₦airaland Forum

Samueltemi337:
So?

The comparison is unfair.
Goals per minutes ratio, Ejuke is ahead.

Christantus Uche is touted not for his goals.

Samueltemi337:
Uche has more goals and assists than Ejuke in La Liga this season

Ejuke had an injury lay off and has featured in 18 games, starting only 8,
white Christantus Uche has featured in 27 games starting in 24.

Kog45:
Uche Christanus is the key

He is yet to show it, but i have my eyes on him.

ChrisKels:
Oya nah wait till he rises.

We should have waited for Nwabali to join Barcelona.

Karlovych:
With all these key passes and long balls Chaves still got relegated and he could only end up in division 3, same with Ponferadina the season before that and Huesca from La Liga

At almost 27 years of age he has played less than 3 seasons as a top flight professional footballer.

We need serious individuals for the team and let him work hard to improve his game at the top level.

If we are to go by your logic, Jamie Vardy is such a bad player, he is getting relegated with Leicester.

Kelechi Nwakali should try all that he can to improve the quality around him.
Chidera Ejuke never became Europe's top dribbler until he joined Sevilla.

MetalJigsaw:
Then why is Nwakali constantly languishing in tiny clubs? why??

People do stagnate, and then rise.

Mujtahida:
Terrible. In the first match when Osayi was subbed, guess who was slotted at RB? Yusuf! Can you imagine. When naturally Osayi should come in for Aina. I really wish I can understand his thinking. Is Bruno that bad at LB?

I doubt Chelle is a good tactician oo. I doubt it. To do the same dumb thing twice in such high stake matches? Mbanu especially with almost three months of preparation? Something is wrong oo

Something is wrong.

Karlovych:
To start with he didn't play at the 2019 Afcon, he was at the 2021 Afcon where he only played 3 games.

His ability to create chances is only reserved for the SE, he magically avoids creating chances at Barnsley, Chaves and Ponferradina. I'm glad you are not SE coach.

Yes it was 2021. Forgive the slip.
Below is Kelechi Nwakali's passing stats at Chaves, as a DM/CM

There was a time he was averaging 2.0 key passes per game.

Mujtahida:
I put that defeat on Chelle. He cost us this game. Playing Aina as LB and Chukwueze in right midfield was a big error. It created serious imbalance.

Chelle invited four wingers and fielded them all at once.

Napoleon55:
We don't need Nwakali to win matches.
A right combination of midfielderers is what we need right now to win matches.
If creative midfielder is not available, we make do with what we have.

We will not have our wingers to their full potential, if we do not create from the middle.

joelsteron:
In a typical 4-3-3 formation (common for the Super Eagles), this trio could align as follows:

Onyedika: Sits deepest as the single pivot, screening the back four and distributing the ball to his more attack-minded teammates.

Nwakali: Operates as a left-sided or central midfielder, pushing forward to support attacks while dropping back to help Onyedika when out of possession.

Iwobi: Plays as a right-sided or central attacking midfielder, drifting into pockets of space to create chances or combine with wingers and strikers.

A midfield of Onyedika, Nwakali, and Iwobi will click because it balances grit with guile, offering a platform for Nigeria’s attacking stars to shine while maintaining structural integrity.

Onyedika anchors the unit, Nwakali ignites it, and Iwobi amplifies it—together, they could provide the dynamism and cohesion the Super Eagles have sometimes lacked in midfield.

With the right coaching to refine their understanding, this trio could herald a new era of midfield dominance for Nigeria.

Thank you so much for your insight.

In another variation i can push Iwobi to the right wing, and slot Christantus Uche in his place or Frank Onyeka.

Karlovych:
In which games has he shown the creativity? List 5 games he has done so.

Who is to blame, if you failed to notice that he created more chances than any midfielder in 2019 AFCON tourney despite getting less in play time.

Karlovych:
If someone labels Osimhen as monster machine, they have data and metrics to back that up but when it comes to Nwakali the so called midfield maestro it is Grammer upon grammar with zero data to back it up.

Who is to blame, if you have failed to see Kelechi Nwakali's stats posted on this thread and not just by me.

Goke7:
You lie, did Rwanda beat us in uyo under Chelle? Did we draw SA in uyo under Chelle? did we lose to Benin under Chelle? Which players are you talking about?

Chelle just made the list that has Finidi and co

Mujtahida:
Iwobi has 10 goals. Without him we would not have qualified for the last World Cup we played. Go and watch the last Afcon matches against Cameroun and Angola. Iwobi even though he played deep throughout Afcon, gave the pre-assist to the second goal we scored against Cameroun and then the only goal we scored against Angola. You see I'm talking factually now. Not some bubbly notion about how good he is. I'm giving you facts.

Baba, sorry oo you no watch yesterday match well. Tension color your vision. But more than that you have preconceived notions and you watched Iwobi with that eye.

Iwobi was a standout performer yesterday.

Point is that I'm not saying he should not be criticized. But at the same time, we should be realistic. If a player, plays well. Applaud him. If he does not, criticise him.

The fact of yesterday's match was that apart from Osimhen, Iwobi was the next best player out of our attacking players. Lookman, Simon, Chukwueze were poor. To show how biased you are in your analysis, you have not mentioned how bad these players played yesterday. Na Iwobi shaaaaa. He must be blamed. It's mimetic

The thing with Iwobi is that we want a better creative midfielder. That is a valid point nevertheless we often conflate our desire for a better CM with the match to match performance of Iwobi and then judge him unfairly.

We should separate the conversation: there is the conversation on our need for a better CM. There is also the conversation on the match to match performance of Iwobi. Yesterday oo, he played well.

From Rohr to Eguavoen to Peseiro to Finidi to Eguavoen again and now Chelle, Iwobi continues to feature. Una say he is terrible. Abi him dey use juju confuse the coach?

Thank you.

chrisooblog:
Iwobi is not the second coming of JayJay and Ronaldinho but scapegoating him whenever things go south is unfair. Thank God he wasn't on the pitch when Zimbabwe scored.

As 'below par' as Alex has been if other midfielders have been dropping even just equal of his performances we won't be in jam we're in.

Every time Iwobi Iwobi was he there when Ghana qualified ahead of us for 2022?

Was he on the pitch when CIV scored the 2nd goal against us in the final?

Was he on the pitch when Rwanda beat us in Uyo? A game that Onyeka played o!

Yes I desire top tier talent to feature in our team but I won't lambast someone who's always there rain or shine trying his best even if sometimes inadequate while giving others a free pass.

Ndidi even though I like him has never dropped great performances for the SE yet we seem to give him a free pass.

The work of a DM will sometimes go unnoticed.

It is well.

bisqit:
What does Ndidi do in that midfield

You guys only saw the few times he misplaced passes, but failed to see him winning duels.
He was very key to our dominance in midfield.

Napoleon55:
To be honest oga Meli,NFF is not the reason why Nwakali is not getting invites, it's his club football.
He displayed glimpses of potential for an elite football in his youth career but have not been able to live up to to that like his friends Chukwueze and Osimhen, not even close.

What would u do if you are the coach and as one of those who placed that so much expectation on him and got disappointed?

Unless u have a godfather, ur club football is the only way to get into national team,or a coach who really believes in ur abilities is hired.

Don't worry, guys from Mamelodi Sundowns will whip your guys from the EPL, if you don't provide the right complement of players and the right tactical minds.

Can you explain why we lack creative midfielders even to date.
We don't have a profile like Nwakali.
Raphael Onyedika is arguably the best when it comes to the game of making passes of the ball, but he is still not better than Kelechi Nwakali, neither is he more creative.

yinkeys:
He is needed more than Olise
Honestly

The focus is on Eberechi Eze.
Michael Olise bears a different discussion.

Goke7:
Don’t mind them, that’s how we always deflect so we keep inviting these mediocre players. Players wey no fit play by 4pm in naija come still fall your hand join, tufiaka

If you call the players mediocre, what will you call the coach that invited them.
These players do well for other coaches but suddenly turn mediocre in Chelle's hands.

Mujtahida:
Abeg you in God's name, leave this Nwakali matter. It's spent.

It is just like saying, leave Super Eagles matter, it is spent.

I will say this with every insight that i have gathered from my studies of the Super Eagles team:.
Kelechi Nwakali is needed more than Eberechi Eze in the Super Eagles. He is more important.
Believe it or not believe it.

BankyGee:
Stop smoking bro... Stop smoking. It's really bad.

Super Eagles with a dead coach, empty stadium and one player down should be able to beat Zimbabwe.

The coach did his part, this same lineup beat a more well-drilled Rwandan side. The coach won't score for you, the tap-in Iwobi missed is the coach also, try dey read before you post abeg, sometimes you go just post wetin go make person dey check whether he read well or not.

This should serve as a warning to others.
If you want a discussion, be civil.

I won't reply to this type of people again.

joelsteron:
People don talk tire.... Any sound tactical coach will easily go for a midfield of KELECHI NWAKALI, Onyedika & IWOBI... Nigeria please now

Nwakali’s got that creative spark and vision, even if he’s been underutilized or overlooked at times—his passing range could unlock defenses. Onyedika brings some steel and energy, a solid box-to-box presence who can break up play and keep things ticking. Then Iwobi, with his versatility and Premier League experience, adds flair and composure to tie it all together. It’s a balanced setup on paper: creativity, tenacity, and technical quality. Nigeria’s got talent in spades, but cohesion and the right lineup have been hit-or-miss lately.
This midfield could control games against most AFCON opponents and even hold its own in tougher qualifiers, assuming they gel. The bigger issue might be convincing a coach to take the risk on Nwakali if he’s not getting consistent minutes at club level, and ensuring Onyedika’s discipline doesn’t leave gaps. Iwobi’s a no-brainer. Add your own!

Thank you so much.

Karlovych:
What has he been creating at Barnsley?

Kelechi Nwakali is Super Eagles most creative midfielder.

Goke7:
What tactics is left at the 90th minute for players to lock shop and throw the key away. I don’t understand us again as a people.

Even the "lock shop" you just mentioned is a tactic, even though i will not go for that
There is more he could have done from the start.

codemaniacs:
You've brought Nwakali....

they will come for you soon..

Oh, I am shaking.

semid4lyfe:
Going by your logic, it was the coach who instructed Osayi to be dribbled & turned to escort and Ekong not to put leg to tackle for Zimbabwe's goal.

I no get time to do long post and analysis so all I'll say is, it is well.

Osayi was tired.
With tiredness comes loss of energy and concentration.

semid4lyfe:
I am devastated.

Eric Chelle has his faults

but

I'm putting this loss (yes, its a loss) 100% on the players.

Professional players should be able to defend their lead and see off a game of this magnitude.

Close shop. Change formation to 10 - 0 - 0 Park the bus, even if you're a forward fall back & defend.

There was too much space for the Zimbabweans to exploit for that their equalizer.

Ndidi had his usual lacklustre game. He was strolling and did not pick up that player who ran from deep.

Bright Osayi was also found wanting and culpable for that goal.

Ekong, what kind of atrocious defending was that? You dey fear to cause penalty but you for put leg for that ball na. Na 50-50 e go be.

Una just waste Osimhen hard work. goals and effort for nothing.

Mehn, I am sad.
.

Players should play according to the coach's instructions.
The substitutions made by the coach showed what was on his mind.

Osayi was tired and spent, why leave him on the field of play.
He started the last march four days ago.
One of the main causes of loss of concentration is tiredness
And the more tired a player, the more the player is prone to injury.

mrwilliams9:
I know we are frustrated with that result, but some of my permutations now that things have settled.

1. The talk of Uyo being cursed doesn’t really hold weight to me. We had enough chances to finish this match off in the first 45 mins. If we really think Lagos should be our main stadium, then it behooves the NFF to rehabilitate it and bring it up to FIFA standards.

2. We really need to scout for a ball playing midfielder that can take the pressure out of games in the end. Kill the tempo and secure points.

3. I don’t think FIFA will deduct the 3pts from SA for fielding an ineligible player. I think Motsepe will do some behind door politicking. Regardless, our players need to focus on winning out and giving themselves a chance, no matter how slim that chance is.

4. We should push on with Chelle through AFCON and beyond. This constant chopping and changing of managers does no one any good. WCQ will have finished by the time AFCON comes around. Barring an early exit, he should be given time to develop a system and pattern of play for AFCON 25 and 27.

To date Kelechi Nwakali still remains our most creative midfielder.
Whosoever he has offended in the NFF, should please forgive him.
If he has offended anyone, let him make peace.

We don't have any midfielder with his kind of crosses, long balls and creativity.

Goke7:
Change coach again? Those missed big chances were caused by the coach? Chai

Yes, those one on one and open net chances.

It is the duty of the coach to select his players, and to drill them according to his tactics.
Chelle failed to beat Zimbabwe.

GMBOFASIA:
How many coach will super eagle change 🤦🏾‍♂️ so we need Guradiola or ancelloti to beat Zimbabwe at home? I am confident none of those Zimbabwe players are playing in any top 20 leagues in the world so how is Chelle the excuse Sometimes we should look inwards to the players

We have the players that can beat any African team.
In Africa we should be dominating.

We have the players.
Ekong has a commanding personality, but he is error prone, players have their strengths and weaknesses, if we are to continue his services, then tactics and personnel both in defence and midfield should be tweaked.

Our coach did let us down.
He made mistakes that were costly

yinkeys:
Generational talents in the mud

Give them a coach who has that cutting edge, Chelle is not than man.
I know what i am saying, it will soon be very clear.