₦airaland Forum

I believe that they were eliminated by one goal difference. No?


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maidaboi:
how many goals Rangers chop last year caf champions league?
They go collect if the play plateau united #fact

In that case, Ahmed Musa might miss his chance if Ajayi performs. Unless Rohr receives an order from "above" to keep Musa to support federal character.


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Icon4s:
Both.

He plays both as an SS and a CF. Though he is naturally a CF. He does well as a lone striker.

And then their commander in chief would turn around and release these killers back on the street!
Where's the outrage


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Just keeping it real, bro. Just keeping it real


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Danycrusoe:
U wicked

Lol

LOL. Which Plateau United? The one way chop 4 goals the other day, abi na another one?


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maidaboi:
up Plateau united

Is Junior Ajayi a true out and out striker? If that's the case then he's likely to displace Ighalo if he performs. I have never been a big Ighalo fan but I foresee him going to Russia as he's the only true striker in the team. But if Ajayi plays more as a SS, then he's likely to replace Ahmed Musa. No sentiments!


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aadvark:
The long awaited friendly list is out, Junior Ajayi of Egypt's Al Ahly gets invite, but what do we expect? What exactly does Ajayi bring to the Eagles front line?
His record in his club says its goals, goals and goals.

Ajayi has proven to be very prolific for his club this season, practically tearing through teams. His proficiency in front of goal will be of value to the Eagles as they hope for a strong outing at the world cup.

But as I type this, one question nags my mind. If he performs well in the friendlies, as I have a hunch he will, who will be dropped from the Eagles attack to accommodate him? The eagles attack is one position that is star studded, with names like Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Simon Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo. So who will take the fall?

It's easy to point to Odion Ighalo, whose goal return has not been very impressive for the Eagles. Ajayi on the other hand knows how to put the ball in the net. But for a second, let's put on our analytical glasses.

The eagles usually play a 4-3-3formation with one top striker who is expected to not just score goals but also offer good hold up play. This Odion Ighalo does excellently, as we saw in the double header with Cameroon in the WC qualifiers. He can also drift to either wing and take on a man successfully, offering the sort of service that Real Madrid's Benzema does to his team. So even tho he doesn't score much, he is some sort of foil for the team, as his service makes it easy for various players to pop up with the goals.

Now can Ajayi offer that apart from the goals? The truth is that, if he provides decent enough hold up play in addition to goals, then I will be very sorry for Ighalo.

But hey, the friendlies are here, the stage is set, and a good performance from the Egypt-based goal machine might just worsen Rohr's headache. I for my part shall be on hand to hand him some Emzor paracetamol, lol.

Up Rangers!!!


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somehow:
As at 2016:

Champions of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season stand to win N40m from the Merit Award of the League Management Company (LMC). Rangers International of Enugu and Rivers United of Port Harcourt are the two clubs in contention for the big prize money from a total of N200m pool set aside by the LMC as reward for final position on the league table at the end of the season on Sunday.

Last season, the highest payout from the Merit Award which went to Enyimba International was N30m from a total pool of N150m and this year’s figure of N200m represents an increase of 25%. The Merit Award pool has been witnessing an annual progression from N50m in 2012/13 to N75m in 2013/14 season and now N200m. The top three Clubs on the final table usually received the chunk of the Merit Award which supports the clubs financially in their preparation for the CAF Club competitions the next season.

According to figures released by the LMC, the champions would have received a minimum of N90m in all direct payments for the 2016 season including the Basic Award which comprises of pool of funds shared equally amongst all the 20 participating clubs, the Merit award paid to clubs based on their final position on the table, the Football development and the Bonus award which is paid to clubs based on performances including incentives for improving match attendance, away wins/draw, fielding players under the age of 18 and hosting live broadcast matches.

The lowest placed team in the NPFL this season would thus have received a upto N55m in direct payments from the LMC from all payment Centres.

A statement from the LMC explained that “in addition to the direct payments clubs do also benefit from other indirect payments such as free registration of players and officials, free insurance, payment of match officials’ indemnities and hotel accommodation as well as sponsored seminars and other engagements funded by the LMC”.


Rangers are three points ahead of Rivers United with the Flying Antelopes hosting El-Kanemi Warriors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium now called The Cathedral by Enugu fans needing a point to guarantee the title while Rivers United go hunting for three points in Uyo against Akwa United. The Port Harcourt side will seek to win big while hoping that Rangers will falter against their visitors.

*drops mic* (insert gif here).


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Danielnino00:
U were saying ??

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Abusule007:
Hala Madrid

Buhari is using style to release all the captured Boko Haram members.

Yet, they would tell us that PMB isn't one of their sponsors. Yeah right!


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Haha!! Nerdie, just keep your eye on Angel Di Maria. He's gonna be the hero tonight

I think PSG can get the job done, if the officiating is fair and balanced, but I am not holding my breath though. Once PSG starts winning the ref would manufacture something for Real Madrid - either a penalty or allow an offside goal. And don't forget the red cards
If you doubt me, go watch Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich in last year's semi-finals.


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TheSuperNerd:
Chaaiiiii.... Sir Icon79 nuu!!! This your dislike for anything Madrid and CR7 ehn.... Do you really think PSG can knock out Madrid without Neymar? You think Madrid will just roll over and let PSG overrun a two goal deficit??

This your love for Messi can make you illogical sometimes oooo when it comes to Messi matters!!! Again I ask thee o Fine Sir.... When Messi and Argentina is taking on Nigeria at the World cup... Where shalt thy heart lie? Choose ye this day who thou shall support oooo.... Which kain fan you be sef?

Bia were Oge gi oooo.. Take ya time osiso!

Forza Barca!


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somehow:
The hate is strong ...

You know, right? We gotta kick Penaldo outta dia


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junnyjake:
I wouldn't have expected anything Less from you. lol!

Good. Now, let's go watch PSG versus Real Madrid.

Not sure whether anybody here agrees with me that PSG (even without Neymar) are going to eliminate Real Madrid.


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tbaba1234:
Game over... Atrocious for the first 25 mins but played well in the second half.

They came out for the second half very determined.

Wearing track suits in Nigeria's unbearable March heat. Nigerians and their sense of fashion is something else.

#OnlyInNigeria


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The man is arguably the most ugly person I know, bar none.


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thesicilian:
Old soldier never dies.

KPOM, my brother ... kpom!

You don tok am finish. To add anything else would be most uncivilized.


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TheSuperNerd:
I'm with you Sir Icon79. France at that stage won't be so tactically resilient or super disciplined but will only rely on their quality stardust.... And this is where Nigeria will have the edge as we are a tactically disciplined side who can stick to our game plan and utilise our wicked pace on the counters to wreck and destroy any f**king team....

It will be interesting if we get to meet France. I want a part two of that cheeky Mikel dummy between Pogba's legs back in 2014.... Hahahahahahahahaha


I tell you a truth, we will beat France because we will own that midfield. Mikel-Ndidi-Onazi will dominate Pogba-Kante-Rabiot/Tolisso/Sissoko (whatever third man they choose)


The battle will be won in the tactics and not in the talents.... We have the fullbacks to handle France's high-flying Dembele, Martial, and Coman.... But if na Echiejile dey that left back or left wing back role ehn (depending on our chosem formation that day) Chaaaiiiii.... Wahala go dey oooo.... And we pray for no such wahala.....


Abeg Sir Icon79... Chop knuckle... We dey together on this... This team go knock out France if na dem cross our path...

The current France team is fully loaded with stars, just like Belgium. In fact, aside from Brazil, I think France is probably the deepest team in Russia. But I am not afraid of France. I think we can beat France .... we could've beaten them in Brazil, but this time there would be no escaping defeat if we meet them.

Mark my words!


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asha80:
if nigeria comes second in the group then we are likely to meet france

This team would grow into the tournament; hence, any team we meet in the round of 16 is not gonna have an easy game. I don't care who meet in the round of 16, as long as they are not named Brazil or Germany, I will expect victory.


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MetalJigsaw:
espanciate pls

George Weah explains how Nigeria can win Russia 2018 World Cup:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/george-weah-explains-nigeria-win-134457050.html


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I predicted the same thing myself. I tip Nigeria to beat Croatia and Iceland, then narrowly lose to the Argies in the final game. We will qualify as the group runners up, but I feel sorry for the team we'll meet in the round of 16 sha!


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MetalJigsaw:
Check this out guys

World Cup 2018 all match predictions, analyses and dates by Sportseon.

Nigeria tipped to beat Croatia and Iceland!



http://www.sportseon.com/football/fifa-world-cup-predictions-analysis/

I watched Etebo against Barca two weeks ago. He was a handful for Barca. If he continues playing that way, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be one of the 23 selected for Russia. I think he's going to make the squad but he might not be a starter.

All in all, this is quite a great piece by Solace Chukwu. It's refreshing to see a Naija journo with a good understanding of technicalities of the game.


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TheSuperNerd:
Hollup!!! before you chop off Solace's head just because of the headline, just read first through the article and see what he means... this is an article from the last 18-24 hours I believe


Impressive Oghenekaro Etebo unlikely to gatecrash Super Eagles midfield
By Solace Chukwu, Correspondent

https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL/76/b8/oghenekaro-etebo_ioy62tcl1jfk1d393149jcqoy.jpg


The Nigerian midfielder was superb for Las Palmas against Barcelona last week, but remains an unlikely starter for the Super Eagles

Oghenekaro Etebo is unique in a way that is more easily definable than his boundless energy and ball-carrying ability. He knows how to turn up for the star games, and seems to feed off the energy of many eyes.

We saw this propensity at the Caf Under-23 Nations Cup in 2015: he revved up in the semi-final and final, barging through defences from just behind the main striker to finish as tournament top scorer. Again, at the Olympics in Rio the following year, with the attention of the world on Nigeria's financial and travel fiasco, he produced a performance of the ages in the opening game against Japan.


It would seem logical to build a side around the embodiment of that big-game mentality, and indeed Etebo was very much an integral part of those teams. However, while that tendency has not waned, his station with the senior national side could not be more different.


Pic for this tweet below the article



On Thursday, he served notice of his ability as relegation-threatened Las Palmas took a point off league leaders Barcelona. Naturally, the Canary Islanders would have bitten off a hand offering that prior to kick-off, but they were by no means hanging on by the end. This was a thoroughly deserved result.

https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL/7d/45/etebo-las-palmas_gsd009vp4g0y1rwnop5jilia7.jpg


At the heart of it, both literally and figuratively, was Etebo. He may only be there on loan, but whether or not Paco Jemez's side do stay up come season's end, it is hard to see how the former Warri Wolves man will return to modest parent club Feirense.

Naturally, the response to his performance has been enthusiastic. However, there is a cruel irony at work here, in that however well he performs, he is at best only cementing his place as a squad member with the Super Eagles party to the World Cup.




It is a role he has fulfilled quite faithfully under Gernot Rohr – he has started only thrice since the German took over at the helm: in both legs against Algeria in World Cup qualifying, and in the ill-fated Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa.
It is that last game that is most resonant, even though all three do offer a glimpse into quite why he does not fit within the starting eleven.

https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL/fd/d3/nigeria-oghenekaro-etebo-bafana-bafana-bongani-zungu_1rzpns309ohgi106o04v0bxmxh.jpg


The first, a 3-1 home dismissal of Algeria, will come to be remembered as perhaps the moment when belief truly awakened in this young side. However, for large periods the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests.
Etebo started alongside Ogenyi Onazi at the base of midfield, and while the former was excellent, as a duo they struggled to provide adequate security for the pairing of Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong.




Rohr saw this too, and when Wilfred Ndidi's move to Leicester established his readiness to play a key role, it was instructively Etebo who was dropped to the bench.

In the second, that limp loss against Bafana, he was fielded in place of injured captain John Obi Mikel, and was utterly incapable of carrying the team's creative burden.

https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/17/a7/oghenekaro-etebo_1lx4o8gumdlv210bfglj0w34ia.jpg

One game aside, the Super Eagles have played exclusively with a defensive double-pivot and Mikel further forward in the hole.
It is a system that does not really suit Etebo, who is a hybrid sort of midfielder: his passing is not incisive enough for a number 10, and he is not disciplined enough to play as a number 6 for a side that defends in a deep block.

In theory, he could fulfil either of these roles, but it would take something away from the way the team currently plays. With the more defensive Vicente Gomez alongside, he has greater license to get forward at Las Palmas, and was often somewhat slow to get back into position. For all that his heat map was impressive, he won one tackle all game.

That is not to downplay his performance, of course; it is simply a marker of the different role he is required to interpret.
The inescapable feeling though is that, while he will almost certainly make it to Russia, barring a radical change either of shape or strategy, Etebo is unlikely to usurp any component of the incumbent Super Eagles midfield.


Source: http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/impressive-etebo-unlikely-to-gatecrash-super-eagles-midfield/12c9dnzpculwc1mj7veetu1njm

Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 100 days 3 hours 13 mins to go

Rohr and, to some extents, Pinnick are trying their best. But I still maintain that Kelechi should've requested a loan move this January. The boy has what it takes to be world class player but that useless football club would soon turn him into a below average bench warmer.

And to those of you who always insist that Kelechi was given opportunities at Leicester, are you guys watching how Jose Mourinho is handling Alexis Sanchez? Let's face it, Sanchez has been mediocre since he transferred to Man Utd, but did Mourinho sentenced him to the bench? If I am not mistaken, Sanchez has started more than 7 games since January, even though he has been mostly ineffective. This is because Mourinho knows that he needs time to adjust to the new team and the new style of play. And Mourinho knows that banishing him to the bench would affect his confidence. Compare him to Kelechi. How many games did Kelechi started and finished for Leicester City before he was banished to the bench??


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TheSuperNerd:
Well done House.... keep taking in point, off point and beyond... page 3000 must he reached before March 23rd... But just make sure say na me get the honor of opening up Page 3000 ooooo.... iffa catch anybody else ehn... I will do what I did in 1958


Pinnick Reveals How NFF, Rohr Twisted Leicester City's Arm To Play Iheanacho

https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/football_pics/13018Kelechi.jpg


Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation and manager Gernot Rohr have a hand in Kelechi Iheaancho's recent change of fortune at Leicester City.

It would be recalled that the Foxes number eight saw his first-team opportunities limited in the Premier League in the first half of the season, failing to play a single game November 24, 2017 to January 20, 2018 and missing 12 games in total.

Iheanacho is now back in favour at the King Power Stadium outfit, and has figured in their last five Premier League matches, mostly as an impact substitute.

''Everybody that is selected eventually will have 100 percent merit. We are not going to say you are not playing. If you look at what is going on now, you will see that some of our boys are playing,'' Pinnick told network8tv.com.

''Iheanahco is playing now. There are lot of things that we did that people do not understand, talking to their coaches, talking to their backroom staff, making them understand the reason.

''If you don't play them we move them or we don't invite them. There are lot of things that we do that most Federations don't do.''



It is believed that Iheanacho's Leicester City teammate Ahmed Musa had to be shipped out on loan to Russian Premier League team CSKA Moscow in January after the Nigerian Federation did not get assurances from manager Claude Puel that the striker will be utilized.


**Igho Kingsley


Source: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=26834

Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 100 days 3 hours 53 mins to go

Actually, even if they followed in the foot steps of their father it still wouldn't automatically translate that God has called them to inherit their father's church. Not every Christian is called to be a pastor. The problem we have, especially in Nigeria, is that we tend to run churches as businesses today. Hence, I am not surprised to see children inheriting their father's church and/or even wives inheriting their husband's church.

May God have mercy on this generation!


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okuwehcris:
[color=#006600][/color]

If the children follows the foot steps of their father and obey God, there's nothing wrong in carrying-on with the mantle of leadership. In fact God will be happy the father trained up his child to carry on from where he stopped

Yes, it would be chaos, in terms of delaying the game. But you're presuming that we'd see much more than 3 to 4 changes per game, if teams get more options. But I really don't think so, because every team would still want their best players on the field. You just don't take out Messi to replace him with Andre Gomes, just because you can


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asha80:
that would be chaos..did you really enjoy it back then when one could change a whole 11 in a friendly match?

I agree that it would delay the game if there are too many changes; however, I would not expect too many changes if they open it up. I mean, the team would still prefer to play their best players as much as possible. Right now, many teams don't even take advantage of the 3 changes anyway.


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tbaba1234:
That will make the game disjointed.

Please, judge not that you may not be judged. He may be a man of God, nobody knows .... only God knows. However, I do have a problem with people inheriting pastorate/church from their parents or spouses. The Church of God is NOT a family business to be passed down from father to son. In the Bible Samuel wanted his children to become the judges in Israel after him but God rejected them.

Just something to think about.


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Lonestar124:
Even this one brand himself as man of God

What God will judge that day will be uncountable as sand in the ground

Shebi I told y'all that Awaziem is going to start in Russia, either as a Center Back or elsewhere. If I can see his quality/potential, I am pretty sure that Rohr would see the same thing as well. And by the way, not to tort my own horn, I made the same prediction about Ndidi after he had his first cameo under Rohr.


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tbaba1234:
Awaziem played Left back today and was outstanding. Best player for his team. One more player that can play left back.

Why are we still carrying Elderson?

Good move, if you ask me. Actually, I am of the school of thought that teams should be allowed to make as many subs as they want. I don't understand the benefit of capping the subs at 3.


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tbaba1234:
Teams will be allowed to make a fourth substitution during extra time in the WC.

What do you guys think about this?

Abeg, mek I hear word, jor. That's how they used to claim that Uni Ife is the most beautiful campus in Nigeria .... only to find nothing but a savage wasteland when I eventually visited the campus.


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HighIQ:
The building is said to be the new building for the the faculty of environmental design and management (EDM) believed to be the longest structure in West Africa.

Vanity upon vanity .... all are vanity!

And by the way, why would any sane human being spend $13m on a car when that amount could buy him/her a private jet?



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