₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
I have said it before and will say it again that if we can raise a team that can top a group comprising of Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia then we have a team that can achieve a lot at the World Cup.

After the qualifiers I don't expect more than 2 or at most 3 changes from the starting line up going into the world cup.

I said it at the beginning of Rohr's campaign that for him to effectively build a TEAM he must have REGULARS both in the team and in the squad.


My stand is you can only introduce a new player if he is better than the one(s) already in the squad.

cc: Kog45

That's it,quite agreed with u,a new player must be better than d one on d ground.For example Ajiboye came in and displaced Alampasu,meaning Ezenwa and Akpeyi needs to sit tight.

Pls lets go down to memory lane to make things clearly to those who believe that a lot of players are still needed in this team.

The evolution of 1980 nations cup squad started in 1976 with player like an half caste Tunji Banjo,Adokiye Aimesemeaka,Henry Nwosu broke into d team to 1980 nations cup,d team lasted till 1982 with young Keshi,Humphery Edebor,Ademola Adeshina making d team.

Maroc 88 team started in 1984 but d team couldn't make it to afcon 86 eliminated by Zambia losing 1 nil at Lusaka and goaless draw in Lagos but d team came out strong later.This team can be compared to d present squad coz a German was engaged in d name of Manfred Horner who brought in few youngs and new players like Wole Odegbami, Ndubuisi Okosieme,Folorunsho Okenla,Andrew Uwe,Bunmi Adigun

I remember evolution of US94 squad by Westerhoff and i can say d building of that team started late 89 in a match against Cameroon in Yaoundé and d team moved from there to Algiers 90,Senegal 92,Tunisia 94,only two player broke into that team,namely Chidi Nwanu and Mike Emenalo to US 94,though Westerhoff had good 4 to 5 years.

The evolution of afcons 98,2000&2002 started partially at US 94 but fully at Atlanta 96 where we have bunch of Super Eagles players making d team,players like Uche Okechucwu,Emma Amuneke,Daniel Amokachie, Victor Ikpeba,Tijani Babangida and fringe Eagles prayers like Kanu Nwankwo,Celestine Babayaro,Taribo West,Garba Lawal.It must be noted that very few players broke into this team.

The new era of Super Eagles started at 2002 WC and it last till 2010 WC,this was a period we have different class of players coming into d team coz it cannot be compared to d evolutionary of their predecessors but notwithstanding we can mentioned d numbers of players that broke into d team toward 2010 WC.

The 2014 WC team started in 2012 after Eagles failed to qualify for afcon 2012,with superlatives performance in 2013 winning afcon but their evolution was misery coz Keshi couldn't keep d momentum by bringing in different class of players.2015 and 2017 we couldn't make afcon due to a lot of factors.

Now on d verge of making WC with Rohr in charge,if we look at this team,we just need to give credit to Rohr for able to raise a very good team in a short period,no coach has ever done this with Super Eagles.At least we can say this is our XI for a very long time, praying that d evolution of this team extended to 2022 WC.

Presently we are having a team we can back on,hoping nothing happens towards their qualifications to Russia.I reiterate it that 75% of this squad w make it to Russia.

CC:icon4s
CC:enemakos
CC:goldfish80
CC:Jobie

BascoVanVeli:
He showed signs of fatigue, they are overstretching him.

Overstretching?Musa wish to be overstretched,good for Ndidi to be playing week in week out.

kennysville:
As good as Ndidi is, he gives balls away alot through bad passes

Ndidi gives balls away?Onazi lack passes?meaning we are in trouble.

Pls explain better coz am confused.

libero808:
Onazi far ahead of Azubuike?
You mean the current season?

I don't based my assertion on current season.

ChrisKels:
http://aoifootball.com/2017/09/21/azubu ... in-
turkey/

Olympic Bronze medal winning midfielder, and
former captain of Nigeria’s U-23 team to the Rio
2016 Olympics, Azubuike Okechukwu has been
rated second highest passer of the ball in the
Turkish Super Lig, according to latest statistics
AOIFootball.com gathered that the Nigerian
international, who has had two caps for the
Super Eagles and who currently plays for newly
promoted club Yeni Malatyaspor, has completed
a total of 269 passes with a 90 percent accuracy
after just 5 games in the Turkish Super Lig.
The stats was courtesy of a top European
statistics and scouting set up, Tofe T. Stats.
The former Bayelsa United defensive midfielder
is second to Galatasaray midfielder, Fernando,
who has completed 353 passes this term with 90
percent accuracy also after 5 games in the
league.
Zubby, as he is fondly called among teammates,
was one of the top best passers of the ball last
season in the Turkish Super Lig 2 and was
instrumental to his team’s eventual promotion to
the elite division.

With Agu's horrendous showing in Yaounde and presently in the Turkish league, plus Onazi's inability to give a simple pass both in d league and here in the SE, I don't get why these two still get the nod ahead of Zubby.

I remember Mikel Obi was rated like this sometimes ago in EPL,does anybody reckon with it.

Onazi is far ahead of Azubuike.It was on this thread people are rating Etebo over Mikel until recently they see that d difference is wide.

Azubuike a good player no doubt, watching Olympics d guy was solid but for now he has Agu to contend with not Onazi.

libero808:
I think what we need to do is focus, and not get bothered or be drawn into Zambians boasts/mind games.
When the boys return to Uyo all they need to remember is that win against Cameroon.
We need a repeat.

The Zambia i watched against Algeria cannot beat Eagles.

Icon4s:
Boss tell them o.

I even saw somewhere where fans were clamoring for a total overhaul of the team.

Good one icon4s.My man u have been in this game since 80s if am right,then u know now much about team evolution which some don't understand.

In a crucial WC match i don't expect people to clamour for new inclusions,we all knew there are certain players who have not been living up to expectations of recent but they have been part of d team and for now they w remain with d team till qualification.

The massive introduction of new players is uncalled for even after qualifications but whether we like it or not some players w break into d team which is normal.

No coach after qualifications w discard his team and started bringing all sorts of players, this is what affected Keshi at 2014 WC,he failed to build on solid foundation of 2013.

I told a moniker here that 75% of present squad w make d team but he said No,so no point of going further arguing coz have been in d game for so long.I can roll out 15 players that w be in Russia except injury occurs.

Truly we have some grey areas to amend before world cup,our CB need to be fortified, thanks Awaziem is showing promises but i don't see Agbo as a class for WC,LB need solid player coz Echiejele is lacking it now,our midfield our unique selling point and it w take a special player to break into d team.

Truly our attack needed to be beef up especially striking role,at least we need a player to compliment Ighalo,Iheanacho upfront,though we are not short of players in this category across Europe.

I don't want to say much on goalkeeping dept, it was just too obvious we lack d class for WC,no thanks to Ikeme health.

Chrismario:
Seems Rohr rates Ajiboye higher.
Our problem is winning.

If Rohr can qualify with the invited players, no problem then.

Yea if u watched Nigeria Guinea match,d guy deserves it and i think Rohr must have influenced his selection against Guinea just to see him in match situation.

Well,Akpeyi,Ezenwa, Ajiboye, Alampasu,all we need is winning.Ezenwa did it against Cameroon,so is still available for selection.

Joebie:
Francis Uzoho --> Deportivo Fabril Segunda Division B Group 1 (Third Tier)
Recent stats --> Between the sticks for Deportivo in their last 3 games which all ended wins. Has only conceded once.

Dele Alampasu --> Feirense LigaNos (First Tier)
Recent stats --> Not listed in their last 3 games -- all loses.

David Nwokolor --> Rijeka (First Tier)
Recent stats --> Have only made the bench twice after 10 league matches. He wasn't listed in their last two matches.

Thanks for this and people are clamouring their inclusion in d team.Super Eagles is not for dick and harry and we must always show that respect.

Alampasu making d team was his past exploiits in d colour of junior team,nothing more and for Ajiboye to displace him,i wasn't surprise.

We should just agreed that w lack quality keepers for now but not to d extent of inviting keeper from obscure league,funny enough some are not even first choice in their clubside,so what are d yardsticks for clamouring for their invitations.

We just need to groom d likes of Emma Daniel and Alampasu for d future.

quiverfull:
The APC leadership should shut up. Prof Sagay spoke the truth, they cannot even control their rank and file. They dug their grave the day Saraki became the Senate President against the party's wish.

The truth?i know u and Sagay have common enemy which is Saraki.It's better u tell him to resign before they descend on him.Hypocrites serving under corrupt people still want to come out as a saint.

Mickael2:
how has he not convinced Rohr enough? Has he played at all? No be if you play you go showcase your skills? I keep on hammering on it, Rohr is not a fantastic coach and recently we have also discovered that his assistants too aren't tactical or technical one bit.

Now Akpeyi is back, and I am almost certain he will get plugged right back into the mix. We have Aina, Awaziem and Ebuehi plus Shehu who have all been playing very well as fullbacks for their club but Echejile again will start, we have all forgotten the number of times he got skinned during our last match against Zambia, next month might even be worse.

Can someone please explain to me the rationale behind inviting Uche Agbo(who is even a midfielder) ahead of Omeruo, Otigba and even Taye Taiwo(since our LB is weak)?

Can someone explain to me how Musa(who has been playing for the U23, same thing we accused Omeruo of) and Iheanacho(who hasn't been fit and still isn't fit) ahead of Kayode and Onyekuru(who has 4 goals in 6 games for Anderletch)? Can someone explain to me why we have not started integrating another Cmf in the team who can be a competent sub for Mikel?

I know we will beat Zambia, albeit a slim victory, but these questions will come back to haunt us against top teams, foreign coaches are usually reverred for their lack of sentiments but these recent lists have not been supporting that at all.

I quite agreed with u on some points raised but let just beat Zambia first,d team cannot be distrupted at this critical stage,this is world qualifying and just two matches to go

nelszx:
On a lighter note, the game is just next week Saturday. Oh how time flies, can't wait to scream goooooooal again. Rohr has a good list but still the only thing that might give him worry is the goal keeping area and maybe Onazi's place in the midfield but I doubt we'll see anything different from the Cameroon double header

Pls explain why Onazi's place in d midfield is source of worry coz this guy had a good game against Cameroon in both legs especially 2nd leg.

On goalkeeping aspects,i understand your worry but there is nothing we can do about it,we just have to cope with Akpeyi,Ezenwa, Ajiboye,Alampasu, just hope d goalkeeper trainer we psyched them up for better outing.

Ezenwa did well against Cameroon,so let hope for better outing,nothing to worry about my man we are winning.

mumemma:
But Ebuehi has been playing games in and out every weekend. What is Elderson doing there....that guy is having a psychological down turn now ..............

Honestly am not happy about Ebuehi named on d standby,but truth be told he hasn't convinced Rohr enough,also Dele Alampasu, dropping from d main squad to standby means a lot.They just need to fight their way back into d team.Hope we win this match and give Young ones like Ebuhei, Alampasu,Oyekwuru, Kayode chance against Algeria.

ChrisKels:
It's so painful, Rohr doesn't rate Onyekuru that highly. I would pick him ahead of Musa, while the later takes Aaron Samuel's place on the standby list, I would also make a chance for Kayode on the standby list. It's his call at the end of the day and that was just my 2cent.

Let prosecute this match first and see what happens before world cup proper.What i know is that 75% of players in d main squad w make d team to Russia.

Joebie:
Nothing new here, besides:
1. The return of Akpeyi, relegating Alampasu to the standby list.
2. Also Tyronne Ebuehi is relegated to the standby. Uche Agbo taking his place
3. A domestic league new entrant in Afeez Aremu.
4. Of course Alex Iwobi and Aaron Samuel returning to their rightful places.
5. Omeruo, Onyekuru, Muazam, and Stephen Eze are off the list entirely.

Am I missing anything else?

Jobie,pls what can u say

1)Alampasu as standby from main squad.

2)Also Ebuehi from main squad to standby

3)Afeez Aremu good for him to have d experience,also good for Ifeanyi Ifeanyi for making d standby again

4)Iwobi definitely a class that no coach w leave out.

5)Omeruo just need to regain his form back or else he w not be in Russia,Oyekwuru his time w come, Muzzam just need to settle down in his new club,Stephen Eze,how i wish he make d standby but Rohr want Adeleye who injury rule out.

Good list.

komekn:
To what purpose is this observation, does it increase our understanding does it add value to the discourse.

CERTAINLY NOT.

It does the exact opposite, tribalism is at the heart of the Nigerian multi faceted problem. Tribalism has caused death and untold hardships.

It causes suspicions and disunity.

It is of no purpose to this thread.

I was born in the UK, visited Nigeria for the first time when I was 11 finished high school here and then left to study in the UK.

I speak Igbo, working knowledge of Yoruba and my own Uhrobo / Isoko. But I am totally DE- TRIBALISED.

Oga komekn,pls let move on,anybody who want to die coz of tribalism should go ahead and continue see all comments as tribals.

Pls can u say something on Tosin Adarabioyo coz Jobie said is with man city u23 and thegoodjoe said he doesn't have feelings for Nigeria.

TheGoodJoe:
That one is the Queen's pickin. He is Nigerian but I think his devotion lies with England.

OK just like Nnedum Onuoah

tbaba1234:
Very good points raised. We need to not only improve the league but the quality of coaching too

However as regards Okoro, I had the opportunity to watch 3-4 games in the Wafu cup and i do not think he is national team quality

Benin and Ghana match exposed him and it eroded my rating on him during group stages.

Apart from Ezenwa who has been part of eagles team A,i only see Adeleye as future eagles material,hope he is still young and may be Eze,others i doubt their abilities.

Joebie:
Tell me of any of his good days recently, since he left Portugal

The fact remain Echiejele is an average player with good packaging and very good agent,we must respect him for that,he moves out of any club either on loan or transfer d moment he discovered his starting is not guarantee,this has been his unique selling point.

This has been a plus for his ever presence in d national team and we must give kudos to him,his best form was 2012/2013 season and afcon 2013,since then no remarkable performance except WC qualifier against Algeria.Let wait and see may be he w prove us wrong against Zambia coz sometimes he rose to d occasion.

Pls Jobie is Tosin Adarabioyo of man city not a Nigerian coz i don't see guys talking about him on this thread,even thegoodjoe of man city.

leathalbeast:
okay, I have a feeling Nigeria won't qualify for the World Cup. I see Zambia winning.

Whao,pls tell me your reasons

leathalbeast:
dude I wasn't talking to you so please excuse me.

Oh but u quote me first

leathalbeast:
we will quickly answer that when you also answer these questions?

1) Nigerians have gone to five World Cups but they have never reached the quarter finals, why

2) Nigerians have won afcons yet they have just three trophies while Ghana has four ? why?

3) Nigeria has been qualifying for Chan for years now but you have never made it to the finals. why? your best was a semi-final which Ghana beat you with 10 men on penalties. again why?

1)Yes u are right

2)Yes u are correct

3)Yes absolutely right

4)any other things to add

5)sorry u forget WAFU CUP

Hope u are happy now

OMANBALA1:
I am not here to compare anybody to the other....I am just saying that the northerners rarely produce midfielders in the mould of Oruma,Okocha,Okwaraji,Etim,Oliha Henry Nwosu and Mutiu. You don't often find these type of players in the north.
Garba Lawal is not a typical attacking midfielder. Khadiri Ikhana is from Edo,Otolorin and Alabo though I don't know them sounds Yorubaish....We know what I mean by northern players....like Niger and Chad kind of north.

Again I am not comparing regions because I can see you throwing your brothers names around....Forgiveness brother...lol

Thanks for d correction,truly Ikhana is from Edo,is name Kadiri let me think otherwise.Moses Otolorin is from north central Ilorin,also Kafaru Alabi from Offa in d north central.

My man i got your point and is very cleared and also somehow points,so do not be offended if my contributions is some how to u.

Mind u am a Yoruba man from northern part of d country.

Certitude:
Don't get me wrong... I love and respect the fact that he is going extra mile but my point is doing this earlier could have placed him as one of those cats at the top.

Honestly am not getting u wrongly,that was d reason i used Jayjay as an example.When Jayjay and Kanu were in his age they couldn't carry d team again, picking matches to play for us.

I got your point,a younger Obi Mikel at this stage should have been better and this is d reason i said some get mature as they are aging,may be he is not exceptional from this syndrome.

Certitude:
I feel sad for Musa...He has what it takes to have developed as one of the best but I don't know who or what to blame...

Do we say Leicester city a wrong move or he is losing it coz this was d guy rated as d best in Nigeria few years ago to d extent Olishe handed over captainship band to him.

leathalbeast:
do you know what's nice about it? we whooped your candy asses 4-1... anything we wanna beat you guys we do. shouldn't that be a concern to you guys?

Congratulations once again,really happy for u guys,great feat to beat arch rival like Nigeria and we gonna learn from it.Hope u are happy now.

Certitude:
No hard feelings as he has been my favourite SE player and still is, but y didn't he do these while he was younger?

Don't u know age changed a lot of things and be should be respected for doing this,don't u remember Jayjay let us down when he was aging,picking matches to play towards 2006 world cup

soberdrunk:
What is the difference between what Rihana is wearing and what she is wearing in her own picture? Both of them are sampling boobs, one is just more generous.......

Na u get sense u past,honestly what is d difference between Rihanna and our olosho actress,even see jaiye gan self.

Joebie:
Suffering from lack of winning important trophies in over a decade in all age categories. Doing what the likes of Ethiopia, Mauritius, Guinea-Bissau etc would do

Pls Jobie talk about Nigeria-Zambia match,any updates.

Joebie:
Suffering from lack of winning important trophies in over a decade in all age categories. Doing what the likes of Ethiopia, Mauritius, Guinea-Bissau etc would do

Pls Jobie let talk about Nigeria-Zambia match

Joebie:
Why are we even giving audience to this kind of discussion? The last time I checked, the golden era we had, and the one to come encompasses every region of this country. For those who want to go political or tribal, there are other threads for that purpose.

Honestly it could have been a beautiful discussion but they started it with ttribalism,d word tribal messed it all,is a discussion we would have learnt a lot coz i remember d emergence of Enugu Ranger was born out of civil war and I ICC shooting star was created to match Ranger,also mighty jet from north but at d end d three teams produced d bedrock of players that won nations cup.

leathalbeast:
your team has never been good from day one and the last straw was Benin outplaying you guys with 1 man down . I was reading comments as a guest when icon4s was telling you guys that the Ghana team you beat wasn't motivated but you guys thought you beat us on merit. now look what happened to you.... you were never a match for us but you didn't notice. your team is whack and the earlier you change it before Chan starts, the better for you.

Typical Ghanaian,congratulations for winning most prestigious cup in d world,WAFU CUP.