₦airaland Forum

CFCfan:

I just came back from Church 12 minutes ago. I'm going to re-watch the game online to see how the Ivorien ladies copped 6 yellow cards and conceded the goals.

On the yellow cards, most were undeserved. Germans were diving shamelessly to garner refs sympathy. You can watch a rematch of our WWC opener in Frankfurt 2011, and see how much the germans were up to.

CIV should be flogged. Disgrace to Africa. Nigeria will redeem Africa's image tomorrow. My only fear is the tactical dexterity of Edwin Okon (or lack of)

As poor as CIV is, Germany is showing some obvious weaknesses. I am also very happy that the referee for tomorrow is from Korea. Those Asians allow heavy challenges and are not afraid of making the right calls.
I am super excited that the match has come!
Super falcons must beat Sweden.

This is a delegation going there for real business. Not a delegation containing Reno and his girlfriend, Mama P and plenty aides.
No wonder Angela was quick to invite Mohammad to the G7.

ajf:
Nope. Winner of Germany vs Nigeria plays winner of Ukraine vs Senegal. Check again.

Wrong. The winner plays Ghana or Mali.

Just had a look at the fixtures. Nigeria vs Germany. If Nigeria wins, we meet an African team (Ghana or Mali) in the quarter finals.
This is sad because 3 strong African teams will be reduced to 1 in one fell swoop.

PDP's brand of opposition. Comic relief.

CFCfan:
Okon may deploy a 3-5-2 formation ala Juve. Controlling the midfield will do the SF a lot of good. The Swedes and Americans and even the Aussies would have a hard time with a quintet of Nwabuoku, Ohadugha, Nkwocha, Okobi, and Nku.

Nkwocha wont start any match. Quote me anywhere. Nku will not start ahead of Ayinde also. The team is balanced on a 4-5-1. Midfield is key.

The falcons will be more impressive than the U20s. They just have this never say die attitude. Moreso, they are a bunch of young fearless group.

Just to put in perspective, the Canadian team just beat England in a totally dominant display. Nigeria dominated Canada, but ended with a draw. I think the girls are ready after today's friendly.

Lovely final list. Now I am more confident. The starting 11 has picked itself. A solid bench too.

Sandra ChiChi is a goalie right? We cannot have less than 3 goalies in the final team.

CFCfan:
I see.
Yeah, I watched highlights of the US friendly. The American wingers - Tobin Heath, Rapinoe, and Christen Press - should be caged be our fullbacks and DMs. Nwabuoku will have to mark out Carli Lloyd in midfield.

I think the two players that will be dropped are Sandra Chiichi, and one defender. 7 defenders should be adequate for the tourney.

Actually, Perpetua Nkwocha landed with the team in Canada. Confirmed by one of the receiving party.

CFCfan:
Ok. But who is the 26th player? The lists only include 25 players.

I think there are 25 players. Nwabuoku was named twice by NFF.
BTW. USA beat Mexico 5-1 in a friendly. They seem to be good at set pieces, with Abby Wambach scoring a powerful header, and a penalty.
I hope Okon realises the stage is world cup, and not Rivers angel.

CFCfan:
I like that too. It seems most of the media reports failed to include Uchechi's name in the list of 26.

I am 95% sure that Uchechi has been dropped. Only the captain and Ordega are going to join in Canada. I think its enough risk having Ini and Courtney in the team already, same style as Uchechi.

CFCfan:
Nice. The ladies were also featured in a vine video posted on NFF's twitter handle.

Im very happy with the team bro. Youthful, fearless, and gutsy. Only thing lacking is quality friendlies, but we should get a taste of the level after they play Canada.

The ladies just landed in Toronto. I think 3 players are going to be on standby.

I just hope none of our players is following this thread. The mental fatigue will be too much for them. We hype and rate them so high. deserved? time will tell.

dodobytes:
Uchechi Sunday.......

No way she will be picked ahead of Esther Sunday. Actually only 25 players flew to Canada, and 2 more will be dropped and placed on standby

Goalkeepers: Precious Dede, Ibubeleye Whyte, Christy Ohaeriaku,

Defenders: Sandra Chii-Chii, Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Josephine Chukwunonye, Ngozi Ebere, Blessing Edoho, Sarah Nnodim, Mariam Ibrahim, Ugo Njoku,

Midfielders: Evelyn Nwabuoku, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Halimat Ayinde, Cecilia Nku, Ngozi Okobi, Esther Sunday, Loveth Ayila, Chiwendu Ihezuo,

Strikers: Desire Oparanozie, Asisat Oshoala, Iniabasi Umotong, Courtney Dike, Francesca Ordega.
I think Perpetua Nkwocha may have been dropped.

CFCfan:
Update: Okon will name is final 23-woman squad for the WC on May 25th, the same day the Super Falcons take on Canada in a friendly.

Coach Okon also dropped 8 players from his provisional squad, namely - Chisom Henry, Yetunde Adeboyejo, Chioma Wogu, Onyinyechi Okeke, Gladys Akpa, Ramatu Abdulkarim, Winifred Eyebhokia and Chinaza Uchendu. Whilst the 28 players that will make the trip to Toronto are

Precious Dede, Ibubeleye Whyte, Christy Ohaeriaku, Sandra Chii Chii

Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Josephine Chukwunonye, Ngozi Ebere, Blessing Edoho

Sarah Nnodim, Mariam Ibrahim, Ugo Njoku, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Perpetua Nkwocha, Onyinyechi Ohadugha

Halimat Ayinde, Cecilia Nku, Ngozi Okobi, Esther Sunday, Loveth Ayila, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Desire Oparanozie

Asisat Oshoala, Francisca Ordega, Iniabasi Umotong, Courtney Dike, Evelyn Nwabuoku, and Francesca Ordega.

Easy to drop 5 players from this list. Refreshing that the ladies from Swedish league are omitted. Sarah Michael and Faith Ikidi.
Mariam Ibrahim will replace Ikidi, and I expect the younger Edoho to be dropped. Great to see that the coaches are taking 8 defensive players to Canada. Team balance is important.

This looks like cheap blackmail to me. Mr Henry first said she was caught, and when asked how she can be 'on the run' after being caught red handed, he claimed the court judgement.
The court papers do not refer to the offence.
Looking at the distress on her face, I can tell she was forced to act this film, and be pictured. We should ask Mr. Henry where he got the pix, and if he was the one who took the pictures.

Nigeria is amongst the 5 lowest ranked teams in the WWC. Are we really that poor?

CFCfan:
Meanwhile, Australia defeated Vietnam 4-0 in a recent friendly...

Australia is actually stronger than we estimate. I watched their matches at the last WWC. They beat Equitorial guinea, as well as Norway. They are no pushovers. Except we pick at least a point from the 1st match, things may be tough.

kannymoore:
We Desperately need to start making overtures to Capping that Nigga immediately after this tournament for the Super Eagles!

I've been hearing nothing but good stories about that guy!


Shet!.... I just remembered who our present Super Eagles coach is.

Gaaddemmit! !

The guy is not a Nigerian! It is shameful that we always have to poach average players born abroad, when the homebred ones are better, much better.

Confirmed. Nigeria vs Canada (Closed door match) friendly on May 21st. super falcons are due to travel to Canada tomorrow (Tuesday), get few hours rest, then play Canada (in Toronto) on Thursday.
The match will most likely be the last match for the coaches to decide on the final list. I think final list must be submitted Friday.

CFCfan:
Ikidi may be slower, but I disagree that the Ebere is a weak link at left-back. She's pretty solid.
I see the sense in playing Ikidi at centre-back. Her height (and that of Onome) should keep the 5'11" Abby Wambach in check in aerial duels. And Wambach isn't exactly the quickest centre forward in the women's game.

The USA is not as fearsome as it was many years ago. Sweden is actually the strongest team in our group, and Im happy we play them first.
The starting 11 will def resemble that at the AWC.
I have my reservations about Ikidi's speed. Age is catching up with her, but defenders read games better at old age.
My back 4 will be Njoku, Ohale, Ebi, Ofoegbu
Midfield will be Okobi, Nku, nwabuoku
Forward is pretty fixed: Oshoala, Oparanozie and Esther or Ordega.
Nku starts over Ayinde because we need to get a defensive shape at the start. Against Australia, Ayinde can start ahead of Nku.

Just to put in perspective, last U20 world cup preparation, Nigeria U20 vs Nurnberg U23 ended 1-1.

Buhari should please bring back death sentence for drug pushing. This is a disgrace to this great country.

Happy Birthday to Ini Umotong. Great player.
2013: Saw action in 18 games...made four goals...scored eight total points...21 shots on goal...made one game winning shot.
2012: Named to the Newcomer Team and the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year...20 games played with 15 starts...seven total goals with three against IPFW...two total assists--one each against Denver and IUPUI...47 shots with 27 on goal to lead team...six shots against Green Bay...two game winning goals...2.35 shots per game...seven goals tied for most on team.
Prep: Team's top scorer for four years...played for the Aston Villa LFC in the FA Women's Premier League...posted three goals as team finished 7-5-6 and third in the National Division...invited in 2009 to a national training camp...also holds school record for javelin throw.
Personal: Daughter of Anewok Ben and Grace Umotong...born May 15, 1994...youngest of five children.
https://www.facebook.com/precious.dede.96/videos/830995643664107/?pnref=story

CFCfan:
I agree it's peanuts. But within the context of female football, and indeed female team sports in general, it's a pretty nice paycheck.

Alternatively, each player should earn $6,000 for a win in the round of 16 and quarter finals; $10,000 for a win in the semifinal, and $15,000 for winning the trophy/just appearing in the final.
That's $851,000 for the team + other allowances.

That is more than Blessing Okagbare gets for winning an elite athletics event at a meet. That is a lot of money for women sports.

WOMEN FOOTBALL: Sunday Uchechi Brace Wins It For Minsk BWPL

Nigerian striker Uchechi Sunday Lopez continued her rich vein of form as she grabbed a brace in Minsk's 2-0 win at Bobruichanka on Sunday.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring in the 24h minute before she doubled the lead two minutes before the hour mark.
Uchechi has now netted five goals in two matches in the 2015 Belarus Women Premier League season. She is the top-scorer of the BWPL.
Other Nigerians on the payroll of Minsk are Onome Ebi, Gift Otuwe, Esther Sunday and Ishola Tawa.
(about a month ago).
PS. I just remembered that Uchechi Sunday was at the last WWC. She was the youngest player at 16. She also played some games. Her match vs Canada.