₦airaland Forum

If something happen to Balogun, heart attack.. Na wa, and we are a country blessed with talents..

We NEED Balogun oh!

Icon79:
We definitely need him for that game. We're all praying for you, Leon!


O pari

YES the Nigerian factor is killing everything. That Nigerian way we reason. Our mindset is our number one problem

Icon79:
You ain't lying, bro. I was watching the Nigeria VS Egypt match again this morning and kept trying to understand why/how Siasia decided to start VicMo on the bench on the first leg. In addition, there are a few players who started that game that shouldn't have.

You must always consider the "Nigerian Factor". Sad but true!


O pari

Oga, my brother. South African University football is shown on Supersports. Are we still living in the stone age?
Our coaches are lazy. You are very correct. But that's not the real problem.

Modified
American football is arguably the number one sports in the United States. This is a country that almost always end up first in the olympics.
Ask any typical american what their favorite football team is. They will give you two teams. A college football team,and a national football team. Why? Their system is so organized that before a talented footballer graduates from high school they have already gotten university scholarship. The university football league is shown on TV.. it's as huge as the National Football League. Today, we have South Africa doing something very similar with their football at the university level, and someone is surprised they came to Nigeria to beat us.

Are we still living in caves? Just as many Nigerians still strive to go abroad because of the bad system here, we will continue to try to cap foreign based players because of our poor football development that does not guarantee the availability of stars. So whether we are 500 million in the country or not, the truth remains we cannot churn out stars regularly from the home front. The earlier we accept these facts the better for us. Our anger and sentiments is misdirected. Onuoha is just one individual. We have way bigger problems. We can claim to be talented, but still there is little evidence.

Icon79:
Like I had always said, one problem with Naija coaches is that most of them are fecking lazy! Instead scouting and visiting soccer venues (including Universities and academies) to discover hidden talents, they would get stuck with the same non-performing players!

Please don't tell me that Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are the two best goalkeepers in Nigeria today. Yet we kept inviting them to the Super Eagles even though that they have demonstrated over and over again that they are not good enough. Insanity, they say, is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.

Nigeria, we hail thee!


O pari

I've seen some. I know some are good. The question really is are they really the best we have in the league? That's why I said the team looks decent. If they will go far at CHAN proper, that's another matter.

I thank goodness for our academies which ship our young talents abroad.. so we hope again based on how they develop there.

Icon79:
Joe, have you see most of those guys play?


O pari

The team looks decent.
Let's hope again.

BascoVanVeli:
CHAN: Odey, Ex-Eaglets Keeper Named In Home Eagles Squad For Benin Clash


 10 Aug 2017
 Headlines, Top Stories


Home-based Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf selected Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer MFM’S Stephen Odey, FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Orji Kalu and Osas Okoro, midfielders Alhassan Ibrahim and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, and Ifeanyi George among the 19 players for Sunday’s 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Benin Republic in Cotonou, the Nigeria Football Federation announced in a press release made available to Completesportsnigeria.com on Thursday.
Also included in the squad are 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Dele Ajiboyemail who now plays for NPFL leaders Plateau United, Enyimba defender Chima Akas, Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali and forward Thomas Zenke.


Enyimba oalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai and MFM forward Sikiru Olatubosun are also in the squad.
The squad will fly from Kano to Lagos on Friday, from where they will travel to Cotonou by road same day.

Cotonou is a short trip from Lagos as Benin Republic’s border in Seme is on the outskirts of Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal for the match at the Stade de l’Amitie on Sunday, starting from 4pm.

He will be assisted by compatriots Mokrane Gourari (Assistant Referee 1), Mohammed Serradj (Assistant Referee 2) and Said Aquina (Reserve Referee).

The return leg will be held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano on Saturday, 19 August, with the winners qualifying for the 5th African Nations Championship scheduled for Kenya early next year.

20 EAGLES FOR COTONOU

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)


Defenders: Orji Kalu (Rangers International); Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Ariwachukwu Emmanuel (Akwa United); Chima Akas (Enyimba FC); Nasiru Sani (Katsina United); Osas Okoro (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Hafiz Aremu (Akwa United); Raphael Ayagwa (Lobi Stars); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United)

Forwards: Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC); Thomas Zenke (Nasarawa United); Stephen Odey (MFM FC); Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars); Ifeanyi George (Rangers International)

Read more at https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/chan-odey-ex-eaglets-keeper-named-home-eagles-squad-benin-clash/#JpXxroScBZxI632d.99

Long overdue

BascoVanVeli:
‘Biggest revelation’ Dele Ajiboye presses Ezenwa for CHAN Eagles No 1, seriously being considered for Super Eagles


By admin -
August 11, 2017

Plateau United goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye is pressing skipper Ikechukwu Ezenwa hard for a starting shirt in Sunday’s CHAN 2018 playoff in Benin just as SCORENigeria has exclusively gathered he has so impressed to be on the Super Eagles squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon.

A top team official described the former Nigeria U17 and Olympic team shot stopper as “the biggest discovery” in the CHAN Eagles with Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali also catching many eyes.

“Ajiboye has impressed everyone including the new goalkeeper trainer and he could even be the man in goal against Benin on Sunday,” the team official revealed.

“Already he will be considered for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon.

“And who knows, he might even be the one in goal for those matches, that’s how.”

Ajiboye told SCORENigeria before the CHAN Eagles training camp opened in Kano that he hoped to use the home-based national team to relaunch his career after he last represented Nigeria at the 2012 Olympics qualifying tournament in Morocco six years ago.

“My major target is to be in the main Super Eagles and so doing well with the CHAN Eagles will help me achieve that,” declared ‘Aji-boy’, who posted a short-lived stint in Portugal before he returned to the domestic league.

In the meantime, SCORENigeria has gathered Kano Pillars defender Jamiu Alimi was axed from the matchday squad to Cotonou because his international passport is lodged at a foreign embassy apparently to process a visa to attend trials abroad shortly.



By Kola Daniel

Always same old IFs.. We keep wishing all our lives. @ last paragraph.

kennysville:
My friend, I want to believe you are intelligent. Therefore, I would rather u stick to the narrative and skip the part where u tacitly insult other people. I dont engage in insulting people and so I dont suppose I ought to be insulted. Kindly choose your targets wisely.

That said, from the days of Justin and john fashanu, we have had this issue. Where we have to plead with players born in foreign land to play for us. Let us not forget that Nigerians arent so forgiving. Fashanu played soccer to the highest level. After he retired, Then he remembered he wants to input in to the football organisation in Nigeria. What stood against him is just his decision to not want to play for Nigeria when needed the most. The same played out with Agbonlahor, Ade Akinbiyi and all 3 lions wannabes.Before the advent of egunje nko? Have you asked yourself that? Before Nigeria became a corrupt state nko? I say once again, whether you are better than what we have or not, if you are not willing then off u go. Forget about how big or better you might think you are. If he was that good, he would be playing for chelsea or Man U or Arsenal. Sometimes we tend to forget that its TV cameras that made us know certain players. What about the ones we never discovered on the streets of Ajegunle? In a nation of 170 million, it should be a priviledge that you got called on to represent Nigeria. And i think this is where most of our players get it wrong. SMALL money now, they act like they own the state.

They should always remember that it was a case of time and chance. I remember when FA sent Idah Peterside to speak to this dude. The guy was gonna play for 3lions and told Idah categorically he doesnt "feel" nigerian. Now in the twilight of his career, he suddenly is a candidate?
Idahwas like if any one mentions this dude again in nigerian football circles or thathe now has a change of heart, he gonna strip naked and curse him.(Not them say... he said it on super sport programme Soccer Africa)

Everything cannot be blamed on egunje. If you dont feel like a Nigerian,its nobody's fault. We wish you good luck breaking into the 3lions or whichever team. Up till today, apart from Dele Alli, which player of Nigerian descent played more than 6 competitive games for England? They always end with U21 sides. And now we have to kiss the ground they walk on because they are partly Nigerian? Haba
Let it be clear, Nigeria isnt your second choice because you carry british passport. This is the problem I have with people who altogether forgot their roots and because of greener pastures forgot to train their Kids as to where they come from. I can understand for the ones who had absentee Nigerian dads. What do we say about o es who actually have both parents being Nigerians? Like it or Not, if Sone Aluko chooses not to play for Nigeria again, he has something to show for it. AFCON medal!
Thats as close as it gets.

And on a final note, Nigeria possesses abundant talent because we dont teach football. It is practically in us. If we develop our own academies and structures that allow for growth of players, there wont be this talk of Foreign born . I dont have anything against this,but lets stop making lame excuses for these born and bred in Lodon kids. I will personally blame parents. Roots are important!

okay oh.. waka well lol

do4luv14:
no I Neva co.e again.....

I still dey far away.......

mak ah reach wia I dey go.......

I don't know how I missed this post. Intelligent piece!!!! I differ just SLIGHTLY.

komekn:
Your comment display a complete lack contextual understanding, identity appreciation and insensitive in the extreme, I could say ignorant but i will not.

You would have to define what it means to Feel Nigerian from your perspective for other to appreciate.


Last year I was in Nigeria twice to link a 30 year old Ibo lady of mixed race heritage to a Father she had never seen since she was 2 years old. There are quite a lot of Nigerian heritage children who have Fathers who are missing. Then you have the full bloodied Nigerians who have been tutored by their parents, that all things Nigerian are bad and dangerous. I will not go into all the negative stories true and untrue in social media and the press. Considering all these impacting factors on the concept of being Nigerian, how Nigerian do you want them to feel

His concept of not feeling Nigerian may be that, i have unquestionable integrity, I believe in fair play, I will not use financial inducement to gain advantage (egunje), I will show the utmost professionalism, I will not call on any godfathers and if i have to do these things , i may not feel very Nigerian.

I probably know since 1994 every English Nigerian who has played for Nigeria personally, and the issues i have mentioned albeit tongue in cheek, have always come up.

Most Nigerian origin players that i know would choose Nigeria first , however, the approach by majority of officials leaves much to be desired as well as the haphazard organisation we seemingly can not get away from.

Therefore, because you want to play for Nigeria we expect these boys should throw to the dogs every good and best practice they have become accustomed to and rightfully expect in any professional football setting. And if that is your idea of cant stand heat, then we have a problem.


The issue of the three lions does not arise.

Deviating somewhat, which of our central defenders is currently better than Nedum

hahaha you don come again!

do4luv14:
bros ah go tire for you ooo, first you don't know PETERSIDE IDAH now na to promote that "" wasted up grandpa""

you don let first lady vex lik dis, she no gimme fud chop sleep last nite,


ah go vex for you oooooooo!!!!!!!!......... Ah don tok ma own

Maybe if your read the whole thing again with a clear mind you will get the context the @ bolded

goldfish80:
Lol.. He's happy to be a fan for now? Like he was never a fan before. Being a fan of the country of your parents is like an on and off switch.
Look, it's not beyond this guy to deliberately score an own goal if he played for us against England.
Like Patrick Obahiagbon will say Kabutorejectametta!

Let me say one more thing about the Onuoha issue. It's not a sin not to feel Nigerian. The environment a child grows up has a big big influence on them. in fact it would take parents inculcating in their children and more efforts for children abroad to feel a link with their motherland. It's not a sin not to feel Nigerian enough. The problem is that he expressed it. Which is the reason he is being castigated by many of us.

Let me throw in this scenario, if we all were faced with the option of joining one army. The British or the Nigerian. Which army we go choose? The problem is we are not being truthful with the situation. Of course you can't think clearly when you are sentimental. Football is a profession. The national team you play for adds to your resume. Is there an element of patriotism, yes. But it's not a big factor like we think. Even our homebased players today, if they went abroad to a country big in football, say Germany and all of a sudden, the Germany wants to cap them. The thought of it would give them sleepless nights.. Me i like to call white, white, and black, black.

Belgian-Nigerian Striker Cyriel Desires Tipped To Be The Next Huntelaar
Published: August 10, 2017
Belgian-Nigerian Striker Cyriel Dessers Tipped To Be The Next Huntelaar

Belgian-born Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers has been tipped to make the grade at Dutch Eredivisie side FC Utrecht, and has been labelled the next Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Dessers was acquired by FC Utrecht this summer after the club sold their main player and striker Sébastien Haller to Eintracht Frankfurt, and the Super Eagles hopeful is hoping to step into the shoes of the Frenchman.

''He is similar to Huntelaar: every opportunity he gets is a goal. Dessers could be FC Utrecht attack leader, but has never made more than four goals in a season at the highest level so far,'' Elf Voetbal wrote in an editorial.

''In that regard, he might need some time to adapt. Dessers has talent, but in certain areas is somewhat short of Haller.''

Last season, Dessers contributed to 42 goals (29 goals, 13 assists) in all competitions while defending the colours of NAC Breda.

The 22-year-old netted his maiden goal for Utrecht a week ago in their Europa League qualifier versus Lech Poznań.
.

Igho Kingsley

-- AllNigeriaSoccer

Hahaha that's why we will never progress as a people. Holding on to the past. I pray we beat Cameron sha. I will be back before and after the double header.

Modified
You know I don't need to disgrace Nigeria Na. Our athletes are thy representing us? How many dem dey give visa? Why do we always get into issues like that? We have forgotten about the Olympics so soon. If Onuoha wants to play for Migeria now overlooking the past no be disgrace oh. We don't know our problem.

safarigirl:
Even when our football was at the bottom of the barrel two years ago, Nedum Onuoha was not an option, talk less now.

See ehn, I will rather we lose with a back four of Egwueke, Oboabona, Omeruo and Ambrose than win with any back four containing Nedum.

Nigeria is one of the top footballing nations in Africa, we should have a little pride in certain situations, this is one of such.

Nedum Onuoha can never play for us again, so @Joebie, if you like, dig up every article you can find of the washed up grandpa, like someone already said, unless he's a goalie, we don't need him.

Stop disgracing us with such unreasonable calls abeg

Last weekend, Onuoha played at the heart of QPR's defense as they beat visiting Reading 2-0. Reading's Thiago Ilori got red-carded.

Line-up below:

Sunday Mba now surplus to requirement at newly promoted Yeni Malatyaspor

Onuoha's 2016/17 stats:

Championship 43(starts) 3(goals) 2(assist) 6(yellows) - 1(red) 3.868(minutes)

No wonder Stoke and Brighton wants him.

I'm personally impressed with this. The Championship is as good as some other top leagues:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/nedum-onuoha/leistungsdaten/spieler/28810/plus/0?saison=2016

In-form QPR's Nedum Onuoha opens up on hopes of international call-up

The Rangers skipper is having a decent spell in Hoops back four - note his fine hit for the winner at Wigan - but thinks his days to collect a cap or two are in the past

21
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COMMENTS
BYJON BATHAM
14:22, 2 SEP 2016
SPORT

Eagle denied: Nedum Onuoha
21
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Nedum Onuoha has all but given up on an international career with Nigeria.

The QPR skipper has been impressive form this season, and even scoring the winner at last weekend’s trip to Wigan. Have a look at his right-foot hit again, below


It’s the sort of form which should have the 29-year-old on the radar of current Nigerian boss Salisu Yusuf.

However, Onuoha hinted at being let down in the past, and claims the desire to pull on the green shirt no longer burns so brightly.


“There was a time in the past where I did have the opportunity with Nigeria, but it was really only on one occasion,” he said.

“Since then I’ve had a few false dawns with people saying they can sort this out and that out, but it has not happened and I’ve enjoyed the club side of football.

“It is not that important to me to be honest. If I was to receive a call-up then that would be great and there would be a decision to make, but I’ve not received one.”

Even so, Onuoha continues to share a kindred spirit with his birth nation and remains a supporter of the Super Eagles.


He was as glued to the TV as time allowed to watch Nigeria battle their way to bronze at the Olympics after losing to Germany in the semi-finals.

“I’m happy to be a fan for now,” he added and I kept an eye on the boys at the Olympics where they always seem to do well.

"For anyone like me who was born there you hold the success of your nation close to your heart and like to see them doing well. Unfortunately, the gold medal was not to be."

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/form-qprs-nedum-onuoha-opens-11833487

Haha.. I don't know about Rohr. if not Onuoha, maybe another Oyinbo-wall candidate. Ask Rohr

goldfish80:
Well to me, I prefer getting someone here from the NPFL who will shed blood, sweat and tears for the Jersey than a hired washed-up, 30 something year old mercenary, who even at his best is quite incompetent.

Like I said, that's a far better argument, than talking about what he said 5 years or so ago

tbaba1234:
Onuoha is really not that good anyway. There should be no argument about him.

Oga if NFF needs Onuoha today, Idah can't overturn it.

Mickael2:
A bonafide member of the 'football Africa' panel, he definetly knows more about African football and wields more power than you think

No it's not baseless, because I can identify many cogent reasons why many players will rather opt for England for example if they got a call up for sure.

Iwobi's case is an exception. Many of these players if they got a call up right away by the other country and Nigeria wanted them as well, would they honestly say they would choose Nigeria? I'm not speaking of hoping for a call up. I'm speaking of an outright call up.. Think about it. Football is a profession. Moses was not called up to England's senior team. He could have waited, but he opted to play for Nigeria.

Not all players want to wait, else Alaba would have waited to play for Nigeria where his heart was. Yet he is giving Austria his 100% today, despite he feeling more Nigerian (i'm assuming).

Mickael2:
Iwobi was definetly going to get a call up, yet he opted to represent Nigeria. Victor Moses sure thing too, but they came down here, Moses even had more reason to feel English but no, he still opted to play for us. No need dwelling on 'buts and ifs', the bottomline is that no other player has ever said he doesn't feel nigerian before, all your assumptions that other foreign born players would have done same is, sorry to say, baseless

That's a far better argument

goldfish80:
I saw a couple of Qpr games last season and Onuoha played at CB. He looks over weight to handle the rigours of playing on the wings. Please this guy is not an option.
We are no longer in 2009.

I"m not sure. Thought he is now a pastor in South Africa

Mickael2:
He is a football analyst for Supersports, I am pretty sure that is not a bad thing. You trying to run down Peterside won't change the fact at all

Why are we calling Idah into this, as if should the NFF ask Onuoha to make a switch Idah can overturn it. That's my point. He doesn't hold such influence

Mickael2:
He is a football analyst for Supersports, I am pretty sure that is not a bad thing. You trying to run down Peterside won't change the fact at all

Well it's not a sin to express your true feelings. I still maintain that the likes of Balogun etc today if they had a call up by the other country, they
won't turn it down and opt for Nigeria. Na because the guy talk he mind?

Mickael2:
you do not even get the point. This is a player who said the feeling he has whilst watching game involving England is way....way deeper than what he feels when watching the SE(if he has ever watched them anyways). You said you don't feel Nigerian enough, but atleast when you watch the IAAF you cheer any nigerian athlete there, when the SE want to start a match you feel like you belong, that is the true definition of feeling nigerian and the young man said he doesn't have that in his blood, the conversation ends there really

Where, not who.. The guy who played in South Africa. And all he can contribute now is tell Onuoha, I tried to get you last time, and you turned us down?
I'm sure he has something better to do. Like becoming a gk coach maybe.

TheGoodJoe:
He is a former Super Eagles goalkeeper.

Alaba gives his all to Austria today. Your comments is based on sentiments -- I can even tell from your expressions -- because he turned down Nigeria initially.

TheGoodJoe:
We are just giving Onuoha enough time to wait for the Three Lions and the Queen to call him up. We really want him to play where his heart is because his heart is not here.

We want those who feel Nigerian wearing the green white Jerseys. Those who will give their all because it means so much to them.

Where is Idah sef?

TheGoodJoe:
We want those who feel Nigerian to wear the Super Eagles Jersey. Simple. Let Peterside Idah not catch Onuoha near our camp. He will explain whether he now feels Nigerian.

Oh no. base on our current situation, we are still looking for full backs. you say Echiejile is good enough, and Shehu as well, good for you. Onuoha is expected to make a move to the EPL, and someone one says 30 years is too old. Let's call a spade a spade. We need defenders, and Rohr has been looking.

goldfish80:
Even more laughable you're suggesting Onuoha of all people.

Even I, don't feel Nigerian enough. And it's not a sin to feel so. It's not to a sin to express your true feelings. I've been here for about 3 weeks, but I can't wait to return to my abode, even though I call Nigeria my home. What does that mean? I have my own definition of feeling Nigerian. i can say I don't feel Nigerian because I can't even live here for 4 weeks. It's sad!

TheGoodJoe:
Alaba did not turn down Nigeria or Austria. Alaba even made effort to play for us. Alaba feels Nigerian. That was why he carried the Nigerian flag when Bayern Munich won the Champions League.

Not Onuoha who does not feel Nigerian.

Of course you missed the point.

TheGoodJoe:
Alaba did not turn down Nigeria or Austria. Alaba even made effort to play for us. Alaba feels Nigerian. That was why he carried the Nigerian flag when Bayern Munich won the Champions League.

Not Onuoha who does not feel Nigerian.