₦airaland Forum

Sportilitica:
Some people celebrated Shehu's injury forgetting that we really did not have back up. Some people were even celebrating Igahlo's injury during the third place match until Osihmen came in and could not fit in immediately. Awazeim tried in that position but there is so much one can do.

Now this is the conundrum why on earth would you bring square pegs to fit into round holes.

Please can someone explain.

What is more baffling is that IMO Aina played both position with consummate ease and composure. So why drop Aina for a Collins who was match rusty and average pace without football intelligence and returning from injury and an Awaziem that has no pace and is a makeshift RB.

I am BEWILDERED.

Considering the squad we had I would have played consistently Simon and Aina as our best options in the full and Wing back positions.

Sportilitica:
Intelligent is the right word. Remember that he is not a right back

Then why on earth would Rohr play him in that position as if we didn't have other options.

He was always at best Ok very intelligently he would not come forward a lot because he didnt have the pace to get back and cover.

The Algerians identified him as a weak link from the onset of the game. Colin on the other hand had some pace but nit exceptional and no football intelligence another weak link.

But all this is academic talk after the event. We need aggressive player recruitment without politics. Players currently performing.

Sportilitica:
Awazeim was better than Omeruo in this tournament if you consider that he was played out of position and still held his own. He hardly put any foot wrong all through those matches. Omeruo is a good player with some inconsistences but i would not compare him to Kolibaly who is a better and more consistent defender. Overhyping our players is what leads our unreal expectations

Awaziem was the WEAKEST link he had no pace and was luck not be sent off against Algeria.

He played an intelligent game of playing within his limitations, but almost every 1 on 1 with the Algerians he lost.

Danielnino00:
Do we have a reliable striker?

Let me remind you that Ighalo himself wasn't reliable in the national team even when he was in form at Watford .He lost his starting shirt to a younger and untested Iheanacho .Iheanacho rose to the occasion until he lost form...Ighalo was recalled to replace Iheanacho...
We have Osimhen, Odey and Awoniyi...another prolific striker may emerge this season,u never know..

so to answer your question, we don't know if we have a reliable striker (as per national team form) until they are given the same kind of opportunity Iheanacho and Ighalo got ..

Reliable is open to debate.

The basis for National team call up is consistent continous top class outstanding performances. Both KC and Ighalo met the criteria. But Ighalo more so with consistent performances over several seasons.

Unfortunately one season is a pointer or should be to better things to come but not conclusive. KC surrounded by top class players at City we now know flattered to DECIEVE. He is literally a one season wonder.


Both Chukwueze and Osimhen face different challenges this season that will determine thier progress. Chukwueze will notice that he is no longer unknown to defenders, they will have studied him things will no longer be as easy. Osimhen it seems will be going to the French league one, another challenge to overcome it will not also be easy Belguim league is not French league.

Meanwhile other strikers and forward players are not asleep. Odey is steadily but quietly climbing learning too without too many eyes on him. Awoniyi for me could be a new option he has the physicality to do well in striker position but does he have the finishing to excel I dont know.

Meanwhile there are many that are in the English league system that are progressing. Who knows

For me in the absence of any real option first choice striker CURRENTLY hate or like him for me is Onuachu.

Osimhen is unable for now play that role and is not better than Onuachu.

Joebie:
If u no add SAMU i go pull your nose oh

For a rookie to make a claim he must be consistent.

He got a goal but his approach play and unnecessary dribbling and lack of team cohesion for me said he has a lot to learn. He had some moment of Brilliance but they were far and few between. What makes quality is CONSISTENCY of performance.


Then in the game against Algeria he was given a lesson by the Algerian defence, caged and his end product non existent.

darkelf:
They wouldn't give omeryo a place and it makes sense.

We conceded a goal in wvry match from the game against Madagascar till the Semifinal. This didn't exactly help the case of any Nigerian CB

If we are to look at things without bias,our defenders were poor.

Considering where Ekong and Omeruo play they were both making school boy errors.

Thankfully they already have clubs in better leagues if not they would be still stuck in Turkey.

The only players that performed above average for me where IGHALO, ETEBO, NDIDI and AINA.

RIP Revealed Incredible Personality

I stopped commenting on these issues essentially because it is too frustrating and painful.

Normally their should be an inquisition of sorts to establish the WHY & HOW and ensure that it never happens again, but rather its all swept under the carpet. The number of senior officers that are falling to this rag tag militia should tell us SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG, because the number of NCO's that have fallen may be in the 000's.

But back to the WHY,

Unfortunately our legislative arms that should have oversight function are so IN-DEPTH IGNORANT and INEPT they allow the situation to continue without question or could they be also ENDEMICALLY CORRUPT Too another big part of the problem.

meobizy:
OP, NEPA don carry light? My 12 year old nephew was born in 2006. He's almost my height now.

LOL

safarigirl:
I repeat, not in France.

As far as the French are concerned, everyone is even and you don't have to break your back to be chosen as a black person, over a white person.

That is why their team has a majority black presence, or you think they can't find caucasians to fill the black roles?

I will buttress your point from experience.

Black Africans in France can actually feel French more so than African.

It's very rare unless the person was brought up in care and had a whole lot of issues. And or they just had little or no black input. For a black person in England to think that are English and the same as white English.

There are always a few sell out Uncle Toms or Coconuts.

But most Nigerian see themselves as Nigerian first and English second. And to be neighbourhood specific I never see Warri pikin deny Warri.

However, there are some disappointing exceptions, l meet Nigerians who were born on Nigeria went to school in Nigeria even worked thier. Then they come to England and teach thier children that Nigeria is hell on earth and ABSOLUTELY nothing can good can come out of that country.

Then go on further to encourage thier children to follow oyibo and reject all things African as bad and accept all things White as good.

darkelf:
Wrong

It is the same everywhere. The implicit bias in applying the rule of law to African immigrants and traditional French. Even in Job placements, the African has to show that he is 3x as good to get it. I read books and even watched a documentary about the subject.

I am living personification of that observation in the UK in the last decade or more. Everywhere l have ever been contracted or employed I have always been the most qualified Academically, Professionally and Experentially.

safarigirl:
I beg to disagree

The scenarios are different and it has a lot to do with the method of colonialism. The average Francophone African is more welcomed in France than an Anglophone African is welcomed in England.

English system will ALWAYS put their own above any outsiders in everything, irrespective of how great the player is. Do you think 29-year old Nzonzi would have ever played for the English National team at his age? England would rather take a bang average 32-year old PURE English man, than an Nzonzi to the World Cup, no matter how good he is.

England and France are not the same thing as far as players are concerned, and there are some great English players of African descent that will never get to play for England, because of that bias England has.

Historically the political system adopted by France with its colonies was ASSIMILATION.

The policy of the British towards thier colonies was DIVIDE & RULE.

That's what has underpinned the social interaction of peoples and thier relationship in these two countries. Furthermore the French revolution reduced the impact
and furtherance of class structures.

That's not the historical experience of the British although the structure of the peasants and Lords is not in existence officially. The class structures are still very much alive and kicking.

Considering the proposition you have made in the bold that is completely true in the UK.

In the UK people of West African origin have a higher educational attainment level that middle to upper class white children.

But as soon as they leave university that statistic is flipped completely up side down. And you will find Africans who are much more qualified academically and professionally at the bottom rung.

You guys complain of tribalism but you will find racism a bitter pill to swallow.

Football mirrors what happens in UK society in general. How many black managers do you see ❓ ❓ When it comes to objective measured outcome delivery in football i.e. playing the football. Our African and black players are right at the top.

When it then comes to the subjective, intuitive and personal based subject of management that is difficult to measure empirically. You find once again a complete bigoted U turn. There are little or no black managers. And the few who are there get sacked without any sense of rationality or reference to performances but RACIST whims. For example Darren Brown and Chris Houghton.

Look at two of the most badly behaved players in English football Lee Bowyer and Barton. Within minutes if ending thier careers they are managers.

Look at Frank Lampard already one year in management and now manager of Chelsea.

This ratio of bigoted blatant intended racism and discrimination is replicated in all fields of endeavour in the UK. For instance how many investment banks have Black Directors, how many NHS Directors are Black, How many Executive director are black in Blue Chip companies in the UK, etc, etc. Commensurate with ratio of blacks to whites in the population.

I will stop here,.

BascoVanVeli:
I have a news flash for you, any player who goes 3 games without scoring will receive the same treatment but Ighalo as proven he can handle it.

You are only looking at the worst. The same way u are saying this, i could say that Ighalo very well can end up being our all time leading scorer if he stays. Either way we are not palm readers and can't tell the future

The way Ighalo has been treated by many supposed fans on hear and fans in general has been TOTALLY DISGRACEFUL.

Then the way show blatant favoritism not based on performance but just sentiment for some players to the exclusion of others is INEXCUSABLE.

Jarus:
The way Algerians abroad are attached to their national team football, not sure Nigerians abroad have that passion for Nigerian national team football..

Go to Gorton, Cheetham Hill in Manchester and Small Lagos Peckham London and you will change that view COMPLETELY.

somehow:
I don't know what is wrong with you and Andrew44 though. I don't mean it in a bad way.

The names you people keep mentioning have been known to be great players from the youth right to this minute.

These are players that have been consistent for more than 10 years, always playing anywhere they find themselves. leave from big clubs to big clubs.

Can these be said of our own old legs?

Maybe we should keep Mikel, Ogu, Joel Obi, Akpeyi, Ezenwa then just because some just cant see the name of Balogun on the list of old legs that should leave.

We have alot of good young defenders that needs space to play but we don't want to make way for them, using wrong comparison as excuses.

Which of our old legs are consistent or can make the first team of all the names you mentioned?

One answer for you OBAGOL & SONE ALUKO

andrew444:
See as you praise aribo and dey sincere

But if na naija born na another thing you go dey talk come dey blow your warri UK grammar join am

I am talking from first hand experience, I also know the coaching crew at Charlton and recruitment heads although I knew the ones at Tottenham a lot more really sad that Ehiogu former Tottemham coach passed away so tragically.

So i am talking from a perspective of first hand knowledge not hearsay.

BascoVanVeli:
Because I actually saw him duh. Growth spurts at 20 are highly improbable. There is a benefit of a doubt but if you have not seen him how do you know yourself?

When I was much younger a distant cousin came from the village to stay with us he was 22 , very malnourished shockingly at that age he was able to grow a quite few inches taller, i dont know how many but he was clearly much much taller than he was before.

My father who is an academic and microbiologist also found it quite surprising but scientifically explainable.

charlesemeka85:
I hv seen both play but sentiment aside aribo is more talented and works harder for his team than onomah who seem uninterested sometimes.

Aribo is left-footed and versatile as well. He scores goals too

Aribo has had a much HARDER and DIFFICULT ROUTE to football having not had the under pinning foundation of a football academy. He came from non league straight into the championship in 2015 that's phenomenal. He has more drive and determination and that alone may see him push himself much higher in the long run than Onomah.

However, going to Rangers although seemingly a lower league that's below the Championship in quality, is actually a GREAT CAREER MOVE. Next season i can see him in the EPL if all goes to plan and he steps up his game. He was outstanding in league one last season.

In comparison I have seen and watched Onomah in training and matches since he was 16, spoken to his coaches too. He has been outstanding in the Championship over the past two season plus but lacks consistency sometimes in my opinion. But from what i have seen Onomah is better technically speaking and in probably every other area , however mental drive may be less, the over powering will to win will make you a WINNER not just talent alone.

andrew444:
The best midfielder in the game between naija and Algeria the guy plays for notthingham forest in the championship and the guy is 33

But once a player is 30 in naija dem go say e don old for national team ,but if you tell them say their player use football age dem go say Na lie

But why will a player be 2 old to play at the national team at 30 ? When Thiago Silva alves and co did it

One question for those who have these nonsensical beliefs.

How old is Ronaldo ❓ How old is Danny Alves❓❓ Finally, how old is Thiago Silva? ❓❓❓

If you add into the equation " football age " in the Nigerian context how many of our footballers are using thier actual age

So let's leave that matter

charlesemeka85:
Super Eagles manager Gernort Rohr revealed that he's in search of Mikel Obi's replacement following the midfielder's retirement on Thursday.

According to the Franco-German boss, he is in search of a player who regularly plays for a Champions League club and has all it takes to feature in different positions in midfield.

Considering the manager's criteria, new Glasgow Rangers acquisition Joe Aribo is the best man for the job based on his versatility and his determination to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

In an exclusive interview with allnigeriasoccer.com earlier in the year, Aribo declared his love for the Super Eagles and he will be glad to feature for the team in the nearest future.

''I am definitely open to playing for Nigeria, I'd be happy to play." he said.

''There has been no contact with the Nigeria Football Federation. I'll honour the invitation if I get a call-up.''

Aribo can best be tagged as 'young Mikel' because of his abilities to feature as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder and as an attacking midfielder.

Just like Mikel, Aribo is known for his trademark and defense-splitting passes which often end up creating goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

The fact that he plays for Rangers, who is managed by a world-class midfielder in person of Steven Gerrard, is another reason why the 22-year-old is the best candidate to take over from the former Chelsea star.

Aribo's quality as a versatile midfielder will definitely improve on steady basis as he's going to learn new skills from the Liverpool legend.

His commitment towards representing the Super Eagles is an assurance that Rohr will get the best out of the youngster as his zeal will see him give his all for the team.

In fact, Aribo could be an upgrade to the new Tranzonspor midfielder because he also score goals too, unlike Mikel who has just six goals from 89 international matches.

The search is made simple for Rohr, all he needs is to hand a debut call-up to the youngster and run the rule over him on the training ground.

My preference for the position would be Onomah.

Humility017:
please always try to make your comments brief and straight to the point.
it takes too many space....

and for the last paragraph....please go help us beg him to come out of retirement....
you guys believe that we will never get the best...pessimism at its peak.
I believe the next striker gonna be more lethal and deadly than him.
I wish him...well, he has paid his dues...

him leaving gonna pave way for the next hungry lad

If being hungry was the prerequisite for succes nobody would poor.

We are being REALISTIC you simply are not, you are wishing for the best.

All I can say to you is;

"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride ".

sontoly:
You didn't mention ike uche, he is not physical but still out scored half of your list so your point isn't valid.

Please take time to understand what l am saying.

I did not say physical l said Physicality.

Ike Uche was an exceptionally technically gifted player that had physical ability in otherwords he wasn't weak but still physically strong.

that is to say has been eating Yam and not Potatoes.

forgiveness:
Well, he was the first choice last season before he lost his place through injury. This season he hardly played but I think he is a very good player.

He is also good at scoring goals.

However, he can as well play as LB.

I expected some more details, for instance l watched him play or seen him in training or l talked to hus coaches, these are his attributes and his deficiencies, etc, etc.

How many goals has he scored this season.

How many professional games, etc

It's just l haven't heard much about him and so I'm sure many others do too.

So tell me d tory about d player.

andrew444:
Balogun is still relevant as he is purely 31,if he is playing and not warming the bench then he should continue play ,unlike ogu who is only 31 but for real Na 41

If too sat na me talk this kind ting now.

Dem for don begin root out dagger follow me say BIASED bla bla bla HATER, etc,etc

Even if everyone knows that what you are saying is probably the truth.

darkelf:
So, who is the solution to the No 9 conundrum NOW

That's the big WAHALA.

Gone are the days when we had quality players all over the place.

Icon79:
Thank you, my dear! Everyone here knows that I am arguably Daniel Akpeyi's biggest critic in this forum. However, I always criticize objectively not out of emotions or blame game. With that said, anybody who blames Akpeyi for the loss against Algeria is either being grossly unfair or totally clueless about soccer. We didn't lose that game because of the goalkeeper. Short and simple! As a matter of fact, Akpeyi actually saved our brushes on more than one occasion in that game.


O pari

Agreed

andrew444:
You no need to tell them

Dem self know the truth and dem don admit that rohr is correct

They all earned my respect

But osimhen has the potential to be far better than ighalo soon

I have been consistently CONSISTENT in my opinion with regards to Osimhen prior and even now.

A good player with a lot of potential that can go far If he listens to good advice and is managed correctly.

First of all the only basis for call up to the SE should be Outstanding consistent top quality performances in your club and league. Osimhen had done nothing before he was invited from Wolfsburg youth team.

Meanwhile we had a player tearing up the Austrian league in the name of Kayode that was totally ignored.

Now fast forward he took my advice dropped to a lower league and REINVENTED himself. By being outstanding as one of the top ten goals scorerd in the Belguim league.

He now has a chance to prove himself in the SE he has been waiting l presume preparing for this one chance. Sometimes you only get one chance you must make very good use if it. It can either make or break you.

Prior to him getting his chance the reports coming out of camp were not good. He has a cult following here that's filled with emotive sentiment and based on preference not performance.

We all waited in excited anticipation only bro sorely disappointed.

Now it's become apparent that he is NOT READY YET or maybe NEVER only time will tell. Where the AFCON is concerned he simply doesn't have the attributes required currently.

It's been reported that Ighalo has retired if this is true it's very SAD NEWS he still very relevant for the SE because there is no ready replacement. CURRENTLY.

Ighalo hot his first call in 2015 he was proven tested and established over many seasons of professional football in different leagues across Europe.

Unfortunately the problem has arisen because we no longer have any Proven Tested and Established top strikers to call on.

Consequently, We are now looking at POTENTIAL STRIKERS which is what Osimhen is for now.

If you think that's HATE and BIAS I have no words for you.

forgiveness:
Are you serious about this?

What about Eze?

Eze is a good player that needs to be more consistent.

It's remarkable that him and Tega Abrahams were in the same local youth team as kids.

forgiveness:
Are you serious about this?

What about Eze?

I am not overly sold on Udokhai he isn't first choice and isn't consistently outstanding in the club or league.

Convince us, tell us about him❓ what's he got❓ l have only seen him a few times.

Olulong:
Odemwingie physical??

Look at my diction a good degree of physicallity.

Odemwingie was a fast technical player that was deceptively strong. Otherwise how do you think he survived and even excelled in the EPL.

Icon79:
You guys are unbelievable! Less than one year ago, after the 2018 World Cup, Ahmed Musa was the demi god of the Super Eagles to most of y'all and Jude Odion Ighalo was the worst striker to ever walk the planet earth. Now, less than one year later, Musa is the one who's useless and Ighalo is the super dupa star, eh?

Oh boy, am I glad that most of y'all have nothing to do with managing Naija footie!


O pari

Agreed

forgiveness:
Kelechi Nwakali downturn has nothing to do with injury.

But Chucks Aneke who rose from league one to the Belgium Pro League within two full seasons with an individual outstanding performance experienced downturns in his second full season in the Belgium Pro League after he sustained an injury that lasted for almost one year(half of 2015/16 season - half of 2016/17 season). That injury forced him to go back to England. He sustained another one for two and half months in 2016/2017 season.

Despite the downturns, he rose to the Championship within the last two seasons from league two.

Chuks Aneke downturns have nothing to do with lack of game time or poor performance.

This is how people who are Superdelusuional begin to create non existent facts to buttress thier prejudice.

Humility017:
well done seer... your assertion all ridden in prejudice and biased reasoning.
just yesterday's match you could assess and forecast his future...

abeg save me all that....a non physical player can't play and score goals in the Belgian league where you have young and energetic blood all running down the pitch...

Being young and energetic does not equate to physical prowess and dominance.

Every league is different and they are not always the same quality and they all have different attributes and styles.

For instance La Liga is very technical but not as Physical Fast and competitive as the EPL.

This implies that each of these league will have different preferences with player selection.

The Belguim league is not a physical league it's more technical based and isn't on the same quality in any way shape or form as the Bundesliga.

The Scottish league has a low rating in Europe around number 20 but the Belguim league is number 8. Nonetheless, the Scottish league is very physical and requires players to have a good degree of physicallity.

That's why Sadiq Umar completely flopped in Rangers but did above average in the Eredivisie just like the Belguim league it's not very physical. And Sadiq though tall is a paper weight.

Essentially physicality is not an essential player requirement to excel in the Belguim. Why do you think Lukaku was destroying the league at 16 ❓ If I'm right he was the top goal scorer at 16.

So your proposition assumption is wrong.

Please do not misrepresent my comments, you can make informed predictions based on a player current attributes about a player but nobody can determine the future.

My comments were specific , l reiterate with regards to the HERE and NOW Osimhen is very far off from Ighalo and is currently not the solution to Nigeria need for a striker CURRENTLY.