₦airaland Forum

TheSuperNerd:
I enjoyed the discussion on Semi Ajayi.

Team A saying Ajayi is limited make fine points.

Team B saying Ajayi is still valuable because of his experience are not wrong either.

Truth is, we have to admit that to see the Super Eagles at her very very very best, we need our BEST OF THE BEST on the field and restricting the discussion to the defence alone, we know who the Best are in defence.

But with that said, I would like us to understand that Chelle is being strategic with the defence's synergy. In Benjamin's absence, Ajayi proved to be a capable partner for Bassey at Africa's biggest tournament of stars, THE AFCON. Yes, a few moments of lapse vs Morocco but he recovered and finished strong. He brought that tournament experience to full bear and his experience across board from partnering Ekong in 2- and 3-man defence setups to partnering Bassey at the last Afcon make him quite invaluable due to his synergy and chemistry with the rest of the backline. His experience makes him quite adaptable.

Now how do you expect Chelle to hastily dump a CB of that experience and worth in terms of chemistry with the others? Ajayi's Top Class Afcon showing was just couple months back. He also helped Hull to EPL promotion recently.


Look, in time, Ajayi will be phased out and thanks goodness we have ready made upgrades already on ground in Nwaiwu and even Fernandez but it is also fact that they are "new" (plus Benjy's absence) that has made Chelle persist with Team Chemistry for now over shiny new toys (Upgrades) who need a bit more time to still blend in.

Chelle will keep inviting Ajayi for now especially ahead of the September/October AfconQs window. And with Benjamin also making his long expected return alongside Aina and Osayi as well, we will be back to our fullest strength at the back.

Ajayi's time is almost up and Chelle knows this but before it hits closure, Chelle will keep extracting what he can from Ajayi's experience for tactical and chemisry balance at the back.

Cheers all.... both teams debated well... and you are both right. The only difference is Ajayi's time is just not yet up.

Thank you. 🔚

You have tied both ends of the rope into a beautiful knot. You have chewed the kolanut at the right spot.

AndSunGorilla:
D law, I apologize for tagging you with my response, I don forget say na one of your main crusades be dis.

Meanwhile make we enjoy world cup o, I really expect a lot from CIV. Morocco we're dumb to fire their coach just because of Brahim Diaz's folly and somehow they have used backdoor to "win" it.

Hahaha hahaha. Even me I was surprised cos the quoted post had nothing in relation to SA.

Anyway,they must come back home

SymphonyRad:
E go shock you when Fernandez shuts down your hierarchy.

Why will it shock me? What have we not seen in football. The point is that as it stands Ajayi is number 3 despite his limitations. This does not negate the fact that he can be pushed down the pecking order by any of the other CB options.

AndSunGorilla:
One of my Zimbabwean friend who had university in Capetown was so glad they lost. We actually loved them, we so much love Mandela but how have they repaid other Africans? With xenophobia, and they expect us to support them??

I don't support SA but it's not because of the issue of xenophobia oo. Cos I firmly believe every nation has the right to protect their borders.

The immigrant wants to get in, the natives wants to protect their country from unrestrained migration. Every side doing what conduces to their self interest.

If it were a white country, we'd label them racist but since we cannot hurl that invective against the Mzanzis, we call them Xenophobes.

I try to look at issues beyond the popular narrative.

The international argument is weighed against the SA people but does anyone care about their own fears and concerns?

Is the sentiment to protect one's country, culture, history and boundaries not common throughout the world?

Even in Nigeria here despite our shared nationality, don't we see nativist marking the boundaries which define the limits of people who are not natives? Is this not what is behind the crisis in the Plateau? Do we let people of other ethnicities who are not natives of our various states to hold elective positions? No!

But if our people are denied the same opportunity abroad, we start crying racism. It's rank hypocrisy.

Africa helped them during apartheid but to me, that help was not conditional or predicated on their allowing all Africans come unrestrained to their country.

The bottom line is that we have to be fair in looking at this issue. To cast SA people as devils without at least understanding their grouse is unfair. I say this and the same time I abhor the violence that accompanies their objections to the presence and influx of migrants.

The whole world does not belong to everyone indiscriminately. There are borders and boundaries. People have a right to their space.

SymphonyRad:
You said it all, I'm tired of breaking it down for this football novices that pointing out Ajayi's glaring limitations which you brilliantly elucidated isn't a campaign against his outstanding service to Nigeria...thanks for taking your time to deliver this submission cause I no get power to dey explain.

Football novices because of a difference in opinion? Because you are the expert?

Kog45:
Oga so to you Ogbu,Fernadez and Nwaiwu are ahead of Ajayi?Oga you do not rate Ajayi simple,we have players some of us don't rate here....are you talking about another Ajayi abi no be the same Ajayi that paired Bassey during Afcon.....

Stop it,Ajayi and Bassey are billed to start Portugal match,forget Ogbu injury

No mind am. He is so wrong

SymphonyRad:
I

The RB was Akpan... and yes he had a very nervy game because Chella threw him into the thick of battle against a world class team so we can cut the kid some slack (not every debutant has the calm and composure of a Bewene), our LB was Zaidu, who has no business making the team.

Lmao Oga, if Benjamin Fredrick was fit you and I know Ajayi won't smell that starting XI under Chelle, and you can bet your two kidneys that the same Benjamin who is back with Brentford will definitely send Ajayi back to the bench once he's back for the September AFCON qualifiers. You talk of experience? Benjamin Frederick literally announced himself in a big way during the last unity cup and went on to have MOTM performances in those tough qualifiers we played that saw us make the playoffs, while your Ajayi was subpar against DR Congo, Benjamin who was played out of his natural position still outperformed him and even had to clean up some of the mistakes Ajayi made, so which yeye experience nonsense are you talking about?

I like Ajayi and think he has earned his stripes as one of our reliable defenders over the years, but right now if we go by the pecking order of our CBs at least under Chelle> it will easily be Bassey, Benjamin Fredrick, Fernandez, Igoh Ogbu, Nwaiwu and then Ajayi. The only reason Ajayi even played that Portugal game was because Ogbu was injured and Fernandez had a slight groin injury.

You are mistaken. The order for the CBs is Bassey, Benjamin, Ajayi and then the rest.

Kog45:
I just watched one of the goal again...Bruno failed to mark the scorer,fact he gave him the space to shoot and nothing Maduka can do about it,the two goals Maduka view was blocked cuz the scorer drove Bruno from LB to the edge of 18 yard and took the shot and the samething happened through RB......well on Ajayi,i asked him why he was so harsh on Ajayi?Bassey was even caught out of positions than Ajayi in that game but Calvin Bassey was brave in his game,but his point on Ajayi i no understand o cuz calling a player washed just like that...the team did well with the absence of Osimhen,Lookman,Aina and Osayi

Ajayi is good. A steady calming presence beside the roaring engine of Bassey

Carot:
Thank you mexico. Mostob, Mujtahida, elyte89, how do you feel

I am not against SA because of their so called Xenophobia.

Naaa. Whether, whether not, I just want all African countries back home.

Sorrow loves company. Can't be watching alone from Africa. They must all join us.

mostob:
Why you pour charcoal inside this soup na

Hahaha hahaha. No comfort for the unqualified. We must feel the pain

mostob:
No be by qualifying o.. You fit play ball?

No be by you Sabi play ball. You fit qualify? 😉😉😉

Goke7:
Who had more missed chances?

See quit the patriotic thing for now (there will be a time for that later) and let’s have a honest assessment!

Now we talking about more chances.

Goke7:
💯 after a brilliant Afcon performance we should be seeing better performances from the boys! If Ronaldo had converted his chances all these dem try no go Dey. Maybe a team should whitewash the eagles so we can admit the inherent flaws that still exist in the team

Why has the emphasis been on the chances Portugal missed? What about the chances we missed?

There's something that theGoodjoe used to say which I found quite profound.

Don't know if I can express it correctly but I think it is along this line:

When you have a system, results are secondary, what matters is the refinement of the system until you start getting results.

I remembered this idea of theGoodjoe while reading comments online with some people criticising Chelle.

We have a system now. Everyone agrees. But are we patient enough for the refinement of the system to get us the results we desire?

I doubt that we have patience. What we like is results. We don't care about process or systems.

Nigerians sha.

FiveFootNinja:
At the 2026 USCAMEX FIFA World Cup,

Countries I'm rooting hard for:
Brazil, England, Japan

Countries I have a soft spot for (but won't hurt me if they lose):
Korea Republic, Mexico, USA, Canada, Turkiye, Australia, Senegal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq

Countries I simply don't care about:
Czech Republic, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Switzerland, Qatar, Scotland, Haiti, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Germany, Curacao, Netherlands, Sweden, Tunisia, Belgium, Iran, New Zealand, Spain, Cape Verde, Uruguay, France, Algeria, Jordan, Austria, Portugal, Norway, Uzbekistan, Croatia, Panama

Countries I hate and I'm actively rooting against to fail:
South Africa, Morocco

Countries I like but I'm rooting against anyway for the banter:
Ghana, Argentina, DR Congo

I think that about covers it.

I am rooting for all the African countries to come home after first round. 😏😏.

It is what it is.

Kog45:
My takes on Portugal friendly

1.Goalkepping...Okoye for the first time proved that he has come of age and good that we are having two solid safe hands,am waiting for Okonkwo real grade A match.

2.RB,good that we have options in Bewane and Akpan but they are not better than Aina and Osayi for now

3.LB,Bruno is solid as usual,good performance but we need strong back up,not really comfortable with Sanusi

4.Midfield,Ndidi,Iwobi and Oyenka are doing extremely well and i do not see reason why Oyenka should be on the bench for Fisayo Dele Bashiru..good that we are having Nnadi but we need more midfielders to give healthy competition in the team

5.Forwards,we missed Osimhen but Akor proved that he is reliable..Moffi and Onuachu will continue to be on the bench and i do not see Onuachu lasting in the team,we need third attacker and Moffi and Onuachu cannot do it.

6.Wide forwards,we missed Lookman,nothing to say on Simon and Chuckwueze performance cuz we are use to it but good that we are having Azeez in the mix and hopefully Zodak progresses...

Generally,Chelle and his men are doing extremely well cuz we are having identity now not like before,but need to continue pushing for more talents

Midfield needs personnel in the mould of a CM. We have too many DMs.

Zaidu either sits up or he'd be out of the team. Chuks has been disappointing. Simon - that one, you can never know when he'd get into the groove.

Our defense looks solid except the LB where we have just Bruno.

Bewene will quickly grow into that position - boy is strong, fast and confident. If he continues along this line, he will own that position few years from now.

Amedino99:
Especially that lookman. He is mostly given a pass because of his club situation then but it wont erase the fact that he was left wanting when needed in the early part of the qualifiers.

Lookman was ineffective during the qualifiers. He always comes alive during tournament proper.

EEGA:
When was the last time Okoye kept a clean sheet for the SE.

He keeps conceding cheap goals.

Recall our AFCON21 R16 exit against Tunisia.

The only ball directed at him all game, he couldn't save it.

Nwabali would have gotten us to the semi-finals of that same tournament.

Criticism must be fair. None of the goals Okoye conceded in both the Poland and Portugal matches were cheap goals. Haba haba

Odunayaw:
Chuks lost the ball to that defender.

Chelle's idea of building the team is practical and wise. To replace any player, you have to be better than him.


Okay na. What this means is that all these players standing with one leg in the team, once we find a better replacement, you are gone.

If Azeez plays that Chukwueze's position and comes effective, Chukwueze will be permanently relegated to the bench.

He's talented no doubt but not effective.

lbrichman2:
You know book
Fisayo was almost useless in this game

I really don't understand that FDB

Bassey plays like a Generalissimo. Since the day he single handedly stood like the wall of Gibraltar against Morocco na im I fear that boy. Kai Kai. He plays with swagger, finesse,speed and courage.

Bewene is good oo. He has confidence. I like him.

TheSuperNerd:
Chukwueze messed up this chance with his first 2 touches. He was meant to knock the ball forward with his 1st touch and away from the last defender (relying on his pace) or play Moffi in with his very first 2 touches.

Decisions and moments. Should be 2-2. But it is fine. We move.

I think Chukwueze's main problem is that he's indecisive - thinks of doing too many things with the ball at once.

ThunderFireAgba:
Team: Chelle has not lost a game in a full 90mins.
Let me see what they will say now.
Maybe you will hear: Chelle has not lost a game in 1st half.
Bunch of clowns.

This gratuitous and unprovoked insults from this troll has to stop. I am all for freedom of speech and even trolling to a certain degree but this guy comes on here, insults everybody daily.

There has to be sanction to keep this place sane for everyone. We come here to interact as guy men. If we have a child among us here who has decided to roll in the mud, it's best he's dealt with before he stains all of us.

Cc.
Semid4lyfe

TheSuperNerd:
For your supportive🤝🏿, hatewatching😡 and entertainment😆 viewing pleasure, here is the schedule lineup for Africa on matchday 1.

I will be there!

EEGA:
Arthur Okonkwo kept a clean sheet against Zimbabwe 2-0(Nwabali conceded against them in AFCON qualifiers).

Against Jamaica 3-0(another clean sheet).Nwabali conceded 2 against them in the final of last 2 editions of Unity cup, with the match ending in 2-2 draw with the Super Eagles winning on penalties.

Okoye conceded 2 against Poland and shouldn't start the game against Portugal.

Arthur Okonkwo deserves a start.Okoye can replace him in the 2nd-Half.

Okoye should start. One thing that has likely affected him is the cut and join nature of his appearances. We've never allowed him to get into rhythm. Once he makes one mistake, we put him by the side, never allowing his confidence to build to the point of overcoming his mistakes.

He should start.

EElopa:
I was not impressed with Senegal's play at AFCON except for their performance against Morocco in the finals. An average USA team completely outplayed them, and they should have lost that game by a margin of three to four goals. I am currently watching them against Saudi Arabia, and everything about their play seems like a sluggish, lazy, predictable type of football. They are very easy to be opened up by their bad organisation and slow defenders. I don't think this team is well coached. This Senegalese team I am watching will lose against France and Norway for sure, and that Haiti game will be a struggle. There is a lot of talent on the team, but they are not playing like a well-coached team. I am currently watching the game with my Norwegian friends. They feel very confident that they will turn this Senegalese team over when they meet. My hope for this World Cup among African teams is really pinned on Ivory Coast and Morocco. Algeria and Egypt might surprise, but the rest are going there to mark attendance.

I was praying for us to catch Senegal in that final but alas Morocco defeated us.

Tessyy1701:
U19 coaching job is been advertised @Kano Pillar


CC: Mujtahida

Blasphemy against the gods of soccer

FiveFootNinja:
We tend to get good results against them sha. Historically.

Only exception was that 4-1 drubbing by Denmark in France '98. 😖

Sweden defeated us in 2002. Apart from Iceland which has no pedigree, which other Scandinavian country have we defeated?

elyte89:
😏😏😏😏🙄🙄🙄🙄, please get me a grade A national team after the World Cup

😂😂😂 Let me know if you can manage South Africa cos I know they are returning after the first round and they will fire Hugo Broos before they leave Mexico.

I said manage because I know you are above their level.

The way Benjamin Frederick is loved ehn. Chai people too like that boy.

typicalgamer:
Honestly if not for Halland nobody gives a F about Norway

Norway won’t beat a unity cup eagles not to mention super eagles even with Haaland and gang

Those Scandinavian countries are bad ooo. Underestimate them at your own peril.

TheSuperNerd:
Yes, but some of these winger profiles fit in and also Chelle does switch up tactically, so these wingers provide him with options for such.

Definitely. He'd need to be tactically flexible.