₦airaland Forum

I remember that very well. You challenge a player to come for camping in the papers, you did not officially invite. Firstly Amuneke said, he didn't believe the hype around Adekanye..
And some of us support discrimination of foreign-bred players. smh

Anyway, 2 goals and 2 assists -- very impressive.

Humility017:
Highly-Rated Liverpool Winger Considering Playing For Nigeria

Liverpool winger Bobby Adekanye is still mulling over whether or not he will commit his international future to the country of his birth, Nigeria.
Born in Ibadan to Nigerian parents, the former Barcelona teenage sensation qualifies to play for the Netherlands and has caps for their youth teams, but has not added to his international appearances since 2015.
''No, I have not made a choice yet. I'm not busy with that either. That will happen in the future,'' Adekanye told
voetbalzone.nl.
Three years ago, coach Emmanuel Amuneke challenged the youngster to come to the Golden Eaglets camp to prove his mettle, without formally inviting him to the screening exercise held in Abuja.
Adekanye made his first appearance for Netherlands U16s in their goalless draw with Spain at the UEFA Development Tournament in February 2015.
Eight months later, he played competitively for the U17s during the European Under-17 Championship qualifiers.
The 18-year-old scored twice and created two assists in Liverpool's 4-1 win at Maribor in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday afternoon.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Well 3-5-2 then. Unless you are saying Agu played as a forward when they were attacking.
Structurally the 5-3-2 is similar to a 3-5-2, for the same reason you noted.

I will check Omeruo's average ratings.. 6.81 is not a big deal. I'd rather say Ekong performed poorly if we are to go by statistical ratings alone.

Mickael2:
I actually watched the game. The wingbacks were more midfield-inclined which is why I called it a 3-4-3 and the opponents were second from the bottom(?) when the game started.


On the other hand people run down Omeruo a lot, for a defender in a losing team to chalk up 6.81 is no mean feat

nice one!!

soetanoreoluwa:
EXCLUSIVE- Mikel Agu: Criticisms After Zambia Game Hurt Me But I’m Determined To Win Over Boo-Boys

https://i2.wp.com/www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG-20170905-WA0003.jpg?resize=768%2C945&ssl=1

By Kayode Ogundare:

More than a week after Nigeria secured qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 1-0 victory over Zambia in Uyo, fall-outs of the game is still reverberating with Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Ndubuisi Agu claiming to still feel the hurt of the virulent criticism of his performance against the Chipolopolo, including copping a yellow card barely five minutes after replacing Ogenyi Onazi.

Agu, who scored his first goal of the season for his Turkish Super Lig side Bursaspor on Monday night, bared his heart in an exclusive interview with completesportsnigeria.com from his base.

Completesportsnigeri.com: Mikel, congratulations on scoring your first goal tonight (in the 3-1 win against Osmanlispor). You must be very pleased to open your goals account for the season?

Mikel Agu: Yeah, thanks bro, I’m happy to score but, more importantly, I’m happier that we won. When you work so hard, it is always nice to win games.


Being your first goal, what does this goal mean to you?

Well, it’s my first goal for Bursaspor and I want to score more. I dedicate the goal to my wife and son. I’ve been waiting to score for my son since my wife was pregnant and I’m glad I could do finally get to do it for him and his mom. Hopefully more will still come.

And what do you think the victory meant for Bursaspor, given the team’s target for the season?

Our target for the season is to keep giving our best in each game, working hard to remain competitive and helping the team to win as many games as possible so that we can finish in a good position in the league. So, in that sense, you can say the win was a huge one for us and we want to keep winning.

https://i2.wp.com/www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/tt-19.jpg?resize=768%2C399&ssl=1



Bursaspor have been doing well this season and you’re a big part of it with Ekong. What’s the secret?

No secret bro. It has been God. Though most of them here don’t believe in God but I do and I fully believe He’s the one behind everything happening for us so far. And we also have a very good coach in Paul Le Guen. One of the best I have worked with and this is not just because I’m playing regularly. He’s very knowledgeable about the game.

Bursaspor are now eigtht on the log but do you really think you can challenge the traditional teams like Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce for a place in Europe?

Well, without trying to sound boastful, I see no reason why we cannot challenge them. Incidentally, we have already played against each of those big teams this season and though we lost, the games were really very close and could have gone either way. Against Galatasaray, the first half was very good, we played very well and created chances even more than they did but we were just unlucky not to make use of our chances. We even scored before them but we lost 2-1. It was a good game really. Shows the gap between us and the big teams is not as wide as one would have thought.

https://i0.wp.com/www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/tp.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1

So, let’s talk about the national team. The Super Eagles will be at the World Cup in 2018. How does this make you feel that you’re part of the team that won the ticket?

See, to be honest, I think I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Of course I’m happy we won the World Cup ticket and made the whole country happy but I’m sad when I remember the torrents of abuse that was directed at me by some people after the Zambia game. A lot of them criticized me after the game against Zambia and I think they were unfair to me. I mean we won the game for crying out loud and each player gave his all on the pitch yet I was singled out for criticism. Imagine what would have happened if we didn’t win that game?

Maybe the critics expected more from you because they knew you have the talent to do much more and the yellow card gave everybody anxiety because if you had gotten another one, playing 10 men against Zambia would have been difficult?

That’s possible but you should also understand the circumstances under which I went into the game. Nobody foresaw that there was going to be a change that early and because the tension was high in the game, it took me time before I could properly get into the match. I did everything the coach asked of me though the yellow card was not part of it but I think I settled down and helped the team more as the game progressed.

Now, as they say, criticism is a part of the job and it depends on how you react to it. So, will the critics affect you negatively or will they motivate you to do better now or what?

Yes, the criticism hurts me but it has made me to keep working harder. I just need to believe first in myself and try to prove all of them wrong. Even the big players do have their bad days in football. Trust me, I will win them over.


https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/exclusive-criticism-zambia-game-hurt-im-determined-win-boo-boys-mikel-agu/

That's not what I implied. Well, read my earlier response.

Mickael2:
I am forced to believe you did not watch that game. So DMFs don't score?

You should also consider that the opponents can influence ratings. The difference in their rating wasn't significant anyway. We want to look at their average rating after some number of games to really make a fare comparison.

I don't think the 5-3-2 is similar to the 3-4-3. Agu was at the center of a 3-man midfield. I'd like to think that he had more of an AM role, when the team was attacking. But well that's just my thinking. We can't exactly say unless we watched the actual match.

Modified
The formation is read from defense to attack. 5-3-2 means 5-man defense.

Mickael2:
so Omeruo actually got a higher rating than Ekong? So much for a finished player.


Oh and Bursaspor's formation was more like a 3-4-3 with Agu as the CMF. They attacked very well

Mikel Agu assist and goal


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V_ZILpqIrM

Actually Ike Uche has just scored back-to-back braces in the LaLiga 2


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVSeTyseRRM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C77AqJerbk&t=139s

Sammy Ameobi makes Whoscored Championship Best XI of the Week

TURKEY: Super Lig - Round 8

---

Bursaspor 3-1 Osmanlispor
Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Mikel Agu shown like stars after scoring his first Super Lig goal and also helping Bursaspor with an assist in their home win. Agu's assist came in the 30th minute, when he planted a header off a corner kick for Romanian striker, Bodgan Stancu to finish.
He scored a goal of his own 8 minutes later, after he placed a left footer past Osmanlispor defense and goalie. Agu's all round performance operating as CMF/AM in the homers 5-3-2 formation earned him a joint best top dribbler (3), best tackler (6), and a whoscored MOTM recognition.
+Stats Rating : 9.25 (in the running to make Super Lig Best XI of the Week)
Super Eagles defense trojan, William Troost-Ekong, also had a hand in their home win, clocking 90 minutes in the heart of their 5-man defense.
+Stats Rating : 6.59


Dream Team VI and forgotten Super Eagles forward, Aminu Umar, started and lasted the entire encounter for the opposing side at the left-wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Aminu was the 5th best passer of the encounter, with a 90 percent success rate. It was all-tie in Top 5 for Aerial Duels won (2), with Aminu also making the cut. The 22 year old also got statistical recognition as the 3rd joint best in successful tackles (4).
+Stats Rating : 6.56
Osmanlispor DMF, Raheem Lawal, made the top 5 for percentage possession (6.2;5th), tackles (4; joint 3rd), and dispossession (2; joint 4th).
+Stats Rating : 6.84

Kasimpasa 2-3 Sivasspor
Super Eagles standby defender, Kenneth Omeruo, started and completed the encounter as a Kasimpasa Center-Back. The 24 year old was the best of the match in terms of Aerial Duels won (5). However, his aerial prowess was not good enough as he could not help prevent the homers from conceding thrice.
+Stats Rating : 6.81

Elderson Echiejile (Sivasspor) was not listed for the encounter due to the injury he picked up during the international break.
+Stats Rating : N/A

Trabzonspor 1-6 Akhisar
With Eddy Onazi out, Trabz lost heavily at home to Akhisar
+Stats Rating : N/A

Fenerbahce 3-1 Yeni
Sincere Seth made his Super Lig debut for Yeni, in their away loss to Fenerbahce. Seth, playing at Right-Back, didnt have a debut to remember as he had the lowest rating of the encounter. However, he was not subbed off from start to finish.
+Stats Rating : 5.8
Teammate Azubuike Okechukwu was not listed on matchday, due to an undisclosed injury.
+Stats Rating : N/A

Agu is not a CMF, he is a DMF.

Mickael2:
Mikel Agu scores.

Interesting Ekong is the ball player in a 3man backline and he hasn't been bad

Anything Pep. Even Pepsi

TheGoodJoe:
I really do. Wish him the best.

lol.. ANS will say "top source"

soetanoreoluwa:
I'm just tired of Owngoal... To be candid... They write in the name of writing...

Yes I would accept him in camp. And if he shows he is good enough to make it to the world cup, why not?
Why tag these players? I want the best always, no sentiments. no discrimination.

Modified
We can't praise mediocrity, because that's what it was even then. If not for MRI, even till this day we would do everything to win the U17s even if it means fielding 25 year olds.
I'd rather take a deserving Alaba.
If I were the coach I would have done my best to stop age cheating long before the coming of MRI. Now that's the same type of mindset we need to fix our grassroots development system -- with sincerity and integrity.

goldfish80:
You're are talking about Alaba in retrospect and with the benefit of hindsight.
If you were in position to select U17 players for the World Cup, will you have honestly in good faith selected a 14yr old playing for his local team in Aspen to represent Nigeria at the time? Recall, we have always won the U17 world cup with homegrown players.

Well Brazil cared. Go read about reports before that Brazil World Cup. Just because you are not a fan of those national teams you may not be aware.. The issue is that those nations can live without those players because they have other options. But that doesn't mean they never tried or hoped to get that special player of interest.
So whether we improve our grassroots development or not, we have to be looking out for players that can add something to our team irrespective of whether they are homegrown or not. I bet you, if Onyekuru for example was not capped by Nigeria, and he scores like 50 goals.. Belgium would try to get him to playing for them by first offering him a passport. If Im not mistaken that was almost the case with Imoh Ezekiel.
Sentiments never come in when you are out for excellence.
We need to get it right at the home front. However, our approaching talented abroad-bred players should be commended, as long as these players can add something to the team.

Kog45:
Sorry o am not getting your point

My own point of view is totally different from yours,my view on grassroots development does not negates adding good foreign born players to d team.

Am looking to a stage where we w not care whether u play for us or not and it can only happen if we get things right from grassroots.

Diego Costa is a Brazilian but playing for Spain,i don't think Brazil care about him,Owen Hargreaves has every right to play for Germany but when he opted for England do they care,David Trezeguets opted for France instead of Argentina but Argentines did not make any fuss about it.

My point is simple I want Nigeria to reach d level of football development where we w not care about players born by Nigerian parents playing for another country unless they are Messi or Ronaldo.

Pls read my comment very well and try to understand, may be from where i comment on Onigbinde post.

Well they had to. You are one of their readers.. Ignoring your message would confirm your suspicions.

Mujtahida:
I sent an email to them concerning what I felt regarding fabrication of News and they responded. They clarified things though not entirely satisfactory but I was a bit pleased that they responded cos I thought and expected them not to but they did.

Pinnick is working. People just want to be heard when they fear they have lost relevance. Trying to get Nigerian players who can add something to the team at the moment and improving our grassroots development program are two different things -- Apples and Oranges. Make your point without condemning our fine efforts. Alaba wanted to play for Nigeria. It's dumb to have ignored him with the excuse of focusing on homegrown talents.

Kog45:
Honestly we need to go back to d basics and get things right.

As u said in most academies they just teach them d game but education out of it which is not good coz no parents w take his kids to such academy.

Pls look at Great Britain at Atlanta 96 we are better off,see their performance at Rio for God sake.

I am remember how Segun Odegbami single handedly finance Chioma Ajuwa training prior to Atlanta 96.He got a coach for him,pay her hotel bills and make sure d lady was comfortable and what was d result a gold medal at Olympics.

We just need to start rebuilding instead of politicising everything, thanks to Amaju for having d vision and i believe with necessary support d guy w change d face of Nigeria football.

I won't even write you off. U sef can make Russia.

forgiveness:
So, don't ever right him off for the 2018 World cup in Russia.

@bolded

forgiveness:
So, if Sadiq scores more goals than Onyekuru, Kelechi Iheanacho, Kayode Olanrewaju, Osimhen and Tammy Abraham, he is not eligible for the 2018 World cup, ba?

What is the criteria for invitation to the national team?

U don come again.. oya what do u have to say now? [quote author=forgiveness post=61465192][/quote]

U dey answer that caveman. Village headmaster

Icon4s:
Emmm High Chief, we are not begging, we are only wooing.

Several countries have done same in the past. Leonel Messi for eg would have been playing for Spain today if Argentina had not made that move.

Mind you, we only go for players that will add value in departments that we need fortification and not every di-ck and Harry. We recently acquired Ola Aina and we will attempt at Tammy Abraham. If we don't get him we move on. But let it be known that we made the attempts so future generations will not place curses on the NFF for missing out on him in case he turns out like another Dele Alli.

I don't go for every foreign born, only those that we need. We need Abraham for Russia.

Another brace for Ike Uche


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C77AqJerbk

ITALY: Serie A - Round 8

---

Crotone 2-2 Torino
Tochukwu "Simy" Nwankwo clocked over 90 minutes for Crotone, and was subbed-off in extra time in their home draw with Torino.
He contributed in putting his team ahead in the 64th minute with an assist. Simy now has a goal and an assist from 4 appearances in the Serie A this season. Standing at an impressive height of 1.98m, he won 5 aerial duels (joint 2nd best), and made 4 dispossessions (2nd best)
+Stats Rating: 7.27

Sadiq Umar also tasted action for over 90 minutes, despite being relatively quiet compared to his compatriot at the opposing side. The Dream Team VI forward who stands at 1.92m tall, however beat Simy in dispossessions with a total of 5 (joint best of the match). Team-mate, Joel Obi is expected to return from in the next round.
+Stats Rating: 6.45

Bologna 2-1 SPAL
2015 Golden Eaglets forward, Orji Okonkwo watched his team-mates from the dugout to victory, for the second consecutive match. Okonkwo has only clocked a total of 17 minutes so far this term for the Red and Blues, but scored his first Serie A goal in Round 5 of the current season.
+Stats Rating: N/A

Backroom staff without name.. Me sef can write anything and quote backroom staff..

soetanoreoluwa:
Watford Ace Success In Rohr’s Plans For World Cup – He’s Different From Other Strikers

https://i2.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3679.jpg?resize=696%2C928


Isaac Success has been handed a lifeline by coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr who still has the player in his Russia World Cup 2018 plans despite his poor form for Watford.

Success made his senior international debut for Nigeria ‎in the 1-1 friendly draw against Senegal in London, but since then injuries and poor form means he hasn’t been called up to the team.

However Rohr still rates him highly and will consider the forward once he sort out his poor form at Watford, where he has been warned by manager Marco Silva about his career after news broke out that he had a row with four commercial sex workers.

” Success still has a chance of going to the World Cup. For now he is the only player we have in the attack of the team who loves to use his body and strength ‎, that distinct quality is what could earn him a spot in the team to Russia “, a member of the backroom staff of the Super Eagles told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Rohr is a big fan of Success, and just like everybody he is disappointed in the way things have turned out at Watford this season, but if he starts playing games then no doubt he will be called up to prove himself “, he concluded.

Osas Mahawi

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/14/watford-ace-success-in-rohrs-plans-for-world-cup-hes-different-from-other-strikers/

many of these Naija journalists are too lazy to do a research.

komekn:
With regards to Tosin he has played zero games in the premiership for City. He has essentially only played youth football.

I have seen Tosin play I am not impressed the only thing he has on his CV is that I'm a a city player, that's all. By now he should be on loan.

Tomori has been on loan at Brighton and now Hull he has been far from impressive. He is not a first choice CB unlike Aina who is the first on the team sheet. However, his team mate Michael Hector is first choice CB and he also is on loan from Chelsea.

Compare both of them to Dominic Iorfa and he is so far ahead of them it's like they are still in primary school, while he is in university.


I really can not comment on the German players simply haven't watched them long enough to form an opinion.

Sadiq for Qatar 2022

tbaba1234:
Umar Sadiq starts for Torino... Interesting day for young players..

Agege hosted for "rotation" sake.

BascoVanVeli:
It was probably one of the worst exhibition of football Nigeria has had to offer in a long long time. Agege was a bad idea, the turf made the ball too bouncy and no team ever looked like playing good football.

modified.
lol.. I hardly learn anything while arguing with him.

safarigirl:
....abeg leave oga forgiveness. When he mentioned a Snapshot sef, i was expecting a picture of Ilori eating jollof like Leon or ewedu like Anthony Joshua or the one wey for finish work, Ilori speaking language ....suffice it to say, I was disappointed

lol.. It's hard to learn anything while arguing with him.

safarigirl:
....abeg leave oga forgiveness. When he mentioned a Snapshot sef, i was expecting a picture of Ilori eating jollof like Leon or ewedu like Anthony Joshua or the one wey for finish work, Ilori speaking language ....suffice it to say, I was disappointed

Good job! I like how you are taking good advantage of that horizontal rule.

soetanoreoluwa:
OWNGOAL Speculation... Who Is the assistant ?

---

Enyeama Return May Bring Another Crisis – Rohr’s Assistant Warns

https://i1.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/50016929-2A40-402C-B812-F08DC61D5891-1295-0000004F5B6F6BE8.jpeg?w=323

‎The impending return of Vincent Enyeama to the senior national team of Nigeria could hamper the unity and also bring about a leadership tussle in the team according to the goalkeeper trainer of the team Alloy Agu.

A little over a year ago, Enyeama left the team in controversial circumstance after a row with then coach Sunday Oliseh, which lead to his removal as captain of the team shortly after he announced his retirement from the team.

Enyeama has agreed to return to the team according to coach Gernot Rohr who still feel the team need his experience despite the presence of goalkeepers like Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

The vacuum created by the absence of first choice goalkeeper ‎Carl Ikeme according to Rohr can be filled without stress by Enyeama, who is presently out injured and also having issues at his French side Lille.

While Rohr is certain Enyeama will improve their options, the goalkeeper trainer of the team Alloy Agu thinks otherwise, insisting that Enyeama’s return will only breed fresh leadership crisis and affect the bonding in the team.


Speaking to Sports Village Square, the former Nigeria international goalkeeper said ” The current Super Eagles under the captaincy of John Obi Mikel will do well in Russia. The likes of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Ajiboye and other goalkeepers have responded well to training “, he said.

Ade Emmanuel

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/14/enyeama-return-may-bring-another-crisis-rohrs-assistant-warns/

hahahaha.. understanding a simple request is the first sign of intelligence.

forgiveness:
Shuuuu! read the snapshot below and let see how smart you are then tell me who needs a proper check

He is not even that passionate about Onomah. Na pretense. Lol

tbaba1234:
Onomah is not that great... He is not a guaranteed starter in the Championship.

lol tell me about Ilori's connection/background with Nigeria. Dude just goes on talking without thinking. Dude U need a check up lol

forgiveness:
What is your chances with Ojokolo and Felix?

About deraming, ask those who were here before you and they will tell you how all my dreams came to pass.