₦airaland Forum

I saw this argument on Facebook and it was full of tribal sentiments. I’ve clearly criticized Osimhen and Zaidu in this thread. When defenders have the opportunity to score they should score even if that’s not their primary role. Likewise a striker in an opportunity to defend should defend for the team. Osimhen has done everything for this team but miss more chances. Likewsise Zaidu who has played as a wing back has failed in his secondary duty most times.

The team is set up to be very defensive. Every starter in that team has a defensive side. While we praise the defenders a lot we fail to realize the upfront (midfielders and forwards) players still play big role in reducing the pressure on the defenders.

I think what is left of this team is also know how to attack as a unit. They defend very well as a unit. If they can figure that out, and Zaidu, Bassey, Ekong etc scores, nobody will complain that Osimhen is not scoring. Really the goals should come from anywhere.

Bannedlargedx2:
The problem here is people and their sentimental biased. For example, Zaidu primary responsibility is his defensive duties and thus far, he has been solid defensively while horrible offensively and people are suggesting that, he should be replaced. Similarly, starboy primary responsibility is to score goals and while he hasn’t scored enough goals, he has provided work ethic, hustle, never say die attitude and critics has been kind. As for me, I wouldn’t drop starboy but would start replacing him earlier if he doesn’t start scoring. You cannot have potent finishers like Iheanacho, moffi on the bench without giving them a chance if your main striker isn’t scoring. In our analysis, let all of be partial

Very objective take.

The SE is doing well but it’s okay to still point out our lapses. We need to improve in our conversion rate. May hunt us at some point.

kennysville:
Apparently you missed my context. but here it is. Remember that before now once a team scores first against Naija, its distress football from then on. We have soldiered on for 5 games at least and thus far we can say we been good. But this isnt group stage anymore where you have a chance at redemption. I will cite 2 instances where chasing odd goal was not easy to come back from. Naija vs Tunisia in the last afcon. 2nd one is Naija vs ghana in Abuja. We saw how difficult it was for us to put in the 2nd goal. Stakes are higher now in that you get eliminated if you dont take your chances. We know no one has scored against us since, not because they havent tried to score. Complacency is all it takes and boom, the midget floors the giant. Thats when almost stories will start .... if we had, if we had.

No one has scored us yet shouldnt be a yardstick to measure how we are doing. For one, we have improved from being docile to being fighters. We cant have hurriedly forgotten how we lost.... sorry I mean drew 2 World Cup qualifier games. Thank God for injuries to certain individuals, do we think Peseiro would have changed his tactics? He found his team because situation necessitated it.


Thats the point I am raising. Please seek to understand not reply

Orban again bad touch

Nice play orban. But over the bar

Orban starts . Watching this one

This

Joebie:
I would have preferred Cape Verde. But we will meet SA and we will beat them. Just pray against PKs

No fear my sister. It’s CIV vs Naija in the finals as I’ve said before.

safarigirl:
Qualifiers are a long way out.

Make we first clear them as dem dey front so. I will not even mind them getting one over us at the WCQ, as long as we don't lose to them on this stage.

By give problems I don’t mean they will beat us. But they will give us problems. We will need our calculator. And we will not win our games H and A. That your prediction won’t come true.

Marjoribanks:
Which SA? The one that Rwanda wan kill? lol
After this AFCON, we will win all our next matches (H and A).

We Dey blow pidgin here too. Relax. Na win we dey call am from back in the days.

kris:
Beat, not win. You win a match/game,/award. You don't win your opponent, they are not the prize.

We will beat SA, but they will give us problems in the WC qualifiers.

How the joebie predictions dey go so far?

Na the matter i dey talk since.

Marjoribanks:
I just read that it was Ekong that told Paserio to sub off Onyeka cos he is injured.

Not playing his bench is a bit concerning.

If Osayi is injured why not play Musa, Chukwueze and Moffi. They all can play on the wings and add the needed pace.
Why run your first 11 ragged when you have a formidable bench?

I don't get that!

We are always gonna win by a slim margin. That’s risky when we don’t convert enough. . My only fear of this team. Meet a team that creates and wirh a high conversion rate — Trouble.

We must start to convert well.

daveP:
None of the teams left to me, aside DRC, have the ability to hold us for 120 and go pk route unless na we want the pk ourselves. SA defense has Mvala as their main man. The rest aren't as good as the Cameroon backline imo. But if na SA we meet, we should just avoid fouls near the 18. That mokoena guy is too good abeg. They're good on counter as well. It is truly up to us at this stage.

Looking at the brightest side. We are the best team so far per SofaScore

I would have preferred Cape Verde. But we will meet SA and we will beat them. Just pray against PKs

daveP:
so in other words, he's doing one for the team, dragging away bodies. That Lookman pass he fluffed was his chance. He messed it up. Moses truly supposed pass but i, like others were expecting he buries that solo effort. E too sweet. E pain me.


So far, among those left, I don't see any big threat aside Cape Verde setup. But it is like a replica of Angola's. Let SA prove themselves sha.

I agree at the bolded. But I’ve seen SA and they are not stopping us. Pray for no PK shoot outs.

Goke7:
that semi-final no go easy if we meet Cape Verde cos we are gradually meeting more technical teams now, The reason I want SA to do me a favour by beating them.

As for the World Cup, na there my eye gan gan, these generation of exciting players must play at the World Cup by fire by force and do well there.

Bassey missed a header today, while Osimhen was prepping his bicycle.

I think Osimhen would have been better placed to score if he had opened for Simon to lay a pass after skipping past those Angola players. Moses was never gonna score that. The Angolans were ever ready to block.

As regards VAR, Very close call. But it was offside.

daveP:
You're right. That aspect should be clinical really. I still stand by Bassey reply to goalscoring. I also want to see another defenser score. But it looks like na Osimhen need step up. Simon don take 2 MOTM already. I believe he will. He needs it for confidence. That offside, was it clear cos it looked like his arm to me.

We are getting to the finals. That’s for sure and after that (hopefully we win) our focus must be qualifying and doing very well at the WC. Anything short of a QF finish will be shameful. We’ve represented Africa many times not to break that Second Round jinx.

Goke7:
we are in the semi-finals and am personally ok with that. We were never favourites to win this afcon, if we lose in the semi-finals, it will be unfair to crucify this team. Our focus should also be on qualifying for the World Cup. I want to see players like Bassey, Onyeka, Aina and Lukman in the World Cup cos their commitment to the team has been outstanding. I've always had issues with players in the Eagles not showing commitment in the way they play but these players have blown me away with their strong sense of patriotism and I will never forget them.

Those criticising Mane should go and sit down, that guy has given his all and is an African hero. Only Cameroon and Egypt in very recent times has won the Afcon back to back. Afcon no be your mate. Mikel likened Afcon to UEFA champions league and I now see what he meant.

Jpes: that thing u tell me still dey work o
MOU: keep it up. See you in Lisbon soon.

Nwabali save and they hit post. They hit target twice. They are not known to waste chances much in the tourney (4/8 )

vs Naija stats

Goke7:
The coach said his attackers were not at their best today, he's giving fatigue as an excuse for his players but we know say na our defensive set up frustrate am and im boys.

I honestly thought we will improve as the tourney progressed. Osimhen has missed 5/13. of our missed chances. So it’s not just Osimhen. If Lookman was that profligate, how e for be? His second against Cameroon could have easily been punched out as he hit it too close to the keeper. I thought the first was class although it barely went in. Damn who else has scored in that team?


.

daveP:
The annoying thing is it is ALWAYS slim to not burying it. But somehow, it doesn't see back of net. We've have how many disallowed goals so far now? To analyze this aspect hard sef. This question fit get answer so? Lol

So why are we not converting enough? I think that’s the big question.

daveP:
i noticed he put up 5 attackers after iwobi was off. It became like 325. I expected Pes to bring in Moffi to replicate the long balls. We just waste chances gaan. That scoreline no do justice.

Angola coach said he knew SE’s weaknesses. He still lost but he did know something. We need to stop wasting chances. Good tactical sides will hit target (shots on target) regardless of our defensive formation.

daveP:
Anybody wey wan beat us gats pack the bus be dat. But that is also counterproductive to them because that's when Osimhen end product skyrockets too. See gap. 18 down to 8 are all out. Phewww

Kai that means we must plan for when Osimhen no dey o.
This is serious!

Mujtahida:
Dem remove am, opposition come get freedom from him wahala and then go score us, wetin you go talk?

Haha that’s how u tinker sides to become WC winners 😂

Mujtahida:
To analyze easy. When you get your own team, begin mix the players like Ogbono 😂😂😂

Na just dissecting I do. 😂

Mujtahida:
You sha still pour sand sand for that beautiful and intelligent analysis 😜😜

My own na to analyze. Not tubu tubu. That’s the nature. of analysis 😂

Mujtahida:
You have forgotten that the long run of yesterday was when we were losing games and drawing against small teams. As for the future, Whenever we lose, we lose. E dey happen. Today we don win and for that I am happy. I no go use fear of future wey I never see begin cry and fail to enjoy the victory of today. Even that future, we will still win some and lose some even if na you be our coach with all your tactical nous. It's the nature of the game.

Anyway he came to win AFCON. Let’s hope we achieve that. After that we need to qualify for WC and represent Very well. The bar is
now set at semi finals for Africa.

lbrichman2:
Leave long-term
This is tournament football
You do what you need to win
Leave matter for Mathias!

You sabi. Charles no dey watch matches haha

Goke7:
that's why it's difficult for any Eagles coach to drop Simon, his defensive abilities is a big plus, I saw him break off threats from Angola today

I have praised this same team in this tourney. You want make I curse u?

charlesemeka85:
long run ko, hide as the goodjoe don hide then crawl out when the team loses to criticize them for been too defensive

Moses Simon has always had a defensive side. Follow SE history.

charlesemeka85:
and he added more defensively to his game

You going by your narrative because we are winning. I’m rather being objective. Not carried away by the moment. I’m thinking in the long run.

Mujtahida:
Bro you are not seeing black and calling it black. Na defeat go satisfy una.