₦airaland Forum

akwesenana:
Can we face this Senegalese team? They seem very formidable.

Are we not formidable?

dominique:
I don't fully agree, what they should do is put a limit to the number of foreign born players that can be in the squad at any given time. How can over 90% of your team be from another country? That's speaks volumes about the sports development in that country.

Why should limit be put. Are you more Nigerian than them?

So an incompetent player should make the squad ahead of competent ones because they were not born in Nigeria. Nigerians and shallow thinking eheen

chrisooblog:
By popular demand

Best performance of the tournament from the guys considering the level of competition and high stakes of the game.

My player ratings:

Nwabali (7.5) - Practically on holiday. Still not comfortable with the way he punches crosses. Liked how towards the end he switched to using his hands instead of his feet for ball distribution.

Osayi (8.5) - Best game in a SE jersey without a doubt. Defensively astute snuffing out all danger. Did well going forward pressuring the Algerian fullbacks.

Bruno (9) - Also his best game in a Nigerian shirt. Has definitely tied down the LB position for the foreseeable future. Beautiful cross for Osimhen's goal. Like spare change Mahrez was in his pocket all day.

Ajayi (8.0) - Cool, calm, and professional display. Mopped up at the back when needed also made crucial interceptions.

Bassey (8.5) - Uncompromising defending full of energy and grit. Taribo would be proud.

Onyeka (8.0) - The Tank was everywhere as usual popping up here and there to sustain pressure and keep the ball moving. One of our unsung heroes for sure.

Ndidi (8.5) - Good performance from Captain Wilf. Kept possession well and made sure the Algerians didn't have breathing space. Unlucky to get a yellow. Experience will be missed against Morocco.

Iwobi (9.5) - Run out of superlatives to describe his genius. Precise, visionary, and exquisite midfield play. Best performance from a Nigerian midfielder since Mikel in 2013.

Lookman (8.0) - Was also a threat to the Algerian defense. Took a back seat today in favour of his attacking partners who performed excellently on the day. Speaking of attacking partners...

Akor (9) - Plays like someone who has been in the national team for years instead of months. Technically astute and direct. Perfect partner for Osimhen bringing control and deftness to the latter's energy and pace. Goal was the highlight of the game which is commendable considering his poor miss in the first half.

Osimhen (9.5) - Man of the match performance from the leader and legend. A bit quiet in the first half exploded in the second. Algerian defense will be having nightmares about him. Victor is one of those players that is inevitable. You know he's coming but nothing much you can do to stop him.

Subs:

Simon (7.5) - Came on to retain possession and add some defensive cover. Made some attacking forays with his dribbles. Still need him to offer more of an attacking threat to help put away teams on the counter.

Onyedika (8.0) - Kept the midfield ticking effortlessly despite Ndidi's departure. Unfazed on the ball. Banking on him to deliver in the semis.

Fisayo (7.5) - Didn't do anything too risky. Kept it simple and moving.

Awaziem (N/A) - Didn't see much from him. Came in to shore up the backline.


Eric Chelle (10) - Tactical master class. Can it get better?

How does Lookman and Onyedika have the same rating?

Danielnino00:
A Morocco Vs Algeria semi final clash looks very enticing for CAF..
If Morocco should win tonight, we should be wary of bias officiating tomorrow too...

Even if Morocco don't make it through we should be wary cos the support will go to Algeria as a North African team

What of the pass Lookman gave that ndidi and Chukwueze couldn't communicate. You go just pick your bias begin typed. You guys should rest this issue at this point.

terzurum5:
I did not see where lookman lashed out or pointed at lookman.

Victor was explaining something to Lookman.(V09 was visibly upset and I could notice that he cloth the tips of his fingers to explain the source of his frustration) go watch again.

It seems I watched a different game.
It is obvious some fans just want to talk down and boo him just as the fans at the stadium did.
You may not like his attitude for demanding for team play, but modifying what did not happen to suit your narrative is uncalled for.
Some of you do worse than what Osimhen is accused of right here on this thread.
Most of you including the media (accidental content creators) crucifying Victor have not taken a moment to analyse what really went on.
Na follow follow ona dey do. Why should the fans boo him. If I were him I would have done same. We lost the match against DR Congo because Lookman failed give a simple pass to V09 in the first half of the game.

Dude has done a lot for the national team and I do not think it is out of place for him to demand for more supplies from his mates to score more goals. Does he not deserve more service to score more? Come on.

Some of you fans behave as if you have never been upset with your family/Church members, workmates or even done worse than he has done. Be perfect when e reach your turn.

Nigerian fans that booed Osimhen where just very ungrateful without understanding what transpired on the field. Osimhen was only explaining his frustration to Lookman.

The bias against Lookman sha.

1. It was we hardly score goals (above 2 to be precise) when Lookman plays.
2. Lookman is selfish - But he is leading the assist chart.
3. We can do without Lookman, Chukwueze can easily replace him. Same Samuel that is off and one and has never been a major player for us in any tournament nor a qualifying series.

Lookman is on the same pedigree as Osihmen and deserved that respect too.

Osi is good but what he did today and has been doing in the past is a gutter behaviour

Silentgroper:
Which is .. it says not available...

Check kixaro Football by kixaro media

Lol

Is it the same Cameroon I watched yesterday?

The were good no doubt but nothing special about them. They look clueless with the ball but organised without the ball. Their decision making in front of goal is somehow

But I've noticed referees hardly favour us in games. In fact even for clear fouls on our players, you would hardly see them issuing cards. I'm not sure any team has even hard a player sent off against us in recent times.

Swissh:
This team doesn't know how to feed oshimen balls.

The ones he was fed yesterday nko.

How has he been scoring and racking up numbers, I guess they were all solo efforts

Is Christmas a Christian celebration now?

AfroBeatDiary:
He's a representative, a law maker, not a governor or a commissioner but wetin Hausa/Fulani know?

Lol, it's a Nigerian thing. 99% of people I've met from the south don't know the role of legislatures or the three arms of Government and I'm not kidding

Odunayaw:
You mean DRC

I get you. I de the same bench. That game shut off my emotional attachment to the team for the nearest future

DRC, thanks for that

Odunayaw:
Till we ask who should be in the squad to inspire your confidence

Lol, funny enough it's not about who should be in the squad. See I lost every iota of hope in the team after the loss to DRC. The display didn't inspire confidence at all. Like we could not even string 3 passes together. Our players were jittery all through.

Ever since then, I lost every atom of faith in the team. Like this, I might just casually be watching AFCON. I will deliberately watch Nigeria matches afterwards

Goke7:
If this is true he’s not a serious person, we got to the final of the last Afcon without him so who’s deceiving him he’s our best keeper?

You see all these yeye hype we give to these guys?

He should lose his number one role at udinese for a bench role at the AFCON. You sef reason am if you were in his shoes

I don give up for this AFCON.
This squad does not inspire any confidence

Mujtahida:
Olakunle is a northerner.

I know but in Nigerian sense, Hausas are most often associated with the Northern tag

The double standards here sha

People attributing Alhassan call up to Godfatherism and Northern factor but in the case of olusegun it's not Godfatherism nor where he comes from.

ChrisKels:
It is about time Chibuike Nwaiwu got a call up.

To do what?

joelsteron:
Please the Zaidu I watched against Benin had my heart in my mouth till he got injured and left the pitch.

Bro, can you identify zaidu when you see him?

Because I'm beyond shock seeing your take. That man was solid. Even with his injury scare Chelle still choose to keep him until he could no longer play.

Abeg make we dey talk true sometimes sha

forgiveness:
How can you claim Moffi is more reliable than Awoniyi with 4 goals in 799 minutes after 19 matches?

Awoniyi on the other hand played 426 minutes and had 2 goals in 10 matches. Do that stats look like Moffi is more reliable than Awoniyi?

You are also wrong about Awoniyi being on the same level with Boniface andOnuachu

Boniface with 655 minutes in 13 caps score only 1 goal. How does that look same?

Onuachu own worst pass. Only 3 goals in 25 matches with 797 minutes. How are they the same?

Simmy didn't get more chances though.

Because of Awoniyi 4 goals na him you type this long epistle?

I'm speaking as regards general play and impact on the pitch

junnyjake:
I can't forget Awoniyi missing an open net in our first leg game against Zimbabwe.

He hasn't shown that he's a reliable backup.

To be honest anyone canvassing for Awoniyi is just playing double standard. Cos there is no difference between him, Onauchu, Sadiq, Simmy, Victor Boniface.

Even Moffi is more reliable than him

enejianaha001:
Guys. I just this thread late. Please ehn, how is the contract staff situation in banks in 2025? A friend wants to help me get a position as a contract staff in sales/marketing at Union Bank. what to expect? Salary wise and stress level.

You later got?

elyte89:
He has two yellow cards already

Okay

elyte89:
E b like say semi ajayi can’t play d play offs o ..make Una tell nff o 😎

Why?

Benjamin is a fantastic player.

I wish him all the best in his career

illuminutty:
Abokis okada riders, keke and street trading have destroyed Festac town.

I don't even want to talk about the total infrastructural neglect that place has suffered.

No single road in Festac Tow presently.

It has the highest number of bad roads and potholes more than Ogun State.

Same Festac populated by igbo hookup girls?

Mujtahida:
North Central. Those of us from the North Central call it Middlebelt. A bit of history will help you. Google J. S Tarka, Solomon Lar and the UMBC.

I'm just telling you that middle belt is not constitutionally recognised. I'm also from the North

Mujtahida:
Exceptions prove the rule. Mikel is from the South. Grew up in the north. Simon is from the middle belt. Ahmed Musa I heard is from Auchi. The Babayaros are Igbos.

For every one player you mention from the north, 20 can be mentioned from the south and middle belt.

If we say - and it is the fact - that blacks in America dominate the NBA and athletics will you argue against it?

Why is this a difficult thing to accept. It's not even a shameful thing. The north has its own unique proficiencies. Athletics and sports is not one of it. Just go through the list of our sportsmen and you'd find that they are overwhelmingly from the south and middle belt.

No such zone as middlebelt.

Like I said I don't want to engage on this matter

SymphonyRad:
Dem carry Northerners pack for team, when we raised our voices about this lopsided preponderance of players from a certain section of the country in the U20 squad list, the "politically correct" apologists came for our necks- now see the result...same nepotism we saw with the CHAN and U17 team. A perfect sample size would have to be the previous successful U17-U20 teams and the regions of the players, the Siasia teams that gave us some fantastic achievements and players at U20 levels easily prove this point.

The uncomfortable truth many Nigerians will have to accept is that the best pool of Nigeria's football talents (going by the precedence of history) have always come from the old Bendel areas (current day Edo and Delta), the South East, some from the the Middle belt Christian areas and then the South West. The core Muslim North have never been known to produce top level athletes for Nigeria, and maybe that has more to do with poor scouting or perhaps the culturally laid-back attitude of the North towards sports.

At the bolded, I don't want to say some things on this your comment but let me just speak on the bolded.

The North is not culturally laid back in terms of sport. Most of Nigeria Top level Footballers like Mikel, Ahmad Musa, Simon, Babayaro e.t.c developed from the North and even our current starboy Benjamin.