₦airaland Forum

Mujtahida:
No matter how you play football, I swear the international games will be the highlight of your career. Where will Zidane, Carlos, Ronaldo be without those exhilarating games they played for their countries?

Tell that to George Weah .

typicalgamer:
The best thing now is to motivate uzoho and that’s a fact you don’t want a hot/cold keeper on your post that lacks confidence

Confidence is key here

If you have limited ability and poor technique and you lack confidence because you know your not good that is progress.

If you are not good and then think you are and are full of confidence,that is a fools paradise and a recipe for disaster.😨😨

MetalJigsaw:
The number 19 jersey was a very insignificant number in the history of Nigeria Super Eagles until a certain unknown young man came out of nowhere and in a very short time, wrote his name in the history books forever..

His name, SUNDAY MBA

Before the 2013 AFCON, only a few knew the name Sunday Mba, and even those who did never cared much about him as he was a local league player picked to compete against an array of European stars in the Super Eagles of Nigeria team

Unlike the case today, late Stephen Keshi was bold enough to pick 6 home-based players as part of his 23-man squad for AFCON2013. Many believed the local league players would end up as bench warmers, but at the end of the tournament, the name the whole world was singing was Sunday Mba; the Warri Wolves player.

As many expected, Mba and other home-based players were benched in the first 2 group games. Only Oboabona got to play in defense. However, on the last group game which was a must-win game against Ethiopia, Stephen Keshi did the unthinkable; he dropped Nosa Igiebor of Real Betis and started Sunday Mba.

Mba didn't get to score against Ethiopia, but he did enough to convince the coach that he deserved to start in the Quarter final against almighty Ivory Coast.

With the likes of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Kalou, Zokora, Eboue and even Kolo Toure in the Ivorian side, nobody gave the Super Eagles a chance. There were even rumours that Nigerian officials had already booked return flight tickets for the players before the game.

In the 43rd minute, Emenike pulled a shocker and with a smashing bullet freekick, he put Nigeria ahead. 7 minutes later, Tiote equalized with a header. The whole world expected the next goal to come from the Ivorians, and Drogba precisely. But destiny had something else planned out.

That was when the Sunday Mba clock ticked....

He picked the ball from the center of the field, pushed it forward, beat one, dribbled two, and from the edge of the box, unleashed a rocket that flew into the back of the net. That goal announced the local player to the international media. Mba would go ahead to score the lone goal in the final which would hand Nigeria her 3rd AFCON title.

📌FROM GRASS TO GRASS:
The AFCON heroics made Mba one of the most sort after player by many European teams. Unbelievably, Mba ended up signing for a third tier club in France; CA Bastia. HOW?

Due to greed and politics, everyone wanted to have a share of Mba's cake. His club, Warri Wolves and his former team Enugu Rangers got into a war of ownership of the player and this lasted for over 7 months.

All the European teams that wanted Mba got tired of waiting for the issue to be resolved and pulled out of the race. The only team left was the third tier club.

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup approaching, Mba needed to start playing regularly so as to be picked for the world cup. He was forced to sign for CA Bastia and that was the beginning of his end...

Mba's stats for Nigeria are...
📌Debut: 2012
📌Appearances: 22
📌Goals: 7
📌Assists: 0
📌Trophies: 1 (AFCON 2013)
📌Duration with Super: 2 years (2012/2013)

Sadly, today, Mba is just 33 years old, but has been without a club since 2017. He literally retired from active football at the age of 27.

You can watch the best of Sunday MBA in my next post..

Off the record in 2013 a EPL club wanted to sign him ,he was with Warri Wolves, Amaju was running the show there was confusion with Enugu Ranger's as well.

I don't think Mba knew what was going on he had too many people trying to reap where they did not sow.

Philosopher1979:
It is not nff fault. It is peseiros fault. He is the one selecting the players

You really think knowing how we do our things in Nigeria and the NFF in particular that Peseiros will be making Me, Myself and I singular decisions on players selection.

Then you are delusional and have no Idea.

Danielnino00:
You too dey hype rubbish..
So Iwobi, Onyeka, Aribo and Ndidi can't make that Aston Villa midfield, not even the bench?
Thanks to Emery, Aston Villa are looking good this season, but they are still not far from being a mid table team like the ones the core of our midfielders player in..

By your standard and logic, Tim shouldnt be in the conversation for super eagles call up.. he is a bench warmer and also the least paid player in his club...EOD!

You have evaded the subject with erratic noise making.

Which is how good a prospect for the SE.

Brazilian international Douglas Luiz is the quintessential top level DM , Ndidi will not get into the Aston villa team as it stands ( he would be surplus to requirements) . Neither will Aribo and or Onyeka,

Iwobi will compete with Ramsey, Diaby and McGinn and will definitely be in the team.l IMO.

humility33:
You see why I always say you don't know football?

The coach replaced a DM with a DM and here you're mentioning Fisayo who plays upfront in the midfield and you're evening berating Alhassan not to be on his level

Top footballers are versatile and not restricted to just only playing one position.⚽

Douglas Luiz is classed as a defensive midfielder but his attacking contributions probably exceed most of the midfield in Villa.

Quality is not restricted by the limitations of designation.

I would rather have an attack minded DM who is versatile like Ngole Kante, Casemiro, Rice, than robotic one dimensional one.

yinkeys:
We don’t have decent options
Frank is not a natural 4, box to box
Onyedika is not a world class 4

Nobody talking about Fisayo Dele-Bashiru ,with current player's available he should have been on the list.

Alhassan is not on Fisayo level.

chrisooblog:
Quality helps but a top coach will always get the best out of players. Reminds me of what Herve Renard achieved with Zambia in 2012.

Agreed 💯 %, but it works vice versa , A poor,low quality coach lacking ability will get the WORST out of top players and create an inept team with no cohesion.

villagereporter:
.


Why then do you want a bench warmer in the SE, sir? With no stats and playing time?

First of all none of our midfielders will get on that bench as it stands., to sit next to Tim Iroegbunam.

When Arsenal captain Odegaard was warming bench permanently at Real Madrid, Arsenal paid £30 million for him, he signed on the 27th January 2021, and then three days later he came on against Manchester United.The rest they say is history.

There are benches and there are benches that are almost a badge of honour.

How many first team EPL games had Iwobi played before getting into the SE ❓, I will tell you ZERO

Joebie:
I need to watch this Tim guy first.

Getting them early increases our talent pool. Doesn’t guarantee they will eventually come good.

I really don't use YouTube videos to assess a player, but it can be indicative of a players style, attributes and make up. So it gives some insights not absolute conclusions on quality.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwnWYuih1AQ?si=1HB--FpO22mO1UVs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL-aNNc-IFs?si=xzt4Gc8ldhBY2jD8

Put him in the Portuguese league he will be like Pogba and run riot IMO.

charlesemeka85:
this Tim you are making case for no be the same one Villa dey likely to sell to QPR this Jan?🤣

They may or they may not, but for now Tim Iroegbunam is warming bench and he cannot displace Douglas Luiz.

humility33:
The only thing you know is MONEY MONEY
U don't know anything about techniques or tactics, team formation and settings. You don't know about playing style No wonder many times here they discuss real football you're nowhere to be found

You judge players based on contract worth.

Oga there is more to football than MONEY
Some young players in Europe may play better than your Emeka and may still be getting less pay

You have no Idea.

You attack the personality and avoid the substance in your prejudiced 🤔 confusion.

Chukwuemeka Carney was on my radar as a quality top level box to box midfielder. That was at age 16 by 17 he was balling , football intelligence, astounded work rate, tall with physicality and outstanding technical ability.

He played for Villa first team at 18 and was outstanding, at this stage all the top EPL clubs wanted him. However, Chelsea offered him a 6 year on £100K a week. He played for Chelsea as teenager that's no mean fit.

The money 🤑 he earns is confirmation of his outstanding quality and ability.

Best players get more very simple. Money is the driving force behind football ⚽. Without money Benzema Ronaldo,etc will not be in Saudi Arabia.

Please tell me two young Nigerian playerd in midfield better than him please 🥺 Oga 2know not ❓

charlesemeka85:
oga easy abeg Mk Tim first break into Villa’s first team properly 🤣

Can to tell how properly Iwobi broke into Arsenal ford team before being called to the SE.

Tim Iroegbunam has the small competition of the arguably the best defensive center midfielder in the world the Brazilian Douglas Luiz. As a consequence he is not going to get much game time, a position justified.

Look 👀 at where Villa are now number two in the premier League table 😮.

How many games had Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard played for Real Madrid before they paid £35 million for him 🤔

Danielnino00:
But the same Beale was later appointed as Rangers coach and couldn't replicate the success the team enjoyed when he was part of Gerrard coaching crew...

Why not 🚫

charlesemeka85:
inviting Tim won’t be bad but we all know how our national team handlers think

I hv advised that these players born in europe should be tapped when they haven’t hit stardom. Bringing him in as understudy to our midfielders won’t be bad. Such will afford him the exposure and opportunity to grow with the team

Our major aim after the afcon should be building a young team that will represent the nation in 2026 World Cup

Donkeys ago I talked about Chukwuemeka Carney after I watched him in the FA U18 youth cup. Dude was outstanding beyond measure.

Now he is in Chelsea on £100k a week , opportunity lost.

With respect Tim will compete with everyone one of our midfielders he is not going to be an understudy to anyone.

Joebie:
3 Things I want to see after Jpes is gone:

1. Adarabioyo coming to us
2. Integration of Alhassan and Nwakali
3. Solving our Goal Keeper problems once and for all. The solutions are there. We need a coach to put in the work.

Oniovo it's Happy😊 NEW YEAR 🎊 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ should I talk ❓

chrisooblog:
Amedinho you talk am o

KC is a very good player on his day and it will be a big blow if it turns out he can't make it to the AFCON but he's not indispensable.

Nigeria has more than enough talent to go the distance without him but the huge question mark is the tactical and technical depth of our coaching crew or lack thereof.

When you have top quality players and they don't perform in your team set up , who do you blame the coach or the players, in the Nigerian 🇳🇬 situation 100% with the coach.

charlesemeka85:
After the afcon, I will love to see the integration of players like Tosin, Igoh, Alhassan,Tella and Akor to the super eagles

Tella should be Musa’s automatic replacement in the team

I would like to see theses players be OUTSTANDING consistently with top performances in club and league and then be invited to the SE.

My bias right now is for the SE to invite without delay a certain under the radar currently Tim Iroegbunam. Before he. BLOWS 💥

daveP:
😂😂😂😂

Nwakali wasn't picked now. Haba you wan start new year vawu sha. My fears is prior for the Gk department anyways.

Comedic sarcasm lighten up 🤪🤪

daveP:
The best news of the year for Nigerian sport. Only a trophy win can eclipse this. I hope those old bags don ruin the mood.



Ghana going to Afcon with twice the size of our midfield. Says alot about how our coach and nff thinks. Smh

Ghana that had a certain Mohammed Kudus, ripping the EPL, well we should not worry we have the midfield maestro Nwakali.

Danielnino00:
We have been over this before...
I never clamoured for Gerrard to take over at Liverpool..
The man was doing well with Rangers and rumours surfaced that he would be a replacement for Klopp.. I gave reasons why I felt it woule be a good idea...
There's no need to twist it to look like i ran a campaign to support his appointment as Liverpool coach..
Make una find something else to use to bond....

Let me speak to you as an insider to some degree.

Gerrard was not a good coach at Liverpool U18 a good motivator but coach questionable.

The brains behind him was a humble guy called Michael Beale, who was in charge of U12 development phase Liverpool FC. He was previously the assistant Manager at Sao Paulo in Brazil in my opinion an excellent coach, strategist and motivator of players.

Gerrard induced him to Glasgow Rangers and he was the brains behind the scenes. When Gerrard moved to Aston Villa Beale left him to QPR and it went all wrong for Gerrard and he got exposed.

Beale is now at Sunderland who have a very good foreward thinking Chair with big ambitions for quality football ⚽ and an ambition to be in the EPL

Amedino99:
nah. He is still on the kome path. He is basically saying if we rely so much on a player he considers rubbish, then we are truly finished.

Essentially yes .

I think KC is a very good forward player but far from excellent and top quality, but not rubbish.

chrisooblog:
Wow never thought I would see the day. From never really rating Iheanacho to predicting doom and gloom if he doesn't make the AFCON

Never change Komekn and Happy New Year's blessings to you and your family

Happy 😃 🆕 YEAR 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣

It seems my brief comment is ambiguous, let me be clear.

I have NEVER RATED KC as a top quality number 9 in the past and present.

My comment is alluding to the fact that if you think KC is key to AFCON success then we are finished.

When Leicester got relegated, many have tried to create frivolous mathematical probability theories. That the problem of KC is game time, l said NO , he is not good enough.

It was suggested that when Leicester City got relegated he would very quickly become a top goal scorer in the Championship. As he is master marksman and a deadly striker, in addition it would be easier for him, etc. I said, No, rather that he would be exposed and his true quality will be seen.

It's half way through the Championship season, he has played 19 game's out of 25 and he is now joint 34th top goal scorer with 5 goals in the Championship so far.

He is now injured it seems and him being fit for the AFCON a bit doubtful 🤔.

codemaniacs:
Why did world class players like Okocha, Allan saint maximin, Aiyegbeni, Giovinco, Mitrovic, Ben Arfa play for dead teams

I don't like insults but you are making comparison of Okocha, Allan saint maximin, Aiyegbeni, Giovinco, Mitrovic, Ben Arfa players who have played at the.highest levels been outstanding. To Nwakali by comparison a minnow, non entity who his claim to fame is U17 football accolades ⚽ 8 years ago.

Would you call that intelligence 🤔❓or something more derogatory.

hatakekakashi:
Nacho wasn't listed in Leicester squad yesterday because of injuries. It'll be painful if he doesn't go to CIV and he'll be missed. To me after Osimhen, Nacho is our only other reliable forward.

Then if this your position is to be true then we are essentially FINISHED.

comodo:
I just went through what you posted up here. Anyways, if wishes were horses, we would ve had someone like Tosin. But in here and now, we cannot mention him cos he has not committed to the Green and white.
In the backline u cancelled 2CB's in Omeruo & Awaziem without mentioning capable replacements.
Dele Bashiru, Alhassan & Tella would ve been good additions to the team MF. But no one told the coach to limit his Arsenal to 5MF and entire team to 25 players.
Akpom breaking into that attack will be like a camel passing through the eye of a needle. He has only Sadiq to displace, not even Musa.

Musa and Sadiq in the here and now are not on Akpom level and Musa is simply expired drug.

codemaniacs:
Philosopher1979 is right..

Nwakali will give the coach the option of resting Iwobi by subbing Iwobi out in the 2nd half instead of him playing full 90mins even when he his tired..

Awoniyi's injury became worse due to Awoniyi playing for the SE despite been partially injured when the coach and NFF could have invited another player in his place..

As it is now, Ihenacho should be excluded from this AFCON due his injury.

Nigeria has too many players to choose from and should protect players with injury by not inviting them.

creative players like Ejuke, Nwakali, Orban should be in the team.

Quality, Creative players do not remain in dead teams season after season and in poor quality clubs with poor quality players. In the case of Nwakali for the past 8 years.

Chávez has a -23 goal 🥅 deficit after 15 games loosing 11 and winning just 3 ,two by sheer luck because players were sent off.

Why is a quality player in a dead team getting €2k or less a week.😨. Because he is too good.

jihday:
as it stand, Tosin have no interest in playing for us. If he’s really interested he will communicate to the whole world without even opening his mouth. These players are better at PR than anything you can think of

How many Nigerian origin players that play in the EPL do.uoi know personally ❓

To make such a deduction you must do .

Kog45:
Oga kokmne do we now say corruption.Good we are not having local coach we would've been hearing Musa,Sadiq and Ojo paid to make the team.

Charlesemeka said some players made the team through back door and Marjoribank back it up by saying from reliable source but I asked what source?no answer.

Tobi Adepoju a sport journalist expatiated on how Musa and Ekong made the team which showed Peseiro is in charge.

There is nothing suspicious about the list based on previous Peseiro super eagles lists.

Dude you may think I'm so far away and out of touch with the NFF.

You are very wrong in that assumption, my dealings have not been in the media but one in one and I can tell you a Leopard 🐆 never changes it's spots .

Nuff said

charlesemeka85:
Tosin yet to switch or even accept to play for us. another which I watched yesterday against lazio was Okoli. Kid have developed and good enough to be in the super eagles

Tim isn’t yet a regular in villa, likely to be loaned out next month

Chukwuemeka will be tougher to get, Madueke and Lesley may switch to us in the nearest future

Amongst the trio I rate Chukwuemeka more

Another good one who many don’t monitor here is Moritz Jenz. He is doing superbly well for bundesliga club Wolfsburg

Former, England youth international will NEVER go in the public domain and wash our dirty linen in public.

We say one thing in public but do the opposite in private. l haven't spoken to Tosin but I can easily ask him but from what I'm hearing there has been no invitation.

humility33:
The technical committee is headed by Equaevon. That man's head is filled with pap. All that he is obsessed with is the 1994 super eagles playing pattern. I won't be surprised if he gave this Pasiero list a nod

One of the problem of the super eagles are the unskilled ex internationals that see managing the super eagles as their birth right

What about the inept, incompetent, clueless even uneducated and I'll informed NFF management officials.

Who see the NFF like a political appointment to chop money 🤑

I would rather have a former international who is concerned with best quality and national interest. Who probably is already very wealthy than a hungry corrupt NFF official.

Kog45:
Awoniyi injury threw the position opened and Peseiro preferred Sadiq over Moffi,nothing like stealing anyone's slot.

Do you really believe that it's Peseiro doing the selection me, myself & I.❓❓

Because I know he absolutely is not the sole decider.