₦airaland Forum

Bascovanveli2:
You are the one who brought up AFCON. I said he had a bust up with Ekong at the AFCON.
Did u raise this complaint during the AFCON? No. What was the difference between now and the AFCON? Okoye. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. U were willing to accept the mistake but now u feel there is a suitable back up u don't want to. I had made a previous comment out of anger but now I think about it I didn't mean it that way sha. So my apologies.

There's no need to be angry. But get it out of your mind that I have an agenda. I don't.

People did not complain at the Afcon because doing something one time is not enough to criticize a player. People are complaining now because we are seeing a pattern. It is in our best interest, as in all of us if Nwabali curtails his excesses

Tessyy1701:
Senior man Basco, I am not The Law spokesman but I have been here for long to know that Sir Mujtahida is not saying that because of Okoye, He has always being a straight man and not bias with his analysis.

As for targeting Nwabali - Teams now pay attention to every tiny details, teams now know a keeper is not good aerially and they target that and when you needed that goal m*dly and you know a keeper can come for you like Nwabali did vs Rwanda after a little physical contact with you or your teammate - some team player will be trying as much as possible to get in contact with you so as to get you carded especially in this era of VAR.

This is the simple reality. Every minute detail of the game is scrutinized. Football is now scientific. Goalkeepers are given data regarding the tendencies of the penalty takers of the opposing team.

Nothing is left to chance.

Starboytwo:
what's the meaning of this take, at the bolded. Make una no dey vex person for here... We should thank our stars on top Congo...

Who Be Masusku? Who be Tuanzebe, who be Bakambu

Right now,right now, I'm definitely sure people in Congo prefer to meet Gabon than Nigeria.. Masuaku, Tuanzebe, Mbemba are currently in a whatsapp group discusing and sharing videos on ways to thwart Osimhen, you are saying we should thank our stars....

While not thanking our stars, would you have believed that SA will nick the group ticket when we were grouped with Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe?

The psychology of our team demands that we even hype the opposition rather than be dismissive of them as you just did.

I've noticed that when we play against minnows, we bring down our level while the minnows raise theirs. And that's the reason why teams lesser in pedigree to the SE often give us a hard time to play against.

Why do you think we thrashed Benin? We did so because our backs were against the wall. I think it was Odegbami in the program I posted earlier that said Osimhen was cooked hustling on the streets and therefore challenges like that brings out the beast in him.

So it has become almost a pattern that we beat teams when they are or appear to be stronger than us, and struggle against supposed minnows.

BascoVanVeli:
Oga u dey dribble here oh. Stanley Nwabali plays in Africa while everyone else is based in Europe's top leagues. He is the least profiled player. That has nothing to do with how important or how good he is.

So please tell me an incident where a team targeted the LEAST PROFILED player on a team.

Also I am still waiting for u to tell us how Stanley Nwabali's character changed.

How is the profile of a player relevant to the fact that intelligent teams will do their best to upstage other teams through whosoever they perceive to be our weakest link. You are the one who introduced that category and want to force me to speak within that frame. No way.

My point is simple: teams will target your weak nesses whether through high or low profile players. Shikena

Was there any complaints about Nwabali during Afcon? No. Are they complaints now? Yes. Why? His character has changed or rather his on-field behavior has changed.

caprikon:
Sad to say this but quite number of peeps view players through the ethnic lense. Bruno hasn't been able to match Zaidu's defensive displays.
Big issue with Zaidu is his crosses when he overlaps.

But how did you see ethnic coloration in what joelsteron said? I mention that because that is the immediate context for your post.

Do you know joelsteron's ethnic group? Zaidu has earned praise all round. Just one person criticizing him has become a matter of seeing through ethnic lens?

This is the problem. We cannot accommodate dissent. Those who praised Zaidu are not doing so from ethnic considerations, but those who criticize him are? How does this advance conversations here?

Few weeks ago, a well known moniker here said that most of our best sportsmen are from the south. I wholeheartedly supported that position not because of tribal considerations but because to me it is factually true that most of our sportsmen are from the south just as it will be factual to say race athletes in America are mostly blacks. So in supporting the argument, I was in a certain sense arguing against my own region because I'm from the North Central.

For me, positions are either true or not and I believe that many monikers here take the same perspective.

QueenJazz:
If you seriously think people are only criticizing Nwabali because of bias or favoritism, in spite of the ACTUAL recent events that even materialized the debate in the first place, then I don't know what else to tell you.

It's hard to discuss topics like this when people who are simple-minded, to put it lightly, insist on making everything about agendas and sentiments.

Apparently, it's a crime now to point out legitimate concerns about certain players.

This is why Nigerian football is crumbling in all cardinal directions, with no limit in sight - because people would rather engage with imaginary issues rather than face the reality at hand.

At least make an actual argument for your case instead of trying to assume the motives of honest and concerned fans. THIS is how to make your case.

Rambling about imaginary favoritism is no different from people who make everything about tribe or champion the quota system rubbish.

Let's be guided abeg.

It's either intellectual laziness or deviousness when instead of refuting you on the basis of the truth or otherwise of your assertions, they deploy underhanded method of accusing you of pushing an agenda or accuse you of tribalism so as to stifle dissent or gaslight you. These are the favorite go-to defences of Nigerians.

I see no agenda because I have none. I read everyone with the same open mindedness with which I state my own views. Those who see agenda are projecting their own internal bias because their views are often agenda driven.

Someone criticizes a player. You label that an agenda. Such a daft thing to say.

BascoVanVeli:
u brought up the fact that the Italian national team played in the same league as Zidane. All I did was connect your story to reality.

Onazi was injured by France. That's not the same thing but Onazi was also our best player in that tournament. He was also balling with Lazio at that time.

Can you name an occasion where a team targets the least profiled player on the pitch?

What do you mean by least profiled player on the pitch? Do you by that mean the least important player in the team? If that is so, are goalkeepers not the most important players? And then again, every player is important to the extent that if one player is removed from the team, it's structure is affected.

QueenJazz:
Lol. Is it so cumbersome to believe that a team like Italy or even France or Argentina can have a plan for more than 1 player in our starting 11? Is it out of the realm of possibility? 😂

Is it so difficult to believe that coaching crews of top opposing teams can study footage of our games and identify key weaknesses in any position? Like areas where we lack composure and stability? Players whom they can exploit?

We have seen teams do this sort of targeting again and again. In Italia 90, Maradona was targeted both physically and psychologically. In fact in their match against Italy the crowd joined in to target him with invectives (and this was at a time that he was regarded as a god in Italy)

If you watch the footage of the anthem relays, you'd see Maradona muttering puta under his breath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91a5-B20-YI?si=kMUsFFTYQ1p7lb61

QueenJazz:
My brother, I just weak.

The annoying thing is some people here trying to say that we're only asking for Okoye because of bias or other sentimental BS. My brother, how can you watch that compilation of errors and not be reasonably worried if Nwabali will not have another one of these episodes during the playoffs?

Even in the Benin game, he still had questionable moments there, like that goal that Benin scored, which - thanks to no VAR! - was not allowed. And people want to gaslight us that there's no cause for alarm?!

Like I said, I won't protest if Okoye starts ahead of Nwabali. If Nwabali continues his risky theatrics, then there's no difference between him and Okoye in my eyes. Okoye might not have Nwabali's confidence or composure, but he's not going to gift a useless goal, or get himself sent off because he can't control his anger. It's also very silly that people keep bringing up Okoye's game against Tunisia in 2019, and try to make him look like an Uzoho clone, when he has obviously come a long way since then.

Risky theatrics, that's the word. Look at what he did in the game against Rwanda as needlessly clattering into the Rwandan player. Imagine him indulging in time wasting antics when we desperately needed to score more goals. It's funny and sad at the same time that our own goalie engaged in series of sabotaging actions.

We qualified for this playoffs by sheer Providence in spite of the weapon (Nwabali) fashioned against us.

BascoVanVeli:
So Italy will make a game plan to target Nwabali when we have Osimhen and Lookman on our team? Does that even make sense

Is that how you read my statement? I never said Italy will target Nwabali but that intelligent teams will target him. And yes we can add Osimhen too because he is also impulsive.

Targeting a team can take any shape - physical or psychological such that a team can take out a player physically or provoke him psychologically to react in a manner that breaches the rules of the game. In both cases, the result is the same. Don't forget that France targeted Onazi in 2014 and Italy targeted Amokachi in 94

kennysville:
Someone goes out of his way to do a compilation of Nwabali's errors and posts it on youtube and you dont see an agenda there hey? Thats damn nitpicking. When he was the last line of defence and did the saves, no one did compilation. I am n ot even exonerating Nwabali but this needs to be called out for what it is. It is very misleading to go do compilation of a goalie's errors to what end? We can also do a compilation of Osimhen misses that will make you just downright dislike him and question what people see in him that is so special. When Gary Lineker did his, it was very subtle. And the deed got done nicely. Now he is apologizing to Osimhen, doing damage control for his own credibility

OH my. This is truly astonishing. Your grouse is that the compilation speaks of an agenda but not the fact that the compilation is true and factual. If a person's point is to show that a goalkeeper is incompetent, is it the goalie's saves or his errors he will show? He will show his errors! Of which Nwabali has a bagful in recent times.

And the shocking thing about Nwabali is that these are not goalkeeping errors in the normal sense. These are deliberate acts of childishness, unprofessionalism, insubordination (pushing the captain away three times!), erratic and impulsive misbehaviours that speak to his character and not necessarily his competence or incompetence as a goalkeeper.

I'm constrained to look at this whole thing through the eye of a trial in court. So if this is before a court where Nwabali is on trial, let's say for poor goalkeeping and this video is presented as evidence that he should be replaced, your defense of Nwabali will be to say that the facts which have been demonstrated as true before the judge is an agenda and it should be dismissed on that ground? This will be your argument against it - that it is an agenda. Not that it is false or contrived?

How is it an agenda when you are being clearly shown facts which you yourself have seen regarding the many errors of Nwabali? How is it an agenda when the call for Nwabali to be replaced is almost universal. I listened to Segun Odegbami's EAGLE7FM program where he interviewed Edema Fuludu, a Super Eagles player of the 90-94 set and Dr. David Olanrewaju a veteran sports journalists. Both men lamented about Nwabali and called for his replacement. Are these men pursuing an agenda too?

I do not see an agenda because it is true that Nwabali has become a bag of errors. While I do not necessarily think he should be removed outrightly, People are well within their rights to call for his removal without being accused of pursuing an agenda. If that goalbound ball has slid into the net in the match against Lesotho, I'm certain you'd be among the people calling for his removal. We were saved by Providence just so that Nwabali either sits up or gets removed or we suffer the consequences if neither happens.

This is the link to Odegbami's program for anyone interested in listening to the program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKWQNQmpMzk?si=8ADW

BascoVanVeli:
I would respect it more if they just said they want Maduka to play. If u want a player, you have the right to champion for that player but don't throw stones when u know u live in a glass house. They are trying to destroy Nwabali's character instead of talking football and I don't like that one bit.

I often don't see agenda in people's positions because I don't have agenda in mind. The point is that people once praised Nwabali. What changed? His character. And that character is affecting footballing outcomes. I'm certain that if Nwabali restrains himself, he will get the same support he once enjoyed. Nobody wants to shyte in their pants due to the errors of an incompetent goalkeeper. We want a good goalkeeper and if we get that Nwabali, that's just fine.

semid4lyfe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbV6_deIcxc&pp=ygUUY3JlbW9uZXNlIHZzIHVkaW5lc2U%3D

Ma'am,

I just watched the highlight of the Udinese and Cremonese match that was played yesterday, and I wasn't impressed by Okoye.

He's still jittery and seemed indecisive in key moments of the game.

◾He came out and flapped at a cross he shouldn't have come out for ❌

◾One on one with Vardy, he was caught in two minds. He rushed out a little, stopped for a second, took another step forward, then spread himself and blocked the shot but I was appalled by his decision making. ❌

◾His positioning in goal and goal post awareness when facing potential shots or goal threats is so unsure. One can visibly see the jitters. ❌

◾The goal he conceded was a point blank close range header but a better keeper would have made the save because the ball passed in between his hands. ❌

◾His goal kicks don't go far, and he doesn't seem confident with back passes and playing out from the back ❌

In all, he might have better reflexes (debatable) and play at a higher level than Nwabali but Nwabali's trumps him in aura, confidence, receiving back passes and goal kicks / playing out from the back which are also important attributes for goalkeepers.

I feel Nwakali's erratic nature, time-wasting tactics, confrontational nature, and refusal to take accountability can be curtailed and managed more easily than instilling confidence, teaching positional sense and the other attributes I mentioned to Okoye.

My pick to be in goal for the playoffs is Stanley Nwabali.

Reading this made me panic. God abeg oo

TheSuperNerd:
Mujtahida still clearly suffers from Okoye induced PTSD. 😂😂😂

Bro, I am yet to recover. In fact Okoye will need more than one good performance to ease my mind.

When watching football, we suffer. We suffer more when we don't trust our goalie.

kennysville:
People have always not been happy with the fact that it is Nwabali minding our goal. He is someone people just wanna replace at all cost. Unfortunately, he also isnt helping matters with his antics. In terms of calmness, Nwabali is head and shoulders above any goal keeper we may have right now. This whole campaign of calumny thing seem sponsored to me. I remember Oma Akatugba started all of these. Any thing to remove Nwabali. I am not against getting replacements but we have to have the right reason and moment to do it. Nigerians need to understand that at this stage, it is critical to be very objective and not be sentimental when it comes to team set up. Just because Okoye be fine boy and has now returned doesnt make him better. How forgetful can we be ? 2 high profile matches and our friend opened legs wide.

If all of this is to sneak in Okoye, then may that plan fail like the counsel of Ahithophel. I no dey for sentiments.

You are right about Oma but like you said Nwabali himself is not helping matters. Goalkeeping error is the most telling. In a twinkle of an eye, a cup is lost, a victory is thrown away, the team put under pressure, panic everywhere.

At the same time we must be cautious. Okoye still gives me jitters. If only Nwabali's head comes correct, I'm more comfortable with him than any other GK we have but baba beyond agenda, Nwabali has become a hot topic of conversation.

QueenJazz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVgZgg8BpMQ&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1HQg%3D%3D

Either this Nwabali goes to therapy or Chelle replaces him with Okoye for the time being. He's a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. I just pray that the day he finally blows up, it won't be during competitive games like the playoffs, AFCON, or in a World Cup game (if we make it).

This video compilation of Nwabali's shenanigans is funny. I couldn't help laughing.

He should be called to order because if we qualify and face intelligent teams, he will SURELY be targeted just as Italy knowing that Zidane is temperamental having played in Serie A, targeted him, got Matarazzi to provoke Zidane leading to that infamous incident which cost France it's victory in that final game of 06 world cup.

Nwabali who once gave us confidence after the horror of Uzoho has now become an albatross on our necks. His yoke is heavy and his burden hard. We must find a way to make his head correct again or replace him.

TheGoodJoe:
We are actually talking about football ideas and perspectives.

You tagged the idea of leaning strictly to dominative play foolishness. Luis Enrique said he will rather lose instead of not playing football.

So you are tagging Enrique foolish. If you don't think he is foolish, it plugs a big hole in your argument.

Baba, nothing concern me with Enrique oo. 😏😏

QueenJazz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVgZgg8BpMQ&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1HQg%3D%3D

Either this Nwabali goes to therapy or Chelle replaces him with Okoye for the time being. He's a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. I just pray that the day he finally blows up, it won't be during competitive games like the playoffs, AFCON, or in a World Cup game (if we make it).

Nwabali was a calm presence during Afcon. Why has he become so erratic, so abrasive and a drama queen? A significant part of the conversation during this international break dwelled on him. Is he reacting from the loss of his parents because without being told, that kind of loss can take a toll on a man. May God give him comfort.

Now the call is for Okoye to be given a chance. I don't see Chelle bending that way but if he does and Okoye puts up a good performance, Nwabali will be relegated to the bench.

donbenie:
So,nobody plays for Osimhen?

Which team doesn't play for its Strikers?

That's the point of saying Rashidi was spoon fed or like I said more appropriately the team played for him.

The current team has not really learnt to play to the strength of Osimhen. Our last match just gives a glimpse of what is possible when the team clocks in on doing so. I really don't know how the team and Rashidi rolled before 94 but at Afcon one can see that Oliseh particularly was instrumental to the goals Rashidi scored. We are yet to find such a supplier for Osimhen.

I'm must say that I'm not pitting Osimhen against Rashidi. I love the two of them because they are good strikers who love playing for the GWG.

TheGoodJoe:
From your take, is Luis Enrique foolish?

I'm talking about Oliseh. Nothing concern me with Enrique

TheGoodJoe:
So he should stop saying it goes against his philosophy when it is his philosophy. Your take above it actually defeats your argument.

We are human beings not robots. If you understand nuance, you wouldn't oppose his position.

forgiveness:
Maybe you have fi.sh brain to have forgotten quickly how there were heated debates regarding Lookman. Na reason you and your cohorts called me names but today shame still never catch una.

Iwobi will still need to catch up with "retired" Dele Ali's record.

It baffles me you are even comparing.

Saka vs Chuks!!!! Mtcheeeew! Are you still debating thar?

Most of you are supporting players based on where they come from but with nothing to show for.

No doubt I talked about some of those aforementioned players at a point they were just coming up but una thinks say na prejudice. Now, tell me some of them had bad career.

Josh Maja!!!? I never stick my neck out for him though. He was average. So stop being mischievous by mentioning few players I supported.

Maybe you were a toddler when the debate between Solanke and Iheanacho was hot here. Ask your masters here they will tell you except shame dey catch them.

I rated Awoniyi ahead of Osimhen!!!? Really!? Are you trying to impress to gain supporters? This is In your dreams. All those crap you conjure blah blah Origi.......cooked false accusation is from your wildest imagination. Not from me.

Onuachu with 25 caps and over 700 minutes in Se scored only 3 goals. Nevertheless, I told you I have not been following Nigerian players recently. So, what is your point?

You make too much out of tribal sentiments all the time.

I have been on this thread long enough to know that contributors make their contributions and support for players based on tribal affiliation.

donbenie:
The claim that the duo of Okocha and Oliseh spoon-feed Yekini and thus the reason for his goals doesn't hold up to scrutiny,Ogbeni.

The fact shows that Yekini had already scored 20 goals in the National Team before either Okocha or Oliseh made their debut.

Let's leave this narrative and move on,abeg.

While I may not use the word spoon feed, Oliseh and the entire team played for Rashidi

chrisooblog:
That's life for you evolution. The needs of the team supersede individual biases or interests.

If Kelechi could regain his old form he's someone who could be a game changer.

His problem was that he never quite fit into anywhere in the attack.

Football can be cruel. Just like that Iheanacho and Aribo are not in the conversation as members of the team.

TheGoodJoe:
Sorry but Oliseh has said it repeatedly to say it goes against the grain of his philosophy. He might have built his ideas on the pillars of offensive possessive play but there is a side to Oliseh that has repeatedly called for adopting a negative approach.

Because he is not idealistic to the point of foolishness.

Sugarboyy:
Sorry, to me Nigeria greatest male footballer is by far Okocha and not Kanu. All over the world, ex footballers recognises Okocha while some current footballers also recognises him as their football mentor. Even recently, I think Zico picked him as Africa greatest ever.
I remember when they were both active, there were always anxiety whenever Okocha wasn't playing either for club or for country but there was never a time Kanu was the go to man both for country and all the club's he ever played for.

Kanu is the greatest Nigerian player

M7even:
And they are as they've won the under 20s. Just as SA are on to something.

They are just starting

TheGoodJoe:
Oliseh has always talked like this. Despite me thinking he is a brilliant tactician, I think this plays a part in his draw back as a coach.

A team should always be built towards achieving greatness. If not, we are not ready for the World Cup.

That kind of thinking is short term.

I presume that you did not watch the podcast because he clearly stated that his advice goes against the grain of his philosophy but that we need to be pragmatic.

This is not league football but knockout play offs. And contrary to your assertion, it is indeed long term thinking necessary to make qualification possible. Anybody who watches the podcast will hardly disagree with him

Odunayaw, you see the wiping Remo collected from Sundowns abi. Clock is ticking oo

Ragingthunder:
I can't wait for south Africa to be humiliated on the world stage,An opponent of South Africa is a friend of mine

With them it's now crossing over from banter and rivalry into the realm of hatred. We will deal with them soon.