₦airaland Forum

OP you did the right thing. Guy code my foot. All of you saying trash, If na your sister nko?

TheCongo2:
You are promoting Swiss division 3 players.
Nigerians have a serious self esteem issue with respect to the west. Aren't there players in your local league you may promote?
From the time I have spent on Nairaland, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of Nigerians would reject anything that bears the logo of Africa. One needs to learn the alphabet in Europe for many Nigerians to believe the person knows the alphabet.
How sad!

Baba you need to understand something. Swiss Division 3 is a developed league that can produce formidable teams that will even beat the best in our top flight league. Organization and technical advancement is the keyword here and we lack it. We are still playing medieval football in Africa and that's why West bred footballers will always have an edge over their homegrown colleagues. Are you not privy of what Ludogorets Ragzard said about our NPFL highest goal scorer not being up to standard? Football has gone digital bro so stop beclouding your sense of judgement with sentiments of patronizing our own first. Do we even have a recognized Division 3? our top flight is still practicing home must win talk more of those ones that no one is monitoring. Google his name and his bio will be up. Google any local league player and see for yourself how far behind we still are. This isn't neocolonialism or inferiority complex, it's me saying the truth.

Feelers from Eagles camp suggest Leon Balogun is sluggish and has been a shadow of his old self in training. There are strong indications he might not be getting automatic starting shirt in Russia.

Pls disregard any rumour making the rounds about Sallah being ruled out of the World Cup. I had to stay awake to follow Skysports report on his shoulder development. Preliminary tests shows its not severe. Their report suggests he could be out for a fortnight not missing the World Cup. This is a confirmed report from the hospital now, I started with Supersports 3 when Klopp said he doesn't know his situation at the time but he knows he was taken to the hospital. I had to switch to Skysports cos they had a reporter monitoring proceedings. Pls Seun and his moderators should confirm news stories first before pushing it to Frontpage. Good morning!

Good day Bosses in the house. I greet you all. Been following silently.

Icon4s:
I spend most of my time in Benin. My dear it is terrible. So tay, when you ask Mama Osas wetin her son, Osas, dey do now. She will boldly say "Osas Don join Yahoo-yahoo".

They are everywhere in Benin and have even bonded amongst themselves. And formed gangs.

Sir, I am also in Benin. It's quite alarming

Mujtahida:
You initiated him into the unspeakable mysteries of the beautiful game. I can't really pin point it but I like the joy and lavishness with which the oldies played. The field seemed more spacious. Players could drive from the defence with flair. While those days cannot come back let us enjoy the memories of days gone by

Luckyroro seems to have made today history and recollection Sunday. Season has ended. Let's talk about our own personal stories and experiences of this beautiful game

Yes oh. With this I put a final Full stop to our recollection Sunday. I'm really glad you all made it interesting. Trust me, a lot of us learnt a lot from it. About the just concluded season, some of our players are in town. Iheanacho was spotted in Owerri airport some days back.

tbaba1234:
When the match was on, i could not eat because of tension.. When it finished, i was too excited to eat.

No dinner that day.

Now my point has been made. In the past we used to go to bed without eating if Nigeria lost. I can't try it now.

Kog45:
It seems you are fond of good old days of Nigeria football.

fond is an understatement. I am very passionate about old Nigerian football. I am trying so hard to replicate same passion to the new generation of Nigerian footballers but it's almost proving difficult.

Mujtahida:
I have decried this trend but sometimes I am thrilled with the infusion of technology into football. Fact is it's inevitable. Machines WILL take over. What you watch in Sci Fi will become a reality.

Till date I go back and watch old football just so I refresh my heart with the poetry that was once football.

Finally I found someone who does same thing I do. I stream matches of the 90's a lot and like you said, that's pure poetry.

Mujtahida:
I was in my final year of secondary school during Afcon 2000.I can't recall why I stayed in school till almost close to the kick off between Nig and Senegal. Omo I couldn't find a vehicle to get home, everywhere was silent and it was just around 6pm or so. By the time I got home (I can't remember how now) Senegal was leading one nil

Hahaha. I know that feeling. cheers to the good old days!

safarigirl:
the ideea of development is a two-edged sword.

You see, you say the controversial calls made football interesting, while that may be true, bear in mind, it also denied people a lot of glory. Someone never got a World Cup because there was no VAR twenty years ago and even though his ball crossed the line, it was cancelled.

Someone else got a world cup from an erroneous call, it's all fine and good, but the beauty of the game was tainted by ugly occurrences.

These new calls came in as a result of the many complaints and controversies that have riddled the game. You find them to be part of what makes it good, but many others don't share that view. People get angry, people have lost their lives based on controversial calls. One refree is safer because VAR will determine if it was a goal or not, so, he won't be held accountable for anything


Evolution must happen in every part of human life. We are in an era of technology, there will come a time when the football of this period will be seen as beautiful. That is life for you.

You have spoken well. Thanks for this perspective.

Woke up now to several mentions. Thanks to Sir Tbaba1234 icon4s Rockyrascal Asha80 TheGoodJoe for taking their time to elucidate more on an experience most of us (younger generation) would have loved to have. Truly, no hype and performance can match those of the 90's. I think commercialization of football is also a causative factor in the steady decline the game has witnessed so far. These days, football isn't as thrilling as it used to be. There were dribbles, funny displays and other interesting features that made the game fanciful to fans. Today, it's about 90 mins. Also, too many rules by governing bodies aren't helping. From banning players from displaying inscriptions on their inner wears to introducing innovations that kill the fun of the game (eg VAR). Do you know that part of the reasons football is popular is when there's controversy and arguments follow. The Nigeria Vs Cameroun Afcon 2000 penalty miss generated such massive popularity cos of the awareness by the International community that the ball actually crossed the line hence it was a subject of massive discussion for a very long while. My point exactly? In trying to advance the game and make it more interesting, We have killed the fun attached to it. Not forgetting there's a UCL final coming up this week, not too many are even aware. This time 2005 wasn't like this. Times and tides have changed mehnnn

TheGoodJoe:

If I was to pick the best World Cup, it would be France 98. It was action packed with lots of great games and star studded teams. From Raul, Hierro, Enrique, Alfonso, Zubizarreta, Campo of Spain, to Okocha, Oliseh, Finidi George, Oruma, Ikpeba, Taribo, Uche of Nigeria, Laudrup Brothers, Sand of Denmark, Baggio, Del Piero, Albertini, Vieri of Italy, Thuram, Zidane, Djorkaeff, Lizarazu, Dugarry, Deschamps, Desailly, Barthez of France, Klinsmann, Bierhoff, Jeremies of Germany, Seedorf, Kluivert, Bergkamp, Zenden, De Boer twins, Reizeiger, Hoijdonk, Cocu of Holland, Ronaldo, Carlos, Sampaio, Dunga, Bebeto, Leonardo, Denilson, Cafu of Brazil, Davor Suker, Bilic, Boban of Croatia, Beckham, Scholes, Shearer, Owen of England, Batistuta, Ortega, Diego Simeone of Argentina and a host of other stars in the competition.

With cracking games like Nigeria vs Spain, Spanish demolition of Bulgaria 6-1, Nigeria vs Denmark another demolition course, Argentina vs England had the best first half in the competition 2-2 first half with the game getting ruined after Beckham kicked Diego Simeone and got sent off. Croatia vs France, Denmark vs Brazil, Brazil vs Holland one of the best star studded World Cup games, France vs Italy and lots of other great games.

To me, France 98 ranks the best when it comes to onfield display. Can't talk about followership and support.

Thanks for this informative post. My point is the followership and not the Stars who played. 1994 was the end of an Era in terms of stars, 1998 was the beginning/ twilight of an Era to some extent but I'm talking about followership and popularity here. I guess you will agree with us that 1994 has it.

tbaba1234:
I cried so much that night vs Italy... No football match has made me cry that much since...

Sir, If you don't mind pls share your experience too. I would really love to picture it from your own perspective. As old as that World cup tournament is, the footages are still evergreen. It might not be in ultra HD but watching the clips will make you see something more unique than the recent ones. To me, another tournament close to that one in terms of followership was Korea/Japan 2002 (To me oh!). Unfortunately other editions haven't lived up to my expectations. They are just so ordinary and random. Pls don't forget to share like I earlier requested Sir. Thanks

Icon4s:
Personally, that was the very World Cup!

To me maybe because of Nigeria's participation. There is something differently special about that WC.

Right from the quality and standard of player to the quality of the venues and also the timing. Venues for USA 94 set the stage for modern WC stadium designs. Most games were played between 9 and 12pm GMT, which is the prime time of TV viewership across Europe and Africa. That will also co-incide with Afternoon to Early evening in North and South America and Early the next morning in Far East Asia. So you got the whole world watching at very convenient times.

People stayed glued to their TV sets to see their Super Stars and heroes as the tournament was best attended by a host of Super stars! I don't think I have seen such quality of players packed in one tournament ever since.It also marked the end of an era of big name footballers of the 1980s. All top footballing nations except England and France were present. The standards of participating teams were so high. I still feel if we had presented the quality of our Super Eagles then in this recent WC we would at least get to the semis.

The 1994 WC was the very WC.

Wow! Thanks a lot for this explanation. That's to say we younger ones missed the opportunity to witness one of the memorable World events. Sir, let me tell you again, I noticed that even women and children followed football then because it was so popular. I was still a kid as at that time but I noticed the shouts and everything then. Atalanta 1996 was also like that. People brought their TV sets outside for everyone to watch the matches in unity. I can tell you that almost everybody comes out to watch Nigeria play on match days. It's unbelievable but during match days everything would be on standstill, no businesses, no schooling activities etc. I have never seen Nigerians unite like that again. Women could mention at least 7 Nigerian players then. It's quite unfortunate that things have changed a lot. Nobody even remembers there's a big tournament as the world cup coming up. If you ask me, modernization has done more harm than good to us. I miss the good old days!

Watched a FIFA world Cup documentary on Supersports yesterday and they described the 1994 World Cup as the best edition since inception. They said it had the best followership across the globe. Oldies in the house, please can you shed more light on this assertion?

fabyom:
I lost my one and only sibling yesterday to the cold hands of death. My elder bro, he was just 40 years old. Got sick the same day he was to start a very lucrative job after years of struggling without a well paid Job. Trying to control how sad I am.

Take heart bro. God knows best. It's well with you and family.

safarigirl:
dem dey write am for face? What does a promiscuous man look like?

See ehn, laslas, to marry a footballer is not easy. They spend days away from the home, moving from one destination to another to play matches. When they are out there, you can't control what goes on, who they meet, who they are influenced by, you can only hope things work favourably for you. The whole stress of having one's partner away for long periods of time is weighty enough, the emotiinal and physical detachment can be hell

Sometimes, the act isn't necessarily done, it is the suspicion that is heartbreaking.


I dey salute all these girls wey dey folloe footballers, e no easy.

Unfortunately this is the truth

tbaba1234:
I doubt it because it is not recent.

Oh. The separation isn't recent?

safarigirl:
depends on who is ending the marriage.

Nigga was probably hoeing around and madam got tired (which is funny really )

Are you kidding me? Ogu doesn't look promiscuous besides he seems like someone who's overjoyed to have such a pretty wife. I don't want to believe the news entirely

Pls hope this news about Ogu's marriage isn't true? It's gonna affect his psychology somehow oh

France squad is good. Lacazzete doesn't deserve a place there. He dipped in form besides other options there save for Giroud are better of.

Tammy Abraham simply exhibited the folly associated with a juvenile. His decision to play for England is one to regret for years. He won't even smell Euro. Not when other stars are springing up and he's going on loan again. This one's career died earlier than Agbonlahor's and I have zero pity for him.

edi287:
Well you shouldn't have "shook a table" first with that comment. Let's agree both our opinions are "stupid" only that you stated yours first.

It was a general advice. Taking it personal was totally uncalled for especially as I didn't mention you or anyone. Anyways since you already buried your hatchet, brandishing mine won't be nice. Peace!

And some people were wondering why he was trending yesterday. Nigerians and their hasty conclusion.

edi287:
Calling someone an "agent" because they suggest players you don't like is stupid.

And you think saying one's opinion is stupid isn't stupider? You could actually make your point without shaking a table but No, your myopic mind won't let you.

Joebie:
Be careful what u ask for.. that kind setting na for papas here o.
Take this room 401 key before u dream too much. And that small stout over there

Lol. Okay

Away from our Kayode argument



We seem to have forgotten a department in the Eagles team that needs urgent attention. Last I checked the goal keeping department was a source of concern to all of us with many arguing about who mans our goal post. Seriously, I feel Dele Ajiboye shouldn't be dropped. I've watched him from age grade competitions through to his recent show at CHAN and I must tell you for free that he's good. Maybe better than Ezenwa too. His case is simply like that of someone without human support and relying on grace to get to the apogee of his career. I remember same scenario played out when Enyeama came to Enyimba with the likes of Joetex Frimpong, Ndidi Anumunu and Obinna Nwaneri in 2000. Enyeama was better than the number one GK but nobody gave him a chance. Little chance he had was the breakthrough. In Our Eagles case, I feel Akpeyi should go to Russia cos of his experience while Ajiboye stands as number 2. Number 3 should be between Ezenwa who's been a fluke GK and Uzoho who's largely inexperienced. I know a lot of you might see things differently but I know where I'm coming from. Sentiments should be attached. The World Cup isn't a place to build a GKs confidence. That's the biggest stage in football. My two cents tho

optimist25:
Quick flash back at the final 23 man list to the last World Cup in Brazil.

Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

Strikers: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor

You could see clearly that this is the kind of 'Coach-agent' list Amokachi earlier talked about. What was a player like Odunlami doing on that list? At the time, Nigerians were complaining about Agbim's gross incompetency but No! Keshi will still invite him for reasons best known to him. 2014 isn't so much a long time but how many of those players still play active football now? Uche Nwofor just returned to Npfl at his young age. He made the list without a club. Trust me that list raised eyebrows because it was fraught with the Nigerian 'man know man' policy. Kudos must once again be given to Rohr. Good evening erudite analysts.

Joebie:
We have a few smoke free rooms left. Any other preferences?

Chalets will do.

Joebie:
Firstly, do you smoke?

No. I don't Boss.