TheGoodJoe:
Sad for Spain's loss especially in such a painful way. They should take it in good faith and move forward. A very tactical masterclass from them today.

Congratulations to France.

Spain remains my tip for the next World Cup.

andrewbaba44:


The Spanish team is so good and confident

TheSuperNerd:


Wild Beasts of CAR 0-2 Super Eagles of Nigeria: Redemption Completed, Revenge Achieved, But the Rohr Virus remains.

Aribo, My MOTM
Osimhen needs to be more clinical in the GWG, gets his 8th goal in 14 caps though.
Ejuke's a game changer and Highly Creative Magician.
Awaziem's long range passing Vision on show again.
Balogun was a Mission and achieved it. MOTM contender but Aribo edges for me.
Oyibo Wall gets their redemption.
Rohr Virus suppressed today by the Anti-retrovirals - ARTs (Today the ART was The Raised Performance level of the lads).


First of all, I wanna say Congratulations (not a Big one bcoz we ought to be dispatching teams like CAR anytime, anyday) on our well deserved Victory.
A Victory that restores Order in the WCQ group and on the continent. Power is not changing hands.... the CAR win in lagos was a huge flux for CAR but was also a reminder of the depth of Rohr's tactical deficiencies.




Joe Aribo, My MOTM

MOTM performance in my books. There was no one better. His best game in a good while in the GWG. A far cry from his soulless display 3 days ago.
This is the Aribo I wanna see constantly in the Super Eagles, yet his performance could be even better than we saw. Yes, He is that talented.

He is still not the Genuine Playmaker I seek as there were moments where I felt he could have taken a more forward passing or forward driven decision rather than hold on to the ball or look to go sideways but you will be untruthful if you don't admit that he really stepped up to the plate today. Really grew into control of the middle of as the game matured.

He started the game a bit slowly but he indeed had a big hand in creating the freekick chance that Iheanacho should have done better from.

It was an Aribo lines-breaking pass (yes, he delivered that today) to the feet of Osimhen who held up the ball well and turned to draw the foul that created our first real chance of the game. After that, Aribo faded for a while but he came back stronger towards the end of the first half.

His midfield influence became more apparent towards the final 15 mins of the first half. He was winning aerial battles effortlessly and really throwing himself into duels in a bid to win the ball back and drive forward.

His industry paid off as he was on hand to pick up the loose ball from a freekick which he instantly fed into Ekong's path who centred well for Osimhen to finish emphatically! That was an Aribo Pre-assist. His decision making in that instant was vital to seeing us take the game further away from the CARians.

He took it up a good notch in the second half with his passing and quick decision making in certain instances of play. One of such saw him brilliantly set up Osimhen with a ball over the top of the defence. We should be talking about an Aribo assist had Osimhen decided against using his weaker foot to execute that chance.

Aribo's workrate was obviously on show and he contributed to Defensive phases when needed. Not like we needed to defend much anyway. We were hardly troubled by the CAR attack and Midfield.
T'was a complete Dominant performance and a strong part of such was down to the Massively improved display and Quality of Joseph Ayodele Aribo and his improved synergy with Frank Onyeka.

The duo worked tirelessly to control the middle game.

Give the man his thumbs-up and props. He deserves it today.

Do we still need midfield reinforcements? Oh yes we still do. The perfection of Midfield balance is still needed.

But Aribo was the man today. Played like a true Midfield lieutenant. Hopefully he keeps this up and lives up to a good measure of the Weight of expectations that normally accompanies the Nigerian #10 Jersey.



Victor Osimhen

Worked hard, pressed hard, was frustrated a bit in the early parts of the first half due to little service but he eventually bagged the goal he sought to cement our victory.

He should have had a second had he been a bit calmer to make a better decision on which foot to use. He had all the time in the world to change weight and use his right foot to side-foot home his brace (which would have thrown more light on the brilliant Aribo pass over the top to set that up. It would counted a truly brilliant Aribo Assist as well) but somehow, he just squandered.

I almost broke my screen. Lol... for real, I screamed, "Victoorrrrrrrrr!!!! Why??!!!"

Unlike the Monster Machine to miss from there but I hope he listens to whatever it was that Iheanacho told him after that chance wasted.

Iheanacho ran over to Osimhen immediately after that goal line clearance by the CAR defender, held his hands on Osimhen's chest and muttered some words of calm and encouragement.

Osimhen will do well to pick up whatever Nacho told him in addition to his own retrospection because Iheanacho himself is unarguably the best/deadliest finisher of chances among Nigerian footballers in world football today.

He was also set up by Ejuke's beautiful piece of mesmerising play through the middle which saw him beat about 3 players before feeding Osimhen. Osimhen should have at least shot on target. His shooting still needs work no doubt as he allowed the inconsistent supply of service kinda get to him but he's gonna get there.

He remains the Monster Machine and worked hard as usual for the team. Even had a clearance to his name from a CAR corner.

In all, A strong shift from the Super Eagles First Choice Number 9 who now has 14 goals Involvement in 14 caps (8 goals + 6 assists).



The Oyibo Wall (Balogun and Ekong)

Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong were much better today alongside Chidozie Collins Awaziem in a 3 man Defensive set-up.


Leon

Balogun in particular had a really fantastic game. He was a man on a mission. A mission to right his wrong done in Lagos 3 days earlier. It was a performance worthy of Total redemption indeed.

Fearless getting forward, much quicker in his reactions, carried the ball forward imperiosily when needed and one of such forward drives won the freekick from which we created the chance that got us our second goal.

His decision to also linger in the box with us still in possession after a ball from a setpiece got initially repelled paid off. He finished brilliantly with the touch of an experienced forward.

Ekong

Ekong put no foot wrong today as well. Marvellous in the center of the back three. Communicated superbly with Balogun and Awaziem.

Was on hand to cover up for a late Bonke Innocent slip-up which would have been dangerous and seen our lead halved. Ekong effortlessly killed off the danger with fantastic recovery for his teammate.

Bagged an assist today off an intelligent pre-assist pass by Aribo.

Solid in all aspects of the game today. And was also decent getting into forward positions.



Summary:

The Oyibo Wall redeemed themselves so much today that they had a hand in the two goals scored. 1 goal + 1 assist. A fantastic day for the famed Oyibo Wall.



Chidozie Collins Awaziem

A masterful display on the right side of the team's 3 man defence today. Always in control of his area and it is no longer a hidden fact that he is indeed the best long ball passer across the entire backline of the team defence.
No one on the team sends it long best like Eagle-eyed Awaziem.

He has a knack for this. Earlier in the season while he still balled for Boavista, he showed us all his fantastic ability to spot a run from deep or from afar off to deliver brilliant accurately timed and weighted long ball passes.

Even against Lesotho away from home, he showed this ability to quickly capitalise on passing gaps that can be exploited via long aerial balls when he found Osimhen from the right. A long pass Osimhen controlled to feed Chukwueze who converted with aplomb.



Frank Onyeka

Delivers another really Solid and Calm display at the base of the Super Eagles Midfield. That's the second game in a row as DM he has done this.

Today, he won most of his duels, tackled and intercepted as expected and gave the CAR Midfield very little time on the ball.
Also picked his short passes right. Was never in a rush to play. An epitome of Calm and Firm today in the middle.

Ladies and gentlemen, like I had always envisaged before the lad's debut for the team, in Frank Onyeka we have Ndidi's genuine cover.

Onyeka is better served as our DM in the absence or unavailability of Ndidi. A good option off the bench or from the start in the DM position.



Chidera Ejuke

22 mins+ of action off the bench yet he completed about 15 purposeful dribbles that led to a shot on target, a shot blocked and a fine chance created for Osimhen which was wasted.

Those who criticise that moment he had skipped past about 3 players with Osimhen to his right, saying he could have passed the ball do not observe well.

Firstly, Osimhen was in an offside position and only got back onside with Ejuke already closed in upon by two more markers which resulted in a shot that was blocked away and deflected off his head for a goal kick.

Secondly, Ejuke could also have been using Osimhen as a beautiful decoy to go for goal himself. Intelligent Wingers do that often.

So Ejuke was in no wrong to go it alone in that very moment. Even Osimhen applauded his daring effort.

Ejuke's press resistance quality was also on show today as he was literally unstoppable when he held the ball. It was just difficult getting the ball off him.

Commanding, creative and Dazzling showing from the Wing Wizard of Moscow.


Kelechi Iheanacho

To be honest, did little while on the pitch but did have a go from an early freekick won by Osimhen.
Tried to connect forward passes to Osimhen and the Wing men a few times but it didn't exactly come off.

Played a lot deeper into the middle as well so he could not exactly exert much influence.

Definitely has had much better days in the GWG than today's showing. A quiet shift from the Seniorman.



Ahmed Musa

Finally got his 100th cap officially in the GWG. Offered some hope rays in the early stages of the first half especially with that beautifully weighted pass from deep into the right wing that found Moses Simon setting him on the move into a dangerous position to square for Osimhen.
The Squared pass didn't come off eventually as the CAR LB caught up with Simon and blocked it off for a corner.

Involved in a few passing moves in the middle and attempted build up plays but generally capped a quiet shift as well.



Moses Simon

A display that saw him come in and out of the game in terms of influence from his right wingback role. One minute, he is causing a few problems down the wings but another minute, he is probably nowhere to be found.
Some of our fine passing buildup plays ended at his feet as he was easily marked out by more than two CAR players at some moments he get the ball.

He did connected beautifully though in the early stages with a Musa diagonal pass from deep but probably should have done better getting that cross in for the waiting Osimhen.

Like already said, he was in and out of the game. Mixed showing in terms of game presence.

Not as quiet as Nacho and Musa were but also not as influential.

A decent shift overall.



Jamilu Collins

Decent in his position. Didn't have much to do in Defensive phases as we rendered CAR useless in their attacking phases. We didn't offer them much time or chance on the ball.
Collins did just enough to keep our defensive shape when we attacked.

A decent shift from the Fullback playing Wingback today.



Kenneth Omeruo (Sub in):

Came in for the highly Impressive Leon Balogun who left the pitch with a knock and did enough in his 15mins + 3mins added time of action to see off the game and secure the result.




Bonke Innocent (Sub in):

Came on for a Quiet Kelechi Iheanacho to lock up shop for good and help secure the final result.

He did have one or two moments of major duel action though. He stepped hard into a tackle after seeing the manner in which his Midfield comrade, Onyeka was taken down.
In that moment, Bonke did show his man marking/destroying quality as he did vs Cape Verde.

Gave away the ball at a point late into the game (87-88 mins) when he miscontrolled a pass but Ekong did well to cover for his mistake.



Maduka Okoye (GK)

The Sparta man returned between the sticks and bagged a cleansheet. Was virtually on holidays. Was not tested at all as we were in complete control and the Super Eagles were determined not to be caught out or undone by any sneaky CAR attacking move.







Inference:

In Conclusion, we only truly began penetrating the CAR defence after the first goal by Balogun on 29 mins off the ingenious long ball of Awaziem.

We had little to no creative breakthroughs before our first goal.

Aribo, although didn't deliver the expected Genuine Playmaker performance, he still gave us good enough control in the middle (alongside Onyeka's calm, composed, and solid display at DM) with his passing recycling, workrate, strength in ground & aerial duels and quick thinking in two key moments of the game that got us the second goal and would have gotten us the third.
A strong showing in all by the lad in Jersey #10. He really stepped up in key moments when needed and gave us presence in the middle game.

Long balls were still our best ways of cracking CAR today and it paid off. Every other chance we got was due to CAR trying to push a little forward in search of an Equaliser which was never gonna come anyway.

The long balls didn't work in the first game because they kept things really compact, were tactically alert and rendered the attempts useless. They came prepared and we also didn't have our best long ball passer on show in Awaziem.

Awaziem was just too good in Douala today, completed most of his long ball passes and his knack for spotting runs and passing gaps with his long range vision and quick thinking is something folks here need to give him more credit for often. A brilliant player, he is. Underrated by many.


We still didn't create much through the middle but we did just enough and had moments of penetrative attacking phases most especially via:

1. Aribo's absolutely delightful over-the-top pass to Osimhen which was squandered.

2. Musa's diagonal over-the-top pass to Moses Simon in the first half which opened up the CAR defence for a while before they recovered to kill the chance of a Simon Centre into Osimhen's path.

3. And Ejuke's penetrative dribbling runs through the middle and flanks of the CAR defence like a Knife through butter. One of such through the middle set up Osimhen nicely which was not duly utilised.



The players got the job done in the end, and we must understand that this team can do much better than they showed over these two legs.

Yes we won but CAR is not on the level of Egypt, Ghana or Guinea and these teams aren't even among the best 5 teams in Africa today. We have to be better. Rohr's tactical limitations remain. It's a virus we live with for now.

Going forward, let's see how much that "Virus" stays suppressed or rears its head again.

Another international window await us in November.

Back to Club Football.

forgiveness:


At 22 Ighalo was already a legend in Granada and was playing in Laliga.

TheSuperNerd:


Wild Beasts of CAR 0-2 Super Eagles of Nigeria: Redemption Completed, Revenge Achieved, But the Rohr Virus remains.

Aribo, My MOTM
Osimhen needs to be more clinical in the GWG, gets his 8th goal in 14 caps though.
Ejuke's a game changer and Highly Creative Magician.
Awaziem's long range passing Vision on show again.
Balogun was a Mission and achieved it. MOTM contender but Aribo edges for me.
Oyibo Wall gets their redemption.
Rohr Virus suppressed today by the Anti-retrovirals - ARTs (Today the ART was The Raised Performance level of the lads).


First of all, I wanna say Congratulations (not a Big one bcoz we ought to be dispatching teams like CAR anytime, anyday) on our well deserved Victory.
A Victory that restores Order in the WCQ group and on the continent. Power is not changing hands.... the CAR win in lagos was a huge flux for CAR but was also a reminder of the depth of Rohr's tactical deficiencies.




Joe Aribo, My MOTM

MOTM performance in my books. There was no one better. His best game in a good while in the GWG. A far cry from his soulless display 3 days ago.
This is the Aribo I wanna see constantly in the Super Eagles, yet his performance could be even better than we saw. Yes, He is that talented.

He is still not the Genuine Playmaker I seek as there were moments where I felt he could have taken a more forward passing or forward driven decision rather than hold on to the ball or look to go sideways but you will be untruthful if you don't admit that he really stepped up to the plate today. Really grew into control of the middle of as the game matured.

He started the game a bit slowly but he indeed had a big hand in creating the freekick chance that Iheanacho should have done better from.

It was an Aribo lines-breaking pass (yes, he delivered that today) to the feet of Osimhen who held up the ball well and turned to draw the foul that created our first real chance of the game. After that, Aribo faded for a while but he came back stronger towards the end of the first half.

His midfield influence became more apparent towards the final 15 mins of the first half. He was winning aerial battles effortlessly and really throwing himself into duels in a bid to win the ball back and drive forward.

His industry paid off as he was on hand to pick up the loose ball from a freekick which he instantly fed into Ekong's path who centred well for Osimhen to finish emphatically! That was an Aribo Pre-assist. His decision making in that instant was vital to seeing us take the game further away from the CARians.

He took it up a good notch in the second half with his passing and quick decision making in certain instances of play. One of such saw him brilliantly set up Osimhen with a ball over the top of the defence. We should be talking about an Aribo assist had Osimhen decided against using his weaker foot to execute that chance.

Aribo's workrate was obviously on show and he contributed to Defensive phases when needed. Not like we needed to defend much anyway. We were hardly troubled by the CAR attack and Midfield.
T'was a complete Dominant performance and a strong part of such was down to the Massively improved display and Quality of Joseph Ayodele Aribo and his improved synergy with Frank Onyeka.

The duo worked tirelessly to control the middle game.

Give the man his thumbs-up and props. He deserves it today.

Do we still need midfield reinforcements? Oh yes we still do. The perfection of Midfield balance is still needed.

But Aribo was the man today. Played like a true Midfield lieutenant. Hopefully he keeps this up and lives up to a good measure of the Weight of expectations that normally accompanies the Nigerian #10 Jersey.



Victor Osimhen

Worked hard, pressed hard, was frustrated a bit in the early parts of the first half due to little service but he eventually bagged the goal he sought to cement our victory.

He should have had a second had he been a bit calmer to make a better decision on which foot to use. He had all the time in the world to change weight and use his right foot to side-foot home his brace (which would have thrown more light on the brilliant Aribo pass over the top to set that up. It would counted a truly brilliant Aribo Assist as well) but somehow, he just squandered.

I almost broke my screen. Lol... for real, I screamed, "Victoorrrrrrrrr!!!! Why??!!!"

Unlike the Monster Machine to miss from there but I hope he listens to whatever it was that Iheanacho told him after that chance wasted.

Iheanacho ran over to Osimhen immediately after that goal line clearance by the CAR defender, held his hands on Osimhen's chest and muttered some words of calm and encouragement.

Osimhen will do well to pick up whatever Nacho told him in addition to his own retrospection because Iheanacho himself is unarguably the best/deadliest finisher of chances among Nigerian footballers in world football today.

He was also set up by Ejuke's beautiful piece of mesmerising play through the middle which saw him beat about 3 players before feeding Osimhen. Osimhen should have at least shot on target. His shooting still needs work no doubt as he allowed the inconsistent supply of service kinda get to him but he's gonna get there.

He remains the Monster Machine and worked hard as usual for the team. Even had a clearance to his name from a CAR corner.

In all, A strong shift from the Super Eagles First Choice Number 9 who now has 14 goals Involvement in 14 caps (8 goals + 6 assists).



The Oyibo Wall (Balogun and Ekong)

Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong were much better today alongside Chidozie Collins Awaziem in a 3 man Defensive set-up.


Leon

Balogun in particular had a really fantastic game. He was a man on a mission. A mission to right his wrong done in Lagos 3 days earlier. It was a performance worthy of Total redemption indeed.

Fearless getting forward, much quicker in his reactions, carried the ball forward imperiosily when needed and one of such forward drives won the freekick from which we created the chance that got us our second goal.

His decision to also linger in the box with us still in possession after a ball from a setpiece got initially repelled paid off. He finished brilliantly with the touch of an experienced forward.

Ekong

Ekong put no foot wrong today as well. Marvellous in the center of the back three. Communicated superbly with Balogun and Awaziem.

Was on hand to cover up for a late Bonke Innocent slip-up which would have been dangerous and seen our lead halved. Ekong effortlessly killed off the danger with fantastic recovery for his teammate.

Bagged an assist today off an intelligent pre-assist pass by Aribo.

Solid in all aspects of the game today. And was also decent getting into forward positions.



Summary:

The Oyibo Wall redeemed themselves so much today that they had a hand in the two goals scored. 1 goal + 1 assist. A fantastic day for the famed Oyibo Wall.



Chidozie Collins Awaziem

A masterful display on the right side of the team's 3 man defence today. Always in control of his area and it is no longer a hidden fact that he is indeed the best long ball passer across the entire backline of the team defence.
No one on the team sends it long best like Eagle-eyed Awaziem.

He has a knack for this. Earlier in the season while he still balled for Boavista, he showed us all his fantastic ability to spot a run from deep or from afar off to deliver brilliant accurately timed and weighted long ball passes.

Even against Lesotho away from home, he showed this ability to quickly capitalise on passing gaps that can be exploited via long aerial balls when he found Osimhen from the right. A long pass Osimhen controlled to feed Chukwueze who converted with aplomb.



Frank Onyeka

Delivers another really Solid and Calm display at the base of the Super Eagles Midfield. That's the second game in a row as DM he has done this.

Today, he won most of his duels, tackled and intercepted as expected and gave the CAR Midfield very little time on the ball.
Also picked his short passes right. Was never in a rush to play. An epitome of Calm and Firm today in the middle.

Ladies and gentlemen, like I had always envisaged before the lad's debut for the team, in Frank Onyeka we have Ndidi's genuine cover.

Onyeka is better served as our DM in the absence or unavailability of Ndidi. A good option off the bench or from the start in the DM position.



Chidera Ejuke

22 mins+ of action off the bench yet he completed about 15 purposeful dribbles that led to a shot on target, a shot blocked and a fine chance created for Osimhen which was wasted.

Those who criticise that moment he had skipped past about 3 players with Osimhen to his right, saying he could have passed the ball do not observe well.

Firstly, Osimhen was in an offside position and only got back onside with Ejuke already closed in upon by two more markers which resulted in a shot that was blocked away and deflected off his head for a goal kick.

Secondly, Ejuke could also have been using Osimhen as a beautiful decoy to go for goal himself. Intelligent Wingers do that often.

So Ejuke was in no wrong to go it alone in that very moment. Even Osimhen applauded his daring effort.

Ejuke's press resistance quality was also on show today as he was literally unstoppable when he held the ball. It was just difficult getting the ball off him.

Commanding, creative and Dazzling showing from the Wing Wizard of Moscow.


Kelechi Iheanacho

To be honest, did little while on the pitch but did have a go from an early freekick won by Osimhen.
Tried to connect forward passes to Osimhen and the Wing men a few times but it didn't exactly come off.

Played a lot deeper into the middle as well so he could not exactly exert much influence.

Definitely has had much better days in the GWG than today's showing. A quiet shift from the Seniorman.



Ahmed Musa

Finally got his 100th cap officially in the GWG. Offered some hope rays in the early stages of the first half especially with that beautifully weighted pass from deep into the right wing that found Moses Simon setting him on the move into a dangerous position to square for Osimhen.
The Squared pass didn't come off eventually as the CAR LB caught up with Simon and blocked it off for a corner.

Involved in a few passing moves in the middle and attempted build up plays but generally capped a quiet shift as well.



Moses Simon

A display that saw him come in and out of the game in terms of influence from his right wingback role. One minute, he is causing a few problems down the wings but another minute, he is probably nowhere to be found.
Some of our fine passing buildup plays ended at his feet as he was easily marked out by more than two CAR players at some moments he get the ball.

He did connected beautifully though in the early stages with a Musa diagonal pass from deep but probably should have done better getting that cross in for the waiting Osimhen.

Like already said, he was in and out of the game. Mixed showing in terms of game presence.

Not as quiet as Nacho and Musa were but also not as influential.

A decent shift overall.



Jamilu Collins

Decent in his position. Didn't have much to do in Defensive phases as we rendered CAR useless in their attacking phases. We didn't offer them much time or chance on the ball.
Collins did just enough to keep our defensive shape when we attacked.

A decent shift from the Fullback playing Wingback today.



Kenneth Omeruo (Sub in):

Came in for the highly Impressive Leon Balogun who left the pitch with a knock and did enough in his 15mins + 3mins added time of action to see off the game and secure the result.




Bonke Innocent (Sub in):

Came on for a Quiet Kelechi Iheanacho to lock up shop for good and help secure the final result.

He did have one or two moments of major duel action though. He stepped hard into a tackle after seeing the manner in which his Midfield comrade, Onyeka was taken down.
In that moment, Bonke did show his man marking/destroying quality as he did vs Cape Verde.

Gave away the ball at a point late into the game (87-88 mins) when he miscontrolled a pass but Ekong did well to cover for his mistake.



Maduka Okoye (GK)

The Sparta man returned between the sticks and bagged a cleansheet. Was virtually on holidays. Was not tested at all as we were in complete control and the Super Eagles were determined not to be caught out or undone by any sneaky CAR attacking move.







Inference:

In Conclusion, we only truly began penetrating the CAR defence after the first goal by Balogun on 29 mins off the ingenious long ball of Awaziem.

We had little to no creative breakthroughs before our first goal.

Aribo, although didn't deliver the expected Genuine Playmaker performance, he still gave us good enough control in the middle (alongside Onyeka's calm, composed, and solid display at DM) with his passing recycling, workrate, strength in ground & aerial duels and quick thinking in two key moments of the game that got us the second goal and would have gotten us the third.
A strong showing in all by the lad in Jersey #10. He really stepped up in key moments when needed and gave us presence in the middle game.

Long balls were still our best ways of cracking CAR today and it paid off. Every other chance we got was due to CAR trying to push a little forward in search of an Equaliser which was never gonna come anyway.

The long balls didn't work in the first game because they kept things really compact, were tactically alert and rendered the attempts useless. They came prepared and we also didn't have our best long ball passer on show in Awaziem.

Awaziem was just too good in Douala today, completed most of his long ball passes and his knack for spotting runs and passing gaps with his long range vision and quick thinking is something folks here need to give him more credit for often. A brilliant player, he is. Underrated by many.


We still didn't create much through the middle but we did just enough and had moments of penetrative attacking phases most especially via:

1. Aribo's absolutely delightful over-the-top pass to Osimhen which was squandered.

2. Musa's diagonal over-the-top pass to Moses Simon in the first half which opened up the CAR defence for a while before they recovered to kill the chance of a Simon Centre into Osimhen's path.

3. And Ejuke's penetrative dribbling runs through the middle and flanks of the CAR defence like a Knife through butter. One of such through the middle set up Osimhen nicely which was not duly utilised.



The players got the job done in the end, and we must understand that this team can do much better than they showed over these two legs.

Yes we won but CAR is not on the level of Egypt, Ghana or Guinea and these teams aren't even among the best 5 teams in Africa today. We have to be better. Rohr's tactical limitations remain. It's a virus we live with for now.

Going forward, let's see how much that "Virus" stays suppressed or rears its head again.

Another international window await us in November.

Back to Club Football.

Sportilitica:

Dead this matter.
Stop pitching players against each other

Abusule007:

The kind of players we have and the way we play when called for national duties is different from how our players play for their respective clubs. It obvious the team is poorly coached. Even smaller countries now that are supposed to be afraid of the name NIGERIA are now confident they can get something out from playing with us.

The way Algeria is destroying countries currently with goals, any country they're to play against presently, they already have upper hand against such countries because those countries will be afraid of them by default, confidence level would be low.

Here in Nigeria our coach have ridiculed our national team. Even me here is currently thinking that my estate boys here can hold their ground against Super Eagles coached by Rohr.

As things are presently it's better they're even coached by the captain Ahmed Musa.

Rohr dey vex me but Pinnick dey vex me more because he knows the coach is no more in the good book of we the fans of the super eagles but they don't want to fire him.

BARAJ92:
What did this same Algeria play against Burkina Faso

COOL10:
To those clamouring for Ejuke to be our new NO 10, know this : The worst kind of AM any striker would wish to have is one who doesn't know when to release the ball. Efficiency over dribbles any day, any time.

codemaniacs:


Is that how he plays at club level Because chukwueze and some other players also do dribbles when in S.E they will never attempt at club level...

TheGoodJoe:
Either way, I saw improvement in the team play.

TheGoodJoe:
The problem has to do with decision making. The midfield and defenders should not pass to a player tightly marked. Most times the ball came to Simon, they were two to three players close to him. At that instance, switching play is better than passing to him.

Also, Simon needs to watch. When in tight positions, quick decision making to return the ball is important. Holding the ball only should be done when in space, which gives you more time to make decisions.

Same with the other players. Keep watching for free spots when not with ball to promote quick decision making. When the ball gets to players in space, that is when you can calculate how to get the ball to offensive players in threatening positions.

COOL10:
To those clamouring for Ejuke to be our new NO 10, know this : The worst kind of AM any striker would wish to have is one who doesn't know when to release the ball. Efficiency over dribbles any day, any time.

PDPGuy:
Four points from the next two games will guarantee advancement to the playoffs.

TheGoodJoe:


I agree but we can use him the way Tuchel uses Mount. With a little training on releasing the ball earlier and utilizing his pace to run to space, he can become a brilliant, what I term, Offensive midfielder.

You will notice it when Bernado Silva plays in the midfield. Although Bernado is on another level of football.

Ppogbae:
CAF World Cup Qualifying Update:

With today's loss to Cape Verde, Liberia are officially eliminated from WCQ.

kentebemoney:

The change in formation today shows the old man reads games.
Fact is that the loss to CAR dey happen for football

AndSunGorilla:

You know when all those minnows face Nigeria, that's when their bones become strong. I would honestly prefer the Liberia game at a neutral venue instead of going to Liberia to play the game. The Cape Verde 2nd leg would be interesting for sure with a lot at stake for both sides.

TheGoodJoe:


The way the Spanish players hold onto the ball when players are pressing them is mind-blowing. They have so mastered the art of keeping the ball.

They are really brilliant.

Ppogbae:


Thanks for the clarification. Better than nothing I guess, right??

BARAJ92:
What did this same Algeria play against Burkina Faso

PDPGuy:
Four points from the next two games will guarantee advancement to the playoffs.

minfelix:



Haba bros, Burkina Faso is a top African team na....no be 1-0 we struggle beat them for Afcon final?, Algeria self knows team they can humiliate na... Algeria cant mesmerize some decent west African teams like Mali ,b/Faso, Benin

Subzero047:


Mali is not a decent African team, Mali is a top African team