₦airaland Forum

Meliforme:
Uche Christanthus should not be starting ahead of Ndidi, Alhassan or Onyeka until we see him play that role over and over.

TheGoodJoe:
CB is Celestine Babayaro.

PDPGuy:
BREAKING 🚨

IFAB will reconsider Arsene Wenger’s proposal to amend the offside rule.

Under Wenger’s proposal, a player would only be deemed to be offside if their ENTIRE body (the parts that can legally be used to score a goal) is ahead of the 2nd to last defender of the opposing team…

The potential amendment to the rule could drastically reduce debates surrounding the use of VAR on offsides..

TheGoodJoe:
Fair point.

Taiye Taiwo was certainly good but I also put in offensive and defensive contributions. When we compare both, I believe Celestine Babayaro was miles a better defender than Taiye Taiwo. Although Taiwo comes with an explosive offensive game. Celestine Babayaro is more balanced from my take.

Also I think the debate is centered on in their prime. Not in longevity or commitment to the Super Eagles. So CB takes it for me.

mank1234:
We didn't get to see much of Ogenyi Onazi because of Nosa Igiebor who played in a better club. If not for the boldness of Keshi, that trophy wouldn't have been won.

Better players sometimes are overlooked because of where they play.

TheSuperNerd:
This is the first time Morocco will emerge winners/champions of any FIFA Organized World Tournament at any level, men or women.

Congrats for a first, Morocco.

Morocco joins Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun as African nations who have won FIFA Organized World tournaments at any level.

U23 - Nigeria (1996), Cameroun (2000)

U20 - Ghana (2009), 🆕️Morocco (2025)

U17 - Nigeria (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015), Ghana (1991, 1995)

Senior level - None for now.

Morocco is also the only North African football nation to achieve this.

BankyGee:
Nigeria is 41st, not 44th. Why you dey reduce our steeze nau? 😏

TheSuperNerd:
On the world stage, Morocco has a pattern of play which I also watched their Latest U17 side use to conquer Africa at the last U17 Afcon vs Mali in the final earlier this year.

Morocco plays ultra defensive football and hit on the counter with fast outlets(Fast wingers, speedy ball carriers, etc). This is their pattern on the world stage for all their men's football sides.

They used it in Qatar 2022 and reached the semis.

They used it at U17 Afcon 2025 and won it vs a better Malian side.

They are using it at the U20 WC 2025 and are in the final.

This is the pattern they have adapted for their national teams at the world stage and it will be on display again by them at the U17 World Cup and ofcos at next year's 2026 WC.

Will Morocco employ this at the Afcon? Only against the top sides. They will utterly run riot on teams perceived to be smaller than them in quality. But time will tell.

Mujtahida:
With our natural talent, if we add some bit of systematic framework, we will achieve great things. But we have become accustomed to this any-howness because in spite of it, we still win trophies (local, as you say)

If Morocco continues on this same trajectory, it's a matter of time before they win a major trophy. In fact I desire that they win this present u-20 tournament and the next Wafcon

Make them leave Afcon for us sha

TheSuperNerd:
Morocco's Men Football History:

1 Afcon (1976)
1 U20 Afcon (1997)
1 U17 Afcon (2025)
1 U23 Afcon (2023)
3 CHAN titles (2018, 2020, 2024)

As you can see, they dont command a scary history but why I began fanning them early as a kid as my second favorite African team after Our Super Eagles is coz of their uniform colors and talents. Morocco always produced top North African talents since their first WC appearance in 1970 WC and their breakthrough as Africa's first side to top a WC group and reach the knockouts round in 1986.

They are doing well but I would like to see how they fare again at the Upcoming Afcon as they were quite a disappointment for me last time out despite the 2022 WC form they took into the Afcon tournament.

jihday:
I prefer option B, forget about Agu for now, his club said it’s a long term injury

mostob:
1. For the first frame, switch Iwobi with Sam
2. I would prefer Ben at RB and Ajayi at CB
3. Bringing in Okoye at this stage is risky.. very risky. I would rather play Nwabali
4. I like how you arranged the front 6 in the second frame..

elyte89:
.


Una Neva learn or will I say Una just like to Dey disguise cos any line up wout ndidi and Simon ,most especially ndidi is a joke ..this chelle loves both players

realpoacher:
4-5-1 is a very wrong formation to suggest for us abeg

That's a very rigid defensive formation

It's not necessary

Mujtahida:
You ignore something crucial which TheGoodJoe often emphasizes - keep improving and with time the results will come.

Morocco hasn't won anything yet but the whole world acknowledges that they are onto something.

lbrichman2:
Osimhen's best partner is still Lookman

mrwilliams9:
I think Gabon will be trickier than either DRC or Cameroon.

forgiveness:
I thought only 2 slots are remaining.

There are 2 finals. Only the winners of each finals will qualifier.

9JAMac10:
Nigeria vs Gabon. We beat Gabon 2-0 then face off against Cameroon we beat them 3-2 extra time. Playoffs will be exhilarating and exciting. Can’t wait

Mybettingtips:

Look at this, the ref didn’t blow for foul initially, and Nwabali nonchalantly just dropped the ball. This is why Osimhen gets pissed at them. https://t.co/Y2QT9wI5rU pic.twitter.com/TOov1kleyk

— David Harris (Private) (@Optiontradess_) October 14, 2025

Watch our keeper

Nwabali needs to be talked to. Serious talk, his non chaplains attitude may cost us again. The ref didn’t blow his whistle yet he dropped the ball and the Benin guy scored a legit goal. Thank God the ref didn’t give the goal. That’s a big risk

Captain Ndidi went to talk to him, see the way he shuffled him away. At half time camera was on him and Ekong and they were seriously arguing. His ego may cost us big in future

A keeper that should ginger us by launching fast counters when we were in dire need of goals. He was busy wasting time sleeping on the ball. Thank God Frank the Tank got us the winning goal.

SymphonyRad:
Chelle is the MAN, keep this guy and extend his contract, he will cook at the AFCON.

Osimhen, take a fucking bow! stood up like a true warrior for his country when it mattered the most, the stuff real elite players are made of.

Benjamin Frederick is THE NEW GENERATION, what a player! he reminds me of prime Yobo when he was younger, we have us a GEM.

Chukwueze delivered, Moses Simon is frustrating but we can't argue against 2 assists.

Congrats to the team for rising above all the odds to make the play-offs, the battle isn't over yet, but we have shown we have the mentality of a team that wants to go to the world cup, all the best to them in the next and final obstacle.

Give us Cameroon for the playoffs.

charlesemeka85:
the team played exceptionally well

Danielnino00:
This playoff route will be long o..


That brings us back to the earlier question of what happens to the friendlies that the NFF already organised for the team in November?
They even made an official announcement about it...

Odunayaw:
Moses redeems himself

JohnBullMySon:
Nigeria in form is beating all those teams in the African playoffs.

My major fear with the playoff is the interconfed stage.

Spainever:
Have we qualify for play off or wait till Congo game ?