₦airaland Forum

komekn:
Agu Mikel is he better than Tega Onomah

soetanoreoluwa:
SUPER EAGLES UPDATE

Mikel Agu scored in their 4 nill win over Antalyaspor ..
Second goal of the season
With 8.1 rating according to whoscored.com

https://i0.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3749.jpg?resize=696%2C556


Ekong was on from start to the end.. With 7.5 rating according to whoscored.com

terzurum5:
Ola Aina: The Nigerian Cesar Azpilicueta

https://www.o-posts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ola-aina-chelsea.jpg

Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho readily comes to mind when the next generation of Nigerian stars are mentioned or thought of.


Both players, over the last two seasons or so, have shown enough to encourage the Nigerian fans to believe the future remains bright, even as they continue to prove themselves in the present.


But one player who rarely gets mentioned when the new generation of stars are talked about is Ola Aina, on loan at Hull City from Chelsea. Maybe it has to do with the fact he has only recently completed his switch of allegiance to Nigeria from England, and only made his debut in the 1-0 win over Zambia earlier this month.


What is there to expect from him?

Aina was an 80th minute replacement for Elderson Echiejile in that match, and despite playing for just over 10 minutes, the 21-year old showed enough composure to give assurances of his quality.


But what is there to expect from him, really?

His biggest asset yet has to be his versatility.

Not too many fullbacks in world football can seamlessly and effectively play across both flanks, and while being naturally right-footed, Aina can comfortably play at left back, which he did when he replaced Elderson this month in Uyo, in that World Cup qualifier.


At first glance, and when his team is in possession and trying to play the forward pass, what you notice is his bursting run forward. But he is not just about making that forward run, he offers a very solid defensive cover for his teams.


This season, he has averaged 1.67 successful tackles per game, equal to Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta. He has also averaged 2.17 successful interceptions per game, more than Azpilicueta’s 1.22 this term, although he has played three more league games than the Spaniard.


These days, Azpilicueta plays at the right of a back three for Chelsea, but he was signed as a full back by the Blues, and played there (predominantly as a left back, despite being right-footed and a natural right back) up until last season, when Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation.


Why he should be compared to the Chelsea star

But it is clear to see that just like Aina, Azpilicueta’s versatility stands him out amongst the Chelsea defenders.


And often, fans would love to compare prodigies with a former player who excelled in the same position.


So when Aina starts getting regular games for the Super Eagles, it would not be surprising to see him compared to the likes of Austin Eguavoen or Ben Iroha or Celestine Babayaro (depending on the flank he plays more often), but the truth is, he would need not look that far to find his inspiration. He would only need a trip back to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground to see his inspiration in Azpilicueta.

Written by Chris Oguguo

www.o-posts.com/teams/uk/chelsea/ola-aina-azpilicueta/

ChrisKels:
I have a big genuine success story from an insider about some quality foreign born players making waves in Europe's top five leagues who have called in saying they are reconsidering their earlier stances of turning out for their European nations, I would have loved to share the news in details with us here but for the prying ears, let me shield my sword until it's reported by THENFF.COM. We wouldn't wanna repeat a mistake. With these developments, expect some changes and stiffer competitions in the defence, midfield through to the attack.

I fear for Omeruo, Agu, Echiejile, Nwakeme and to an extent, Ogu.

Joebie:
you dash us U20 okay o..

PDPGuy:
They and Brazil are the only countries to win both trophies in the same year. Folks should watch out for the 3-Lions as from 2020. The combo of their present U-17 and U-20 will cause ripples in world football.

Joebie:
GOLDEN EAGLETS WITH CAREERS STILL ON TRACK (UPDATED)

---

NIGERIA 2009 CLASS
1. Abduljaleel Ajagun
2. Eddy Onazi
3. Keneth Omeruo
4. Olarenwaju Kayode
5. Ramon Azeez

UAE 2013 CLASS
1. Kelechi Iheanacho
2. Success Isaac
3. Chidiebere Nwakali
4. Musa Yahaya
5. Chidiera Ezeh
6. Dele Alampasu
7. Taiwo Awoniyi
8. Francis Uzoho
9. Savior Godwin
10. Aliyu Abubakar
11. Musa Muhammed

CHILE 2015 CLASS
1. Kelechi Nwakali
2. Victor Osimhen
3. Kingsley Michael
4. Orji Okonkwo
5. Samuel Chukwueze
6. Akpan Udoh
7. Joel Aiyetoya Osikel
8. Sunday Alimi

tbaba1234:
Kelechi is your highest scorer on the qualifiers. Even at that, he has been dropped to the bench.

Kayode did not play games in the summer. May, June, July were holidays.

The chinese league was on in June and July.

Martins is not on form right now. When he returns to form, bring back your argument.

Kog45:
The man said it all, our developmental plans have been d issue,truly talents abound in Nigeria but who to discover them.

The secondary schools game is dead,Principal cup gone,YSFON collapsed, NIPOGA game no more attention, NUGA game d same thing, these are d games that produced players for our various national teams.

How can we revive all these is left for various sporting federation to put their house in order and put a great mechanism in place to salvage d situations coz it has reached a stage we just have to do something about it.

Apart from football or may be basketball that are still trying to put smiles on d faces of sports fans,other games brings nothing,d worst of it all is d athletics.

This is a game that has produced great athletes like Dele Udoh,Ahmed Adio,Chidi Imoh,Innocent Egbunike,Mary Onyali,Falilat Ogunkoya,Olapade Adenikan,Ezenwa brothers,Chioma Ajunwa but can we say now,mediocre running for Nigeria.

Football still a force to reckon with coz d talents are abound not that we get it right through fundamentals plans and we should thanks d individuals football academies that spring up to fill d gap created by non functional football federation grassroots plans.

Onigbinde said do we need to beg any foreign born players to play for us?definitely NO but in d absence of good foundation what do we do?we just need to beg.I know d man was referring to Tammy Abraham situation.

The man said just few minutes he was able to discover Enyeama.I remember i had a lengthy discussion with my former university coach in person of Amusa Adisa who happened to be goalkeeper trainer to 2002 WC.

I asked him what gave u that confidence to pick Enyeama ahead of Shorunmu against England, he said when u see a talent irrespective of experience u don't care,he said prior to WC Enyeama had only one cap in a grade b friendly.

I asked why can't we discovered more Enyeama and he said most of our grassroots games are no longer functioning and it w take a miracle to see a special players for national team.

Honestly there are a lot of talents wasting away coz nobody to see them,those saddle with d responsibilities are not doing enough.

i remember i how i try to convince Ex polish international Emma Olisadebe after our VC cup in d university,I went to him and told him point blank that did u know u are better than KANU Nwankwo,he looked at me and said u are not serious,again during Governor Cup that my school participated,during this match we beat a very solid team 6-1 and 5 goals.The fans in d stadium were surprised to see such talent in d university.The two local league club try to sign him he refused.

Luckily for him he made world university game team and put shooting star Edith Agoye permanently on d bench.It was Fanny Amu that later told him point blank that u are wasting your talent.The rest is history d same Olisadebe later represent Poland in d WC after Nigeria refused to call him.He single handedly took Poland to 2002 WC,had a goal against USA.

To buttress Onigbinde points, talents abound in sec sch,polytechnics, universities and there is need we revive our youth games like Principal cup,YSFON,focus on NIPOGA,NUGA,these are d only way we can save our sports.

I remember my secondary school represent Nigeria in Sweden in handball game,same thing we represent Nigeria in Canada,this was in 80s,so why can we do d same thing now.

forgiveness:
Wow! Josh-onomah is the biggest coup if this is true.
Which Jordan?

Napoleon55:
it's high time we change our formation to accommodate two attacking midfielders,either Onazi or Ndidi have to be sacrificed for Iwobi,if want to start creating more chances,at least in some matches.
we may decide to play two defensive midfielders when meet a very tough oppositions like Germany,Brazil and rest of the top teams.
our formation is too defense oriented for other average teams,there by limiting chances to b created upfront.
with Iwobi and Mikel,we will create more chances than playing Ndidi and Onazi.

EEGA:
Dennis Bonaventure is a CF.

bataderemi:
Why does it seem like Onyekuru and Dennis are not rated here? They both seem 'hotter' than Kelechi and Ighalo.

Kog45:
Truly very fast winger but we have many fast wingers Nigeria can talk of,hope u remember Dimeji Lawal,Pius Ikedia a carbon copy of Tijani,similar style,of recent Ahmed Musa.

But till today no winger like Finidi George,very intelligent player who know when to run and how to slow things down,watching Ajax in d 90s was a delight with master Finidi George who knows time to take a cross into 18 yard box,not easy to mark but if u are able to mark him is out of d game completely,still remember how he was removed for Siasia by Westerhoff in d first half against Zambia(94 afcon final)

The two were wide apart,as u said Finidi was a class.A lot thought that Finidi was a slow player but No,he moved according to d pace of d game and read d game very well not a direct player like Tijani.

I can only compare Finidi and Segun Odegbami,i w find it hard to pick between d duo in my starting XI coz Odegbami was a master class when it comes to wing play,he does it just like CR7,too much of skill,his goal scoring was a top notch,very fast winger with beautiful crosses and powerful player that intimidate any defenders.

dkay51:
Ahn ahn...I don old for this place na...just a silent reader that's all. Been here since the u17 thread of 2013.
Let me jejely go back to my hole.

superbloke:
How did you see me? Me wey dey hide dey peep for years now. You had to draw me out.

TheSuperNerd:
Nigerian Players P-Index


Nigerian Independence Day Goalscorers across Europe


Alex Iwobi- Arsenal FC, England

Henry Onyekuru- RSC Anderlecht, Belgium
(now has 4 league goals and 5 in all comps).

Dennis Bonaventure- Club Brugges, Belgium
(now has 5 league goals and 8 in all comps... also has one assist in the league).

Simy Nwankwo- Crotone, Italy

Peter Olayinka- Zulter Waregem, Belgium (now has 4 league goals and also a record of 4 goals, 8 assists in all comps with 6 assists alone in the league).


Cyriel Dessers- FC Utrecht, Netherlands (now has four league goals and 7 goals in all comps plus one league assist and a UEL assist)

Chidiebere Nwakali- Sogndal, Norway

Patrick Friday Eze- Konyaspor, Turkey (now has 2 league goals and two goals and one assist in all comps).

maidaboi:
Some people giving excuses for iheanacho is like the are afriad he will flop even when he has not play a complete 90 minutes
please lets wait for aleast 5 more matches
as for me i have confidance in him.

maidaboi:
Breaking
leicester city sign a nigerian fan maidaboi from fc Barcelona on a season loan for an undisclosed fee
source..
His nairaland account

daveP:
FIFA 18 no go kee me. Isaac Success and Henry Onyekuru are listed as midfielders. Im i missing something? funny enough, Jay Jay is our best midfielder. no Mikel among the top 10

libero808:
The Dutch league is only ranked 12th I think.
I know where he is coming from.