I don’t think we need to disband the team, some players need to be phased out, yes, but the biggest place we have to plug is the midfield.

You’ll notice with AFCON, being that its a biennial competition, nations tend to have a 4-6 year period where they make b2b finals / have deep runs in the tournament.

We had a successful tournament, loss in the final aside. We have to build on it.

Look at Senegal. Runner up in 2019, winner in 2021.

2025 AFCON is in 18 months. We just need to start integrating the next generation of midfielders and defenders.

Mujtahida:

We don lose na. You don win. Carry your trophy

Asin how na? You think it's easy enduring this loss? Abi you think you're more Nigerian than me?

Mujtahida:

You are the one allowing your bias against Iwobi making you sentimental. First question: is that the role he's suited for? You saddle him with defensive duties and expect to get the best of him. Make una free the boy jare

Nigerians have bandwagon mentality.

One or two persons loudly shout that Iwobi is woeful, and then everybody else will start looking out for his bad play to attack him.

Na soft target.

I already knew the names you would name drop.

Now there were exceptions like Okocha who played for PSG. But after PSG, he went downhill... No top club wanted him. He had to settle for Bolton wanderers even in England.

Yaya Toure wasn't a Highly technical midfield player. He was an enforcer. A physical specimen who dominated plays with his power drives and physicality. He also packed very powerful precise shots. Yaya was more of a smart brawn. But he was no high cerebral.



Seydou Keita too was more workrate and physical than brains.

And yes ofcos, Our own John Mikel Obi was brains but was not picked for Chelsea because of his brains. He was rather used for his physicality and big build in a defensive role. This is why Mourinho had him converted from CAM to CDM. because of his physical stature.


The names you reeled out has proven my point with the exception of Okocha.

Physicality was the major reason they thrived for those top clubs.

forgiveness:


Were Yaya Toure, Seydou Keita, Okocha, Mikel Obi etc all brawn no brain?

Because all these played in top clubs.

Mujtahida:

We don lose na. You don win. Carry your trophy

Why do some of you think whoever criticises the team automatically hates the team? This is like the thinking of a douche bag kid in some expensive private school. Good lord!

safarigirl:


Then change your top striker now, abi?

Let's change the entire team, Ekong and Nwabali rose to the occasion, the team still failed, Haller was the sole game changer for Ivory Coast, not that the team is exceptional.

Who rose to the occasion when Nigeria last won AFCON? Was it a top striker or just Mba a lowly midfielder?

That's finals for you, that's a tournament for you. That's how the game goes. We did not lose because nobody rose to the occasion, we lost because the team in general fell flat. There were failures from the defense as much as the attack and midfield, criticise the team as a whole, no be only Iwobi everytime, he was not on the pitch for the second goal or for the 20 or so minutes remaining in that game.


The Iwobi hate train is too easy to jump on.

Abeg teach them how to think!
Our loss does not hurt me. What riles me is misdiagnosis - some say it's over confidence of fans, some say it's Iwobi.

The team fell flat! Aina awful, Bassey was poor, Lookman clipped, Chukwueze, absent. Osimhen gidi gidi not sufficient. The team faltered

Make I go sleep. Tournament na next year.

Hope we prepare well. We need to bring some players back.

Taiwo, Boniface and Ndidi.

We need to add new players. Oliseh , Tella, the left back in Italy and some midfielders. Chaiiiiii! We no get ooo.

Barryseal:

Why do some of you think whoever criticises the team automatically hates the team? This is like the thinking of a douche bag kid in some expensive private school. Good lord!

Who were you criticizing when you were talking about humility and faith?

safarigirl:


Iwobi's poor performance is not why we lost the game.

He was not the only poor performer and he has not been horrendous this entire tournament, so, this entire thing just looks like easy bullying. Iwobi has been very good for us for the last 7 or so years, so, the comparison to Uzoho that was never particularly good is even unfair.

Even in this tournament, Iwobi put on a shift in the group stages at least, but he is always a convenient scapegoat for you people. Maybe he should retire, so, y'all can go and find your topclass midfielder and have someone new to insult.

You're wrong, he's one of our experienced players, He should be a leader on the pitch and we can't lower the standards because of the poor performances of others who should even be looking up to him. To whom much is given much is expected.

caprikon:
SA found a way to use clever movement and passing to disrupt what looked like an impenetrable defense.

Wouldn't mind if we play 4-2-1-3 in the final.

Nwabili

Ekong. Bassey.

Aina Zaidu


Onyedika. Onyeka/Yusuf

Iwobi

SiMoses. Lookman
Osimhen

It will be risky leaving any team to run rings like SA were able to do during the game particularly in the first half.

The last paragraph sums up the game today.

Keshi's 2013 team were swashbuckling though started slowly.

WCQ is next....early preparation is key.

Next Afcon is just next year!

Nice, we'd still have a majority of the guys in the team

Mujtahida:

Such people should be avoided in real life oo. I'm a realist and I'm inclined to see errors, flaws and mistakes but in this life one should have faith especially when you have worked hard.

Without faith, it's impossible to achieve anything worthwhile.
I rather exercise faith than fear when I have made my preparations for battle

Odunayaw:
Who were you criticizing when you were talking about humility and faith?

So hosting a victory party before the ball is kicked is the way to go?

Mujtahida:

Abeg teach them how to think!
Our loss does not hurt me. What riles me is misdiagnosis - some say it's over confidence of fans, some say it's Iwobi.

The team fell flat! Aina awful, Bassey was poor, Lookman clipped, Chukwueze, absent. Osimhen gidi gidi not sufficient. The team faltered

It's a team failure. Zaidu failed to mark Kessie for the first goal, I have not seen one person mention that in the middle of this whole Iwobi slander.

Aina was useless all 90 minutes, nobody has mentioned it. Chukwueze ghosted his entire time on the pitch, nobody has said that. Lookman has basically been AWOL our last two matches, but 3 Knockout goals dey cover him shame. Osimhen was neutralized, him gidigbo no see light, everybody unlook.

But it is Iwobi that everybody wants to come for. Even people wey no watch match come online dey fight Iwobi.

We conceded 2 goals for the first time in the entire tournament. The defense collapsed, but it is Iwobi that killed the team.

Anybody that is coming here to single out one player for criticism is being dishonest and they must be shut down immediately.

mrwilliams9:
I don’t think we need to disband the team, some players need to be phased out, yes, but the biggest place we have to plug is the midfield.

You’ll notice with AFCON nations then to have a 4-6 year period where they make b2b finals / have deep runs in the tournament.

We had a successful tournament loss in the final aside. W have to build on it.

Look at Senegal. Runner up in 2019, winner in 2021.

2025 AFCON is in 18 months. We just need to start integrating the next generation of midfielders and defenders.

Agree 100% with no sentiments. I pray we dare to make the needed changes.

Goke7:


You're wrong, he's one of our experienced players, He should be a leader on the pitch and we can't lower the standards because of the poor performances of others who should even be looking up to him. To whom much is given much is expected.

Abeg abeg abeg.

Iwobi no send anybody work, free am.

Barryseal:

So hosting a victory party before the ball is kicked is the way to go?

Fans or the Team?

Here is the rope you will tie yourself with

TheSuperNerd:
I already knew the names you would name drop.

Now there were exceptions like Okocha who played for PSG. But after PSG, he went downhill... No top club wanted him. He had to settle for Bolton wanderers even in England.

Yaya Toure wasn't a Highly technical midfield player. He was an enforcer. A physical specimen who dominated plays with his power drives and physicality. He also packed very powerful precise shots. Yaya was more of a smart brawn. But he was no high cerebral.



Seydou Keita too was more workrate and physical than brains.

And yes ofcos, Our own John Mikel Obi was brains but was not picked for Chelsea because of his brains. He was rather used for his physicality and big build in a defensive role. This is why Mourinho had him converted from CAM to CDM. because of his physical stature.


The names you reeled out has proven my point with the exception of Okocha.

Physicality was the major reason they thrived for those top clubs.

Okocha went for money. You didn't follow the trend then. Atleast, he played for PSG and went ahead to play in EPL. What stops Nwakali from playing in a top club or league?

You say Yaya toure is smart brawn. If you're smart, are you not brainy?

Oga no matter how you want to sugarcoat it, Yaya toure was smart, brainy etc.

See his assist. Show me your brainy Nwakali assists and goals.

safarigirl:


Abeg abeg abeg.

Iwobi no send anybody work, free am.

I see you have been blasting the other players but leaving out Iwobi

Barryseal:

Why do some of you think whoever criticises the team automatically hates the team? This is like the thinking of a douche bag kid in some expensive private school. Good lord!

There is no basis for your criticism. You don't have faith. So criticism is all you got like a wretch who keeps lashing a child he has not faith in.

I know those whose criticism one can lay store on. Marjoribanks believes deeply in the team more than most of us. In fact, his optimism shocks me yet he points out defects. You have no faith. You even attribute our loss to the confidence of fans.

TheSuperNerd:
I already knew the names you would name drop.

Now there were exceptions like Okocha who played for PSG. But after PSG, he went downhill... No top club wanted him. He had to settle for Bolton wanderers even in England.

Yaya Toure wasn't a Highly technical midfield player. He was an enforcer. A physical specimen who dominated plays with his power drives and physicality. He also packed very powerful precise shots. Yaya was more of a smart brawn. But he was no high cerebral.



Seydou Keita too was more workrate and physical than brains.

And yes ofcos, Our own John Mikel Obi was brains but was not picked for Chelsea because of his brains. He was rather used for his physicality and big build in a defensive role. This is why Mourinho had him converted from CAM to CDM. because of his physical stature.


The names you reeled out has proven my point with the exception of Okocha.

Physicality was the major reason they thrived for those top clubs.

Mention the white cerebral players without physicality in their game.

safarigirl:


Abeg abeg abeg.

Iwobi no send anybody work, free am.

so your team lost and you are still here ?

safarigirl:


It's a team failure. Zaidu failed to mark Kessie for the first goal, I have not seen one person mention that in the middle of this whole Iwobi slander.

Aina was useless all 90 minutes, nobody has mentioned it. Chukwueze ghosted his entire time on the pitch, nobody has said that. Lookman has basically been AWOL our last two matches, but 3 Knockout goals dey cover him shame. Osimhen was neutralized, him gidigbo no see light, everybody unlook.

But it is Iwobi that everybody wants to come for. Even people wey no watch match come online dey fight Iwobi.

We conceded 2 goals for the first time in the entire tournament. The defense collapsed, but it is Iwobi that killed the team.

Anybody that is coming here to single out one player for criticism is being dishonest and they must be shut down immediately.

Very good Iwobi did no wrong, every other person was useless

Mujtahida:

There is no basis for your criticism. You don't have faith. So criticism is all you got like a wretch who keeps lashing a child he has not faith in.

I know those whose criticism one can lay store on. Marjoribanks believes deeply in the team more than most of us. In fact, his optimism shocks me yet he points out defects. You have no faith. You even attribute our loss to the confidence of fans.

And mislabels it as criticism of the team

We had a whole strikers crisis coming into this tournament. From Awoniyi to Boniface, even that Sadiq Umar. We just dey use patch patch come tournament.

We still lost a leader in Ndidi. Yet, with all that, the team came this far.


Please, you people are ingrates. This team overachieved and this is what they get. Maybe we really deserve to crash out in the earlier stages, y'all don't deserve nice things.

Barryseal:

Asin how na? You think it's easy enduring this loss? Abi you think you're more Nigerian than me?

You have no faith. You expected loss. It happened. How e go come take pain you?

Goke7:


Very good Iwobi did no wrong, every other person was useless

If this is as far as your comprehension skills can take you, good for you.

Hopefully, you will also use your time post AFCON to brush up on those skills.

Odunayaw:
And mislabels it as criticism of the team

That's the misdiagnosis I'm talking about. A man dies of malaria. It is a bad doctor who comes to say na AIDS kill am.

safarigirl:


If this is as far as your comprehension skills can take you, good for you.

Hopefully, you will also use your time post AFCON to brush up on those skills.

you know I never address you this way but thank you

Goke7:


I see you have been blasting the other players but leaving out Iwobi

Why will I blast Iwobi? Who did I blast this entire time?

My first post on this thread was, "it is Nobody's fault"

Where have I been blasting others aside the one post I used to break down how the team failed as a whole?

Because I said you people should not kill one player for team failure, you have started experiencing hallucination?

If we are resting our midfield hopes on iwobi for the future, we are in for a rude awakening

Teams have figured us out. I'm sure this final has revealed a lot. Iwobi is not as good as many here make him out to be

Anna had a bad gane. Yes. But iwobi had hardly had a good game this AFCOn. Same with osimhen.

Goke7:


Very good Iwobi did no wrong, every other person was useless

You dey mind am