₦airaland Forum

Mainz denied a feeekick close to the box

Modified
Ref goes to watch the replay.
Free kick given

Isaac Success returns. In Watford’s bench away to Burnley. I will switch over to that game if he is brought on. For now it seems there is only one Nigerian on the pitch.

Balogun dependable so far. Have witnessed a clearance and a defensive aerial duel won. He is playing as the RCB among the 3CBs.
He was almost beaten for pace initially.

Modified
Mainz concede. Well worked goal by liepzig

Did I ever suggest Poland for Iceland ?

tbaba1234:
Correct. Poland has confirmed that they have a game with Nigeria on March 23rd.

Balogun starts for Mainz as they tackle Liepzig away

Everton's Lookman vows to seize opportunity vs. Liverpool play

https://i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/article12561728.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS110911584.jpg

Ademola Lookman has assured new Everton boss Sam Allardyce he is ready to seize any opportunity afforded him ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby.

The 20-year-old winger staked his claim to be involved against Liverpool with a first-half brace in Cyprus on Thursday night, when a Toffees team led by Craig Shakespeare and Duncan Ferguson beat Apollon Limassol 3-0.

A long-standing medical appointment meant Allardyce had remained at home along with the bulk of the squad he will take to Anfield, but Lookman's impressive performance will have given him some food for thought over his possible role.

Lookman's double in Nicosia, the second of which was a sweet strike from distance, has imbued him with confidence prior to Everton's attempt to secure a first victory at Liverpool's ground since 1999.

"I believe in my ability; I know what I can do,'' said Lookman.


Ademola Lookman made a case to play in Sunday's matchup against rivals Liverpool. Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images
"It's always good to play and enjoy your football and I did that on Thursday, hopefully it showed.

"[The Liverpool game] is out of my control. I can only do what I do on the football pitch. Once I get my opportunity I will take it.''

It was the first time Lookman had scored for Everton since he netted four minutes into his debut 11 months earlier in a 4-0 win over Manchester City at Goodison Park.

Since then he has become a World Cup winner, as part of the victorious England Under-20s squad, with two of his colleagues in South Korea, Lewis Cook and Dominic Solanke, having recently received senior call-ups from Gareth Southgate.

Lookman harbours aspirations of doing likewise and is confident he can fulfil his potential having joined the Toffees from Charlton nearly a year ago.

"I have played with them for a couple of years and to see them doing that is nice; they deserve it,'' Lookman added of Cook and Solanke's senior recognition. "I don't see why I can't follow in their footsteps.

"It is a big club, Everton, and I am still learning, still young. With time I think everything will come.''

--KweseESPN

After the March friendlies I will resume with naming of the likely squad and drawing out likely formations..lol

Mujtahida:
It's quite obvious that Ebuehi played better as wingback than Shehu but still we have to stick to Shehu but why is nobody saying we should continue to use Aina as LWB . Is it fear or what or the believe that Ebuehi is too green for such responsibility?I guess it has to do with the fact that Ebuehi is a 'boy' and Shehu is a 'man'. Yet that boy played well against Di Maria who has always been a handful against us. The only thing I noticed is that Ebuehi was allowing crosses to come through from his wing.

Yes he's had a higher goals per minutes ratio for Nigeria. But that does not tell the whole story.
Before that Zambia game, didn't we think he performed better for Arsenal?

Modified
I refuse to rate him on Wenger's terms.

blueto:
You are right but that is why the next sentence says “sometimes” in the post.

Has he been able to replicate the form against Zambia and Argentina in Arsenal? Wenger demands goals from him when he scores for Nigeria, I think that is not the best. He may not be the guy that performs best with too much pressure on him.

@ bolded. I think Iwobi has not looked back since that second match against Zambia.
Before then, it's not like he was all that for Nigeria. He's had quite a number of good games for Arsenal.

blueto:
Iwobi have been playing better for Nigeria than for Arsenal, and sometimes he plays for Nigeria it seems that he is underutilized at Arsenal. The freedom he enjoys from playing SE games and also the love and support from Nigeria fans have made it more comfortable for him to deliver his best. Unlike in Arsenal where he is too careful not to make a mistake on the field of play, and thereby not doing so great. Freedom is what actually “frees” people to live to their best.

As it stands now, Iwobi should be starting games for the SE.

I think I posted this some pages back.

tbaba1234:
Munir El Haddadi who has already played a competitive game for Spain in 2016 is asking for a Special concession by FIFA so that he can represent Morocco at the WC

Sir, it's simple.
He is playing to instruction for both club and country.
Rohr wants him to play that way, and of course he has the qualities to do that.
It's inconsequential what position -- winger or wing back -- he plays on paper for SE, as long as there is always someone to cover when he roams.

Icon79:
Please closely watch Victor Moses when he plays for Chelsea versus when he plays for Nigeria. Let me tell you what you'd find:
He's still holding onto the ball too long when he plays for Nigeria, he doesn't do that in Chelsea. Granted he's playing in a different role.
He still engages in excessive dribbling when he plays for Nigeria, maybe not as bad as before but he still does that, but he has learned to release the ball promptly when he plays for Chelsea. Again, we gotta consider that he's playing in a different role at Chelsea.

Furthermore, and most importantly, it doesn't make a lot of sense to deploy your best and most creative player as a Wingback. He should be deployed in the final third creating and scoring goals. That's just like Chelsea playing Eden Hazard as RWB or Barca playing Messi in that role. Moses should have a free role in the midfield ... we need his trademark dribbles runs and incisive passes to unlock tight defenses.


O pari

I am relatively new to this thread and I called forgiveness out when I noticed something. I’m far from an Igbo person. And I’ve canvassed for every #tag except for the home based on this thread. I can easily expose him, but I respect him the same for one thing he hardly uses abusive speech. But that said if I must go back in time and pick out some of his utterances during our debate you all will be convinced beyond doubt that most of his opinions are based on misconceptions e.g that the NFF is tribaliatic.
My friend while hr may not always be canvassing for his tribemen, some monikers seeing him as such is not unfounded. Having said that, he may have a valid point as regards other monikers also being tribaliatic. But it will be a hard for him to prove. The Igbos have dominated SE somewhat but we all know the caliber of those players. Most earned it. And just as some have got into the SE fold for other reasons than performance, some players from other sections of the country also have for other reasons than performance. That’s the Nigerian way.
If he can get rid of those misconceptions he will be just fine, and his submissions will be taken more seriously by many.

Oasis007:
Seem some Dudes have Problem with the Name "Dele"...... Lol. I remembered when TheGoodJoe was asking for Alampasu to be the first Choice Goalie based on the convincing Training Sessions' Reports, some Dudes claimed he's inexperienced and too young.
They are quick to forget he was a former Winner of an U17 Golden Glove, the same Competition that brought Iheanacho into Limelight. But now..... Uzoho ain't too young or inexperienced to man the Posts for the Super Eagles in Russia.

Dele Aiyenugba is far better than Akpeyi, more exposed and experienced than him, but once his Name "Dele" is mentioned, nah..... he's a Flop, he had got his Chances but failed.

In the local League - NPFL - Ajiboye is far better than Ezenwa, a very good, talented Goalkeeper brimming with Confidence, but he also gets "Dele" in his Name, hence only a very few care for his Call up and Trial.

You've really got a thick Skin Bro. Coz you've withered many Storms here alone..... Lol! Enyeama should be recalled, but Martins is too old for a Recall. Someone even claimed Ighalo is performing better than him in the Chinese League.

I laughed at a Post that condemned Martins of only good with one Leg and ain't good in the Air like Ighalo. Had Mikel and Ighalo ain't plying their respective Trades in the Chinese League, they would have gone "berserk" on his professional Careers.

When Kayode didn't make the Bench, you were called out to mock, thanks to Tbaba1234 that eventually posted a cogent Reason for his Exclusion. However when Iheanacho also didn't make the Bench..... Alas! It's tagged Politics and Racism.

Ahmed Musa was demoted to the U23, some are already considering he should be dropped from the List coz he has lost it. Iheanacho is dropped, the Tone changes to; at least he won't be match rusty coz he would be playing and it's good for him. What will you call it bro?! Lol.

I rest my Fingers.

Do you want me to take you on, point by point?

forgiveness:
When Solanke and Tiago Ilori were playing with e U23, many monikers here crucified them without trying to know or accept the reasons but now that Iheanacho is playing with the U21 suddenly their thinking faculty started functioning. Why?

Should I throway reasoning and go the tribal way by calling people here IPOB agent because I suppose majority of those monikers are IGBOs eventhough I know who dey are?

Should I start mocking Iheanacho the way people mocked players that are not from their village and start wishing them ill luck?

Should i start insinuating that some people wants to fill the national team with their tribes men regardless of were these players play and how they performan because they are quick to set standards and relax standards to accommodate their tribes men into the national team?

Because I still remembered one of those monikers told me Tiago Ilori was not good enough despite playing currently then in Ligue 1 but suddenly made a uturn when a player started playing there?

Can dey not see that majority of predictions and analysis has come to pass?

Didn't I say Solanke is a better player than Iheancho when he was loaned out to Vitesee

Was I not the one that called him a tap in merchant?

Did I not give my reasons when I said if he goes to Vitesee or another he will find it hard to score?

Is that not what is happening now?

Has Solanke not gone ahead of him recently to win individual laurel that led him to Liverpool?

Did I not say the same about Kayode when one told me he is not good enough?

Did I not predict that Kayode is ahead of Onyekuru when many here mocked me and asked me why is big clubs struggling to buy Kayode if he is good enough after Everton bought Onyekuru?

What happened next?

Who is in a better club now?

Time will not permit to say how I analysed that Dele Ali is better than all players in our national team, including Nacho and Iwobi. That was even when Dele Ali was nobody in the EPL. But what did I get in return?

Did it not happened as I said?

Now, I have said about Lookman and Onomah but they said Onomah is a camouflage that I am a Oduduwa Agent and Igbo (God bless) hater for doing what God has given me to do.

If they can't believe me as a person, they should for once consider all my prediction and analyses then I believe they can see I say things the way I study them.

Now, Lookman has just shown tips of what he can do. Believe me he is another next thing after Dele Ali.

I am no God but I have the spirit of God and fear God else I would not have taken lightly those who falsely accuses me of tribal hates and tribalism when all I have said dey glaringly for day light, but I am humble because I know it is by his grace to know and reveal all I have predicted and analysed.

People should purge their heart of ethnic hatred and jealousy because I perceived many walk with this evil spirit. Thank you all

360 degree moves and tricks..

SupremeBeast:
this current Nigerian team has no problem with goal scoring so I don't see the reason for the calls that the coach should bring back Martins. what really is he gonna add to the team?

Thank you.. @bolded.
The appointment dey sweet am well well o, so tey he forget his job description.. Abi he wan take Ibitoye position?

Mujtahida:
Mind you Agali never said that. It's owngoalnigeria.com putting their own spin on things. By the way I think Agali is suddenly talking too much.

I have like 10 nooses.. Who would like to hang?

Mujtahida:
The argument is a huge waste. Rohr will invite who he will invite. What if he doesn't invite Martins? What would the Pro Martins people do? What if he invites him? What would the anti Martins people do? Both will do nada!

But it was the way out for our first goal..
Who even coined that "jam body" again? lol

Icon4s:
I was never moved by Nwakaeme's hype here. He was brought in to bully the Cameroonians (Jam body football), something I knew was not the best way out.

I have tackled this guy so much to the extent that now I just smile

forgiveness:
Kayode has never been on Rohr's plan. So, save us the lies he will lose his place.

Which place? Person wey never kick ball don dey lose place?

Kayode, if you like score 1 million goals, accept now that you don't have a place in current SE before u go develop heart attack once your name goes missing on the WC list. Why? Me I no know. na just ya faith be that.

Did you mean OPA is actually an acronym?
how about RI?

I beg make una leave forgiveness oh

OMANBALA1:
Obafemi Martins played a single game when Oliseh was there if I am not mistaken and that was the last we heard about him. Rohr never invited him through out our impressive qualifiers run and we still dont need him. Let him make his top dollars and let the better players play. Are you an Oduduwa paid agent or something?

Yes I later saw that.. too bad for a promising defender. I wonder if he will be retained by Tondela when he finally puts his injury problem behind him.

tbaba1234:
The explanation tweet is from a Portuguese Journalist who tweeted in English so i suspect that it is more accurate.

Either ways, he has no business stealing.

It's indeed embarrassing.
Byt the report is not very clear. Maybe translation issues.
But from what I get it seems the Junior Pius is said to have stole from a box of money belonging to the club. Money gathered from internal fines?

tbaba1234:
Joebie, look at this embarrassing story for Junior Pius... Stealing money...

Link to story: http://www.zerozero.pt/news.php?id=210174

The last time I checked it was not Idah who tried convincing Enyeama. Rohr has already held talks with Enyeama, and has given the keeper conditions. The handwriting will clearly be on the wall if Enyeama cannot meet the conditions.
Rohr will give us the final word.

terzurum5:
Vincent Enyeama makes final decision on his return to the Super Eagles ahead of the 2018 World Cup

Author: Ibitoye Shittu

- Vincent Enyeama has reportedly told former Super Eagles goalie Peterside Idah that he will not return to the Super Eagles


- Nigeria have qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and many Nigerians want Enyeama back in the national team


- Peterside Idah claimed Enyeama told him that he is tired of playing for the Super Eagles


Ex Super Eagles goalie Peterside Idah has reportedly claimed that Vincent Enyeama told him in a conversation that he will not be making a return to the national team.


According to the report by Vanguard, Vincent Enyeama told Idah that he is tired playing for Nigeria and the Super Eagles coaches should count him out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.


Recently, there have been many talks concerning the return of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the national team considering the fact that Nigeria have qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

https://i-onthe-io.cdn.ampproject.org/ii/w680/s/i.onthe.io/vllkyt1u2cf3ipkoeo.43ee2481.jpg

Many Nigerian football lovers believe that the experience of the former Enyimba captain will be of great help for the Super Eagles in Russia.


“I was one of those who spoke to Enyeama when there was an attempt to get him back to the national team and he told me he’s tired of playing for Nigeria.


“So, there should be no Enyeama going to the World Cup. The players should have the love to play for Nigeria and not the love to play at the World Cup and make history.” Idah was quoted to have said by Vanguard.


This latest development is expected to be a disappointment for Super Eagles Gernot Rohr as NAIJ.com had earlier reported how the coach confirmed that Enyeama will return to the national team.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.naija.ng/amp/1138952-enyeama-ready-return-super-eagles.html

This reminds me of Cameroon at the WCQ. I like reading news like this..
I hope Argentina's coach also toes this same line of thinking.

junnyjake:
Whenever I see news of this kind, my smile broadens, because I know this guy is up for some surprise. ahahaha

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Nigeria Will Be A Walk-over, They Have No Star Player Apart From Moses- Croatian Coach Says

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[img]https://3.bp..com/-U9NoBqYqb48/WieYt4K9ceI/AAAAAAAAtMw/Y3bT5IJgJCclrmBoC9rqohIyQW376ZZbwCLcBGAs/s1600/106713-2a928e6c552f40ddc50af8c39b20f28a.jpg[/img]

Croatian coach, Boris Pučić, believes his side will thrash Nigeria in their 2018 World Cup fixture on June 16.

Speaking on Tuesday, he wrote Nigeria off, saying the only star player in the squad is Victor Moses.


”Obi Mikel plays in China, Moses has been injured for some time and has just returned to Chelsea’s first team, while others are all in some side-tiers.


”Iheanacho and Musa are in reserve in Leicester, Iwobi for Arsenal plays a bit more, but Nigeria is now the shadow of the national team that they once called ‘African Brazil.


”Simply, there is no star player besides Moses in Chelsea and the team is not close to what we remember from the World Cup in the United States or France that played really well.”

Ezenwa should not play against his club when CHAN Eagles takes on Enyimba.
Well, i'm saying Ajiboye rather should be in goal for CHAN Eagles when they take on Enyimba.

tbaba1234:
NPFL Invitational: Contest for Enyimba's gloves starts here

The fight for first team goalkeeper in the camp of former champions, Enyimba International promises to be a matter of interest at the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Pre-season Invitational which kicks off at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano from Monday, December 11.

 

In his return to the club, coach Paul Aigbogun is faced with a headache many coaches would pray for. For the season, the club has listed three keepers with potentials to lay claim to the number one spot.

It is no longer news that the club has recruited national team keeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa. The question on many lips has been; will Ezenwa be the undisputed first choice at the Confederation Cup campaigners?

This question becomes pertinent taking into cognizance the presence of Theophilus Afelokhai and Ghanaian, Fatau Dauda. It will be recalled that there was no clear-cut first choice among the duo last season with former coach, Gbenga Ogunbote doing more of rotation.

There was little or nothing to pick between the two and with each passing training session, Ogubbote's task got more difficult. The club then instituted a type of incentive which saw whoever had more clean sheets between the two get some reward. Any keeper who had three consecutive clean sheets home and away got what was called the chairman's bonus.

This even made the competition fiercer. Not conceding goals meant more to the keepers. This writer got wind of the bonus after seeing Dauda's reaction to Stephen Odey's goal when Enyimba engaged MFM in Calabar. That goal in his first home game, jolted his quest for the chairman's bonus. Afelokhai went ahead to pocket the bonus once last season but never got a breathing space from Dauda.

After stints at Chippa United, Orlando Pirates and Ashanti Gold, Dauda came highly rated. Currently Ghana's third choice keeper, he commands a pedigree that could easily install him as a first choice in any NPFL club. The desire to keep his national team place has heightened his quest to be Enyimba's first choice.

But he has to contend with Afelokhai, a colossal figure between the sticks. Afelokhai moved to Enyimba after a 10 year stint at Kano Pillars which heralded the golden era of Sai Masu Gida. He was in charge as Pillars won the title three consecutive times. This was the intimidating reputation he brought to Enyimba, Nigeria's most successful team.

So whatever high ratings Dauda brought from Ghana was dwarfed by the serial winner, Afelokhai. Just as Afelokhai cannot dismiss Dauda's credentials with a wave of the hand. It is therefore understandable if a coach has difficulties picking one ahead of the other.

If Ogunbote had this headache last season, Aigbogun will even be faced with a tougher task next term with Ezenwa's addition. With Vincent Enyeama stalling on returning to the national team, Ezenwa is primed to be Nigeria's first choice at the World Cup thus the need to get more playing time.

Not a few attributed his poor showing against Algeria in Constantine to inactivity due to the NPFL season being on break. For him to excel at football's showpiece event, he must get regular competitive action. To do so, he must upstage Afelokhai and Dauda at Enyimba.

Was Enyimba the right choice for Ezenwa? Shouldn't he have opted for a club where he will be a clear-cut first choice?

Enyimba Sporting Director, Jude Anyadufu was at the center of the Ezenwa's deal and thinks it was the best for the player and the nation.

His words; "Ezenwa needs a big club like Enyimba that is also on the continent. He is going to the World Cup and could be Nigeria's first choice so he needs to play actively both in the league and on the continent. He needs to face quality oppositions that should give some idea about what he will see at the World Cup".

But would the presence of Afelokhai and Dauda guarantee the regular football Ezenwa would crave for?

Anyadufu replied; "He does not need any guarantee. He has to fight for his place. These two keepers will make him work hard both in training and in the matches. He doesn't need to be sure that he must start. That will make him feel relaxed. If Ezenwa must play for a club in the NPFL, it should be Enyimba. We will do our best in the club to ensure he is ready for the World Cup".

"We still have the chairman's bonus in place for this season. He has to battle it out with the other keepers. Before he gets the opportunity to keep clean sheets, he must play. And he has to prove to the coaches in training that he is better than Dauda and Afelokhai. We are happy to have three quality keepers in the team. You will also know that we are playing in three competitions. There will be enough matches for all of them to show what they can do. What it means is that whatever happens, we must have somebody solid in goal in every match"

The audition for Enyimba's number one spot this season starts with the NPFL Pre-season Invitational. While Dauda and Afelokhai will be on parade for Enyimba, Ezenwa will file out for CHAN Eagles. Interestingly, Enyimba and CHAN Eagles are in the same group. A scenario having Ezenwa on one end and the duo on the other is in the offing.

http://www.npfl.ng/index.php/news-features/club-news/2518-npfl-invitational-contest-for-enyimba-s-gloves-starts-here

Lol

Kog45:
Haba not your brother, two years ago? Chei.

Ok my bad. But Rohr remarks then and now still buttresses my point that Uzoho is ahead in the scheme of things in SE

junnyjake:
Alampasu featured in one of the friendlies back then now. It should be against Senegal.

whats Dele’s club again? I’ve not been following him

Kog45:
Pls is Dele Aiyenugba not a Nigerian who is super regular in Isreali league coz you said only Enyeama.

What did Rohr say about Uzoho in comparison...?

TheGoodJoe:
Uzoho had the opportunity due to the exposure of the limitations of Ezenwa and Akpeyi. When Akpeyi faltered, Ezenwa got the chance. Unfortunately, when Ezenwa faltered, Alampasu was not invited and Uzoho was there. Ironically, the coaching crew opted for Akpeyi again. This will tell you it was not all about quality but trying to keep the older keepers in goal.

When Akpeyi faltered again, Uzoho got the nod and the difference was clear. If Alampasu was on the bench when these happened, he would have gotten the nod.

Not that he was not good enough.

Ahead does not mean better

elyte89:
Uzoho ahead of ENYEAMA?

45mins display in a friendly match compared to 14years GK experience in top level matches..kept 22 or more clean sheet in ligue1,and all dt ,

Nawa for some person here sha

No, ahead does not mean better
Ahead means ahead.
So all those still arguing with me pay attention to the word.
If you are not playing you are behind.
Until Enyema starts playing he remains behind.

Kog45:
I want to ask a question is Enyeama out of contract with Lille.

@ Mujtahida
As regards our earlier discussion. The below shows 3-5-2 was adopted for tactical reasons and not because of lack of certain personnel.


“Nobody gave us a chance (vs Argentina in Krasnodar three weeks ago).But a day to the game, the coach came to me and told me we will apply a different tactics and that will make the difference. If you know it will work, let’s go.” Pinnick told CNN

DONT MISS ==> International Friendly: NFF Confirm Approach From England - Reports
“We have a coach who has the mentality of a winner, and he has imbibed the players with the same attitude, We can do very well at the World Cup in Russia.

“I am very delighted that we have a team for tomorrow; a team for the next (2022) World Cup finals”, Pinnick remarked.

Culled from OGN

Yes YOU would.

goldfish80:
Chile won back to back Copa America championship yet they won't be in Russia. Being continental Kings is a record any country will want in their archives.
I'd rather win the afcon than make a second round exit at the world cup.