₦airaland Forum

ONLY Otigba has turned down the cajance to play for another senior team. I think many players will fancy their chances in the junior teams of the other country. Even Otigba played for Hungary’s junior teams prior to his call up in the senior team.

tbaba1234:
Otigba turned down an invite from Hungary to wait for Nigeria and we never invited him.

Ebere Eze and Ejaria have made it clear that Nigeria is their first choice. Ejaria came all the way from England to audition for under 17 and was part of the 2013 under17 team before Arsenal called him back. He would have gone to the WC with Iheanacho and co.

Semi Ajayi played under 20 for Nigeria. He did not wait to be called by England. He was at Arsenal at the time.

There are several players who will jump at the chance if we invite them.

ONLY Otigba

Curtisaxel7:
But to be honest, that is the same way EVERY SINGLE FB player looks at Nigeria. And that includes Iwobi, Aina and co. It's always Europe first before Nigeria. Can you name a single FB player we have now who stood a good chance of making his foreign team before choosing us?

Let's face it bro, these guys see us as a backup option. And I don't blame them.

lol

Nedville:
I'm getting a victor moses vibe from him....if you ask me, I think we should just forget about him....he's probably seeing Nigeria as a step down and a huge disappointment... Not that I blame him sha

Oga that’s my way of saying the invitation of Ezenwa is not justifiable by merit.


Modified
Rohr credentials have been stolen. He is injured for now

Icon4s:
U for kuku ask say "what if Rohr gets injured".

Was Uzoho part of our WC qualifiers? Do we not have goalies that kept goal in those games?

Osimhen has been better this season though

komekn:
There is way more justification for the invitation of Awoniyi than Osimhen.

There is clear favoritism in the NFF selection.

I’m okay with the list since Eze is no longer available to us AUTOMATICALLY, and some new players were invited on merit.

But what if Uzoho gets injured? Lol

junnyjake:
I seriously don't know how to react to this list.

But it's all good.

OPPONENTS WATCH

Baxter faces midfield puzzle for Nigeria clash as injuries bite

[img]http://a3.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2018%2F1029%2Fr454830_1296x518_5%2D2.jpg[/img]

South Africa have a mounting central midfield crisis ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria in Johannesburg next month.

Bafana Bafana can book their place at the finals in Cameroon with a victory, while a draw would also be enough in the unlikely event that Libya are held by the Seychelles in Victoria in the other match in Group E.

The sight of Kamohelo Mokotjo limping out of Brentford's English Championship clash with Norwich City after just 30 minutes on Saturday with what looked a serious calf injury will no doubt be giving Bafana coach cold sweats.

It comes hot on the heels of the news that Dean Furman, another key cog in the defensive midfield role, will be out for the remainder of the year, to go with the long-term injury to Bongani Zungu that will likely only see him return in February.

The industrious Mokotjo is hugely important to both club and country, and his ability to shield the back four and excellent passing range, against a tough opposition and on what will be a slick surface in Soweto, would be sorely missed.

"Mokotjo's importance to Brentford should not be understated," English website football.london said.

"He is possibly the only member of the Bees' squad who provides such defensive stability in midfield and [coach Thomas] Frank has paid tribute to his away performances this year, highlighting his display against Leeds United."

That grit, quality and experience would be hugely missed against Nigeria, and potentially leave Baxter scratching around for alternatives.

Sibusiso Vilakazi played a similar, deeper role in the home 0-0 draw with Libya in September, but he too is out and unlikely to play again this season.

It means the only options available to Baxter would be inexperienced ones, with the exception of Mamelodi Sundowns stalwart Hlompho Kekana, who is not shaping up to be the key figure in the centre of the park against Nigeria.

Kekana is known for his long-range strikes and tough tackling, but he is also a natural leader who captain Sundowns to the 2016 CAF Champions League title.

He is the man that Baxter will build his central midfield around, and he at least understands the game-plans having been a non-playing member of the squad that faced Seychelles in back-to-back matches earlier this month.

But who will play around him is a big debate. Favourite among the contenders would be Lebogang Phiri, who also featured as a substitute in the 6-0 win over Seychelles and has been in good form for Guingamp in France's Ligue 1 this season.

But he remains an experienced campaigner at this level with only five caps, while Cape Town City midfielder Thabo Nodada, another strong contender, is uncapped.

Nodada received a first call-up against Seychelles and has continued that good form in recent matches for City, but it will be a big ask for him to come up against the quality and the experience of Nigeria.

Siphesihle Ndlovu, who was dropped for the Seychelles games after an indifferent start to the new season with Maritzburg United, could earn himself a recall, but he too only has five caps, all coming against modest opposition.

Tiyani Mabunda from Sundowns could be a good option to partner Kekana as they are clubmates, but he has not featured all that much for the Brazilians this season and won the last of his five caps against Zambia in June 2017.

Baxter has not had much luck with injuries of late - he lost in-form Montpellier winger Keagan Dolly for the Seychelles games and will not get him back until the New Year.

Red-hot striker Lebo Mothiba also missed the Libya game in September through injury, a match in which he could well have made a big difference.

—ESPN

Na complain be that na hahahahaha

charlesemeka85:
COMPLAIN? NOOO! JUST SAYING THAT THE INVITATION IS TOO SUDDEN

Haha then why u dey complain?

charlesemeka85:
bros nawaoooo how you wan compare chukwueze's development so far to that of nwakali jnr? atleast chukwueze don taste game time for laliga and have played 2-3 matches in the europa league. more over he is the standout player in villareal B team. abeg no use am compare dead wood again

He plays for Villarreal B right? Well K. Nwakali got a call up before him, so I’m not even surprised. At least Chukwueze has shown real promise that’s why I don’t want to criticize his invitation.

charlesemeka85:
you are right but chukwueze is yet to do anything tangible in villareal to deserve a call up. maybe what is working for him is because he is left footed and currently in the team we lack a left footed winger. he is a top prospect no doubt with a lot of promise but i think he should not be rushed into the team. all the same it will be a good experience which will aid is development.

Omeruo can also play as DM lol

Curtisaxel7:
What in heaven's name do we need Five CB's for? Why not drop that Adeleye guy (who probably won't even get a single minute) in favour of an extra CM/DM to bolster that midfield?

Just imagine if, God forbid, Iwobi or even Etebo gets injured in the opening minutes, knowing Rohr's poor abilities when it comes to tactical substitutions, won't it simply be game over for us?

We all know if Rohr has his way homebased OUTFIELD players would BARELY make his standby list. He is gradually caving in to pressures to invite local players.

Ezenwa is clearly Rohr’s boy .

Curtisaxel7:
What in heaven's name do we need Five CB's for? Why not drop that Adeleye guy (who probably won't even get a single minute) in favour of an extra CM/DM to bolster that midfield?

Just imagine if, God forbid, Iwobi or even Etebo gets injured in the opening minutes, knowing Rohr's poor abilities when it comes to tactical substitutions, won't it simply be game over for us?

I’ve always been an advocate for new competition. It would bring the best out of all our players. I expect Chukwueze to really fight for a shirt. Maybe tomorrow it would be Bonaventure’s chance. The regular starters should consistently watch their backs.

charlesemeka85:
to me chukwueze's invitation is too early though it will serve as a learning tool and will boast his confidence as well. he just made few appearances for villareal so i dont think its enough to warrant a call up. inviting club brugges dennis would have been better.

Osimhen has always been in Rohr’s good books even when he was not performing. Hence I’m not surprised at the call up. I’m not agaisnt the call up either. But let’s call a spade a spade. Local coaches are not the only ones guilty of having their boys. Even if Awoniyi did what Osimhen is doing right now, you and I know he won’t be invited. Since Onyekuru is out would there have been a better replacement than Chukwueze? That’s open to argument. I’m very ok with Chukwueze’s call up though.

The dropping of Awaziem is justified. But is the replacement justified?

I score this list 85%

tbaba1234:
These are my thoughts on the list.

Samuel Chukwueze and Osimhen are welcome additions. Samu is already getting some first team action with Villarreal and Osimhen is in good form. These two players are closer to being ready for the super eagles than the Nwakali brothers. They are unlikely to start though and would be lucky to even make the match day squad.

Awaziem lack of first team action has cost him his place. Why do we have 5 CBs? I would have thought Ajayi, Omeruo, Balogun and Ekong was ok.

Midfield looks thin but it is mainly DMs/CMs anyway. Iwobi will play in the advanced role and Ajayi is no stranger to playing at DM.

Nobody can shove any English-born player down my throat just because they were born in England. When some were saying Ola Aina was the best RB in the Championship, I had to do a fact check. Another moniker also said Tomori is the best CB in the Championship at the moment, I had to ask the source if that info. Irrespective of where a player is born it has to verifiable, for any special talent claim to hold water.

Icon4s:
Of course if u have followed my posts long enough on this thread that has always been my stand.

I do not tolerate rookies in the senior national team and I also do not rate players based on their U17 performances alone. And I have always opined that not all Youth players will progress well to the senior teams. These have always been my stand right from day one here.

What I am against is running down the products of our youths system just in a bid to promote the English born players.

Oshaniwa

Truidstar:
Jamilu Collins is the real deal. Looking at how that left back position has evolved from 1994 to date, Jamilu has the potential.

Iroha

Babayaro

Udeze

Taiwo

Echiejele

Forgotten the left back during 2014 world cup

Echiejele

Idowu

Collins

Thank you tbaba

tbaba1234:
Akpoguma was very honest. His first choice is Germany but if Germany does not work then Nigeria.

Also, he wants to be fully committed if he plays for Nigeria

There is nothing wrong in what he said.

I think it’s a case of Billing VS Ogu. Both CMs and lefties

Earthquake1:
Philip Billing has a magnificent left foot

If we invite him I don't care about Eze or any other person

Oga it’s up to the products to develop after passing through our youth system. We can’t be sentimental when it gets to the National team. The senior National team should be for proven and tested players and should not serve as an incubator for the stagnant products of our youth system.

Icon4s:
Yes ''Identify'' but not by pulling down the products of our Youths system.

Also, “Identify”, that makes it 4. We usually fail at this very first part.

Icon4s:
Mark the 3 key words: Deserving, Willing and Compete.

GBAM

Loogan:
When will you people stop thinking like this, so you are feeling hard done by because this guy said the plain truth....stop all this emotional sentiments, this guy grew up in Germany where they have given him everything to have a wonderful life, do you think he would not feel emotionally attached to them? As much as balogun loves Nigeria, if he was called up by Germany we would not even get a mention from him...until we get our shit together has a country, we should be stop complaining about the treatment from these FB.

We should be able to identify the deserving and willing to compete with our home grown talents.

Icon4s:
Meanwhile Kelechi Nwakali is even 20.

Just observe the same feeling he has across for Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Nwakali. Understably he has also added Sadiq Umar.

Mr Komekn, I have nothing against the foreign born players and have always wished the deserving ones get involved in our national teams at all level but please quit this your age long practice of trying by all means to run down our Players that started balling in naija. You should know you are on a lost course already cos there is no way we will abandon players who are naija deeply rooted and are available and willing to play for us and be chasing after players who mostly are hoping to play for England and see Nigeria as a second or third choice.

Promote them if you want but not by pulling down our locally groomed players

Dude is very sincere.

Magink:
I’ve not closed door on Nigeria, says Akpoguma
By Christian Okpara, Hoffenheim, Germany


Kevin Akpoguma is rated by world football governing body, FIFA as one of the future stars of the game.
The Hoffenheim defender, who captained Germany at the 2015 U-20 World Cup has played for the Die Mannschaft at all the youth levels, but he is yet to play for the main team of the 2014 world champions.

And so, he is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles.


Akpoguma has a Nigerian father and a German mother, which makes him eligible to play for either of the two countries.

But the talented defender prefers to wait for a chance with the German team and will decide to switch allegiance to Nigeria if he failed to get the chance with Joachim Loew’s team.

He told The Guardian after Hoffenheim’s 4-0 defeat of Stuttgart that he has thought hard of playing for Nigeria, adding, “but the thing is that I was born in Germany and I have played for all the youth teams of Germany and I am still a young player.

“So, I want to leave it open because Germany can still call me. But if I have no other option to play for Germany, then I can consider playing for Nigeria because my dad is from Nigeria.”

Akpoguma disclosed that members of his family have not put pressure on him to choose any of the two countries, adding, “My father has told me to listen to my heart… he doesn’t want to put pressure on me to make any decision. It is very important I make the right decision.

“There are some examples like Prince Boateng of Ghana, who only played for Ghana in the World Cup and retired after that. I believe that if you want to play for a country I think you should play for that country with love and passion. It makes no sense leaving after a few games. That is why if I play for Nigeria I should be in a position to play my whole career for them. No half measures.

“Gernot Rohr visited us here in Hoffenheim and talked a lot about the young team he is building. I saw it at the World Cup; there are very good players like Iwobi, Ndidi and Leon Balogun. He explained all the things because I had a good conversation with him. But as I said, I want to leave every door open. When the time comes, I will let the world know my decision.”

IMO, it is a case of “what if I had chosen to play for Nigeria?” . Playing for Nigeria doesn’t guarantee anything either.

charlesemeka85:
playing for their country of birth will be their top choice but what happens when making it to the senior team of these countries seems difficult?
many who waited in the past for possible call ups all regretted it when their were either capped and dumped nor over looked. players like agbolanhor,patrick awomoyela,onuoha,the late ehiogu,carlton cole etc all regretted turning out for england and germany and would have been significant figures in the international scene is they played for nigeria. these aforementioned individuals are currently advising the younger generation to consider playing for nigeria is the opportunity arises.

U say dem never accept their Naija origin. That’s what I’m commenting on, else we go start to discuss matter when we don discuss before.

Icon4s:
Is there a trophy for who ever wins any argument?

Yes he plays for Porto B, but who are the other available options who U21 that can be in that midfield?

Who dey Odey!!!!

maidaboi:
Odey Scores Again Boy Is On Fire

Ah no talk like that o, or U go lose this argument.

Icon4s:
Na to begin mention players wey nova even accept their Nigerian origin. E go pass that one?

Yes!!. Now let’s see how good he currently is.

busky007:
sadiq starts 4 rangers

How are u sure he has not lost form if he is not playing — PRESENT CONTINOUS.

komekn:
Some of the youth players in Liverpool U23 are on £15k a week some even more.

This is a big club with ambition to win champion league with world class players. Opportunity for Solanke will always be limited.

He is stuck in the politics of football and he really needs to go on loan. He also didn't cost much so he is not a priority for Liverpool.

Danny Ings was in a similar position buy he has left Liverpool and scored three goals from six games for Southampton.

Solanke was never a waste man he simply is in a big team with limited opportunity. Outside of the top 6/7 teams in the EPL he would be playing fairly regularly.

Lol I wonder why Nigerians go to Porto. I won’t even accept a loan to Porto if I were a player. Make I play the real academy football jor.

Danielnino00:
Awazeim must do what he can to get away from that Porto team .. they will kill his potential by keeping him on the bench.

Lol sir U sef dey tell komekn we are short in options? Oya wait make he answer u with he options.

Icon4s:
That is an ideal situation.

But what happens when u are short in options?
You make do with the available.

Best CB according to who? Source pls

ChrisKels:
The best CB in the championship so far. Dude is class