₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
Olympic football has always been for the U23.

Good points though.

No,pls go to archive and u w discover that Seoul Olympic football game was not for U23 but purely national team affair.

The Under 23 started in Barcelona 92 and three over aged was introduced in Atlanta 96.

It was Los Angeles 84 that professional footballers were allowed to participate with special consideration given to Africa,Oceania,Asia to use full national team players while Europe and South America were banned from using players who had world cup experience but in Barcelona 92 IOC in conjunction with FIFA changed it to U23 and modified it by introduced three over aged players in Atlanta 96.

All this was done to protect d integrity of World Cup coz allowing Olympic football tourney to have full participation of national team players w have negative impact on d World Cup.

goldfish80:
I have studied teams who have made it to the later stages of the world cup in the last 8years and I came to the conclusion that you need experience in the heart of the defence.
That diamond that is the Gk, CBs and Dm is the most important unit in a championship winning side.
This unit could have been solidified if we had played a major tournament since 2014. Unfortunately we haven't and this is a little bit of a handicap. Its not about the personel but about the unit.




Talking about Chidi Nwanu, you do realise we had an experienced Rufai in goal, Okechukwu and Sunday Olise. It is not am unstable unit at all.

Most people do not realise, we had a great chance of winning the world cup in 1994.

Our defence shipping in 2 goals after we had gone 1 goal up, against a 10 man Italian team was a huge let down.
Imagine the scenario if we had won that game, we would have played an underachieving Spanish team in the quarter finals. The same Spaniards we won in 1998 with a below ebb squad.
In the semi finals, we would have faced our side kicks, Bulgaria. The same Bulgarian team we won 3:0 in the first game.
In the finals, we could have faced Brazil. The same Brazilian team a squad of part timers that was the USA held to a goalless draw.

Yea u are on point,not being in Afcon didn't make Nwanu inexperienced coz d same Nwanu was at Sroul 88.I can tell anybody that Nwanu was more experienced than Okechucwu and Olishe when it comes to football though he did not make any Afcon coz of Stephen Keshi's form.He made US 94 coz of Keshi poor form and injury which was glaring at Afcon 94.

tglobal:
@goldfish, Chidi Nwanu didn't have AFCON experience before USA 94 neither did Taribo in 98

Like safarigirl pointed out, our AFCON winning CB pair didn't even have a lot of national team experience before the tournament and we are not even going to win the world cup next year anyway.

Regarding the bolded, 23 or the 24 teams in the tournament came up short. Nigeria had one of the best defenses at the stage we went out of the competition and they kept out the bulgarian attacking force. Our vulnerability was set pieces which was responsible of for 3 of the 4 goals we conceded!

Did u remember Chidi Nwanu went Seoul 88,this was d period National team played Olympic not U23.Nwanu at that time had a great experience at home and very advanced in age before moving to Beveren and later Anderlecht,USA 94 was like a normal tournament for him.

Sometimes major tournament count as experience to some players but to some their club experience can withstand any tournament.Taribo may not have Afcon experience before France 98 but his club experience was enough to play in any tourney.

Truly our CB needs cohesiveness and understanding but i believe with time d CB w blend.Truth must be told d CB are not yet there but with time they w go places.

komekn:
We are talking about two totally different players. On a lighter note Anichebe does not have to be mobile he will simply move you out the way, this guy is a bulldozer.

In a straight line he is probably faster than KC and he runs with power, he cannot be knocked off the ball. Add to that he can run behind the defence or dismantle it from the front in the air. He is simply a defenders worst nightmare.

Yea Anichebe against David Luiz but d guy and injury is something else.

Icon4s:
Same goes for Azubuike Okechukwu.

Yea what a talent wasting away even Etebor is bigger than Fareinse

Icon4s:
Ndidi with a cracker of a goal.

D boy is good,likely between Onazi or Etebor one need to be on bench coz Rohr cannot do without Mikel or how do u see it Icon4s

chrisooblog:
Wooow! Oh yes Ndidi super scorcher

Michael2 w be d happiest man today

Icon4s:
My point exactly.

Musa should move to a bigger league and gain some xperience.

That's my point,going to obscure league w not help a young national team player.

Icon4s:
Firstly, the Aina case is the gradual process I am talking about. But hope his switch in Nationality would effected before our game in June?

Then to Musa mohammed and Shehu.

I believe u watched Nigeria vs Tanzania where Musa played that RB for 90mins. How was his performace?

You saw Shehu in the Egypt double header plus Olympics. What is ur assessment of his performance.

My only issue with Musa is inexperience added to the fact that he does not play in a competitive league.

I personally dnt have any issues with Shehu playing that RB. I dnt actually know what transpired in camp prio to Zambia game for him to field Ndidi in that position. Shehu was my pick for that RB before we saw d line up.

Rohr as a coach must have his reason for fielding Ndidi against Zambia but a natural RB w have perform better than Ndidi against Zambia,Ndidi was a misfit in that match as RB.

I believe Rohr must be looking for some qualities in RB which Shehu and Mohammed are lacking

jotey:
Ola aina should leave Chelsea asap to get playing time

Agreed

joseph1013:
If anyone questions Donnaruma, his records can be checked and verified. How do you check the records of a Nigerian player who is on suspicion of being an age cheat? Through a Nigerian high court affidavit that can be obtained by the roadside for #100?

See why we won't be trusted and be subjected to other methods of age verifications like MRI scans until we get our house in order?

Pls don't let us over flogged this age issue.It is quiet agreed Africans are cheats but not only in sports,go to various government establishments like ministries,agencies,schools etc.u see everybody as a cheaters even here on this thread,one way or d other some are culprits but who to blame?d government.

Age cheat doesn't affect only sports segment but all other segments in Nigeria.I remember how graduates reduced their age coz of service and how public workers reduced their age in alarming rates.

My man for now there is nothing anybody can do about it except sincerity from all of us.

Icon4s:
I like the objectiveness and the specific ways with which u jst tabled ur points. But meanwhile forgiveness claimed the senegal game was not physical at all. A game that had rugged Onazi stretchered out with Musa limping out and had up to abt 7 yellow cards.

I also have issues with the way Omeruo plays the RB. He plays it as a Right Full back where as modern football encourages more of Right Wing Back plays.

Now, it depends on the teams set up, A RFB may be more valuable in particular games or situations than a RWB and vice versa.

Now also u need to understand that the pry duties of a defender is to defend. Ability to join in the attack is an additional quality. A coach assesses his options and prioritises.

I personally dnt see Ebuehi as physical enough to cope with the demands of that position. He IMO is pretty young and needs time to develop.

Ola Aina and Moses Odubanjo are other RB options but are they better than Shehu Abdullahi and Musa Mohammed who we have seen marshalled that position without issues.

Can they provide more cover at the back than Omeruo?

If Aina can pushed Omeruo to team B with just two days training then who is Shehu Abdullahi and Musa Muhammed to compete with him and who told u there are no issues with Abdullahi and Mohammed as RB,if there are no issues Ndidi w not be forced to play as RB against Zambia and Omeruo against Algeria,though Omeruo started as RB for eagles.

Rohr is an experience coach who have seen what he was looking for in RB in Aina and remember both Aina and Omeruo belonged to Chelsea,Omeruo on loan and Aina in main squad,a good coach w evaluate d situation.

According to reliable source d switching of Aina's allegiance to Nigeria is d top priority of Rohr and NFF coz of his displayed in training.

ideatoprince18:
Its not Fair ....... Why would Rohr give d captain band to Nazi instead of Musa?? ...... Musa u av tried for Super Eagles ....

Oh not fair......why would Oliahe took d captain band from Enyeama and gave it to Musa

[quote author=TheSuperNerd post=55118461]Mikel Remains My Idol - Ndidi


[img]https://2.bp..com/-HhQ3YNo8YKE/WN1uNK4dbJI/AAAAAAAADfY/yVinBdbTexoGvGN4Rz83WsjpWu_OdOJSQCLcB/s1600/Ndidi-Nigeria.jpg[/img]Mikel must have something going for him apart from football coz i remember Leon Balogun,Uche Agbo,Haruna Lookman see him as a role model now Ndidi.
I remember Onazi paying special tribute during his last birthday.Brown Ideye said d same thing and attributed his transferred to Tianjin to Mikel recommendation even Victor Moses said Mikel's advice gave him a break through this season.

All this remind me of Legendary Stephen Keshi paving way for most Nigeria players in d 80s and turn Belgium to our football Mecca,may be Mikel is towing d dame line coz his patriotism really manifested in d last Olympics paying over $30k for d team to survive.



Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi says he a great admirer of John Obi Mikel.

Ndidi's impressive form for Leicester City since joining the team in the winter transfer, has seen him score one goal in eight games in all competitions.


The former Genk star insisted that Mikel has always been a player he idolises while he was growing up as a child.

"I have always looked up to Mikel," Ndidi told Goal.

"When he was at Chelsea, I was at Nath Boys [as a youth player] and I have always liked him as a player. I have always been crazy about Mikel. The way he plays is amazing.

"When me and my friends talk about players, we always want to talk about Mikel. He is so important for Nigerian football. I actually liked two players from outside of Nigeria [when I was younger]."




Source: http://www.soccernet.com.ng/2017/03/mikel-remains-my-idol-ndidi.html?m=1[/quote

TheSuperNerd:
The one called "The Wonder boy of Nigerian football". May your soul find rest Sir and may your family emerge stronger from this loss.

**sad face**

Yea d coach that gave players like Samson siasia,Andrew Uwe,Alloy Agu,Augustine Igbinabairo,Waidi Akanni,Osaro Obabaifo,Ikechuckwu Ofoje,Monday Odiaka,Christian Obi,Taju Disu their first breakthrough in football(Moscow 85)RIP Paul Hamilton.

Henryyy:
The Adelekes are stinky rich but not everyone wants to be "exposed" to the world.

Yea Adelekes are rich but i can tell u they w not make top 100 in Nigeria.

Slonge2:
All i see are Yoruba names everywhere







This news will lead to more suicides from our blooders from the yeast, aka iPods aka onikuje cartels, I will advice the police, navy and army to guard the lagoon very well I envisage a lot of jumping iPods today

I'm a Yoruba man but what is d meaning of this,honestly anytime i read comment like this,am always losing hope on one Nigeria.

tbaba1234:
Team A:
Ola Aina as RB

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8Bybt4XUAAKS9g.jpg

In Chelsea Omeruo is on loan while Aina is in d main squad,just too simple for Rohr to decide.

TheSuperNerd:
Actually he does have Nigerian roots.

The guy is from Benin Republic

Mickael2:
because even when we are having great games he is always the weak spot. Plus we have better options. Joseph rightly pointed out that Ogu was just okay, nor extraordinary but okay, yet when he came in we balanced the play, that means Onazi wasn't okay, he was average(like he pointed out too). I don't know what else you want to hear

Sir Michael2,u and Onazi,pls wetin dey happen coz i don't understand

Mickael2:
he did.mention that Onazi was average which is what I have been hammering on since, you talk say the guy was a baller in that game

I don't like it when we talk football as if we are a starter,rating a player who got injured after just 25 mins should not lead to unnecessary arguments.

joseph1013:
Hmmmm...I just finished watching the full game. Na wa o. So so underwhelming. I could not see why there was so much hype.

This is not a performance to be excited about. But I can forgive this performance because Mikel and Moses were not there.

Defence:
- I have no idea what happened to Ekong and Balogun...the manner with which they misplaced passes is staggering. At times, they simply passed the ball to the opponent...a more clinical team would have buried us. We need to have strong backups.
- Omeruo was disappointing to me. A pacy winger would have torn him to shreds. And that's to add to the fact that he didn't join in the attack.
- Echiejile was impressive. He held his own. He should have gone forward more though.
- Akpeyi: We cannot rely on this guy. I cannot remember a single cross he did not spill. All a team needs is station a player close to him to score the rebounds because he is very prone to dropping balls from crosses. I really don't know what the goalkeeper trainers are doing. At this stage, Akpeyi should not be deputizing for Carl.
Conclusion:Our defence is a cause for concern. We don't have a good backup to Ikeme. And that's a big problem.

Midfield:
- Onazi was average before he went off. There was an incident that caught my eye though. He pushed an opponent in retaliation. In a competitive match, some referees will give a straight red card. Professional players should know better.
- Ogu played his game. No fuss. No flamboyance. Perhaps the coach told him to just stay and strictly shield, he did a yoleman's job.
- Ndidi was rightly the man of the match. He was full of tackling, passes and did play a couple shots that troubled the goal keeper.
- Iwobi was a flop. What did he even do right in that game? Oh, maybe the combination with Simon to free Kelechi for the tap in miss. Other than that, he did nothing. He constantly lost his balls and his passes were abysmal. No one would have predicted he plays for Arsenal.
- Etebo: He played well. He came in for Iwobi and showed him how to play. Not his best game but we will take this one.
Conclusion: We need Mikel. We need Aluko. We need Mikel very much and we miss him so much. No replacement in sight.

Forward:
- Simon: His strongest point is that he can help out the defence. That's quite a surprise because he should be known more for his dribbles, wingplay and crosses. Those were lacking in the game.
- Musa: Musa! I don't think he has a place in this team any longer. You hardly notice he was in the game. The only times he shows up, he is either making wayward crosses or disrupting flow of attack. The only thing that will make him continue this way and still get call ups is federal character. He is no longer a Super Eagles material.
- Kelechi: He needs to leave Man City. It's unbelievable the goals he missed. What surprised me about his game was that the penalty called would not have been given by some refs. From my angle, he fell into the hands of the keeper. The Kelechi I know would have played that ball before the goalkeeper came out. It's difficult to understand this point unless you watch that match. He is match rusty and needs to help his career. Even the commentator could not believe he missed those chances.
- Kayode: For the time he was on the pitch, he was moving. The chance they said he missed was a handball. It was not such a chance. Wished we played with Burkina Faso, it would have been a great opportunity to watch him play more minutes. He would probably be invited again.
- Success: To be honest, I didn't see too much of the hype surrounding his play in this game. He galvanished the attack though and pushed the Senegalese back. I will take him over Musa from this performance.
Conclusion: We need a strong competition for Kelechi. If we don't score goals, we cannot win games.

Truth is coming out.Pls more comments from those who watched d video clip of d match.

TheSuperNerd:
Looollll.... don't mind Sir Forgiveness.....


I watched the whole game.... and I see more positives than negatives.

His analysis on iheanacho is so flawed.... Nacho was a baller in that game apart from his missed chances. In fact, it was Nacho who set up His own first missed chance... he flicked a ball cleverly to Ndidi who spread nicely to the wings for Simon moses and Nacho somehow got there on time but failed to convert.... Nacho's Skill move on the left also got us our first cornerkick.... na wa oooo.... lemme stop here abeg.... Coz Nacho had several bright moments in that game.


Sir Forgiveness' hype on Simon Moses is very funny. Simon did good but was not spectacular.... abeg... Simon was mostly confined to the left.... na from where he come play SS and AM abeg?? Simon and Musa that got some crosses wrong for all their speed and runnings... they hardly made impact. They just showed flashes of brilliance and speed here and there....

And talking about Defensive sides... yes Simon did contribute defensively but so also did Kelechi.... forgotten that dangerous cross nodded away within the first 15-20mins? who was that?

Also Musa tried defensively too... his speed helped us kinda on that right flank. He was always hassling the Senegalese. But when on the ball... Mehn... he was kinda ordinary... he needs to step up.... the Musa I know is better... far better than what I saw against Senegal.

Na wa oooo.... Sir Forgiveness... even with full video evidence, you still wanna raise some players up and put some down... it is not fair oooo.... just say it as it is... no painting abeg.

On success.... I was very impressed with Success for two reasons....

one... this is his very first game for The Super Eagles and he didn't look overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

two.... within the little time frame he had.... he showed power, skills, guts and dare.... Success became the newest menace on the pitch. He drew fouls and gave us a fighting chance. Highly rated Koulibaly couldn't cope with Success.... and someone isn't impressed?? Na wa oooo.....



Abeg... I think we have dwelt too much on this friendly.


But before I stop..... a couple of more points please...

I have to point out that Onazi was beautiful before he left the pitch.... he lost the ball just once I think but at other times, he marshalled the midfield quite good even when the Senegalese recovered (after our short foray into their half) and were pressing us within the first 25 mins... (in that time frame... about 5-8mins belongs to us.... the rest to Senegal).

Goodness me!.. did you see the way he (Onazi) turned Gueye (i think?) when under pressure from him in Nigeria's own half.... or the way he wriggled his way into keeping the passing going at one point in the first 15mins...?

Onazi did quite okay and even had two tall Senegalese midfielders on him most times.... they knew he was Nigeria's main midfield man.... Ndidi was also asserting himself.... Ndidi hardly put a foot wrong.....

But when Ogu came in.... well.... the heights and Size war in midfield became balanced... But like seriously... I will still pick Onazi over Ogu for now.... Ogu is needed when we are in possession and executing a passing/possessive game (which Onazi can do too but not better than Ogu)... But Onazi is really needed when we are under pressure and need to defend... he is calm and composed and also has 4 Lungs (Ndidi has 8.... Etebo has 20) ...

You guys need to watch that first 25mins again.... Onazi is still relevant abeg.... but he should watch his back shaa... coz When Mikel returns... I don't wanna see Ndidi out of that midfield....

Etebo, who is super versatile, is also in the picture but is primarily an AMF and SS... Iwobi may not start against Cameroun unless....... *winks*


Well.... until then... it is rohr's call after all....


On our defence.... Mehn! Echiejile is still a baller abeg.... Like Sir Forgiveness rightly said... he needs a very very good deputy.


Omeruo was Hardly ruffled too...

Leon and Troost made a couple of mistakes during the opening 25mins but soon picked up.... during that tumultuous period, Senegal rocked the inside of the post to Akpeyi's left....


And yes.. Akpeyi in as much as he may keep goal if Ikeme isn't fit for Cameroon(God forbid to that abeg).... I must confess that he was quite jittery for most parts of the game against Senegal...

But yeah... he did pull off some nice/good saves/stops.

Abeg... may Akpeyi not be a time bomb for us oooo.... Amen!!!!!!! He can be good sometimes and then atrocious sometimes.... let's pray for more of the good if we are gonna be seeing more of him in goal for us.... coz we got serious goalkeeping crisis Mehn!!!!



All in all.... We have a rising force of a team on our hands here.... Just Mikel in that team would have seen us Beat those Senegalese.... Yes... just Mikel... (Victor Moses and Ikeme could even be rested and Mikel alone added to that team is more than enough). I am darn serious.


But hey.... we still have a long way to go shaa... but the good thing is... we are really becoming hard to beat and still play some beautiful football. Our Super Eagles can only get better and better....





***To be continued....

Three gbosa for u for this simple analysis.

tbaba1234:
It is too early to worry about Cameroon, we have games against South Africa first.. Cameroon is not that much stronger than Senegal and we coped well without our strongest team. The only goal scored was off a goalkeeping error

Truly Cameroon is not that much stronger but they are Africa champion and we must give them that respect.

I did not watched d match so i cannot say much but try to read a lot of comments here regards to d team performance and even technical crew.

On goal scored by Senegal,i want to say error should not be used to justify our performance,apart from Daniel Akpeyi's error,Iheanacho missed some chances from what i read here,sometimes it happened,all we need is to correct d mistakes and prepare d boys for d task ahead.

The question we should be asking is do we achieve our aims and objectives in this friendly match.

komekn:
I remember some years ago inviting A Nigerian origin midfield player, who was playing in the premiership too come to the Nigerian camp in Abuja.

He compared the framework to the English set up that is highly formalised. And refused to come down to Abuja feeling he would be snubbed.

Unless the players have someone who is an insider or linked in with the NFF nobody will just turn up like that. This is England no be Naija.

Guess Charlton Cole who was later capped by England

Mickael2:
nop, Onazi had something that was very far from a good game. He was average I agree, which is why I said he didn't have such a good game. My only annoyance is that goldfish was actually arguing that Onazi is better than Ndidi which is funny to say the least

Ok.Michael2(Ndidi)goldfish(Onazi) then two of u should wait for Rohr to decide.All i know w all want d best for eagles irrespective of player fielded.

Mickael2:
guess who had a good game...why Ndidi of Course

guess who didn't have such a good game....why Onazi of course

Ndidi great guy but on Onazi d guy had good 25 mins b4 d injury,so what are u saying coz we want healthy rivalry in d team not pulling one down and praising d other syndrome.

tbaba1234:
Well, he should just do his best to impress the coaches.. I do not think he will be invited again though..

At least, he will have it on his resume

Yes just like a friend Dayo Ajoge who made Super Eagles team against Jamaica in London due to non availability of some players but fortunately for him he played like 10 mins as a sub.

Checking my guy profile u w always see ex Super Eagles player

TheGoodJoe:

I hope someone does not want me to lose my temper.

Kungfu master don't lose your temper

goldfish80:
If he was that poor in the game I suggest you petition CAf to strike his name of the man of the match in the game.
Infact his performance in that game propelled him to be named the "undisputed" player of the tournament. Its very rare to pick a player as the player of the tournament if he's on the loosing team. But Ejike was named player of the tournament from a team who came 3rd.

Please put up the petition. I can't wait to append my signature on it.

I tire o coz i no understand.A player was named man of d match and somebody was saying d guy was too damn poor in that particular match.

I just asked Michael2 to tell me how d guy was poor,i even try to compare Kanu's Atlanta game against Brazil to Uzoenyi match against Morocco coz they did d same thing in different ways,d two had a quiet game until 70 mins plus when they turned d game around.

Naming Uzoenyi man of d match in that particular match and player of d tournament was not a joke but trying to rubbish d achievement of d boy is some thing i don't understand but sometimes we view football in different ways.

My man u have a good point and your analysis is precise on Uzoenyi's performance against Morocco.

Mickael2:
there is a great difference between poor and quiet game. Kanu had a quiet game yes but not a poor game. Ejike Uzoenyi had a poor game for the most part of the match, that's the difference.

Pls analyse how Uzoenyi was poor in that match and i w keep quiet.

zicky:
Rating English club by Their performance in the champions league, would you say Epl is a poor league or would you say Dr Congo have a better league to Nigeria bearing in mind Tp mazembe performance in recent time.

It seems people don't have any trust in NPLF again coz most comments have read so far showed that people have lost total respect for Nigeria league.

I started this discussion with Icon4s and he said i should forget it that there is no good home based for Eagles which i try to debate but realising that have not had d opportunity of watching NPFL of recent i need to stop arguing.

On d performance of Nigeria club sides in CAF champions league honestly a lot need to be done though d performance doesn't portray d level of our league coz if we can remember he took Nigeria many years before Enyimba won d elusive champions cup.

Despite not winning d champions cup in those years,d rating of our league did not diminished and we are producing quality players to outside world.

So not performing in d champions league should not be a yardstick to judge our league or our players but truly things must be done to make our club sides a shinning light in d continent.If TP mazembe of DR Congo can be having a great performances then what stop our club sides from doing d same.