₦airaland Forum

Kog45:
Yes good for the thread...and young ones like you dey make us dey enter this thread learning daily

90"s pikin don dey clock 35 oo. Odunayaw na young oldie

chrisooblog:
Football back in the day was played with a code of honour that no quota would be asked or given on the field of play.

Afterwards what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch no grudges.

Same way Roy Keane and Patrick Viera who were guaranteed to fight during Arsenal/Man U matches back in the day are cordial now.

It's not necessarily a football thing. That's how men are. Nobody exemplified this for me more than Mike Tyson. In his prime, he was a marauding beast. He'd talk a lot of shyte trading words with his opponents before the match. But many times during the fight proper, I've seen him lunge forward to pick up an opponent going down under the impact of his blows. At other times, he'd hug his opponents and praise them. He was always gracious in victory. I really admire that quality Even he and Evander are buddies today.

You know that George Foreman, Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier all became friends before their passing.

I love this quality about men. Read the excerpt below.

Goke7:
We suppose flog this Italian team like 3-0 if only our strikers had utilised some of those passes from Okocha

To think that Italy had ace defenders like Maldini and Baresi and others drilled in the Italian science of Catenaccio and yet we broke their lines, disorganized them several times, razzled them speaks volumes of the quality of our players.

Italy went ahead to play in the finals.

Kog45:
My Super eagles all time XI
1 Goalkeeper-Vincent Enyeama

2.Right back-Ola Aina

3.Left back-Taye Taiwo

4.Center Back-Stephen Keshi

5.Center Back-Uche Okechuckwu

6.Defensive Midfieder-Sunday Oliseh

7.Cenral midfieder-Austin Okocha

8.Attacking midfielder-Mikel Obi

9.Right Wing Forward-Segun Odegbami

10.Center Forward-Victor Osimhen

11.Left Wing Forward-Adokiye Aimeasemeka

Baba, you have watched the Eagles far longer than many of us and have seen players come and go. I'm curious as to why chose Ola Aina. Not a criticism oo. I'm just curious

TheGoodJoe:
Contrary to your take, Jay Jay Okocha was up there in talent and understanding with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. Just that he did not play in the right system to bring the best out of him.

This clip below, will give you an idea. As much as I prefer Mikel Obi's approach to the game, no denying Okocha is the greatest footballing talent to play for the Super Eagles.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jGC9lQPHsA

Wowww tremendous showing by Jay Jay. We talk about his mesmerizing dribbles and in this age we dismiss it as frivolous but his dribbling and ball retention was what made us control games. And then again, we don't talk much about his long passes.

Kanu and Okocha were masters of the C - dribble. That skill is almost lost today.

In this match, Jay Jay was a torn in the flesh of the Azurris. They escaped by the skin of their teeth. One can see the relief they felt when it ended. We lost due to inexperience.

jihday:
sooner or later tho he’ll need to change his style of play else by time he clocks 30 he’ll be washed, he’ll need to be more instinctive and less energy/power

That's why I said that I fear for him. I can't even bear the idea of him being washed.

But remember Amokachi was called the bull. He had an injury and that was it. I pray Osimhen never suffers the same fate

Subzerooo:
guy, he fell down in the first minute and my heart was in my hands, isn't he supposed to have full control of his body at this age he's always overextending a limb

Too much energy.

villagereporter:
.

I think keshi though officially blazed the trail for Nigerian players in European club. The late Samuel Okwaraji was a pro before he died on d field in 1989.

Basically in my humble opinion d '94 set is similar to d 2013 set because d team did exactly dsame thing. The only thing d 94 set can claim over any other generation is FIFA ranking of Nigeria being no 5 but dat doesn't take their heroic exploit away because dey are d first set to qualified Nigeria for WC. I think they were lucky.

Why? Odegbami's set would have done it back in 1977 for d 1978 WC, after playing a goaless with either Algeria or Tunisia (have forgotten the country between d two), they needed to just beat the north African team by one zero, unfortunately they ended up conceding an owngoal and they unluckily botched the WCQ

Yes Keshi was one of the first, Okwaraji too and Etim Essien, Rufai, Agbonivbare. But please read me carefully: 94 set went abroad in numbers. That's the distinction.

I disagree that 2013 and 94 are the same. Different in many ways.

Odegbami would have but didn't. And I can apply that to the 94 set who would have defeated Italy and gone beyond 2nd round and possibly further

TheGoodJoe:
Set is literal.

metaphor. Context.

TheGoodJoe:
94 set is very clear. That World Cup team. If anyone wants to talk of era, he won't say 94 set.

Set not in the literal sense but as a metaphor.

If Osihmen is playing for Gala, we Super Eagles fans will be praying so he doesn't get injured.

If he's playing for Nigeria, gala fans will be praying for him not to get injured.

I watched a clip on YouTube where it was reported that Benin defender said he has never played against a striker like Osimhen.


Thank God, Osimhen is not a Banku eater or an unqombothi drinker oo.

Goke7:
You’re taking things too far I have brought facts and at the end na still second round exit we got from the 94 set which has also been replicated by those after them. Period! Everyone deserves their flowers and that’s where I stand

They were the first to do it and it's an achievement. We have scored many goals at the WC but Rashidi scored the first goal. That's a record. So they fact that others have done what they did, does not diminish their achievements. In fact it reinforces it because over 30 years now we have not surpassed that "little achievement"

Goke7 we will not let you pour contempt on the 94 set. To allow you do so, is to ensure that no set of the SE ever gets their plaudits. You want to pit one set against another just so you can pour mud on the set you do not like.

And in all these conversations, I have stuck to the achievements of that stella group of players without comparing them to other sets and downplaying their achievements.

They are all part of the long list of players that make our football history. The high points are the high points, the low points are the low points but what I will not do is to dismiss the achievement of any group.

Goke7:
I laughed when someone said Finidi dribbles on the touch line, am not sure the person has watched clips of a segun Odegbami to see what he does on the touch line. It’s a pity the Odegbami and Adokies of this world never qualified for the World Cup all these yeye debate of 94 no go Dey at all!

Even your Odegbami says the 94 set are the best. Don't call him as your witness oo. He will destroy your case.

Goke7:
Even as a group what has the 94 set achieved that the ones after them has not achieve too. Can you compare the star studded Ivorian team the eagles defeated in 2013 in 90 mins to the one the 94 team defeated only after 120 mins and penalties? Na nostalgia Dey worry many of us jor!

Before 94, I didn't know that we had been to the world cup. I didn't know that before then we ranked 2nd and had stars playing all over Europe.

For the joys he gave us
For the height he took us
We honor you Baba Rashidi

Continue to rest where you score goals for fun

Subzerooo:
SA didn't not just humble your apex club 5-1 in their background for you to say this

SA beat them woto woto like say them catch neighborhood thief. I was just laughing seeing the goal tally increase whenever I peeped to see the scoreline.

Goke7:
That’s the thing many don’t see, the individual display and achievement of some certain players post 94 generation set outpace the players before them but No the ones in 94 set will always look far better according to them, smh!

That example is off because the criticism is the criticism of these players as a group. We are talking about their achievements as a group. Standing as individuals they were not all remarkable. Indeed many of them played for backwater clubs. Rashidi the goal king was in Setubal!

Mikel Obi is arguably Nigeria's most decorated player.

Tomorrow someone who did not witness the precariousness of our World Cup Qualifiers, or the atmosphere of hope and despair in which we lived and the unbelievable stunt Osimhen pulled (including the risk of putting his head which has 18 screws in it to head the ball at an almost impossible level), on the day we beat Benin to restore our WC hopes, will puck his lips, chest out and say Osimhen sef, wetin him do for Nigeria.

Can statistics or even trophies capture an atmosphere such as that? You just have to live it, to know it.

TheGoodJoe:
Unfortunately, this is not about a popular choice thing but actual quality.

Ambrose was unbelievable. Never in my life seen a right back with such driving force. He literally used to drive Keshi's conquering Super Eagles from the right flank. A spectacle to behold. Popular vote will not change that quality fact.

Celestine Babayaro was tactically insane. He did it at the highest level. There was this game he had against AC Milan that was just madness.

Celestine Babayaro at Chelsea was a very brilliant player. Iroha can never scrape such level of performance.

Taribo, that is not even a debate.

Mikel Obi, he was a creative midfielder that also comes with a full defensive package. When it comes to creativity, Okocha edges. When it comes with the full package, offensive, defensive and controlling the midfield, Mikel tops and it is not even a debate.

Being the best player on the pitch in the Champions League finals against a Super Bayern Munich says it all.

Celestine firmly belonged to the 94 set. By 94 set, it is not about those who played in 94. If that is the case, we'd extract all Rashidi's goals and stay with those he scored from 94 onwards.

94 set is a metaphor for an era. That glorious era of Nigerian football that began its incipience in the 90s and peaked from 94-2002.

Goke7:
There’s no need for long story it’s because they were pioneers especially qualifying for the World Cup for Nigeria first time that’s why they will continue to be seen as invincible. But it’s the same mental resilience and never say die attitude that also saw the 2013 team winning Afcon after being written off by Nigerians including the nff who had bought their tickets back home before the quarter final match against Ivory Coast so that team deserves every applause just like the 94 set cos that was like coming back from the dead. So player for player there were players in the generation before 94 set that were even better and I have also seen players in the post 94 set that are even far better especially when you start considering their heroics at club level. As much as we don’t want to water down the achievements of that set we must stop assuming they were the Eldorado of our football.

Without your pioneers you go nowhere. Before Sir Roger Bannister, it was thought that it was impossible to run the 4th minute mile. He did it and after him many others went ahead to do it. You are wrong to say it is the same mental resilience. The man who does something the first time has no example to draw from. Those who come after him, will draw from his example.

When we have another set that gives us that height in ranking, that sense of certainty when we face other teams, the Olympic gold then we can crown them new kings of the block. But for now, 94 set is the dream.

kennysville:
In addition, if it were not for Politics between Nigeria and South Africa, The 96 Afcon would not be won by South Africa, Yes I say that with my full Chest. The resulting setback was that we didnt get to be in the Nations Cup until 2000 and yet the team got to the Finals. What do we take that set for? Dummies? History needs to be taught in Schools so that we don't despise the feat of great men. There is a reason why our national anthem says and I quote, "The labors of our heroes past shall never be in vain". We sang this part for many years and it really didnt sink cos we were just singing national anthem for getting high.
You see people looking at Okocha from today's trophy day lens and asking weird questions like what did he achieve? Okocha? Really?

Well i no blame people. Football has now become science of space and time

Excellent. You touched all the corners in the room. Bravo!

Napoleon55:
Until one of your new generations wey come after '94 set surpasses what Keshi, Sia Sia and Amuneke have done for our football as TheSuperNerd pointed out,even after they have retired,then we can have a talk.
I watched the super eagles without high blood pressure till 2006.

Osimhen,Bassey,Onyeka and very few others are the only players who plays with every seriousness to make sure a result is achieved from this sets.
And you want to belittle the entire group of heroes because of few ones you no longer fancy.

Allow those who still adores them to do so irrespective of what you and few others like CharlesEmeka may think of them.

What did they achieve that our new generation are yet to attain?
They put Nigeria on the world map as one the top 10 national football teams on two occasions,that alone speaks volumes of the quality of football we enjoyed in that era.

Even 2013 u speaks of has two or three of them as the coaches.

The players who came after '94 set,what have they contributed to Nigeria football either,we have Yobo,Mikel and Enyeama and co,they should get on board and aim to surpass what Keshi and co have done for us as their experience is needed.

The '94 set as u called them has done enough good than bad ,what folks like u think is of no consequence.

My brother, you know this issue came on the heels of my praise of Oliseh. Jieta totally misconstrued my post or perhaps used it to lunch his rocket of criticism against the entire 94 set.

I didn't want to join issues with him. I was quite surprised though when other voices joined to affirm his position which is fine. No aggro with that. Let me bite into the issue a bit.

Now, the thing is this: I am beginning to learn a principle called honor. One must honor anything that one cherishes. We are a nation that honors nothing, cherishes nothing. That's why we have no heroes and we really do not care to preserve our history. Because we have no heroes, we lack ideals and aspire to nothing. We are a nation tied to the earth. No overarching vision of glory and triumph to lift us to the heights of enviable achievement.

Recently in the wake of Osimhen's stellar performance in the last match against Benin, someone on X derisively asked the question: this Okocha sef, wetin him do for Nigeria? I was taken aback. Okocha was our hero. He is no longer on the scene today and because of that, his legacy is called into question (yes, legacy because till date, he remains a benchmark for our creative midfielders)

The point is that shebi Osimhen is a hero today (and he's mine too). Tomorrow somebody will spit on his work and rubbish his legacy (which we are all hoping he'd have) and it will be in order because those who gave their blood (think Taribo weeping profusely with his bandaged head when we could not advance beyond the first round in 02 WC) before him were dishonored when the curtain fell on their careers.

We can diss the 94 set all we want, but the fact remains that they represent the pinnacle of Nigerian football. Not just the height they took us to but the style and manner in which they did it. No Nigerian team has played with so much swagger and relish like those guys. And by 94 set we mean the set of players who were part of the team from the 90s through to 2002. No less a person as Segun Odegbami lauds them and gives them that distinction as their due even as recently as in the clip I posted some pages back.

If they have not gone ahead to transform our football as many expect and condemn them for, please I'd like to be shown how the various golden generations in Brazil, Argentina, England, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Algeria, Italy, Spain, have administratively transformed football in these nations. Of the large crop of players across several generations in these countries, only a few are in management.

We must give them their due. They have done exceedingly well. 30 years and still their legacy cast a shadow on our football - Rashidi, highest goal scorer, our only Olympic gold medal, highest fifa ranking, they massively opened the door for the influx of our players and other Africans into the major leagues in Europe, gave us unrivaled soft power as till today in several countries football fans still talk about Okocha, Kanu, Finidi, Amokachi. But for the ban in 96 and 98, we all know it was certain they'd have won the AFCON back to back to back.

They are my heroes. I adore them and I hope that their legacy gives impetus to the current generation to surpass what they achieved.

Let us not be like the Pharoah who did not know Joseph (and in a certain sense maybe the isrealites too forgot about Joseph).

Let us not move the ancient boundaries which the fathers have set (Prov 22:28) but use them as the foundation for greater exploits.

Goke7:
Osihmen and Victor Moses will make this starting line-up; Moses can contend with the wingers for a starting place.

Osimhen definitely but doubtful about Moses.

What manner of player is this Osimhen? This energy, this passion, this commitment.

It fills me with admiration and fear. Fear that he will burn out cos I can't comprehend the gusto with which this mad man plays football.

I've never seen an attacker like Osimhen oo. And I've seen attackers but this guy is one of a kind.

The Lion of Olusosun

Odunayaw:
EPL is blinder than we care to admit

You passed up Osimhen ke

It's a mystery. A shocking mystery that none of the EPL clubs so much as made a whiff about Osimhen.

jihday:
I did, he was talking about Oliseh football ability but you were talking about their collective post career success or lack of it

My brother thank God for you understanding my post oo. The heat from his post is just misplaced.

Jieta2:
The way you oldies praise this 1994 set is tiring, I've been on Nairaland going for fifteen years now every time I come online before I read ten comments I must read something related to the 1994 set you guys have besieged these sports sections just like they have besieged the glass house that any coach the NFF hires if he doesn't play like the 1994 set or handle issues like they time they criticism him.

Apart from Stephen Keshi and to a long extent Samson sia sia what has the 1994 set contributed to our football is it Okocha that almost ruin delta state football or Sunday oliseh that almost destroy the super Eagles, or let's talk about ikpeba that is destroying Nigerian youth with his bet9ja nonsense, I don't even want to mention that one that almost ruin our world cup hope.

What did they achieve which have not been done, they won the Nations Cup and reached the knockout stage didn't the 2013 set equal the record what is so special about them that we will not hear a word?

Make una see me see wahala oo. I praised Oliseh as an individual player. It could well have been Odegbami or Muda Lawal but I didn't watch those guys. How did you now stretch my praise of Oliseh to mean praise of the 94 set? This heat, e no come too much?

My post was inspired by a post I saw on X about our possible all time best 11 oo. Abeg oo.

Oliseh is one player who came before his time. He's not given enough plaudits. Man sits in front of the back four and destroys opposition attacks and orchestrates our attacks. He's a marvel of a player.

When Oliseh was in Italy, I read that his coach said that Oliseh never kicks the ball even under pressure. I see now that that is what is called press resistant.

In Benjamin Frederick, I see some of Oliseh's qualities. Although Frederick is a defender. His slaloming run through the midfield in the game against Benin was impressive. That run led to the third goal.

chrisooblog:
Basco Nwabali never had a bust up with Ekong at the AFCON o. It was Serge Aurier Stanley was threatening to fight while Ekong was telling him to cut that s**t out and calm down.

Just thought to correct that notion. Not joining your argument with D'Law.

Toh me I did not remember him having any bust up with Ekong oo. Dude was as calm as a cucumber.

Bascovanveli2:
That being said, I rather have a dog that I have to calm down than one I would have to beg to fight.

We often stand in the compound of the coward and point at the ruins in the compound of the brave man.

Balance and moderation is key