₦airaland Forum

7/08/2011 (Sunday)

Italian Cup
Pisa - Bacoli Sibilla 3:0
90' Kenneth Obodo (Pisa) (3:0)

Friendly
Wigan Athletic (England) - Villarreal CF (Spain) 1:0
45' Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic) (1:0)

6/08/2011 (Saturday)

Friendly
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (England) - Real Zaragoza (Spain) 2:0
60' George Elokobi (Wolverhampton) (1:0)

Big news of yesterday:

Obi Mikel ALMOST scores a goal.

4/08/2011 (Thursday)

Norway Tippeligaen
IK Start - Molde FK 1:2
53' Daniel Chima (Molde FK) (1:2)

3/08/2011 (Wednesday)

Norway Tippeligaen
Lillestrom - Tromso 3:2
22' Nosa Igiebor (Lillestrom) (1:0)
79' Ohi Omoijuanfo (Lillestrom) (2:2)
88' Nosa Igiebor (Lillestrom) (3:2)
Goals 7 and 8 for Igiebor, while no 3 for the 17 year old Norwegian-Nigerian.

I would rather have Drogba, but Eto'o is a better finisher.

1/08/2011 (Monday)

Swedish League Division 1 North
Syrianska IF Kerburan - Dalkurd 1:2
8' Michael Omoh (Dalkurd) (1:2)

31/07/2011 (Sunday)

Ukraine Vischaya League
FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih - Chernomorets Odessa 1:0
30' Michael Babatunde (FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih) (1:0)
Always nice to see a new name.

Norway Tippeligaen
Odd Grennland - Brann 2:3
23' Kim Ojo (Brann) (0:1)

Swedish League Allsvenskan
Hacken - Syrianska FC 4:0
55' John Chibuike (Hacken) (2:0)
63' John Chibuike (Hacken) (3:0)
Goals 5 and 6 for Chibuike.

Finland Veikkausliiga League
KuPS - Jyvaskylan JK 4:4
72' Olajide Williams (KuPS) (3:2)

Friendly
Preston North End - Wigan Athletic 1:3
9' Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic) (0:2)

30/07/2011 (Saturday)

CAF Champions League
Coton Sport FC (Cameroon) - Enyimba International FC (Nigeria) 2:3
10' Uche Kalu (Enyimba) (0:1)
40' Johnson Gidozi (Enyimba) (0:2)
84' Uche Kalu (Enyimba) (2:3)
Can't remember the last time Nigerians had such a good campaign in African club football,

Friendly
Colchester United - Watford (England) 1:0
24' Kayode Odeyaji (Colchester United) (1:0)

29/07/2011 (Friday)

African Confederation Cup 2011
JS Kabylie (Algeria) - Sunshine Stars (Nigeria) 1:2
3' Emmanuel Sunday (Sunshine Stars) (0:1)
75' Sakibu Atanda (Sunshine Stars) (1:2[)

After the brief distraction the much discussed Okoronkwo scored a goal

28/07/2011 (Thursday)

UEFA Europa League
Aalesunds FK (Norway) - Elfsborg (Sweden) 4:0
5' Solomon Okoronkwo (Aalesunds FK) (1:0)

I agree that Ideye Brown along with Peter Utaka have been the most consistent Nigerian goalscorers in Europe of late (and to a lesser extent Benjamin Onwuachi). Then there is a new crop of players like Ahmed Musa, Michael Uchebo, Emmanuel Emenike, Simon Zenke, Kim Ojo, Nosa Igiebor, Anthony Ujah, Jude Nworuh, Sylvester Igboun, MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi. All of them may not play in big leagues, but at least they score goals for their club.

I really don't see any need for Okoronkwo given the options in attack. There are so many options in attack we can test and Okoronkwo seems not to add anything new.

I don't get your issue with Ekpo, who was great at the Olympics. I am not going to hold the fact he plays in the United States against Ekpo as he consistently performed in a Nigerian tshirt. He is also a starter in the MLS, which can not be said about many other players. Given the poor options in midfield have Ekpo is a great addition to the squad. If he doesn't perform drop him.

Solomon Okoronkwo is much more of an issue,but sometime a player can be good for the national team, even though he has tough times at club level.

Odion Ighalo - don't really care for him, but he has been a consistent goalscorer for Granada and has scored some very important goals for them.

25/07/2011 (Monday)

Danish Superliga
Koge BK - FC Midtjylland 2:3
50' Jude Nworuh (FC Midtjylland) (0:1)
51' Sylvester Igboun (FC Midtjylland) (0:2)
69' Rilwan Olanrewaju Hassan (FC Midtjylland) (1:3)
FC Midtjylland have 6 Nigerian players btw (apart from the three above Adigun Salami, Babajide Babatunde, Izunna Ugochukwu). All of them 23 or younger.

Yes, he can.

Officialy or not officially? Officially yes.

24/07/2011 (Sunday)

Swedish League Allsvenskan
Hacken - GAIS Gotenberg 2:0
53' John Chibuike (Hacken) (1:0)

Finland Veikkausliiga League
IFK Mariehamn - KuPS 2:2
90' Raphael Udah (KuPS) (2:2

Finland Veikkausliiga League
Jyvaskylan JK - TPS Turun Palloseura 2:0
80' Babatunde Wusu (Jyvaskylan JK) (1:0)
84' Babatunde Wusu (Jyvaskylan JK) (2:0)
1 : 1

23/07/2011 (Saturday)

Swedish League Allsvenskan
Syrianska FC - Trelleborg 4:1
27' Peter Ijeh (Syrianska FC) (3:1)

Friendly
Newport (England) - Cheltenham (England)
58' Ismail Yakubu (Cheltenham) (1:0)

Friendly
D.C. United (United States) - Everton FC (England) 1:3
4' Victor Anichebe (Everton FC) (0:1)

Friendly
Toulouse FC - Montpellier HSC 2:2
30' John Utaka (Montpellier HSC) (1:2)

22/07/2011 (Friday)

Ukraine Vischaya League
FC Dinamo Kiev - Obolon Kiev 4:0
68' Aide Ideye Brown (FC Dinamo Kiey) (1:0)
83' Aide Ideye Brown (FC Dinamo Kiey) (3:0)
Ukranian climate seems good for Brown, 2nd brace in 2nd game.

Final final squad:

Goalkeepers: Danjuma Paul (Nasarawa United), Kazim Yekini (Kwara United), Gideon Gambo (Sharks)

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (Standard Liege/Belgium), Chiemezie Mbah (Warri Wolves), Gani Ogungbe (Gateway FC), Emmanuel Anyanwu (Enyimba), Terna Suswan (Vitoria Setubal/Portugal), Felix Odoh (First Bank Lagos)

Midfielders: Philemon Daniel (Kwara United), Abduljaleel Ajagun (Dolphin), Sani Tahir (Vejle/DEN), Ramon Azeez (Almeria/SPA)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (VVV Venlo/Netherlands), Uche Nwofor (Enugu Rangers), Bright Ejike (Sharks), Olanrewaju Kayode (Asec/Cote d’Ivoire), Sani Emmanuel (Lazio/Italy), Omo Ojabu (Dolphin), Terry Envoh (Sharks), Egbedi Edafe (unattached)

From the 2009 U17 silver medalists only 9 players have made the final cut.

21/07/2011 (Thursday)

UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 2
FC Midtjylland (Denmark) - The New Saints FC (Wales) 5:2
23' Sylvester Igboun (FC Midtjylland) (1:0)
24' Jude Nworuh (FC Midtjylland) (2:0)
52' Jude Nworuh (FC Midtjylland) (4:0)

UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 2
FC Honka (Finland)- Hacken (Sweden) 0:2
42' John Chibuike (Hacken) (0:1)

Friendly
VfB Stuttgart (Germany) - Sivasspor (Turkey)
13' Michael Eneramo (Sivasspor) (1:1)

18/07/2011 (Monday)

Sudanese League
Ahli Shandi - El Merreikh 0:1
4' Stephen Worgu (El Merreikh) (0:1)

17/07/2011 (Sunday)

Norway Tippeligaen
Molde FK - Haugesund 3:1
12' Daniel Chukwu Chima (Molde FK) (1:0)

Finland Veikkausliiga League
KuPS - Jaro 1:1
90' Olajide Williams (KuPS) (1:1)

Norway Division 1 League
Lov Ham - Randaberg 4:3
5' Ezekiel Bala (Randaberg) (0:1)
64' Ezekiel Bala (Randaberg) (2:2)

Just over a week before the damn thing starts and no African team has yet released their squad,

Can't score again, lost 2:0 to Portugal in a friendly.
http://worldcup.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=47387

Looking at those that have played in Panama since they left there 24 players have started in games, so it seems the coach Obuh has yet to make a decision,

Apart from the players above listed Sani Tahir (?), Chidi Osuchukwu (Dolphins FC) - btw the guy is 21 years old according to his clubs website ), Onazi Ogenyi (Lazio), Ganiu Ogungbe (Gateway FC)

SEagles can't score goals,

http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=47292

The players used in that match suggest the list above is legit. Added a few names to the below list and it now consist of 20 names (3 to go).

GK: Danjuma Paul (Nasarawa United), Kazeem Yekini (Kwara United FC), Gideon Gambo (Sharks FC).

Defenders: Terna Suswam (Lobi Stars), Kenneth Omeruo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Gbenga Arokoyo (Kwara United FC), Emmanuel Anyanwu (Enyimba), Felix Udoh (?)

Midfielders: Ramon Azeez (Almeria, Spain), Abdul Ajagun (Dolphins FC), Philemon Daniel (Kwara FC), Omoh Ojabu (Dolphins FC), Ahmed Musa (VVV Venlo, Holland), Chimezie Mbah (?), Terry Envoh (Sharks FC)

Strikers: Uche Nwafor (Enugu Rangers), Bright Ejike (Sharks United), Olanrewaju Kayode (ASEC Mimosas, Cote d'Ivoire), Sani Emmanuel (Lazio, Italy), Edafe Egbedi (Clique Sports)

medjai: I wrote "Naturally this is early days and a lot of these players my yet change stripes, while some will get almost no playing time (, )"

So I'll do the complete list when the season is on.

Gabriel Heinze? What? How can he even appear on a best LB list? Taiwo is way better than him and if anyone it is the Nigerian who should make a short list.

TAIWO HAS BEEN VOTED THE BEST LB IN FRANCE IN 3 OF THE LAST 4 SEASONS!

Don't know if this is the real team but I found this on Kickoff (it's just 16 players so I doubt its the full squad):

GK: Danjuma Paul (Nasarawa United), Kazeem Yekin (Kwara United FC), Gideon Gambo (Sharks FC).

Defenders: Terna Suswam (Lobi Stars), Kenneth Omeruo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Gbenga Arokoyo (Kwara United FC), Emmanuel Anyanwu (Enyimba)

Midfielders: Ramon Azeez (Almeria, Spain), Abdul Ajagun (Dolphins FC), Philemon Daniel (Kwara FC), Omoh Ojabu (Dolphins FC), Ahmed Musa (VVV Venlo, Holland)

Strikers: Uche Nwafor (Enugu Rangers), Bright Ejike (Sharks United), Olanrewaju Kayode (ASEC Mimosas, Cote d'Ivoire), Sani Emmanuel (Lazio, Italy)

Big news is that Stanley Okoro has supposedly been dropped.

And that brings us to yesterday, Not much to add apart from the two Ideye debut goals,

16/07/2011 (Saturday)

Swedish League Allsvenskan
IFK Norrkoping - Syrianska FC 2:1
20' Peter Ijeh (Syrianska FC) (0:1)

Friendly
Helmond Sport - VVV-Venlo 1:1
45' Uchebo Okechukwu (VVV Venlo) (0:1)
Would love the 2.01 m man from VVV to get a look into by Siasia, surprisingly agile for his height and could prove killer at setpieces.

15/07/2011 (Friday)

Norway Tippeligaen
Odd Grenland - Lillestrom 1:3
90' Ohi Omoijuanfo (Lillestrom) (1:3)

Finland Veikkausliiga League
FC Haka - Jyvaskylan JK 0:2
78' Babatunde Wusu (Jyvaskylan JK) (0:2)