejile with Aina at LB for this second leg tie? Some are saying so here shaa....


Actually I also wanna hear Chief Icon4s' thought on this and yours too in your customary sesquipedalianic manner....


Bring on the analytical fun you guys... let's go!!!

No changes from the starting line up.

Mujtahida:
Quite correct Baba Icon4s - Our personalities in context can be our strength or weakness. Besides you will agree that Mikel has changed from that time till date. Then he was a bit nonchalant but now he's challant (na Ndukwe I dey copy: the indomitable lions have become domitable)

In fact when I watched the replay of that Matuidi tackle I was so annoyed with Mikel.

The ref acted mostly based on Mikel's nonchalant reaction and awarded Matuidi only a Yellow.

safarigirl:


He's not very confrontational naturally, I guess that's why he didn't react like that.... Besides there are no guarantees that France being one-man down would have dismantled them. Shey Zambia still won Algeria despite Sakala's red?

Na

Nigeria was having the upper hand in the game up till that point. The French midfield would have collapsed just the way ours did. That was the turning point of the game. It would have turned in our favor but Mikel let it go.

Certain decisions and incidences affect the outcome of games. You must not always win fairly. Sometimes you influence referees decision.

If you can find the clips of that game check out Mikel's reaction after the tackle and you'll understand why I blame him.

Mujtahida:
Seems Mikel leads like the way he plays: calm but purposeful. He should be given National honours. Let me regale you with this anecdote. Prior to Finland 2003 as is usually the case when there's a new kid on the block, news was flying around this new sensation called Mikel Obi. So the tournament began and at our first match everyone was anxious to see the stuff Mikel was made of. Well, some minutes into the match or so, my friend's father said: na wa ooo, Mikel, Mikel, dem no let us rest, I no see wetin him dey play, nobody dey even play for this team sef, na only that number10. His children now replied: na Mikel be the number 10 na!!

That his calmness cost us that 2014 WC 2nd round game against France. He was the player closest to the action when Matuidi rough tackled Onazi. Mikel's exaggerated expression and protest could have earned Matuidi a straight red. But instead he just calmly took possession of play to continue play as if nothing happened.

Danielnino00:
Thesupernerd, Joebi, icon79,icon4s, safarigirl,tbaba1234 and other "elders" in the house what would be ur preferred lineup for tomorrow game??

I say we maintain the same structure from the last game. There may be changes on the bench though.

goldfish80:
I will personally report the Super Eagles to FIFA for Match fixing if they loose to Cameroun. No way you will beat a team 4:0 and go down to the same team with the same players 72hrs thereafter.

Don't tell me you don't know about home advantage in football.

Besides that game might be replayed in Uyo and the result may not go in our favor.

This is football for you.

AIG07:
in Europe.

Na so. E for be planet Mars.

Napoleon55:
explain how realistic Algeria from instance can still qualify. there is no way Nigeria will lose 3 games in a row,it's not happening.

See how Algeria can still qualify:

Algeria Vs Zambia. Algeria wins.
Cameroon Vs Nigeria. Cameroon wins.

Cameroon Vs Algeria. Algeria wins.
Nigeria Vs Zambia. Draw or Zambia wins.

The final fixtures:
Algeria Vs Nigeria
Zambia Vs Cameroon.

Going into the final fixture, from the results of round 4 and 5 matches Nigeria could just be 2 points ahead of Algeria.

So if Algeria wins against Nigeria they qualify for the World Cup.

The Algerians would have also done this their best case scenario calculation and so will aim at beating Zambia. This could work things out better for us if we beat Cameroon tomorrow.

TheSuperNerd:
Yara Yara plsss get me TheGoodJoe's plank..... lemme reset Oga Krattoss' hippocampus so that he can rephrase.... I am sure there is a mix-up somewhere.... so make we finish second o kwa ya?

So you never know say Second na "Bye to Russia 2018".... Bia Oga.... take ya time oooooooo

You know all those kain people safarigirl calls plastic fans.

They only care because the EPL is on break.

krattoss:
I think If we get the maximum three points in yaounde...

We will qualify irrespective of results of Algeria vs Zambia...

Worst..we go as best loosers

Best loosers!!!! Where?

TheSuperNerd:
I thought it was confirmed that he has not resigned... Infact reports was that He was to supervise a training session earlier about hours ago... I think the resignation story is not true. Even @simon_Iyonga, a Camerounian journo of CRTV, Yaounde debunked the story on twitter.
And that was like about 9hrs ago....

Ok

Tamunotonye22:
Not at all,but he needs competition,hot one.so he knows we're not all hopes on him

OK.Then It should be '... to compete for'.. and not ' ....to fill in'.

Tamunotonye22:
Excuse me, Who remembers Tiago Ilori? 6'3ft tall Centre back Right foot tho,he can fill in echiejile's position.i'ave watched him play. Or mybe derick osede

Has Echiejile announced retirement?

Cameroonian coach, Hugo Broos has resigned. Can anyone confirm this?

tbaba1234:
Gabon 0 Ivory Coast 3

Ivorians go back top

TheSuperNerd:
World Cup Qualifiers – Super Captain Mikel Wants Eagles To Win Remaining Fixtures

https://i2.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3483.jpg

Captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel is eyeing a perfect finish to the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers as the Super Eagles gear up for the reverse fixture of their game against Cameroon.

Super Eagles thrashed Cameroon 4-0 to move within one win of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia with three matches to go, but Mikel insist winning all their remaining games should be their target.

The captain who scored and provided the assist for one of the goals scored by Nigeria wants the Eagles to finish the job in Cameroon on Monday, before the games against Algeria and Zambia.

”We have to maintain our focus for the game against Cameroon on Monday, hopefully we will be able to seal qualification if result go our way. We need to wrap it up, the sooner, the better”, Mikel told Owngoalnigeria.com.

”The aim is not to slow down after qualifying, winning all our games will increase our confidence going into the World Cup proper and other assignments we have”,.

**Osas Mahawi


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/09/02/world-cup-qualifiers-super-captain-mikel-wants-eagles-to-win-remaining-fixtures/

The last paragraph sums it up.

Good one my captain.

solonnachi:
I think we need to take the 2nd leg really serious. Now that Cameroon understands our team make-up, we must try to be unpredictable. They may like to contain our midfield especially Mikel from giving killer passes. We should choke that midfield with players like Ogu and Agu. l don't mind a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 play. We also need to catch them on the counter. I believe that if we get the 3 points in Yaoundé, we will qualify. The Zambia and Algeria matches will be mere formalities.

We are going to Yaounde with a win in mind cos we know we may actually book qualification on that day.

I suggest we keep the same shape as the first leg. The difference being that The wing forwards will do more work to support the full backs.

Creativity and the individual brilliance from Mikel, Moses and Simon would be key.

We expect the Cameroonians to be all over us so we need those quality long passes to initiate counter attacks.

If we are leading comfortably and we need to make a like for like switch for an attacker I would like to see Nwakaeme instead of Iheanacho. Let's see what he can offer.

tbaba1234:
If Nigeria beats Cameroon and Algeria beats or draws with Zambia in Algiers, we will qualify.

Sure.

But let's even look at the worst case scenario. What if Zambia beats Algeria and Nigeria loses to Cameroon. What happens?

We will still have a 2 points lead and just need to beat Zambia in Uyo to qualify with the game in Algeria to spare.

We are already at the corridor of the gate leading to Russia jooor.

TheSuperNerd:
Uhmmm...lemme see. The game is on Monday by 7pm local time. We will be using a chartered flight and the journey will take just 90mins at least.

So I think the team will leave Sunday from Nigeria.

The game is 6pm both in Cameroon and Nigeria.

mumemma:
Whats happening...When are thwme boys heading to Yaounde

Bros abeg we still Dey celebration mood. But I believe they should leave the country today