₦airaland Forum

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.

CFCfan:
The NFF have promised to pay each the team $50,000; $100,000; and $250,000 if they reach the quarter finals, semifinals and final respectively.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/182928-world-cup-nigeria-promises-falcons-250000-if-they-play-finals.html

This is massive! Believe me, this can do wonders.

This picture makes me remember that clown called Ayedee. making up imaginary things in the run up to elections. He managed to make money off gullible GEJ and PDP sha.

Forget mathematical Segun Odegbami. We now have Physics Awoniyi.

“I have six A's, two B's and a C at O-levels. My best result was in physics. I hope at some point in my life I will major in mechanical engineering.”

Unusual words to read on a football site, but Nigeria's Taiwo Awoniyi is a special young player. Stereotypically, footballers are not considered to be particularly academically inclined, focusing on the pursuit of a sporting dream rather than scholarly achievements. Awoniyi is trying to juggle both, and it seems probable that his studies will have to be placed on the back burner as his footballing career is likely to take off.

Although still a few months short of his 18th birthday, Awoniyi is already a world champion - having played in all seven games as Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 - and this year he helped the Nigerians to a continental title at the CAF U-20 Championship. Later this month, he will be in New Zealand as a member of the Flying Eagles squad that is hoping to win a first-ever global title at this age group for the west African country.

Good performances at every step of the way have put him on the radar of a number of big clubs, both in Europe and north Africa, but it is not something that he is focused on at the moment. “I am focusing on the task ahead," he said. "I’m still a free player, but I hope my future will be decided before the World Cup.”

High expectations
Awoniyi started playing at school before joining the United Academy in Kwara State. He later moved to Imperial Soccer Academy and thereafter joined the Nigeria U-15, then U-17 and now the U-20 team, with whom he will be playing at the World Cup. “With the preparations we have put in, we want to be world champions in New Zealand. Every game will be a cup final for us,” he says.

The Flying Eagles have been drawn into a tough group with five-time champions Brazil, Hungary and Korea DPR. Awoniyi said the players did not know much about the teams they would be facing. “We are yet to watch any videos of our opponents, but our coaches have concentrated fully on preparing us for whatever challenges we will come across. We are ready.”

Surprisingly, the striker, who is considered a predator with an eye for goal, says that their greatest strength is not what they are capable of on the field. “Our biggest strength is outside the pitch of play. It is the unity among the players. We are a big, happy family. On a personal level, scoring goals comes naturally to me. I also hold the ball up-front and try and bring my team-mates into the attack. I play for the team as well.”

Nigeria has won the FIFA U-17 World Cup more often than any other country (four times), but has fallen short at the U-20 level, twice losing the final and once finishing third. “I think that is because we need continuity in the various national teams," said Awoniyi. "I believe if there is continuity, as is the case with us now, from U-17s to U-20s, we can change all that. We are very hopeful that we will be able to change it this year.”

Winning the U-17 World Cup has been the highlight of Awoniyi's career thus far. “It changed the lives of most of us, many got clubs abroad and changed the lives of our families. I was able to build a house for myself, like most of the other players in the team.”

Awoniyi is, of course, hoping for another life-changing experience in New Zealand, but failing there is not something which worries him greatly. “Football is unpredictable. We are African champions and we want to prove ourselves again at the World Cup. I don’t want to think of failure in New Zealand because I believe in this team.”
Source: http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/news/y=2015/m=5/news=friday-nigerian-group-go-for-daring-double-2602976.html

BascoVanVeli:
Yo why is this tourney starting the same time as the under 20 it takes the spotlight off of the women they should have at least made it July august

FIFA is run by a man closer to his grave than to the future.

Who are the star players expected to show their talents at this U20? The stand out names? apart from Nigerian players offcourse.
The brazil list is here. Mostly homebased, as expected.

See the difference in handshake between the two people.

If you want to know a leader, check their handshakes. GMB's handshakes have always been either on top or at par. This was a serious visible exposure of GEJ as a whimp, who had no weight in the international community. He will shake hands like a houseboy, slouch when standing, hands behind his back when listening,etc.
Im just happy Buhari is putting respect back to the name Nigeria.

This NFF is shaming itself. Plenty teams will jump at playing Nigeria. This doesnt really bother me though. Playing U23 men is enough physical test for the ladies. Ghana and Cameroon however offer no technical add up.

It has gotten to that stage where I am comfy with any player dropped. Manu Garba has proved over and over again to pick his team based on merit. For the fact that we're not with them in camp, we do not know the most in form players. What I just want is to have a TEAM that is going to beat the world.
The success of this team has always being in taking their chances and attacking space, not individual qualities per se.

dodobytes:
Esther Sunday may likely be included in d final squad.But her place on d bench is reserved.No chance in hell she will be starting ahead of d likes of Ordega n Umotong.

I personally feel in d interest of the team,Esther Sunday shld b dropped,we have better quality options.Much has been said already on this issue.

With concerns about our central defence,it is good to know dat we have Faith Ikidi to give Onome n Ohale a run for their money.

In other news ahead of d world cup I read dat a psychologist has been employed for d team.Good move by NFF,now let's get top friendly games for d girls.

You underestimate Esther Sunday a lot. Umotong is new, and believe me, Sunday is much better than her. Ordega was being benched for Sunday at the start of the AWC.
As for Ikidi, I believe she will make the team, though Ohale will most likely not be in the starting 11.

CFCfan:
I've always thought that Okon's decision to field Whyte over the past few months was only to give her some competitive experience, albeit against weaker African teams.
There were lots of occasions when she fumbled set-pieces which would have been punished by superior technical opposition.
I won't be surprised if Dede starts at the WC. Her relative calmness in goal and experience will be handy at the tourney.

Dede is miles ahead of Whyte in terms of calmness and even agility. Whyte cannot read the game properly.
Also agree that Okon is tactically poor. He has only one plan, and sticks to that for 90 minutes. Against Sweden, our girls will play with heart and zero tactical input from the bench.

Awoniyi is a brilliant striker. I watched him against Congo and he was superb. his greatest asset is that defenders do underate him. Now na to begin beg NEPA for light for Naija vs Brazil. Generator is banned in my area after midnight.

TheGoodJoe:
It seems German clubs have U23 sides. Probably the B teams of the Club.

Good then. I can imagine an U23 team being the B team then. Maybe players returning from injury from the first team, and their U21 graduates.

Just a side-note. There are no U23 teams in Hoffeinheim. I dont think any European club will have U23 teams too. They usually stop at U21.
Is Manu's team playing team B of Hoff? If so, that is a bigger test than their youth team (U19).

tbaba1234:
Some people will cry on friday..

Pyabara, Sokari surely. Wasiu maybe.

Simon Moses confirmed to be in the 21-man squad, without spending a day in camp. Shows how good he is really. Bu--ff--aa-llo they call him. I watch his youtube highlights anytime I feel like hyping myself for our U20.

Another lame university. What is this nonsense?

Esther Sunday will surely make the team, and she will be in the starting line up most times. I dont know what the fuss is about Ihezuo. Apart from her energy, she's pretty average as a striker.
The front 3 will almost always be Esther or Ordega, Oparanozie and oshoala.
Goalkeeper? Dede anyday over Whyte. Faith Ikidi should also be in the starting line up. She's the best defender in Swedish league. Same as Sarah Micheal, though she hasnt played for Nigeria in a long time
watch the final of the AWC and I believe the starting 11 is close to this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX2GpmZ7Rt0

For a lady, your cooking is average. I score you 5 out of 10. Your amala making skill is non existent. the economy can be blamed for your watery soup. That volume of soup for 5 slices of fish, economy ba wa.