₦airaland Forum

forgiveness:
We need player like this that can take shots from outside the box.

kingphilip:
both of them are around now

so our thinking might not be right afterall

Joebie:
Sir the NFA already had a series of problems with Troussier, one of which was his refusing to return to Lagos (maybe for the LG cup?)
There is no news about Troussier's firing before the LG cup. It's not out of place for Sinclair to lead Nigeria there, especially if Sinclair was his assistant.

The 3rd place match of the LG cup was held on August 9th (http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/lgcup97.html).
So most likely the finals between Nigeria and Tunisia was held the same day.

Our DEAD-RUBBER game against Guinea took place August 16th. Take note, it was a dead rubber, Nigeria had already qualified.
Now did Troussier retuturn to prosecute that match? I will research further. Firstly, I want to check who Trousier's assistants were.

ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE: https://www.supersport.com/football/football-features/news/110415/QA_with_Monday_Sinclair

Nnamdi Njoku asked:
How did you deel when you were not allowed to take the Super Eagles to the France 98 world cup after you and Phillipe Trousier qualified the team for the world cup?
Sinclair answered answered:
Thanks Nnamdi.

Well, people who were closer to the 'powers that be" took our jobs and we were asked to step out!

I was disappointed, naturally because Coaching at the World Cup is the apex of Coaching and to be denied was quite a blow but then life goes on.

Joebie:
TheGoodJoe

1. Kenyan website: http://www.kenyanstar.co.ke/index.php/columns/soccer-nostalgia/1538-the-lagos-dream-world-cup-98-qualifier-nigeria-vs-kenya

Super Eagles Line up:

Starting XI: 21 Baruwa Abiodun, 4 West Taribo,17 Oparaku Mobi Patrick ,8 Adepoju Mutiu Abiodun, 5 Okechukwu Uche,3 Babayaro Celestine,9 Akpoborie Onowareke,10 Okocha Augustine,15 Oliseh Ogorchukwu Sunday,11 Amunik Emmanuel ,14 Amokachi Daniel

Substitutes : 22 Joseph Dosu,20 Ikpeba Nosa Victor,19 Ohenhen Christopher ,12 Babangida Tijani , 6 Iroha Benedict,18 Oruma Wilson , 2 Eguavon Augustine Owen

Coach : Troussier Philippe

Scorers : Nigeria : 13' Oliseh Ogorchukwu Sunday
43' Amunike Emmanuel
83' Oruma Wilson

2. independent.co.uk (18 Dec 1997): http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-milutinovic-confirmed-as-nigeria-coach-for-france-98-1289487.html

Nigeria have been without a coach since the Frenchman Philippe Troussier left in August. (We can check the dates to see if it corresponds)

3. upclosed.com : https://upclosed.com/people/philippe-troussier/

Entering the job half way through qualifying he led them into four games throughout the campaign as Nigeria successfully qualified, however the Nigeria Football Federation decided to relieve Troussier of his duties and ultimately let highly experienced coach Bora Milutinović lead them into the tournament due to his experience of already managing three different nations in a World Cup at that time.

4. BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/39252.stm

The Olympic gold medallists have been without a manager since Frenchman Philippe Troussier left last August. (Again we can check the date)

Joebie:
libero808 thank you for "disvirgining" our 1900th page

TheGoodJoe:
Remember in my earlier link, Troussier was already out of the country before the Kenyan game in Lagos. Maybe because he was still the coach on paper, that is why the misrepresentation but that earlier link showed he was already away before the Lagos game.

TheGoodJoe:
I know of Wikipedia reports saying Troussier coached the last two games. Even in Troussier's wiki page, it is stated there but it is not correct because Troussier was relieved of his duties before the game against Kenya.

In some BBC posts on the game, they listed Troussier but it is wrong. Sinclair coached that game. I already highlighted Ohenhen making the team due to Sinclair having full authority, if not that will not happen.

TheGoodJoe:
I know of Wikipedia reports saying Troussier coached the last two games. Even in Troussier's wiki page, it is stated there but it is not correct because Troussier was relieved of his duties before the game against Kenya.

In some BBC posts on the game, they listed Troussier but it is wrong. Sinclair coached that game. I already highlighted Ohenhen making the team due to Sinclair having full authority, if not that will not happen.

TheGoodJoe:
Thanks for the info that Troussier did not handle the first leg against Kenya but he also did not handle the 3-0 demolition game in Lagos against Kenya. Coach Monday Sinclair did. Sure of it because two years later, I lived in the same compound with Coach Sinclair. I discussed a lot about it with Coach Monday Sinclair's boys.

TheGoodJoe:
Just wanted to point out that the Super Eagles were not performing in 1997, struggling to get results and I think we lost 1-0 to Kenya. This led to the NFF deciding to disengage coach Phillipe Troussierre.

Coach Monday Sinclair replaced him and when he coached us in the last leg of the qualifiers against Kenya, we looked a different team, playing brilliant football and thrashed Kenya 3-0.

I think Coach Monday Sinclair should have been given the chance but the NFF was not going to risk going with a home based coach to the World Cup. That is what led to the employment of Coach Bora Milutinovic.

Icon4s:
A better pairing than Okazaki-Vardy?

Just because they beat Leeds.

Icon4s:
So the coach should bench their most prolific striker and play a wasteful Slimani just to accommodate Iheanacho? Or what are you saying? So what happens to Okazaki another very resourceful striker?

You make this conclusion from just a League Cup win against Leed?

jotey:
on behalf of all Nigerians I donate akpom to England
they can have him

Icon4s:
That guy is the newest bread off from the Wenger's bakery.

Danycrusoe:
libero808 u r doing a good job. joebie where are you its been a while I saw ur monicker and tbaba i love ur updates on the Nigerian players every match day.

any one notice how iheanacho almost put a heavy touch on that pass he receive before laying it to slimani?

many have talked about his poor touch but I just had the best view of it tonight, I saw that one against Zambia in the first leg but I thought it was one of those things anyway I hope he improves, just one touch can make a win and one heavy touch can also make a team lose a game.

blueto:
hilarious. thanks dear. Steps should be taken to ensure that it is added to subsequent dictionary updates

Mujtahida:
In 1994 though we had a really good team inexperience took us out. It was a first for the players, the technical crew and also the officials. And then in fighting and squabbling among the players as there are stories that players refused to pass the ball to Rashidi.
Lesson: Rohr too is a newbie. He should ask coaches who've been to the World Cup to learn from their experiences, he should brush up tactically and maintain the good spirit in the team. Apart from Mikel, Echiejile, Moses, Omeruo (? dey him head sha) Enyeama (if he makes the squad) Musa, the rest of the players are new. Team spirit and morale should be the highest priority cos it is where there's unity that anything worthwhile can be achieved. As for the officials, we lack continuity. I doubt if there's still any of the officials that went to Brazil that is still with the federation to give useful hints and guidelines.

France 98: first error was to change the coach who qualified us Phillipe Trousier for Bora Militunovic . We took a fairly experienced World Cup squad but yet had weak spots in the attack and GK departments. Rashidi was old and out of form, ditto Rufai. We had no real CF as Ikpeba wasn't an out and out forward for the Super Eagles (though he scored in the game against Bulgaria). That team too had serious issues of disunity as those were the heydays of the much talked about Super Eagles mafia(Amokachi was injured but he still went to the World Cup). Hubris took over us after we topped our group and we began dreaming of Brazil instead of Denmark who were our next opponents(I read that the Danes got our tapes, watched it and you all know the end)
Lessons: Don't change the coach. Washed up players of the old brigade should be totally left out(of course except Enyeama who also must prove himself). Players must be united and should not let pride eat into them should they win matches. We must also study our opponents thoroughly and take each game as it comes.

Korea/Japan 2002: Pre World Cup preparations were fair as we played three friendlies against Paraguay and Jamaica and Scotland- not top sides though. We didn't learn from the previous World Cup as we changed Shaibu Amoudu who qualified us and replaced him with Onigbinde. Newbies like Ogbeche who flashed a bicycle kick in one friendly had everybody hollering his name. He went to the World Cup and was a flop. That team also lacked depth. We heard stories about Taribo refusing to play to instruction.
Lesson: Do not change the coach. We need quality grade A friendlies not teams like Liechtenstein or Azerbaijan. We need discretion to be able to sift real quality from empty showmen who will disappoint when crunch time arrives. Players should avoid insubordination. The team should have depth.

South Africa 2010: preparations were poor. I can't remember that we played any friendlies. Same mistake again occurred (them jazz us abi) as Amoudu qualified us again and was ditched. Lars Lagersback took charge and I swear I really can't pin point what the problem was except to say our players played like they had drunk Lager beer: Yakubu suddenly became epileptic in front of goal, Kaita flared up for no reason. Of course since we didn't participate in Germany 06 we took an inexperienced side to the World Cup. They were not just inexperienced, they also were not hungry enough because our group wasn't that tough(Nigeria, Argentina, South Korea and Greece) The team also lacked depth as our lean years had begun from 2006 or even farther back. First round we were out.
Lessons: Don't change the Coach. The team must be robust in all departments and deep in depth and quality.

Brazil 2014: The lesson had been learnt or so it seemed cos Keshi qualified us and was at the Mundial as our Coach. Preparation was poor as we played just two or so friendly matches. Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel, Oshinawa, Babatunde broke into the squad and some into the first eleven. In fact much of the players that won the Afcon 2013 and played in the qualifiers were dropped. It even looked like a new squad was taken to the World Cup a new squad that was seriously lacking in depth as can be seen from the Onazi injury in the match with France. Those were the peak of our lean years because truly everywhere was barren (in terms of quality) as personally I couldn't reel off players doing well at least not like we can do today. Player agents played their cards well and succeeded, the coach compromised and wafflers made the squad. Issues of player bonuses made headlines and a chartered flight with cash had to be flown to Brazil to save us from international embarrassment.
Lessons: Preparation for the tournament should be top notch with quality friendly matches at least four. FIFA handles much of the logistics regarding hotels and flights during the tournament proper so no excuses. No compromises: players should go by merit. New bloods should be of high quality and should not be more than seven so that baring injuries, loss of form etc 90% of those who played the qualifiers should form the nucleus of the squad. We should be hungry to go far beyond our best yet. Nothing stretches and brings out the best like a dream that is deep and glorious. Our coach should also brush up tactically because football has become an intensely intellectual endeavour where men have turned the sport into a battle field of the mind. Tactical strength, suitable tactical game plan and flexibility should come to play in our strategies.

I wish our team the best. Mikel greet Olga family on our behalf.
Assignment:Project Vladimir
Codeword: Victoria
Location:Russia
Time:June/July 2018

Viva Super Eagles!!!!

Icon4s:
Pele. No fall sick again o.

Glad to have you back.

safarigirl:
your work here now na to dey critic players. Any time you wuestion a player, dem dey play well.

Ebuehi

Awaziem

...now Nacho

Abeg ehn, before our first World Cup match, finish the entire first XI

blueto:
Iheanacho scores!! Every player now doing better for world cup slot. Maybe neologists can help coin a phobia word on Fear of missing the world cup

Mujtahida:
I don't understand if you are talking about preparations for the World Cup or having a ready squad for the World Cup proper cos as far as preparations are concerned I think we are moving in the right direction- a grade A friendly is coming on the back of our dead rubber match with Algeria.
With regards to a ready team we are not yet there in all departments but much ground will be covered before the mundial to ensure we have a strong team and quality bench.