₦airaland Forum

coogar: i would give keshi 6/10. he did good but he can do better.
we were too monotonous - the routes to attack ivory coast were too few. we were only hitting hit/miss long balls and ivory coast dealt with those threats comfortably. seriously, what happened to our expansive wing play of yore?

keshi was part of the 94 team - he knew how deadly amuneke and finidi were on the flanks. we used to have elahor, tijani babangida, pius ikedia, etc. there has been no brilliant wing play from us this tournament! the wing backs don't overlap to create options for our wingers and on another day, we could have drawn n settled for a shoot-out!

i wouldn't quite agree keshi's tactics worked - ivory coast were just too poor by their high standards. the winner was just a brilliant piece of individual play, nothing to do with tactics or system. if mba had lost the ball with his mazy run, we could have conceded a goal easily cos he left a big gap at the back which was quite risky.

You play wing play when you have players to prosecute it. Definitely not the Ahmed Musas. We have not had an effective winger since Finidi (later Babangida)/Amuneke days. We have tried forcing ourselves with fake flank play but it has not been working for us. Today, we used central midfield, and not flanks, and we got results. Even Moses, operated more from midfield than wings. It is not by force to use wing if you don't have players to execute it for you. Adapt to what you have and make a great use of it.

olawalebabs: Martins debuted for Nigeria in 2004 world cup qualifer against Rwanda. Bartholome Ogbeche was the man that partner with Utaka in that match

No, martins played that match. I'm very sure. Yes, I know Ogbeche also played and did well.
I think it was 2004 though, after ANC of that year. Can't remember (and too excited to consult Google now), but I watched that match from Awo hall common room in school.

I agree, this game was a joke. 2 lucky goals from the 419'ers and nothing else. when CIV stepped up in the second half, we all saw who was the better team. After the luckiest goal of all times they started to 419 their way to victory by feigning injurys everywhere! very pathetic

Cooment from bad belle Ghanaians on Ghanaweb
http://discussions.ghanaweb.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=156846

Moses: I have always held that this guy is our joker. Struggling with injury, he didn’t do too well in his first match vs Zambia, but he was explosive in his last two matches. He was outstanding today. Now, I know why Chelsea offloaded Kalou for this guy. He is a sensible version of Kalou. He cooled down the game, making it easy for Nigeria to maintain momentum. He wasn’t deployed in his usual wing, but middle. He did well, running back, even defending sometimes, pushing forward. So confident. His daring move early in the game and eventual shot saved by Barry raised Eagles’ confidence. I hope Musa will learn from this guy. 9

Emenike: I initially was mad at Keshi for deploying him to the flank but he did well, using speed and power to outpace the Ivorien left back. He is not selfish either. But above all, his ferocious shot that was our first goal was great. 8

Ideye: Did well in the strike role. Was a little quiet in the game, but even his silence was deadly, as his header almost earned Nigeria the lead before Mba’s strike. He could have done better with that nodding actually 6.5


Yobo: Unrated

Barry: Our 12th player. Covering his face for a shot, unlike the Ghanaian keeper that hit (though injured his hand) similar shot. 10/10


Great game. Keshi also did a good choice with his first 11. His confidence in home-based players paid off. Not an A-list tactician, but you must give this to him.

Mali should be an easy ride for the Eagles, but again you remember this is Super Eagles - you can't bet on them. Whatever the outcome of their subsequent games, these Eagles will leave this tournament with their heads high.

Onazi: Did well as a replacement for Ogude in defensive midfield. Pushed forward a couple of times too. Made some fantastic stops. But he exposed the centre-halfs a couple of times too. 6.5

Mikel: Didn’t push forward as he did in the last games. Laid a little back. That was helpful though. He also stamped authority in the midfield, to everyone’s surprise. One of his best games for SE, especially when we look at the caliber of the midfielders of the opposing side (Tiote, Yaya, Tiene). Above all, his save by clearing the ball off-Yaya’s feet proved critical. 7

Mba: What adjective can one deploy to describe this Enugu rangers man? Frankly, I never gave these home based any chance. But I’m wrong. This guy did fantastically well in the two games he started for Nigeria. I salute Keshi for his confidence in him. He supported Mikel well in the midfield, but most critically, his individual run and goal was not only daring, it was world class. And that was the match decider. 9

Now, business of the day:

MAN OF THE MATCH: Tough one between Moses and Mba, but I settle for Mba
FLOP OF THE MATCH: None

Enyeama: Great game. Fantastic saves. Confident. Collected. Did well wasting time. Highlight was stopping Yaya’s goal-bpond shot. 7

Echiejile: Keeps getting better with every match. Kept the CIV wingers at bay, and that was a very difficult one. Also made daring runs forward. 7

Oboabona: What can I say? Justified his choice in defence. Good point for home-based. He was fantastic. Stopped many runs by the CIV forwards. Also clearing on time. Appeared confident too. 7

Omeruo: Justified his benching Yobo. Although Drogba had good of him on a couple of occasions, he did well, for a player just coming up. Reminds one of Yobo vs Weah when the former was just an upcoming defender, in 2002 world cup qualifiers 7.5

Ambrose: He was fantastic. Did well in the right back.. Stopped Drogba, troubled Salomon Kalou earlier He only needs to be more consistent. 7

This is coming late. I’m so excited. What can I say?

I have not seen Super Eagles in this form in the last 10 years (and I have never missed up to 3 televised Eagles matches in the last one decade). The last time I saw this kind of flair was against Ireland in a friendly in 2002 (or was it 2003), where a then youthful Eagles took on and defeated Ireland with Robbie Keane, Duff etc. That match was Martins’ debut and he combined well with the hot Utaka to make Ireland look like they had no business playing football. That not being competitive, I will say Okocha-inspired Eagles’ shocking defeat of Eto’o-ful Cameroun in 2004 was the last game SE did this well at competitive level.

This is another Nigeria vs Cameroon 2004 ANC Q/final

Win or lose, this is Nigeria's best game in 5 years.

cheddarking: Keshi remove Echiejile now...

Cant he see how weak we are on the left flank?

No alternative outside.

Nigeria has allowed CIV to come back into this game.

Chinom: We will force that " Super fried chicken" down Ebuoe's throath.

And you believe the tweet was from Eboue?

Emenike has potential to be a Yekini.

Conceding too many set-pieces may be our undoing in this match

Drogba's chest is deadlier than his leg

Moses na baller o

Giving away freekicks to a CIV with Drogba

Why is Emenike starting from wings? Well, maybe a dummy.

alorauzoms: thats sucks....................mailain keeper or any other player should hv gotten dat, definently not keita

He brought them back into the game.

Lebee4: Please, what has the prophet said about this match?
I no wan hear any prophesy after the match o!

Wait till after the match.

South Africa only qualify for tournaments by hosting . I never considered them a good footballing nation.

We may not win, but I don't see a humiliation as some people are predicting. We have met these guys twice in recent ANCs and they managed to go with 1-0 on both occasions - Drogba's offside goal in 2006 and Kalou's solo efforts in 2008.

Some people saying 4-0, 3-0 etc are saying rubbish. The last Nigeria suffered a humiliation(defined as 3 or more goal margin loss) was the February 2007 London friendly against Ghana (4-1). Since then we've played even Argentina with Messi, Higuan, Aguero etc and did not lose gallantly (1-0, 3-1).

For me it's 50-50 against CIV today or they win by a 1-0 or 2-1.

Team CV

2006, they beat us 1-0 (Drogba's offside goal); 2008 they struggled to beat us 1-0 again (Kalou). I don't see them whitewashing SE. We may not win but it wont be a whitewash, a 1-0 or 2-1. that is if we lose of course.

Of course I watched every match in Atlanta 96, except against the one we lost against, was it Brazil or Japan(Group stage)? Needless to talk on Atlanta 96.

I was already in my teens and conscious enough to know the CAF vs Abacha wahala of 96 and 98 that meant Nigeria didnt appear in 96 and 98 nations cups. I didnt watch, but I knew my JSS classmates that watched used to shout names like McCarthy, Masinga, Fish etc.

It was in 2000 that I fully came of age for Nations cup and watched every match. Since then till today, I have never missed live broadcast of any Nigeria's game at Nation's cup. I remember vividly our SF clash with South Africa in 2000 and how noth copuntries made mouth before the game; and how Eagles sank them easily, courtesy Tijani Babangida goals. I just left school from extra mural class that evening and was rushing home for teh match when I suddenly heard loud noise - Eagles had scored early goal.

Back to the question, I can't say which exactly was my own first nation's cup, but it was not until 2000 that I took serious interest in ANC. However, far back Algeria 1990, I have been a little conscious of Nations' cup.

I may not be able to recall exactly the events but I recall faintly most of teh big matches. I knew that Cameroon was usually our nemesis. I knew our elders hated Cameroun. I used to think Cameroonians were oyinbos while we Nigerians were blacks, so I used to tell my immediate younger sister (who is lighter in complexion) that she was oyinbo and should support Cameroun, not Nigeria. That should be late eighties to early nineties. That was how long the rivalry traveled. Even us small kids of less than 10 knew Cameroon/Nigeria were rivals.

Of course, I remember USA 94 and I still recall our match versus Italy very well. I wasnt watching it; I was playing football on teh street when suddenly we heard a loud noise - goooaaaaaaaaaaalllllllll. Nigeria had scored. We all dispersed from the field and ran to the nearest house with TV and joined the watchers. Unfortunately, the hysteria didnt last long as two goals from the Azurris later sank Nigeria. I remember faintly our matches against Greece, Bulgaria and Argentina before then. I remember that moment in class (primary six) when Olu, our classmate, was telling us that our next match was against Italy - which I thought was Egypt (that was my first time of hearing Italy pronounced 'itly', not 'i-ta-li' as I used to think the pronunciation was, that was why I thought he said Egypt. I also remember how our class teacher, Ghanaian Mr Samuel reported the news of Nigeria's exit from world cup in our current affairs class the next Monday. I think that was teh first time I saw and heard teh word 'oust'. That was the word used in class.

It appears to me Nations cup of those years (70's to early 90's) used to be more interesting?

Could the popularization of EPL, La Liga, UCL be responsible for the low interest these days? Or the poor performance of our national team?


Meanwhile, from what I'm reading from those who saw these guys play, I'm beginning to think I underrate Nigeria's players of the 70's and 80's comapred to those of teh current (and immediate past) generation.

When I first read about Haruna Ileriak's skills, I dismissed it as just some old school raw players, but with more and more validation from those who watched these guys, I'm beginning to think they were better than I held of them.

Was Haruna Ilerika truly as skilful as JJ as our grandpas hold?

Was Segun Odegbami that great too in the wings?

Infact my first nation cup was 1988 when Mr Bassey brought me to lagos, i didn't know replay on tv so each time they replayed goal i counted as another one and argued it the following day with my friend ismaila who always called me a bush boy then.

From Uwem

MY FIRST NATIONS CUP MEMORY WAS THAT 1980. I STILL REMEMBER ITWAS FEW MONTH INTO PRESIDENT SAGARI'S TENURE. I REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT WITH A WOODEN MATERIAL THAT MAKES NOISE WHEN D PRESIDENT WAVES IT.THAT WAS OUR OWN VUVUSELA. THEN I WAS DOING MY A LEVEL AT OGUN POLY.

DR. KAYODE FALOLA,
OSHODI

My first nation's cup experience was Ghana/Nigeria 2000. Though we are not champion but we have a team of champion and that team makes me believe how champion and super our eagles was once were even as a JSS 2 student then. It was a memorable experience.

Abdullahi 4rm Sagamu

Mr Mumini.your column today "SWEET ME" My ANC Account was MAROC 88..Nig vs Algeria game comes to mind in which Bright Omokaro 10--10 reduced her opponent to 10 men after Ademola Adesina was red-carded earlier for an offence he did not commit.. Nig had greats like Edoboh, Nwosu,Okosieme,Okwaraji,Sofoluwe,Keshi,Rufai,Eboigbe, Etal.. Peter Rufai is my boyhood hero whom I see week in week out way bark in Sharks fc of PH, then.. Mumini you go write soccer enter old age..Amen Somebody

From Falomo Idowu,.
Karis School Magodo Lagos

My First Nation Cup memory was AIgeria 90,I remember that Nigeria were beaten 5 goals to 1 by host nation in the opening match.Oga Muminu I cried bitterly that night,but I was happy when I see my darling Green Eagle in the final, though they lost by a lone goal to the same Algeria.BUT I WAS VERY PROUD OF THEM.