₦airaland Forum

komekn:
Taribo West was always a better defender than Shittu however, they are from two different eras.

In this regard my comparison of defenders was era based.

Taribo played for the national team up till 2005 while Shittu started playing in 2002. So they can be judged under the same era.

Teeboi56:
na u sabi
can u swear for me if u don't have brown in village

Is Osogbo a village?

It is a state capital. You cannot see such houses in the heart of my state capital.

enomakos:
I agreed with you about yakubu

I just tire.

Just because of that singular 2010WC miss they have chosen to discard all other contributions the Yak! made to the national team.

What of the Yekini's miss that would have made it 4-2 against Spain at the 1998 WC? Pardoned probably because we still went ahead to win that game. Will I now because of that diminish all Yekini's previous contributions to the national team?

forgiveness:
Without 2009 WC and AFCON qualifiers no 2010 WC and AFCON. Even FIFA recognized his contribution hence the continuous preview of his goals during the world cup.

2, he did.

That your second sentence from your first paragraph na wa o. (In Emmanuela's voice) Uncle you can lie?

forgiveness:
Without 2009 WC and AFCON qualifiers no 2010 WC and AFCON. Even FIFA recognized his contribution hence the continuous preview of his goals during the world cup.

2, he did.

When did Ikpeba feature as a winger for the Super Eagles?

forgiveness:
Without 2009 WC and AFCON qualifiers no 2010 WC and AFCON. Even FIFA recognized his contribution hence the continuous preview of his goals during the world cup.

2, he did.

You can see yourself shifting the goal post again.
The classification was for 2000 - 2009 and 2010 - Recent. In the course of accommodating Martins you have shifted the 2010 era to start from 2009. Na wa o.

[s quote author=chrisooblog post=58159812] yes I saw your points raised during the striker debate of the 2000s and are duly noted. Yes taribo was a good defender at his peak better than shittu but by the early 2000s he was experiencing diminishing returns. I feel shittu's optimal performance slightly surpassed West's for that era[/quote]Taribo west was Nigeria's best defender at the 2002 WC. He was also outstanding at the 2000 and 2002 AFCON. That was when he earned the nick name 'dependable defender'. Shittu's impact from the late 2000s cannot be compared with that of Taribo West of the early 2000s. Recall Shittu's nightmarish 2010 WC.

do4luv14:
y nobody remember sweeper, IFEANYI UDEZE, the guy belongs to the 2000s set

Ifeanyi Udeze was the Transition between Babayaro and Taye Taiwo.

His career suffered a blow with his multiple injuries and lose of his Dad.

Celestine Babayaro. Why he didn't make my list is because he played in both the 90s and 2000s era. Points with which to judge him in the 90s against Iroha was not enough and also points with which to compare him with Taye Taiwo in the 2000s were not enough to rate him above Taiwo.

Icon79:
Obviously, like most of us, you started following Super Eagles in late '90s judging by your post. I have warned you guys before not to make these comparison across different eras post without watch the tapes of the eras you wanna compare.

First of all, you can't include both Segun Odegbami and Finidi George on the same team because they played the same position (7).
Secondly, it's absurd not to include the legendary Chairman Christian Chukwu on your all time list. Absolutely absurd!
Thirdly, to select Chidi Odiah ahead of Dean of Defence, Yisa Shofoluwe is a crime!
Fourthly, any Nigerian all time selection that omits names like (either as starters or on the bench): Henry Nwosu, Adokiye Amasiemeka, Okey Isima, and Emmanuel Okala is boshit!


O pari

Tell him bro.

I so much loved that guy called Yisa Shofoluwe. He IMO was the first modern RB we had. You will almost think he was a winger. He kept Eguavoen on the bench at Maroc '88 AFCON. Yisa I think took off where his predecessor, Tunde Bamidele stopped.

As for Okay Isima, tall and lanky CB. He was the "ball player " of that defence of the early 80s.Keshi took over from him ahead of the 1984 AFCON. I had to chose between him and Stephen Keshi. And you know Keshi will take the day.

Emma Okala. Fantastic goalie. But I will put him more with the class of the 70s. His last tournament was Nigeria 1980 AFCON. Best Ogedengbe was in goal in 1982. But Peter Rufai took over from 1983 and to the rest of the 80s. Rufai has it for the 80s for me.

chrisooblog:
nice one boss taking us down memory lane now down to business.

your generation of 80s and 90s super eagles best XI is spot on.

for the 2000s i would go for martins, utaka, aghahowa, danny shittu to replace yakubu, osaze, taribo west and tijani babangida

for 2010 till present i would replace musa with sunday mba. sadly i would retain your backline. so we can't find anyone better than elderson?shout out to ambrose was really good as a makeshift right back. think balogun and ndidi will soon overtake oboabona and onazi respectively.

my composite greatest super eagles from all the generations mentioned would be as follows

vincent enyeama
ben iroha
chidi odiah
uche okechukwu
stephen keshi
sunday oliseh
john obi mikel
jay jay okocha
finidi george
segun odegbami
rashidi yekini


bench: rufai, taribo west, yobo, chidi nwanu, celestine babayaro, muda lawal, mutiu adepoju, sam okwaraji, amokachi, kanu, martins, amunike, victor moses

formation: 4-3-3

coach: westerhof

firstly for the Aghahowa, Martins, Yakubu debate we have gone through it all night till today. You may just do a simple read up of my points on that.

And Replacement of Taribo West with Danny Shittu, did you guys watch Taribo West play at all?

forgiveness:
Since you focused on only goal as your sole parameter, I pointed out that Aghahowa national team goal ratio is far better than Yakubu and Aghahowa goals were crucial at some points.

When he played he contributed immensely to all our games. He will always be remembered ahead of Yakubu.

There is more confidence in Aghahowa to deliver than Yakubu.

21 goals out of 58 games is very poor compared to Yekini's 37 goals out of the same 58 games and Aghahowa's 14 goals out of 31 goals.

Remember, Aghahowa goals propelled us to the 2000 AFCON final. What can be said of Yakubu?

Wetin Iheanacho don do for National team? Nothing.

Oga, stop shifting goal post. You said from 2000, haba!

Ikpeba contributed to the 2000 AFCON hence my submission that he should replace Tijani Babanjida.

I didn't remove Yak for Ikpeba. I removed Tijani Babanjida for Ikpeba and Yakubu for Aghahowa.


I love Kanu but truth must be told, he did nothing at National team level. If otherwise, kindly highlight any.


In 2010, during the AFCON qualifier, Obinna was the reigning kid in the block thought Ike Uche also did well, and both ended up scoring 4 goals each but Martins heroic 2 goals against Kenya that gifted us the world cup slot was highlight of his contribution which overshadowed every other events.

Remember, Martins did it from 2006 to 2010 Afcon qualifiers though ignored for larger part of the qualifiers.

Without Martins no World cup and had it been Martins was invited concurrently and consistently during the 2006 FIFA world cup, we for no miss am.

However, our best players were not utilized during the 2010 World Cup. Remember, Osaze yabed the coach for keeping the best on the bench including his humble self.

Martins was only used in the last March against South Korea, you saw what happened. We suppose win.

Martins setup Yakubu but he missed severally and eventually killed his career with the national team with the miss of the century.

Did I here say, Yakubu had good tournament!?

I already sited Odenwinge on your list and I suppose you added him as a winger hence the need to put Martins.


My three best strikers of the decade are Aghahowa, Emenike and Martins.

Firstly, I hope you know 2010 WC and AFCON qualifiers ended in 2009? So that doesn't count for the next decade.

2. Ikpeba did not feature as a winger for the Super Eagles he was a striker while Tijani was a winger. So this is simple as comparing apple with orange.

komekn:
Danny Shittu in my opinion outside of Yobo was our best defender of that era. Even Yobo will concede he was his best defensive partner ask him if you like.

He was treated abysmally my the inept clueless Owen Coyle and even the other Bolton manager. I really felt it for him absolutely a top dude, got time for everybody down to earth and hard working focused professional.

He opted out if the national team he simply couldn't afford it. Having all kinds of trouble securing a contract. He went on to win the best Center Half in the championship for Millwall.

Big but almost incomprehensibly fast for such a big guy.

Danny Shittu better than Taribo West?

komekn:
You are misusing statistics to misrepresent the players true ability and capability.

KC has played 64 games and scored 21 goals in the EPL. This season 2016/17 he scored 7 goals from 29 games. That is the material statistic not the ratio of minutes played to goals scored.

It is misleading the thread giving an attribute that is far from true. Furthermore, you are using two units of measurement one for KC and another for everyone else based on goals scored.

That is a double standard intended to mislead.

KC is an excellent striker no doubt but he is not the best in the EPL as you put it. He is considerably far from that, this is over hype keep things objective.

Let's inform and not decieve ourselves.

Oga, I was not the one using goals ratio. I understand all those goals per game and goals per mins calculation. I was only criticising forgiveness for bringing in goals ratio into this.

My yardstick remains number of goals scored and not goals per mins or goals per game. My stance is very clear.

forgiveness:
Since you focused on only goal as your sole parameter, I pointed out that Aghahowa national team goal ratio is far better than Yakubu and Aghahowa goals were crucial at some points.

When he played he contributed immensely to all our games. He will always be remembered ahead of Yakubu.

There is more confidence in Aghahowa to deliver than Yakubu.

21 goals out of 58 games is very poor compared to Yekini's 37 goals out of the same 58 games and Aghahowa's 14 goals out of 31 goals.

Remember, Aghahowa goals propelled us to the 2000 AFCON final. What can be said of Yakubu?

Wetin Iheanacho don do for National team? Nothing.

Oga, stop shifting goal post. You said from 2000, haba!

Ikpeba contributed to the 2000 AFCON hence my submission that he should replace Tijani Babanjida.

I didn't remove Yak for Ikpeba. I removed Tijani Babanjida for Ikpeba and Yakubu for Aghahowa.


I love Kanu but truth must be told, he did nothing at National team level. If otherwise, kindly highlight any.


In 2010, during the AFCON qualifier, Obinna was the reigning kid in the block thought Ike Uche also did well, and both ended up scoring 4 goals each but Martins heroic 2 goals against Kenya that gifted us the world cup slot was highlight of his contribution which overshadowed every other events.

Remember, Martins did it from 2006 to 2010 Afcon qualifiers though ignored for larger part of the qualifiers.

Without Martins no World cup and had it been Martins was invited concurrently and consistently during the 2006 FIFA world cup, we for no miss am.

However, our best players were not utilized during the 2010 World Cup. Remember, Osaze yabed the coach for keeping the best on the bench including his humble self.

Martins was only used in the last March against South Korea, you saw what happened. We suppose win.

Martins setup Yakubu but he missed severally and eventually killed his career with the national team with the miss of the century.

Did I here say, Yakubu had good tournament!?

I already sited Odenwinge on your list and I suppose you added him as a winger hence the need to put Martins.


My three best strikers of the decade are Aghahowa, Emenike and Martins

for 2010 to date. Na wa.

You will always see those brown roofs

TheSuperNerd:
U don see am naa..... very Amoebic.... Hahahahahahahahaha


https://www.intuitiveaccountant.com/downloads/626/download/ROFLMAO.jpg

Meanwhile all na the same Amoeba o.

TheSuperNerd:
You are welcome Chief Icon4s....

And abeg... if na by goals ratio for Super Eagles ehn....

At the moment, the all time list top 3 na....

1). Rashidi Yekini- 0.64 (37gls in 58apps)

2). Thompson Usiyen- 0.63 (15gls in 24apps)


3). Kelechi Iheanacho- 0.67 (using 6gls in 9apps)/ 0.7 (using 7gls in 10apps).


Note: Nacho should be first for his is even higher now but I place him third to pay respect to the legends.

That's why I say if na based on the goals ratio he should be the greatest Nigerian striker of all time.

You see how people they shift goal post to favor their argument? Tomorrow now same people will criticize use of goals ratio.

TheSuperNerd:
Looolll.... finally oooo... if na by goals ratio... Iheanacho don make the list naa.... Hahahahahahahahaha



But ehmmmmm at Bolded 1....

That was Kalu Uche.... (IK's bro) not the fantastic Ike Uche.

Then at bolded 2.....

I think you meant Martins' best days came in the 2000s.... (specifically between 2004-2009)


The rest.... Chief... idi on point!

Thanks for the correction . Amended.

Talking about goals ratio. No so dem Dey shift goal post just to suit their argument.

komekn:
In the 2010 to date list I would have had Osaze (although not present continous) add to that list I would have Obagoal.

In the 2000-2009 I would have the very dependable Danny Shittu in that list.

Meaning instead of Ike Uche and Emenike you"ll have Martins and Osaze?

jihday:
I see your reasons for picking Yak, but we are talking National team achievement so his epl records won't be considered, Aghawonder was very decisive for us in two tournaments I think he was even the top scorer at 2002 afcon. Yak scored goals alright but I can't even remember him scoring important and decisive goals for us.

yak is 3rd highest goals scorer of all time for Nigeria

forgiveness:
Yak scored 21 out of 58 matches which goal ratio is 0.36 while Aghahowa scored 14 goals in 31 matches, a goal ratio of 0.45.


As you can see, Aghahowa's goal ratio is better than Yakubu and Aghahowa goals were crucial.


Ikpeba played from 1994 till 2002. Therefore, he is very much qualified to be included in 2000 - 2009 because he was effective in 2000 AFCON.


Wetin Kanu do for National team? Nada.


Martins played in the 2010 AFCON and 2010 FIFA world cup.

Danny Shittu had 32 caps.

Ow! goals ratio? It is now goals ratio.

Well based on goals ratio Iheanacho is the greatest striker in the EPL history and greatest Nigerian striker of all time. Haha haha.

Can you compare Ikpeba's contribution for that short period to the Yak's contributions from 2001 to 2010? third highest scorer for Nigeria within that time frame?

Wetin Kanu do? You know those days we used to have so many anti-Kanu fans. I just spotted one. Haha haha. The history of Nigerian football will not be complete without the mention of the name "Nwankwo Kanu".

For that 2010 AFCON Ike uche missed out due to injury. He was our hottest striker leading to that AFCON. Yakubu and Osaze had a better tournament than Martins. Osaze scored twice while Yakubu and Martins only scored once.

At the 2010 WC Martins was a shadow of himself. Our goals were scored by Kalu Uche(2 goals) and Yakubu (1 goal). Nothing from Martins.

If you have even fronted Osaze I will still agree more because Osaze even featured at the 2014 WC and scored our first goal(against Bosnia)

Martins had his better days in the 2000s but then there was Yakubu.

My three top 3 strikers for this decade thus far are Uche, Emenike and Osaze.

Dani Shitu: You include him in the 2010 to present first 11? A player that the only tournament he featured for Nigeria this decade (2010 WC) he was a disaster.

forgiveness:
*clearing throat*

Based on what each players bought the to the table at the National team level and club level will I chose my players.


From 1980 - 1999 no wahala.


But from 2000 - 2009

I go commot Yakubu put Aghahowa, Tijani to be replaced by Ikpeba. Kanu for John Utaka.

Why? Aghahowa was our top highest goal scorer in 2000 and 2002 Nations cup, he was among the best team of the Tournament in 2002 and joint top scorer of the Tournament. Gbam.


Ikpeba was part of the 1994 Africa cup of Nations winning team, he also contributed at the 2000 Nations cup were we got to the final (he no miss d penalty oooo, na ojoro Cameroon take win), he helped Monaco to win the league and contributed to the underage Olympics.

John Utaka na em biko.

*clearing throat*..

2010 to date

Commot Ike put Martins Obafemi.


We all saw how one legged Martins singlehandedly qualified us for the world cup. He's still very much available for selection.




In addition, I go commot Obaobona for Danny Shittu

Who scored more goals for Nigeria between Yakubu and Aghohowa.

Ikpeba belong to the 90s generation. I didn't even include Oliseh who Played in the 2002AFCON to the 2000-2009 list. The Olympics you talk about for Ikpeba was in the 90s na.


How on earth can you replace Nwankwo Kanu with John Utaka?

Martins belongs to the 2000-2009 class.
Which tournaments has he taken part in from 2010 to date?

I still stick to Obaobona ahead of Shitu. How many caps did shitu have for Nigeria and what did he achieve?

goldfish80:
Being an Afcon winner and multiple league and challenge cup winner for Rangers of that era should earn Okala in the league of the best of the era. In my opinion anyway.
Yakubu was a club man. Aghahowa was more reliable for the Super Eagles.

For Okala those multiple league wins were mostly in the late 70s.

Yakubu was not only a club man. He was the highest goals scorer for Nigeria for his era. Third overall behind Yekini and Odegbami. Yakubu reigned from the 2000 Olympics down to the 2010 WC. Aghahowa was only there as top striker from 2000- 2002 even though he and Yakubu are age mates. If you talk of reliability it was Yakubu. Aghahowa faded too early.

TheSuperNerd:
Yes ofcos Chief.... Yes of course..... The best of an era is always an amalgam of the brightest and finest springing up at different periods in one era or overlapping eras... so what you say is true.

But I expect some of the names he listed to be part of that "formidable attack"

You get the point.

goldfish80:
Thomas Nkono with Emma Okala were the best African goalkeepers of that era.
Dont forget Emma Okala was the first gK to win an Afcon. You listed the other 2 but not him. Check am na

I maybe tempted to swap Yakubu with Aghahowa. It will be difficult to leave out Julius. He was the go to guy for the team for a good number of years. More reliable than anyone we had from 2000 till date, with him in the team you know there is hope irrespective of the opponent.

Thomas Nkono Belonged more to the Rufai era and not the Okala era. Peter Rufai took over from Best Ogedengbe in 1983. The only period Okala really made the mark was from the 70s(mid) to 1981. He and one Rufus Ejele were the goalies we took to the 1978 AFCON in Ghana. By 1982 Best Ogedengbe had become the best. Peter Fregene was the back-up goalie. So I feel Emma Okala was the best goalie of the 70s and not the 80s.

Yakubu remains our best striker for his era.

TheGoodJoe:
Anelka was young before he became known as formidable. Same with Djibril Cisse and Trezeguet.

This is Nigeria we are talking about and not France.

TheSuperNerd:
Looollll.... okay now I get you. Hahahahahahahahaha....


Well, the way I understand it shaa.... he justs hopes they all light up their leagues this season and translate some of that to the national team to begin forging what will be eventually referred to as a formidable attack line...

I saw the post in the light of the near-future and long-term future of the team. What we have now is a promising attack but not formidable.

Mark my words not all of those players he lined up will end up being part of the 'formidable' attack he is talking about . Some other players may still likely spring up and some of those on that his list will get relegated from that attack.

That is football. It keeps happening over and over and over.

TheSuperNerd:
He looks to the future naa.... They are all rising gems. And our national team belongs to them now. It is their time so they have to be given the time to grow as individuals and as a team.

....hahahaha go back and read his post. He is talking about if they click this season.

Some times I feel that lose to SA was a blessing in disguise for us.

goldfish80:
You listed Rufai twice that was why I replaced him with Emma Okala with the first team.

Aghawonder started his national team journey as a right winger. Knowing the fun memories he brought at the time, he was our go to guy for a good number of years. Couldn't just leave him out that's the reason I listed him. Tough choice.

Tough choice between Obafemi and Yakubu. Very tough choice.

Peter Rufai made more marks in the national team in the 80s even more than the 90s. His heroics in that era dwarfens that of Okala. Even in the 90s Rufai was still the best though Ike shoromun too was solid.

Aghahowa, though started as a winger at U20,all through his Super Eagles days played as a striker and was never played as a winger. Yakubu and Martins achieved more than him as a striker in that era. And based on statistical indices both for club and country Yakubu tops Martins.

TheGoodJoe:
If Osimhen breaks through this season as I expect and Onyekuru flourishes in Belgium, then we will have a formidable fire power attack force.

Iheanacho, Osimhen, Kayode and Henry.

I am also expecting a bang from Success. I hope he can put his injuries behind him and Victor Moses is also a dynamite forward.

These boys are still young. They still have a lot learn. One or two seasons are not even enough to call them formidable.

TheSuperNerd:
@Chief Icon4s....

From 1980-1989, well I don't think I have the valid in depth knowledge of that era to speak on that generation... but from the much I read, and also saw of certain videos and clips, I wanna ask why you didn't place Emmanuel Okala or Best Ogedengbe as the Goalie for that era.


From 1990-1999, I think you nailed that one.

From 2000-2009, I think it is almost perfect too.... But the omission of Martins is kinda debatable shaa. Yakubu and Martins were two of our finest then.

From 2010-now, I honestly was surprised to see Kelechi Iheanacho and Leon Balogun on your list..... it is true these are two of our best players now and their records for us speaks volumes of excellence for the most parts buuuuttttt.... Kelechi does not merit a best XI place yet.... he is still rising... still has less than 12 caps... lol

Leon also...

Truth is they are candidates for the best XI by the end of this current decade if they keep this up (Kelechi could also feature in the era of 2020-2030)... but for now...

....I will place Ikechukwu Uche instead of Iheanacho... and also go for Oboabona Godfrey instead of Leon ... just for now...

This decade is not even over yet... shaa....

By 2020, we will know our best XI of the 2010-2020 era.... looollll

But from 2010-2017 so far... Kelechi is a no no for me... Let him play more games and show more impact and lead us to maybe a good world cup showing and the Afcon title in 2019... then we will see about his place in a best XI for us. Same goes for Balogun.

I have modified my list.

But Yakubu still tops Martins for me.

goldfish80:
(80/89)
I will replace Rufai with Emma Okala from the first team.

(90/99)
The second team basically selects itself. No addition really

(99/10)
I will replace Babangida with Aghahowa and Yakubu with Obafemi Martins (tough one)

(2011 to date)
I will swap Leon Balogun with Oboabona and Kelechi with Ikechukwu Uche.
*before they call me hater and plunge me into an unnecessary arguement. I don't think it will be right rating players with less than 10 caps and no tournament experience for the senior national team ahead of those with 40+ caps and tournament experience.

Rufai IMO is Nigeria's second best. So no way I will place Emma Okala ahead of him.

Babangida and Aghahowa do not play the same position. Babangida remains our best winger after the exit of Finidi. Aghahowa should placed in the same comparison basket with Yakubu, Martins and Agali.

I stick to Yakubu because of his achievements but at national level and club. Emerging second highest goal scorer for the national team and 2nd highest Scoring African player in the History of EPL, just behind Didier Drogba.

I have already swapped Iheanacho with Ike Uche. And also agree about Obaobona replacing Balogun.