₦airaland Forum

21/12/2013 (Saturday)

Spanish League Primera Div. 1
Real Betis - UD Almeria 0:1
4' Ramon Azeez (UD Almeria) (0:1)
Gamewinner and MOTM performance. Will he join his U20 comrades Omeruo and Onazi? He's getting some quality minutes lately and has been excelling lately. Scored from 35 m out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSceRBBh1s

Indian I-League
Mohun Bagan - Pune FC 3:1
30' Odafa Okolie (Mohun Bagan) (1:0)
88' Odafa Okolie (Mohun Bagan) (3:1)

Italian Calcio League B
Spezia - S.S. Virtus Lanciano 2:0
76' Osarimen Ebagua (Spezia) (2:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESu9CmbRCes (goal at 2:45)

German Bundesliga 3rd Divsion
Heidenheimer - MSV Duisburg 2:2
90' Kingsley Oneugbu (MSV Duisburg) (2:2)

English Conference League Div. 4
Aldershot Town FC - Tamworth 6:0
11' Emmanuel Oyeleke (Aldershot Town FC) (1:0)

Enyeama concedes two, but it was another own goal + a deflected shot. That said Enyeama is partly to blame for the second goal as he failed to deal with a corner. and came out all flapping. Still - him vs PSG forwards I say Enyeama wins this round.

The champions league has also increasingly been about financial power. Who has more money can win. That makes the stories behind the games pretty weak and repetitive.

World Cup.
UEFA Champions League is like a filler in between, whilst waiting for the World Cup.
I have no emotional attachment to the Champions League, at best to specific players and their success.

18/12/2013 (Wednesday)

Albanian Cup
Kastrioti - Bylis Ballsh 2:3
51' Adebayo Adigun (Bylis Ballsh) (2:2)
59' Michael Ebere Ikpe (Bylis Ballsh) (2:3)

16/12/2013 (Monday)

Turkish Super League
Trabzonspor - Bursaspor 2:2
27' Taye Taiwo (Bursaspor) (0:1)
From a free kick. Could be however given as an own goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM6lzAnh750 (goal at 0:40)

Scandinavia and Eastern Europe is on break, so much less happening there.

15/12/2013 (Sunday)

Portugal SuperLiga
SC Olhanense - Benfica 2:3
7' Femi Emmanuel Balogun (SC Olhanense) (1:0)
Easy goal for the small midfielder.
http://videos.sapo.pt/UDkqIIKOztZ7lW31pzSJ

Malta Premier League
Birkirkara - Mosta 2:1
68' Frank Temile (Birkirkara) (2:1)

Indian I-League
Bengaluru - East Bengal 0:2
81' Chidi Ezeh (East Bengal) (0:2)

14/12/2013 (Saturday)

Albania Super League
Bylis Ballsh - Laci 1:0
38' Solomonson Izuchukwuka (Bylis Ballsh) (1:0)

Malta Premier League
Rabat Ajax - Hibernians 1:4
16' Obinna Obiefule (Hibernians) (0:1)

Malta Premier League
Sliema Wanderers - Balzan 3:0
3' Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema Wanderers) (1:0)
30' Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema Wanderers) (2:0)
50' Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema Wanderers) (3:0)

Indian I-League
Sporting Goa - Lajong SC 5:1
26' Ogba Kalu (Sporting Goa) (1:1)
59' Ogba Kalu (Sporting Goa) (2:1)
67' Ogba Kalu (Sporting Goa) (3:1)

Italian Calcio League B
AS Bari - Carpi 2:2
28' Jerry Uche Mbakogu (Carpi) (1:1)
61' Jerry Uche Mbakogu (Carpi) (1:2)
Great skills on the first goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOkPKPtrmuU (goals at 3:30)

13/12/2013 (Friday)

Turkey Super League
Fenerbahçe - Akhisar Belediyespor 4:0
43' Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce) (1:0)
Boy... Dirk Kuyt is a terrible striker... Makes Ideye Brown's finishing look good.
In general watch the entire highlights. It was all Emenike in this game. Won a penalty (missed by Kuyt), gave the team several opportunities on a golden plater (two of them missed by Kuyt), should have gotten another penalty and assisted the second goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-dwgMfe-ZU (goal at 2:10)

1. Yes, they were listed. Not as part of the 25 player squad, but as part of the U21 youth players eligible under UEFA Champions League rules. Proof:
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/clubs/club=52280/index.html

2. As far as I'm aware Akpom doesn't even have a Nigerian passport, unlike Serge Gnabry who does have an Ivorian passport (plus Ivory Coast are currently trying to 'book him' to play for them).

3. Boateng has a Ghanaian passport and was part of Ghanaian youth teams. Unlike Akpom, who has neither.

4. Omeruo was not entered into the Champions League squad for Chelsea.
Proof:
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/clubs/club=52914/squad/index.html

naija noni: Both frimpong and boateng dont even make arsenal's bench even in capital one cup games.To me,They are not arsenal 1st team players.Akpom has come in as a substitute in some arsenal matches this season,he has started some games in d capital one cup and he has been listed on the bench in some of arsenal's epl matches.He is ahead of both frimpong and boateng at arsenal currently.

:-)
I only list players that were entered into champions league squads. Akpom wasn't mentioned like other players such as zelalem because their only associatio so far is with non-african national sides. If anything i shoul probably pull out gnabry.

Subject to changes during the winter.

GROUP WINNERS:
ARSENAL FC (3): Serge Gnabry (Cote d'Ivoire), Daniel Boateng, Emmanuel Frimpong (both Ghana)
CHELSEA (3): Mikel Obi (Nigeria), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Demba Ba (Senegal)
BARCELONA (3): Alex Song, Jean Marie Dongou (both Cameroon), Adama Traore (Mali)
PARIS SAINT GERMAIN (2): Mory Diaw (Senegal), Khalifa Traore (Mali)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (1): Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
BAYERN MUNICH (0)
MANCHESTER UNITED (0)
REAL MADRID (0)

SECOND PLACED:
GALATASARAY (5): Emmanuel Eboué, Didier Drogba (both Cote d'Ivoire), Aurélien Chedjou, Dany Nounkeu (both Cameroon), Nordin Amrabat (Morocco)
OLYMPIAKOS FC (5): Carl Medjani (Algeria), Sambou Yatabaré (Mali), Gaetan Bong (Cameroon), Delvin Ndinga (Congo), Michael Olaitan (Nigeria)
SCHALKE 04 (3): Joel Matip (Cameroon), Chinedu Obasi (Nigeria), Kevin Prince Boateng (Ghana)
AC MILAN (2): Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Kevin Constant (Guinea)
ATLETICO DE MADRID (2): Fallou Gallas Wade, Momar Ndoye (both Senegal)
MANCHESTER CITY (1): Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire)
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (0)
FC ZENIT (0)

30 players left out of 63 from 10 countries.

DIVISION BY COUNTRY:
7 PLAYERS: CAMEROON
4 PLAYERS: SENEGAL, GHANA, COTE D'IVOIRE
3 PLAYERS: NIGERIA, MALI
1 PLAYER: CONGO, MOROCCO, GUINEA, GABON, ALGERIA

The 5 dominant forces: Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Senegal.

5 out of 16 clubs have no African players.

DIVISION BY COUNTRY OF CLUB:
England: 7
Spain: 5
Greece: 5
Turkey: 5
Germany: 4
France: 2
Italy: 2

11/12/2013 (Wednesday)

Extra! Extra! Rare Little Messi sighting!!! With a goal and an assist! (Watching the highlights probably should have scored more...)

Bulgaria Premier League
Lokomotiv Sofia - PFC Cherno More Varna 0:2
9' Stanley Okoro (PFC Cherno More Varna) (0:1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00mrMklC4VY

Malta Premier League
Naxxar Lions - Qormi 1:3
12' Alfred Effiong (Qormi) (0:2)

10/12/2013 (Tuesday)

UEFA Champions League 2013/2014
FC Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) - CSKA Moskva (Russia) 2:1
65' Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moskva) (0:1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyLKmsxL36M

9/12/2013 (Monday)

Turkish Second League
B.B. Gaziantep - Kahramanmaras 2:1
23' Izu Azuka (Kahramanmaras) (0:1)

8/12/2013 (Sunday)

Turkish Super League
Kardemir Karabukspor - Kayserispor 1:0
45' Joseph Akpala (Kardemir Karabukspor) (1:0)
Akpala pretty good at snowball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pbm2EUVOYw (goal at 1:10)

Holland Eredivisie League
SC Heerenveen - Feyenoord Rotterdam 1:2
45' Kenneth Otigba (SC Heerenveen) (1:2
Probably an own goal...
http://www.videos-football.com/en/video-590496-heerenveen-1-2-feyenoord-heerenveen-vs-feyenoord-1-2-all-goals-highlights-8122013.html (goal at 1:30)

Malta Premier League
Qormi - Tarxien Rainbows 3:0
52' PG Alfred Effiong (Qormi) (2:0)

South Africa Premier League
Polokwane City - Mpumalanga Black Aces 2:1
53' Onyekachi Okonkwo (Mpumalanga Black Aces) (1:1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtR4XM9L2Bg

Spain Copa del Rey
Alcorcon - Granada CF 0:2
30' Odion Ighalo (Granada CF) (0:1)
83' Odion Ighalo (Granada CF) (0:2)

7/12/2013 (Saturday)

Superleague Greece
Olympiacos CFP - Asteras Tripolis FC 2:0
89' Michael Olaitan (Olympiacos CFP) (2:0)
Also created the penalty, that gave Olumpiacos the lead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EucFSBgOhZU

Serbia 1.SFL
FK Crvena Zvezda - Vojvodina 2:1
50' Abiola Dauda (FK Crvena Zvezda) (1:1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFBUQk2lVLk (goal at 4:15)

Poland Ekstraklasa League
Pogon Szczecin - Jagiellonia Bialystok 1:1
20' Anthony Ukah (Jagiellonia Bialystok) (1:1)

Malta Premier League
Balzan - Birkirkara 1:2
77' Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara) (1:2)

German Bundesliga 2nd Division
FC Köln - FSV Frankfurt 2:0
54' Anthony Ujah (FSV Frankfurt) (1:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtL_9OSTeU (goal at 1:15)

Portugal Liga de Honra
Farense - Benfica II 3:1
18' Akinfenwa Ibukun (Farense) (1:0)

Found this good write up on Ghana's defence:
http://www.footballbettingodds.co.uk/world-cup-home/

bizibrain: Ayah, it really pained me big tym, it wouldnt av pain me if it was a well deserved direct shot on goal, but a deflection is a goal dat no goalkeeper has no right 2 get near it. He will b discourage nw, he may nt av dat clean sheet again 4 dis season,@ most 5 clean sheet @ a roll 4 d rest of d season.

He can still break the most clean sheets in a season (although have no idea what that is).

Besides... Just 1113 minutes to gain the clean sheet record

freshchild: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA is playing at her first World Cup, the European side was fantastic during qualification winning eight of their ten matches, drawing and losing just one.

They scored 30 goals during their qualification campaign and conceding only 6 goals, the impressive goal difference gave them an edge over Greece to see them earn automatic qualification to the World Cup.

That looks impressive until you look into it.
They scored 25 of those goals against Liechtenstein (12), Latvia (9) and Lithuania (4). Against Slovakia and Greece, the only semisensible teams in the group, they managed 5 goals in 4 games and conceeded 3. They also managed to conceed two goals vs Liechtenstein... They also managed to lose to Slovakia at home.

Tolexander: from where did you gat yours?

http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/commentary?gameId=369415&commentId=60737&lang=EN&wjb=

I watched it. The goal was initially given as an own goal by Kjaer (who deflected the shot), but they've now given the goal to Nguemo, even though the deflection was pretty big.

And follows that up with a point blank save from 2 metres, while being blocked by a defender.

This guy is... WOW!

Enyeama followed up the lost goal by defending a one-on-one.

The run ends at 1062 minutes.

Enyeama finally got beaten by his own defender that directed the ball into the opposite corner. Absolutely no chance whatsoever - had the defender not intervened the ball would have been Enyeama's.

Still BRAWO!!!

Theben: Colombia has just two world class players. Falcao and maybe Vidal or so. While the Ivorians can boast of having Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba(however old, he's still a force to be reckoned with), Gervinho and many others.

The main threat in that group is Japan. But i trust the ivorians to defeat them.

Vidal is Chilean.

6/12/2013 (Friday)

Scotland Premier League
Motherwell FC - Celtic 0:5
55' Efe Ambrose (Celtic) (0:2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hezO9yXcqxE (goal at 1:50)

Qatar Stars League
AlAhli - Al Jaish 3:2
16' Kalu Uche (Al Jaish) (0:1)
Screamer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eApzwtYrwQM

Indian I-League
Mohun Bagan - Chirag United SC 4:0
20' Christopher Chizoba (Mohun Bagan) (1:0)
45' Christopher Chizoba (Mohun Bagan) (2:0)
73' Odafa Okolie (Mohun Bagan) (4:0)

emmydee: 1. Isaac Success. ( u-17 team was actually built around him. Dat guy is a very fine forward. Keshi should hav invited him.he is better than many of those home based dudes in that list)

He doesn't qualify as he already signed with Udinese.

What's so tough about Cameroon's group apart from having Brasil? They play Croatia in the tropical Manuas, while they face Mexico in equatorial Natal. Mexico barely qualified, while Croatia struggled against Iceland.

Meanwhile Cameroon just thrashed Tunisia to qualify.

4/12/2013 (Wednesday)

English Premier League
West Bromwich Albion FC - Manchester City 2:3
90' Victor Anichebe (West Bromwich Albion FC) (2:3)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPntoqOhe68

Holland Eredivisie League
ADO Den Haag - SC Heerenveen 1:1
90' Kenny Otigba (SC Heerenveen) (1:1)
Plays for the Hungarian youth side, but still eligible for Nigeria. Nice goal BTW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfXG29iVYIg

baby-boy:
Please you and I know that Ligue 1 is not in the same page as the EPL.... first thing first Enyeama is not tall enough to play in the PL and thats a fact. Defenders will dominate him easily.

What the? He's 189 cm, big and strong. How tall do you need to be?

CFCfan: It won't. It's only a league record.

Unfortunately that's a league game. Lille is already out of the French Cup.

Besides, the PSG game will only be important if Enyeama will want to beat the European record of 1390 minutes - he would have to keep a clean sheet in the next 4 games.