₦airaland Forum

Ejuke riding his way to goal, even nutmegging the goalkeeper.

typicalgamer:
He has to pick up the pace, because he needs to make ac Milan eat their words ac Milan is thriving without him, and he also needs to ball out to show ac he was not the problem.

And besides bro is fighting for a permanent sign deal. And he got his brothers there to make Him feel at Home

Samuel Chukwueze is a fine player, but surplus to requirements at AC Millan.

Samuel Chukwueze is becoming a huge defensive asset.
This was a player critisized years back for his lacklustre defensive participations.

Against Bunley today, I was overcome with admiration watching him winning duels, covering spaces, making clearances.

CornOak:
This list doesn't inspire hope nor confidence, almost unbelievable. I will watch the tournament with a free and open mind with no emotions attached.

Good luck to them.

Which selection of players will inspire your confidence.
Please list them.

I will be grateful.

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro created four chances in 45 minutes of play.

His stats are:
Accurate passes 28/29 (97%)
Chances created 4
Touches 37
Touches in opposition box 2
Successful dribbles 2/2 (100%)
Passes into final third 8
Accurate crosses 1/2 (50%)
Accurate long balls 5/5 (100%)
Dispossessed 0
Tackles 1
Blocks 0
Clearances 0
Interceptions 0
Recoveries 3
Dribbled past 1
Ground duels won 3/5 (60%)
Aerial duels won 0/1 (0%)
Was fouled 0
Fouls committed 1

We need this kind of creative midfielder.
Imagine a midfielder that dribbles like a winger, good at crosses and long balls.
He will surely make an excellent addition.

QueenJazz:
"Guaranteed 3 points", just like our WC qualification was guaranteed when we saw the group back in 2023 and wrote off Benin, Lesotho, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The earlier we start thinking like minnows, the better for us. Nothing like guaranteed 3 points.

It was thinking like minnows that got us where we are.
Imagine settling for a draw with Zimbabwe.

If we were thinking like the big boys that we are, we rather die on the pitch than settle for a draw with teams that we should be spanking.

semid4lyfe:
I agree with everything you posted. In addition, I'll say Ndidi is the major culprit in this lack of positional discipline thing.

If you look at the DR Congo match, you'd realize Ndidi was the CDM who was supposed to shield the back four, Iwobi the CAM while Onyeka played slightly ahead of Ndidi as CM/box to box.

But Ndidi didn't keep positional discipline. This was particularly evident from that Lookman square ball that he and chukwueze botched in the DR Congo box in the first half.

Chukwueze don set leg ready to hit the ball but Ndidi quickly jumped in cos he wanted to be the scorer. When it happened, I thought to myself, wetin carry Ndidi reach there na? Clearly, he was aware of his lack of goals in the National team, so he wanted to score badly and was glory hunting.

Even overall, he was poor and was partly responsible for DR Congo's equalizer. Chelle has to be ruthless with the players. Any major eff up,, you chop bench just like he did with Ekong for his errors against Zimbabwe and SA.

I want Ndidi to chop bench and for Onyeka to play as DM at AFCON. Onyeka interpretes the DM role better and even has better positional discipline. Onyeka also possesses higher goal threat than Ndidi. 71 caps for Nigeria since 2015 with 0 goals is quite damning for Ndidi.

On the other hand, Onyeka has scored 2 goals in recent matches against Benin and DR Congo. Even Onyedika who has had very limited game time scored against Benin in the WCQ group away match. Make Ndidi just siddon for bench or miss the team entirely. We can do without him.

Squad regulars/irregulars like Alhassan, Onyedika and Chrisantus can play as CM/Box-to-Box while outsiders like Akinsanmiro and Anthony Dennis can also be brought in to the fold.

Thank you so much for your insightful take.

I think Ndidi's contribution to the NT shouldn't be assessed by goals. It is needless, the positional indiscipline could be engendered by the urge to measure up in goal scoring. Ndidi is a good DM. He should be instructed to maintain discipline in his primary role.

Chidozie Awaziem's assist to Osimhen is one of the reasons i clamored for his invitation.
He is that kind of defender you rely on to bypass the midfield with long balls.

Nomyth:
The influx of foreign borns into various African teams is beginning to change the dynamics of African football and small yanah don begin dey shake.

Cape Verde used it, now they are in the World cup.
Morocco used it and got to the world cup semis.

Senegal and Algeria used it, and won the AFCON.

Now Congo.

Never have I seen an East African team dominate Nigeria the way Congo did yesterday, the way they quickly closed down our players whenever we attacked and the way they totally controlled both wings of our defense line. It looked totally strange to me.

Someone highlighted the quality of their defense yesterday when the team list was released and I wasn't particularly worried because I believed our attack was potent enough to unlock it.

But I was shocked at how easily the Congolese defense shut out our attack line, I don't think we make it into their 18 box up to 2 times yet, the Congolese had a field day in our own 18, strolling in virtually every time they attack.

With the influx of foreign borns into African football now, grit and brawn will never cut it again . The Congolese side played like a well drilled European team.

Our attackers are potent enough, if they have the ball at the right place.
The midfielders should get the ball to the attackers at the right place so they can finish off.

BankyGee:
Bro I kept dreaming that we replayed the match and we still didn't win... 😔

This loss go mess with me for sometime sha. But where has Éric Chelle got any blame in all these?

Now people are shouting that why didn't he play 4-4-2? The same people who were shouting "is 4-3-3 dead in football?" Chelle got his formation and selection perfect in this game, the players were just complacent and confused on the pitch. It's safe to say without Osimhen, the Super Eagles cannot function.

So now every game he didn't play up to 50 mins at least, we didn't manage to win one in the entire qualifying process? Akor and Tolu disappeared, no single shot from 2nd half to the the 2nd half of extra time.

The one chance Tolu got he headed it upwards. We played bad and this is NOT on Chelle. I pity the man in all these, why can't these players turn up for their coach and themselves? Why?

Nwabali saved a last minute shot, saved two penalties and players still decided to miss more than he saved. BROOO 🤦🏾‍♂️... I can't move on from this anytime soon. I just dey look sha 😐

Eric Chelle got his midfield combination wrong.
Why play Ndidi and Onyeka together, except your intention is to defend from the start of the game.

There were no balance of play in the midfield. Who shields the back four and maintains the positional discipline in carrying it out, who is primarily responsible for building play from the back, and which other midfielder can assist in building play from the back.

Our movement from the back to the advanced areas of the pitch towards goalscoring, lack the kind of midfielders to execute it.
These kind of midfielders must possess good ball distribution, can take on players, and must have good ball recovery, right movement and positional discipline.

The players that are very close to the aforementioned qualities are: Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf.
We should build our midfield around these players, and scout for more players.

TheGoodJoe:
Nwabali's ball distribution is sound. But he needs to tone down with his risky ball holding decisions under pressure. He needs to scan and distribute the ball faster.

Confidence has a ripple effect. He wants the composure, He needs his backline not shaky.

9JAMac10:
that coach is bang average. Osimhen has carried the team all along and masked this guys incompetence. Rather eguavoen take us to Afcon than this bald fraud

Eric Chelle at least believes in his players.
I knew we will not go far with Eguavoen, when i first heard him relishing and reliving the days of Segun Odegbami and Finidi George, rather than being content in and working with the crop of players within his grasp.

There is no wisdom in that. The bible clearly warns us to desist from saying that the former days are better, because the glory of the later days shall be greater than the former. This is the wisdom of God in display. God is ever evolving.

Ndidi's role play in these play off matches wasn't well defined.
Many commended Ndidi particularly because of his offensive contributions, but all that i saw was the gaps he kept leaving at the back.
I blamed the midfield for the goals we conceded and the poor positioning of the Center Backs
That is why I did not praise Ndidi's performances, but kept talking about the quality that he can bring when screening the back four, and in duels.
It is either Ndidi was not listening to instructions or that the coach doesn't know what he is coaching.

I somehow think that the latter is the case, because how on earth can a player like Ndidi and Onyeka be on the pitch at the same time, when there are better combinations.

Ragingthunder:
alhassan Yusuf?? I swear we are not ready in this country

Alhassan Yusuf is actually the most genuine central midfielder in the invited crop of players.
I even thought Onyeka will deputise Ndidi, while any of Alhassan or Onyedika starts in central midfield, with each one deputising the other.
I prefer Alhassan to Onyedika because of Alhassan's work rate, and also because i have seen Alhassan more in central midfield orchestrating offensive forays, as well as defensive transitions.

I prefer Onyedika in central midfield more than in defensive midfield, because of his ball distribution and understanding of space.
He is played in defensive midfield because of his ability to plug spaces and track players and positional discipline, but i think more will be seen of him in more central areas of the pitch.

Eric Chelle is a good coach, l like his composition of play and player movements, but understanding a player's specialty and strong points, producing the right mix of players, making compensations for player weaknesses, are the parts of coaching he is yet to master.

Eric Chelle is a good coach, I will give it to him.
I saw some things.
I prefer him to Finidi and Eguavoen.

Samueltemi337:
Now na Alhassan Yusuf?

Looking at the players that were invited, the best midfield partnership is between Yusuf and Ndidi.
This wasn't the first time i said this.

I have always wanted Iwobi wingwards.

Ndidi and Onyeka at the same time in the midfield is not a good idea at all.
None is a genuine central midfielder.

Meliforme:
Stanley Nwabali's ball distribution has improved tremendously.

His goalkeeper reflexes is one of the best in the world.

I said this regarding Nwabali, but many wants him dropped.

I commended Eric Chelle for the kind of wingers he invited, but i wasn't swayed by the results.

The goals we conceded were down to positioning.
The CB's kept a highline, and will not recover easily. Eric Chelle should have corrected this.

Alhassan Yusuf is a genuine central midfielder, why was he not featured.

The invitation of Chidera Ejuke is one solid thing Eric Chelle did during this playoff.
He scored the winning goal against Gabon.

How much commendation did he get from the media? None.

lordofstrings:
DRC goalie followed all penalties except Ejuke's

Ejuke is quality.
I keep saying it.

Most of you thought it was going to be an easy walk in the park.
But the more tactical coach did his work in the midfield.

hatakekakashi:
Ejuke, Simon, the keeper... Simon's own is to just run and deliver aimless balls into the box, not minding who he's passing to

What can your wingers do when the midfield is non-existent.
They are reduced to chasing the ball and defending and nothing much.

The midfield is needed to aid them in attack, or they have to feed on long balls from the back, which are either off target or cut off.

We are not quick in moving the ball towards goalscoring.
What is the problem?

solonnachi:
Has the line up been released?

Yes.

Many are calling for Ndidi to be dropped, the same for Nwabali.
I pity these people.

minfelix:
i know we have seen report making rounds that he has been cleared to play….i just wish he can sit out this one oo…

We will be more vulnerable if he doesn't play, except the coach makes adequate compensation.
Ndidi is very good.

We should try not to concede.
Ndidi should limit his forward runs, so that he can screen the defense. He is very good at it.

With good composition of play, we have the forwards that can crack open the Congolese defense.
We surely have.

realpoacher:
Ndidi should not play this match


Let's not use our leg to Enter trap


Avoid the drama altogether

A word is enough for the wise

Is that a hunch or do you have tactical reasons?

Stanley Nwabali's ball distribution has improved tremendously.

His goalkeeper reflexes is one of the best in the world.

ChrisKels:
Osayi na otu but that goal was on Ejuke. Lemina had no business getting that ball unchallenged. Ejuke was supposed to close him down, but he failed to track back. Chukwueze wouldn't make such a mistake.

Before you single out a player, know this.

We were on a 4-1-3-2 player setup.

And then reverted to a 4-3-3, which pushed the wingers further up the pitch.
Making the wingers the first line of defense. And the midfielders the second line of defense.

A long ball was flighted from the opposition's half into the final third. Long balls like that are meant to bypass even the midfielders, and it did so.
Wingers are not expected to defend this kind of long ball situation, because they will be doing so out of their natural position
Remember that the situation did not arise from a patient build up or a counter attack, just a long ball that flew over many.
Ejuke was even there because of his records for quick recoveries. He can track back and then sprint back into his natural position because of his pace.

The real problems boils down to the team's positioning.
Where were the midfielders.

The long ball was diagonal.
The defense line was cut off position, Osayi moved to a more central position to defend (to cover the space for the out of position CB's).

You see there are more players for the blame, and you are leaving out the main culprits.

lbrichman2:
We don't need him to be a starter
Just a good sub is enough
He's not good enough to start for us..

Also his defensive work can be better
He was badly positioned when Lemina scored that goal...

He should have been covering for Osayi who went to win that header
Ejuke was behind Lemina ball watching, instead of tackling or challenging for the ball

No Super Eagles winger is a better dribbler or passer of the ball.
He has the best control of the ball.

Samuel Chukwueze has improved so much in what he does defensively, if not I would have given that to Childera Ejuke also. Ejuke's defensive works are well commended by his coaches.

He can start any game depending on how the coach wants to win the game.

chrisooblog:
Bro make I no lie Ejuke was poor before the goal.

His game picked up after he scored.

Still needs to do more to be a starter.

This is a lie undiluted.

The pass he provided for Osimhen to score was before the goal or after the goal?

This is unbelievable