₦airaland Forum

Lovely piece
Icon4 spot on as always

Icon4s:
Group B (Our Group) to me is the most evenly matched group.

Lucky enough we got the easiest of the top seeded Teams (Japan).

My assessment of our chances in that Group:

Let's look at the group from 4 angles:

(1) Nigeria finished 1st in African Qualifiers
Columbia finished 2nd in South America ahead of Uruguay and Brazil who were 3rd and 4th respectively
Sweden finished 1st in Europe (a continent that had Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium in participation)
Japan finished 1st in Asia.

3 continental champions and 1 first Runner-up are in our group. How else can u describe it if nt "group of death".

HOWEVER, experience has shown that performance at the continental stage does nt in MOST cases repeat itself in the world stage. We have seen where teams that finished 3rd and 4th in the continental qualifiers doing far better than teams that finished 1st and 2nd second.

(2) Pedigree: What usually repeat itself more at the world stage is performance due to pedigree.

Now, go back and look at the Teams in our group and assess them based on pedigree at this stage (U20 - U23).

The Teams I fear the most at this stage are Brazil, Argentina and Spain. Other threats: Mexico, Portugal, France, Germany.
None of these guys are in our group. However, Columbia, Japan and Sweden have shown they are no push overs at age grade level.
So based on pedigree, we have a fairly easy group.

(3) How do these countries perform at senior levels? The U23 is a very competitive age grade. Very close to the senior World Cup.
A good number of the U23 players are already senior team players for their various countries. No one needs to tell us where the likes of Columbia, Japan and Sweden belong at senior level. Any day any time they are a tough nut to crack. Senior team performance has a way of rubbing off on the U23 team.


(4) Another way you can look at it is who are likely to make the squads for each team? I know a couple of good individual players from Columbia who are U23. With 3 over-aged playesr we expect to see the likes of James Rodrigues, Quadrado and who knows maybe David Ospina in the team. Some1 mentioned Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make the Swede squad. Then Kagawa and co for Japan. All those inclusions make those teams tougher.

My fears just like every other forumite here is will Siasia select our best U23 players plus 3 well deserving over-aged players?

Imagine Ibrahimovic leading Sweden's attack and Taiwo Awoniyi or Osimhen Leading Nigeria's attack. What will u call that? David Vs Goliath.

Right now as it is, looking at all 4 angles highlighted above it still points to d fact that we are in a very difficult group. I cannot stick my neck to say whether we will qualify from that group or not until I see Siasia's camping programme and list of invited players.


My verdict: WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT GROUP.

Suddenly i'm not too sure about Omeruo's chances anymore

He seemed a sure bet for me before but with the emergence of the Porto boy and Troost-Ekongs new found form it might be hard

Read an insight into the defenders available for RIO here Countdown to Rio : Assembling the Dream II – The Centre Backs http://www.soccerassembly.com/countdown-to-rio-assembling-the-dream-ii-the-centre-backs/

Omeruo says he wants to play at Rio Olympics

Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo has declared his interest to feature for the country at the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil in August

The Chelsea loanee, who has been in superlative form for Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super League, is 22 and eligible to play for coach Samson Siasia-led Dream Team VI.

He also said he wants to end the season on a high with a continental ticket.

"I just want to finish the season as well as possible and try and help Kasimpasa into a European spot. After that we will start thinking about next season. There is also the Olympics which I might be involved in," he told Chelsea official website.

He also rated Turkish league highly after he has featured in the Dutch league and the English Championship.

"I have already played in Holland [for ADO Den Haag] and in the Championship [for Middlesbrough] and it’s a combination of both. It’s relaxed because there is a game a week, especially if you’re not in the cup, so you have a lot of time to train and prepare for the next game which isn’t always the case in England,” he said.

"And the games are always tough. Teams that are struggling are always fighting hard. Every game is difficult but each one comes with improvement."

http://africanfootball.com/news/625166/Omeruo-says-he-wants-to-play-at-Rio-Olympics

Iheanacho, Iwobi and Sheyi Ojo Make Epl list of Top 10 rising youngsters

Iwobi is 2nd behind rashford while Iheancho is 4th

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3535529/Marcus-Rashford-Sheyi-Ojo-teen-talents-tearing-Premier-League-makes-countdown-10-young-stars-break-season.html

Have we ever approached Seyi Ojo ?

The Entire NFF Bruhaha is a big Shame on Nigerian football

Whatever both parties interests the game and its fans should be put 1st

Read an interesting take on it http://www.soccerassembly.com/what-lies-beneath-the-dust

The Entire NFF Bruhaha is a big Shame on Nigerian football

Whatever both parties interests the game and its fans should be put 1st

Read an interesting take on it http://www.soccerassembly.com/what-lies-beneath-the-dust/

http://www.soccerassembly.com/popularside/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21

Examining the Centre Backs eligible for the U23

A profiled examination of our options ahead of the Rio Olympic football tourney
http://www.soccerassembly.com/thedugout/2016/03/07/countdown-to-rio-assembling-the-dream-the-right-backs/

or even Holland Tbaba . . .he holds Dutch citizenship as well

We've been talking about Leon Balogun so much on the U23 Olympic thread. Unless he is taken as 1 of the overaged players he wont be on the team

see this miss by one player (Kingsley Ehizibue ) who should make the team

http://www.soccerassembly.com/popularside/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17

Breaking Siasia Accepts to coach Eagles for Egypt tie !

http://www.soccerassembly.com/popularside/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13&p=20#p20

Talking about Talent available for the Olympics please read this interesting piece

Top 10 Nigerian Footballers Under 20

http://www.soccerassembly.com/popularside/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12

How will Siasia be able to blend Iheanacho and Iwobi together particularly if Iheanacho doesn't play as a striker and how the team that will play the match against brazil will look

http://www.soccerassembly.com/popularside/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10

Hi Bro

I had a similar issue and had it resolved via MTNs twitter handle.

its much better and faster than calling 180.

why not just tweet them on @MTN180. u could send them your phone number.

Lets know if it helps

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