₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
Eric Ejiofor and Obinna Nwanneri only got SE call ups after their heroics with the Enyimba team that won the CAF champions league late 2003. That's why I said 2003/2004.

No they are always part of Amodu home based.Eric Ejiofor was a close pal when he was playing for Kwara Bomber(United)He got his first invitation into eagles as Kwara United player but became popular at Enyimba before moving to Isreal.

komekn:
I would not rate Ndidi higher than Oliseh irrespective of the fact they played different roles.

Mikel is not better than Okocha

Echijile is certainly not better than Babayaro

I said Olishe of US 94 not Olishe of post US 94.I would be a foolish man to rate Mikel higher than Okocha but Mikel of today is better than Okocha of US 94 not Okocha of post US 94,hope you get my point and I never compared Echiejele and Babayaro cos Celestine was not member of US 94 but Iroha was far better than Echiejele.

tglobal:
Late 2002 in memory of 1000+ people who lost their lives in a ferry disaster in Senegal (https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2002/10/sene-o02.html). We presented an home based team against Senegal's 'A' team basking in the aftermath of a successful world cup

Three Gbosa for you!God bless.

Icon4s:
That must be around 2003/2004 then.

Thought u were referring to the late 90s.

double Post

Icon4s:
That must be around 2003/2004 then.

Thought u were referring to the late 90s.

I can't really recollect the year but it should be 2002 or 2003.

forgiveness:
Yekini was the top goal scorer in the Portuguese liga.

Evan Ekoku scored double digit goals in the EPL and scored in UEFA cup.

Victor Ikpeba was among the top goal scorers in the Belgian league with 17 goals in 1993 before he moved to Monaco where he scored in UEFA champions league.

Finidi was with Ajsx.

We had players in Anderlecht.

Don't get Mujtahida wrong, US 94 was a team of eager players who are ready to prove to the world that they can do it,truly we have talents but as at that time most of them are in average clubs except Finidi at Ajax and Chidi Nwanu at Anderlecht.

Remember we have some players in this team that are unattached,players like Emeka Ezeugu Uche Okafor, Stephen Keshi,Peter Rufai,Mike Emenalo,Thompson Oliha are either unattached or doing it in a low league.

Icon4s:
Ow Sani Abacha didnt that play Ecuador '95 U17. Must have mistaken him for someone else.

That 2-2 draw against Senegal was in 2000 AFCON qualifiers right? Not sure we saw that game live in Nigeria and the internet was not as useful as it is now. So hardly will you know all players in the squad.

The 2-2 draw was a friendly match prosecuted by home based players against star studded Senegal team.It was not showed live but relayed in the night.

In the home based team we have Seyi Ogunsanya,Seyi Olajegbeshi,Sani Abacha,Oluwole Johnson, Seyi Olofinhana,Obinna Nwaneri,Eric Ejiofor,Tony Alegbe,Friday Ejedegba while Senegal team had Tony Sylva,Papa Diop,Hadji Diouf,Sane.

Icon4s:
Hmmm....those were some of the strange names that donned our jerseys that day.

With the exception of Sani Abacha who was part of the 1995 Eaglets we no even know where them pick some of those other players from.

Tomorrow now wikipedia will refer to one Lati Alanamu as former Super Eagles international and we go dey wonder when him play for us. I still Nova recall that Ojokojo own. Hahahaha.

Yes very strange names but the same players held very in form Senegal team to 2-2 draw in Dakar,hope you remember.

Sani Abacha was not part of Ecuador 95 but parr of home based Under 23 team prior to Atlanta 96.Lati Alanamu was a solid footballer but not that serious,he played for Stationary Stores and Rangers now in UK

Oh Ojokojo was a well known to guys who are real fans of Nigeria local league in the 80s especially Shooting star fans.

Icon4s:
The team was not overrated.

The real class in that team showed when they played against Spain and Bulgaria.

What affected the team was lack of early preparation. We didnt take part in the 1998 AFCON due to ban as a result political interference by the Nigerian government in 1996.

We found out our deficiencies too late and we quickly tried to make amends by making some fire brigade calls.

That team was loaded with individual quality but there was no coordination as a team.

In that Catalonia game I think Amodu was in charge. Following the disappointment of losing 4-1 to Denmark there were loud calls for the inclusion of "Hungry" home based players into the team. We had a couple of strange names and faces that night. And we were trashed 5-0. We got the hint that home based was not the answer.

I cannot forget the loud jubilations in the streets that even after we beat Spain 3-2.

We saw the highs and lows of Nigerian football that year.

So many high scoring matches.

My man France 98 squad was overrated.A team with players who have passed their prime, players like Rufai,Yekini,Eguavoen, Iroha,Okafor.

Hope you remember we took injured Amokachie to WC,Oparaku was not that solid like Atlanta 96 even his club status was suspect,Taribo was a suspect all through,check Denmark match,Kanu not able to replicate his Atlanta magic,just playing like normal player,Finidi form had dropped,Amuneke not the real guy again,Okocha as usual continue where he stopped against Italy,playing to the gallery.

The business minded guys in that team are Sunday Olishe,Adepoju Mutiu,,Celestine Babayaro while Victor Ikpeba, Wilson OrumaTijani Babaginda,Godwin Opara who are ready to prove a point where always on the bench,remember Ikpeba,Oruma,Babangida had a goal each at France 98.

My point is this based on paper the players look solid but as a team they are not solid,beating Spain was one of those things and beating Bulgaria was the confidence of US 94.

My man i don't rate this team.

Mujtahida:
hahahaha. I am not a good gambler. I am only trying to say I don't think he would be sacked at least from indications but if you say so then perhaps you have facts informing your assertion. in any case dropping out first round is not what we hope for.

Yes he can be sacked if he failed to make it to second round,forget his contract extension.

TheGoodJoe:
Catalonia was after France 98. Just wanted to point this out.

Yes you are correct cos i have some pals that were in the squad that played that match,guys like Sani Abacha,Friday Ejedegba,Lati Alanamu.

owbabs:
Nigeria Results in 1998

Nigeria vs Germany 0-1
Nigeria vs Yugoslavia 0-3
Nigeria vs Holland 1-5
Nigeria vs Spain 3-2
Nigeria vs Bulgaria 1-0
Nigeria vs Paraguay 1-3
Nigeria vs Denmark 1-4
Nigeria vs Catalonia 0-5

Was this team overrated or what?

Yes very overrated team,this team conceded 9 goals at France 98 just to tell you Willy Opara was not that terrible prior to WC but the defence.

Mujtahida:
Amokachi was not tearing anything in Belgium. He joined super eagles while he was in ranchers bees of kaduna. He later went to Belgium. Siasia was warming the bench in Belgium. Kog45 has given a list of the club's the golden generation were playing in and they were all average players playing for average teams. Some were not even playing. They were permanent bench warmers. When i pointed it out to you the last time you said now is not 94 but here you are hyping amokachi. You guys hammering on the fact that our team is average don't understand what a team is all about. Its the same mentality that gets Nigerians hooked to certificates. We need a team with a winning mentality. That's all that matters. The story of the rabbit (stellar player/team) and the tortoise (average player/team) comes to mind.

Thank you.US 94 team were average but solid as a team.

The US 94 midfield is not better than what we have now,Ndidi of now is better than Olishe of US 94,Mikel of today is better than Okocha of US 94,our fullbacks were better than US 94 set albeit Iroha Ben though US 94 squad had better CB in Okechukwu and Nwanu but lacked the bench of today's team.

Defenders like Uche Okafor,Emenalo and Ezeugu will not make this present team and Keshi has passed his prime meaning the present CBs still have depths in Balogun,Ekong,Awaziem, Omeruo

In attacks i gave it to US 94 squad cos Yekini, Amokachie,Siasia,Finidi and Amuneke are just too solid than Ighalo,Iheanacho,Iwobi,Simeon,well may be Vic Moses can pull a surprise making the bench cos we still have Ikpeba and Ekoku on the bench.

Goalkeeping i don't want to go there cos we have solid keepers in US 94 team,Rufai and Agbonavbare are just too solid even average Alloy Agu is better than what we have now.

As u said we just need to work on what we have and the only way out is tactics cos only names that can decide outcomes of a match today are Messi and Ronaldo,so tactics must do it for us with the players we have now,it works against Argentina though a friendly match.

Mujtahida:
Amokachi was not tearing anything in Belgium. He joined super eagles while he was in ranchers bees of kaduna. He later went to Belgium. Siasia was warming the bench in Belgium. Kog45 has given a list of the club's the golden generation were playing in and they were all average players playing for average teams. Some were not even playing. They were permanent bench warmers. When i pointed it out to you the last time you said now is not 94 but here you are hyping amokachi. You guys hammering on the fact that our team is average don't understand what a team is all about. Its the same mentality that gets Nigerians hooked to certificates. We need a team with a winning mentality. That's all that matters. The story of the rabbit (stellar player/team) and the tortoise (average player/team) comes to mind.

Thank you.I can say it anywhere that our US 94 team were average but solid as a team.

Icon4s:
The goal keeping was atrocious. Still trying to recall that guy that kept in that 2nd half against Holland.

Awful.

France 98 squad were overrated

chrisooblog:
I think you are being overly presumptuous that we could have won the world cup. Football is not mathematics where by if you beat mr A it doesn't necessarily mean you will defeat Mr B. Remember bulgaria that we defeated also beat Argentina so they are no guarantees we would have beaten them again.

Yes with hindsight we should have seen off the Italians but you make it sound as if the azzuri were completely rubbish. In my opinion it was tactical naivety and player irresponsibility (Okocha dribbling all over the place without purpose, oliseh's half hearted tackle that led to the Italians equalizer) that caused us that game not so much the loss of amunike and amokachii. After all they didn't do much before and after the goal.

I understand your concern that we go with the very best players that can represent us and the world cup and not sentimentally stick to who is not performing clubwise but who are the replacements?

Bro I know you want the best for the super eagles but don't allow too much skepticism to blind you to the potential of our team.

For sure our coach and players are not sacred cows that can't be criticized or questioned all some of us posters are saying is have a little faith at least our team deserves that much

Thank you,we lost to Italy due to tactical mistake from Westerhoff,Siasia and Ikpeba should have replaced injured Amokachie and Amuneke.

Apart from this Olishe blunder gave the match to Italy,Okocha too didn't help the situation by playing for the fun of the game,Yekini was off form,losing a great chance created by Mike Emenalo in the dying minutes of the match.

I hate to discuss this match cos till today am not happy we lost that match,very painful defeat that took a whole nation some years to get over it,just two minutes to quarter final.

Humility017:
you're right....he is very inexperienced.
merely keeping mute would have save him alot of troubles......

pinnick still don't mind try still work things out should he change his mind...but with that statement...not even the sport minister can help him.....

he better fist his eyes on England...because thats the country he has now...

My man forget about this young dude and let us move on,he has his life to live and nobody can dictate to the young man on what to do.He is not the first one to refuse Nigeria and he will not be the last.

Justin and John Fashanu refused Nigeria, Gabriel Agbonlahon,Patrick owomoyela,Sidney Samuel,this QPR of a guy Chiedum Onuha snub Nigeria on a platter of gold with wide card for him to represent Nigeria at WC but he said NO except Carlton Cole which i felt for cos FIFA rule at that time denied him the opportunity to represent Nigeria.

I don't see anything wrong in Tammy rejection cos he didn't belong here and we have many of them who are of Nigeria parentage representing different countries or what do you want to say of Gloria Alozie a full Nigeria athlete that switched to Spain or Francis Obikwelu that switched to Portugal.Samuel Peter did it for US in boxing,now Anthony Joshua for UK or you forget homegrown Hakeem the dream Olajuwon that represented US at Olympics.

If you watch last World Athletes Championship,my man you pity Nigeria,see Nigerians representing United Kingdom,United State,Canada which we have accepted as norms but Bahrain,Qatar,funny enough Japan,saw one Sanusi Brown representing Japan,just to tell you we need to go back to basic and start developing our grassroots sports so that we wouldn't be bother if any player reject us.

tbaba1234:
It was not impatience. He had better offers outside of England that might have suited him more. He chose to remain in England for passport reasons.

Honestly i don't know why guys were so hard on this young man Iheanacho,very unfair cos the criticism is damn too much and we need to be fair to balance things up and for those supporting the young man let take it cool cos we don't need to tag anyond as hater of super eagles coz of Iheanacho.

As icon4s said he was seeing Anti vs Pro Nacho which made the discussion watery and not educative for guys to learn from,Iheanacho will not be the first footballer to be in this position and the only way out is to continue working hard to make the team or look for another club that would give him playing time,nothing more.

Telling us he made the mistake going to Leicester is after thought cos 95% of us here were of the opinions that he should move from manchester city except thegoodjoe,so why castigating the young man.Do you guys think the young man is happy with the situation coz some think he is contented,forgetting he can't force himself out due to his contractual obligation with the club.The only way out is to have good talk with the coach on the way out.

Truly not having regular games will have negatives effect on his game at the WC cos this what affected Mikel at last WC and Nigeria suffered for it.It is not good having two great players in Iheanacho and Musa not making match day squad.

What i expect here are suggestions on the way out not trying to score point on Iheanacho challenges cos the young is down at the moment.I thought a lot should remember how we are always depress when having issues in our working place or schools,so the young man need our support and even all the super eagles players facing similar situation.

Humility017:
the thing is...is he willing to play for the super eagles....?
we don't want another player that will give us Tammy treatment and use us draw up Southgate attention.....

I really do admire the lad...same with ejaria...
but I fear if those kids think and wanna play for Nigeria....

if you're convinced they don't mind play for us....let us know...we can start drum support for their call up....you never can tell where that gonna leads to

My man that boy Onomah is good but as you said we don't want another Abraham treatment.

Icon4s:
Thank you. The game ended 2-2.

Yes 2-2,this was a match James Obiorah showed a class but unfortunately he was dropped for no reason and even Siasia was dropped but we went to France for 98 with already injured Daniel Amokachie,the team was full of cabal of Atlanta 96 led by Sunday Olishe and the mafia continue till 2002 Afcon.

OMANBALA1:
I am not trying to compare goalkeepers here ,rather I want to assert that Dosu is not a goalkeeper to brag about or be proud of. Dude is worst goalkeeper I have ever seen kept goal for Nigeria.

Pls read my comment on Dosu in the previous pages on how he got invitation to Atlanta 96 team,i said it was based on pure business between Churchill Olishe and Bonfrere Jo not that he was better than Emma Babayaro or Abiodun Baruwa.I never rate him but that doesn't erased his contribution to Adewale bridge boys.

TheGoodJoe:
Kanu contributed more to the team than Goals. He spent a lot of time dropping deep and helping the team stay fluid. The Super Eagles boasted of many sprinting forwards/Wingers. Kanu's game for us had more to do with team play than goals.

My man I know KANU contributed a lot to the team.

OMANBALA1:
Thats probably why Julius Berger sucked so badly. If a basket like Joseph Dosu was your best choice then you must really suck.

Suck?Nawa o,pls tell me the best keeper in Julius Berger history and if you can convince me no issue,I will gladly accept.

OMANBALA1:
You guys dont understand this, Ezenwa was not invited based on his current form as at when he was invited rather based on confidence inherited from previous performances. And I know you will ask are there not other goalkeepers doing well, well , there were but the goalkeeping job is a little different than outfield players. Keepers are mostly invited based on previous performances which usually means they have experience which translates into confidence and a crucial game like the one against Cameroon and Zambia is not an ideal occasion to try news hands.Ezenwa heroic performance at previous CHAN was still following him and lets be honest, my nigga rose to the occasion when he was needed.

My man i know Ezenwa invitation was based on previous performance as home based Eagles keeper.

AIG07:
look, club performance puts players in the spotlight and gives them the necessary recognition.

Have you ever wonder why some players keep getting call ups despite under performing in their clubs? Spain kept inviting Torres even while performing abysmally for Chelsea. Fabregas was always one of the first name on the list despite not having enough playing time with Chelsea. That's one country as an example. Do you know while their coach kept faith with them-it was because he knew that they'll deliver.
Marcos Alonso has been phenomenal for Chelsea since last year. Do you know what? He is still hoping for his First invitation.

If I'm too tow your line of proposition, every player that comes to the spot light(is in form) should be invited ba? You can't have a national team by inviting all players base on their club performances alone or else you'll only be having new sets of players to execute each match...

Even Rohr knows this. That's while he has been inviting Musa, Onazi before he moved to Turkey, Moses Simon etc.
Onyekuru has been having Stellar performances consistently for his clubs but still he has only been having epileptic call-ups.

To cut the story short, club performance is one thing and replicating it in the national team is another.

Pls don't let us mixed things up.Cliub performance is the only way to national team especially early invitation.

Fernando Torres invitation despite being out of form was based on his previous performance for Spain,no new player or upcoming player would enjoy that privileged just like how Mikel was getting the invitations under Rohr and not making Chelsea day squad or what do you want to say about Musa and right now Iheanacho.

They are enjoying this privilege cos they distinguished themselves in their early invitations in eagles colours,so for a player to enjoy this he must prove himself first in his club then consistent performance in the national team.

jihday:
kanu wasn't a flop in the Argentina game, he got injured by Veron and was substituted before halftime

My man from my own opinion he was a flop in that match or can you tell me any WC match that Kanu show his class,pls when we talk of Eagles,Kanu was just too average, three WC appearance and Five Afcon but not a single goal and 12 goals with over 87 caps for Eagles though a great player which i admired and respect but i don't need to mix things up cos i love KANU

Icon4s:
Ezenwa has been in the national team for a while. He was worked with a good number of coaches and was first choice at Ifeanyi Uba until of late.
He was the first choice goalie for the NPFL All stars that played in Spain not too long ago. Last season.

Should you question why Ezenwa, a second choice at Ifeanyi Ubah, is in the SE? Why not question why he is second choice to Uche Okafor at Ifeanyi Uba. Or who is current first choice?

As for Dosu he was a third choice goalie at Julius Berger (not even plateau united) prior to Atlanta.

My man pls go and check archives.very well Dosu was never a third keeper at Julius Berger.He remain one of the best keeper to come out of Julius Berger.As at 1996 he was a super regular deputised by Victor Gbenebechie.

forgiveness:
I will not lie. I was happy the was disbanded and banished at that time because mafians ran things in the team with maximum impunity.

However, since the the team was banished and the task was to raise and nurture a team with that will stand the test of time, it was expedient that the trouble shooter and useless mafias destructing the team and holding the NFF ransom(including Minister of Sport) be discarded and promising talents brought in.

Hence, the 2002 wc team was filled with new potential players which majority of Nigerians never raised an eyebrow against because the situation warranted at that point in time for CHANGE.


Did the move backfired? I don't think so because majority of those players that went to that team later formed the backbone of the team.

Onigbide did not throway all the players. He only left out those that caused problems and banned by the Minister, if not what or why were Garba Lawal, Okocha, Julius Aghahowa, Taribo, Mutiu, Babayaro, Sodje, Akwuegbu, Okoronkwo, Udeze, Shorunmu, Kanu in the team, if truly the whole team were banished?

Most of these players were already in team as far back as year 2000. They were never Onigbide boys. Facts

They were the ones that executed the first two matches in that WC but fumbled big time.

so, Onigbide acted on order from above. Abi, make em disobey him employee or throway the purpose on which basis he was employed?


Now, let us analyse the 3 matches we played. Which was our best match out of the 3? and who were the players that excecuted the match? Oya, make dem answer.


The match against Argentina was so bad because one player flopped big time. Who was the player? Oya, make dem talk.

Kanu was a flop against Argentina,Shorunmu a flop against Sweden,gave them the second goal on a platter of gold and England match was the best with introduction of Enyeama, Akwuegbu,Opabunmi and James Obiorah who controlled the midfield perfectly with Okocha.

Lazyerudite:
Mehn, Dosu was poor, really poor during the Olympics o. People need to watch the whole match and not highlights. Very poor positioning and ball handling. Lucky we had a good attack and luck was on our side

Dosu came into that team purely on business between Churchill Olishe and Bonfrere Jo not that he was better than Emma Babayaro or Abiodun Baruwa.

Icon4s:
Your first paragraph highlights why I said goalkeeper selection is not as straight as outfield players selection. You may bring that 1st choice Ifeanyi Uba keeper to the Super Eagles and he flops big time.

Dosu Joseph was a third choice keeper for Plateau United when he represented Nigeria at the 1996 Olympics.

BTW Rohr has not ruled out Enyeama's return.

Oga icon4s pls do not justify Ezenwa invitation, it was pure injustice for a second keeper in domestic league making national team and Dosu Joseph was never a bench warmer talkless of third keeper as at 93-96 in any club sides in Nigeria.

Icon4s:
William Okpara you mean.

William never impressed in the national colours.
He was not even in the national team radar at that time. You remember his outing at the 1987 WYC?

The other keeper was Wilfred Agbonivbare. This one too, we know his nick name to be Agbonibasket those days. That guy na basket. May his soul RIP

Ike Shoromu was out injured and it was time for Abiodun Baruwa to show the stuff he was made of after missing out on the 1996 Olympics party due to age discrepancy. But he made some calamitous errors especially against Yugoslavia. And we got whipped 3-0 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. We followed that game with a 5-1 thumping by the Netherlands.

The coaching crew led by Bora Milutinovic found no local league keeper capable for stepping into those gloves and rather preferred to recall Rufai.

Apart from Chile 87 which was U20 tourney,Willy Opara wasn't given chance in eagles even when he was at top form in South Africa league with Orlando Pirates.Prior to France 98 he deserved the spot ahead of Rufai after Ike injury.

Wilfred Agbonavbare was a solid keeper with Rayo Vallecano in Spanish LA liga, pls forget the Agbonibasket stuff.He deserved the number one spot than Rufai prior to Afcon and US 94.

Pls i thought Baruwa was the third keeper to Atlanta 96,i can't recall vivdly but I know Dosu was the first choice and Emma second choice.

Icon4s:
The second error was after Mubi Oparaku did one useless bicycle kick at the edge of the 18yards box and some how the ball got to Baruwa who now passed the ball to an on Rushing Yugoslav player and that resulted in the 3rd goal. Mubi also lost his place to Eguavoen due to that school boy bicycle kick.
Bora said the World Cup is not for boys but for men after dropping Mubi for Eguavoen.

No mubi Oparaku was the first choice as RB at France 98 and Cele Babayaro as LB deputising by Eguavoen and Iroha respectively.