₦airaland Forum

jihday:
any coach who’s thinks it’s the skill set of a player warming bench in England division 3 is the answer I’m sure he can find same in our local league. This guy have been walking about from holland to Spain to Portugal now to England all these coaches don’t think he’s the answer to their midfield but you think he can be the answer to one of Africa’s biggest team okay o

Goke7:
It’s even more sad when you look at the quality of opposition we have in our group for both Afcon and wcq. I feel so ashamed when I look at other groups perhaps we should getting tougher opponents may be that can wake up the team.

zicky:
the group Rohr qualified us from was way tougher where you have cameroun, Zambia and Algeria. Four games against teams far below us on fifa rank, 3draw and 1 lose.

Odunayaw:
But una go still carry sticks and stones when a funny name and club shows up and drops a stinker

jihday:
finidi no do reach this una wan kill am, GFA are just an unserious body, if they really want to sack him they’ll do that without any problem

Odunayaw:
But una go still carry sticks and stones when a funny name and club shows up and drops a stinker

TheSuperNerd:
TheGoodJoe... kindly read. 🤝🏻

Amuneke: Heartland will continue to seek improvement

Heartland FC Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, has revealed that ensuring that the Naze Millionaires is transformed and regain its good old days status is foremost to him than a quick fix that will only bring temporary solution.

Amuneke told Heartland Media that the 1-0 defeat to Kwara United in Ilorin on NPFL Matchday 14, Amuneke was caused by his players loss of concentration but noted that they must continue to work at improving the team.

Reflecting on the Naze Millionaires’ slow start to the season, Amuneke noted the absence of a proper pre-season preparation due to the tragic accident that claimed the life of their then chief coach, Christian Obi. He added that Heartland’s squad is predominantly composed of young, inexperienced players who are being nurtured to grow into competitive professionals.

“Before the 2024/2025 season started, we couldn’t have a pre-season because of the unfortunate accident in which we lost one of our coaches. May his soul rest in peace,” Amuneke told Heartland Media.
“Most of our players are young and have never played in the NPFL, but I believe in giving opportunities for growth. Nothing in life happens without a process.”

The former Super Eagles winger and 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup title-winning coach reiterated his life philosophy, saying, “I’m not interested in the destination; my focus is on the journey because the journey leads to the destination.”

The loss to Kwara United ended Heartland’s five-match unbeaten streak, with Emmanuel Ogbole’s 21st-minute strike proving decisive. Amuneke attributed the defeat to a momentary lapse in concentration but praised his team’s overall performance.

“It was a tough game. We conceded due to a lack of concentration, but our performance was impressive,” he said. “We hit the woodwork twice and created decent chances. Today, luck wasn’t on our side.”

Heartland’s appeals for penalties in the second half, after forward Suraj Lawal was twice brought down in the box, were waved away by the referee. Amuneke refrained from criticising the officiating but called for higher standards in Nigerian football.

Amuneke added: “If we want our football to grow, we must raise the standards at all levels. Football isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about building the capacity to compete.”

Heartland now sit 12th in the NPFL table with 17 points from 14 matches. They will host Nasarawa United, currently 18th with 15 points, in a Matchday 15 fixture at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, Kwara United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Heartland FC in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 14 clash at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin.

The Harmony Boys leading scorer, Emmanuel Ogbole’s first-half header proved to be the difference in a game that saw both teams create chances but lacking clinical finishing.

The hosts started brightly, dominating possession and pinning Heartland back in the early exchanges. Their persistence paid off in the 21st minute when a floated free kick from the left through Shola Abdulraheem found Ogbole unmarked in the box. His towering header left Heartland goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokoecha with no chance, despite the stopper having parried Ogbole’s earlier attempt. It was a well-deserved opener for Kwara United, who had been piling on the pressure.


Heartland, known as the Naze Millionaires, were slow out of the blocks but gradually found their footing midway through the first half. They began to look threatening, particularly from set pieces, but failed to convert their opportunities. A slick passing move in the 37th minute nearly brought them level, only for Kwara United’s goalkeeper, Nurudeen Badmus to produce a vital save to maintain his side’s lead. Despite finishing the half strongly, Heartland went into the break trailing 1-0.

The second half kicked off with Kwara United once again on the front foot, catching Heartland off guard. The visitors appeared unsettled but eventually grew into the game. However, their inability to capitalize on promising situations proved costly. The best chance of the half fell to Suraj Lawal in the 76th minute, but he blasted his effort high over the bar when unmarked inside the box.

Controversy struck in the 82nd minute when Heartland appealed for a penalty, claiming a handball in the Harmony Boys’ box, but the referee waved play on. Frustration mounted for the visitors as Kwara United expertly managed the closing stages, employing delay tactics to disrupt Heartland’s rhythm. The hosts’ game management was exemplary, and they comfortably saw out the match.

Tessyy1701:
They are the better team on the day and every Kwara United fans in the stadium praised him on how he set up the team.
Unfortunately, I wasnt able to make it to the stadium on the day.

TheSuperNerd:
Oh wow. So you are Kwara based currently. Thanks for your input. That's quite interesting.

elyte89:
Same way we feel gutted when Rwanda 🇷🇼 and co dominates us and we think deep down in our hearts dt y didn’t we parade home base dt re ready to sweat it out and come out victorious .I am sure most of us think dis way when our so called professionals drop deir stinkers as usual

zicky:
yes oh, not when we already have trusted defenders that did very well in the last Afcon, the next thing is to invite a defender for Ihefu fc, that's not what the team need at that time. Get us a good midfielder from ihefu fc nobody go stone am.

zicky:
You get the point, let's play well first especially against this smaller team, when we play rubbish we defend it by saying no more minnows in Africa

Odunayaw:
I'm all for parading quality players, fit for purpose. I don't like all this divide of Home based or Int'l based.

No guarantees with football, that divide just sets up blame games till infinity. Dem go cheer home based till they lose then it will be why not professionals abroad and vice versa.

The coaching crew have a responsibility to scout for players that fit how they want to play irrespective of where they ply their trade. The problem is will the fans not start suspecting this or that.

Na dilemma

kennysville:
Top 5 league... we put Boniface for front, nothing happened. Sometimes you see a player doing well in these supposed top 5 leagues, many people tacitly forget a number of factors that make them excel seemingly. There is the coaching element, the complement of players surrounding you and the pedigree of the supposed club as well as the team football philosophy. All these happen and yet these players come into the national team and become a shadow of themselves. Iwobi plays on the right side of the field and has done so week in week out for his clubs... (fulham and everton) but alas, once he lands national team, na straight to the midfield to accommodate a chukwueze or Iheanacho. These are the imbalances we are talking about. You might say should Iwobi now be benched for an unknown player from an obscure league? But truth is if that will give us the right result in the long term, then so be it. But trust us Nigerians... we want result and never wanna build the right way. We love fire brigade and makeshift approaches. And that basically translates to the field of play and how we perform.

We have players that don't know the first thing about team work. Our supposed in coming African Balon d'or is practically guilty of this. And if you are wondering who am talking about, it's Ademola Lookman. I see the frustration on Boniface's face each time he is set up with Lookman. These may seem like a coaching problem. but by the time the coach tries to put a not so popular player in his line up, we start hearing things like Ihefu fc.

Another worrisome thing about our current setup is that once Osimhen doesn't play, to find a goal becomes hard. We play disjointed and uncoordinated football. You begin to wonder are these guys professionals at all ? My point in all this epistle is simple, we need passionate players and the right profile players in our national team. The rest boil down to the coaching crew. If the right player is found in Kafanchan fc then let him play even if you have to bench Osimhen for him to play. We need to have a different playbook apart from Osimhen so our opponents don't have us figured out. Once Simon Moses is in the line up, automatically na wing play and all balls will be routed through his wing. Isn't that insane? We can't even keep possession against a supposed minnow team that have all their players ply their trade here in Africa. So my question is what's the use of all the hype about top 5 leagues?


Africa wake up. Not everything European is advantageous. And not everything African is synonymous with retrogression.

BankyGee:
No more minnows in Africa, but the same Lesotho we draw 1–1 with, na him person beat 3–0 in 15 minutes, 7–0 full-time... Okay

yinkeys:
Top Nigerian players whose original positions were switched when they got to Europe always struggle

1. Obi Mikel
2. Iheanacho
3. Boniface

Odunayaw:
I'm all for parading quality players, fit for purpose. I don't like all this divide of Home based or Int'l based.

No guarantees with football, that divide just sets up blame games till infinity. Dem go cheer home based till they lose then it will be why not professionals abroad and vice versa.

The coaching crew have a responsibility to scout for players that fit how they want to play irrespective of where they ply their trade. The problem is will the fans not start suspecting this or that.

Na dilemma

Samueltemi337:
How did Mikel struggle? 😒

DeloitteNG:
Another formation that can accommodate Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman
And Iwobi given a free role playing from the wings and drifting to the midfield
Nwabali in goal as usual

elyte89:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC88EatMDZ1/?igsh=MWxrZnA0NGltMnFj




Enjoy nwakali at best 😎😎. We need dis man

Tinneh:
Omo this guy is too good abeg, none of our current invited midfielders has this ability he posseses, the closest I can think of is raphel onyedika

TheSuperNerd:
TheGoodJoe... kindly read. 🤝🏻

Amuneke: Heartland will continue to seek improvement

Heartland FC Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, has revealed that ensuring that the Naze Millionaires is transformed and regain its good old days status is foremost to him than a quick fix that will only bring temporary solution.

Amuneke told Heartland Media that the 1-0 defeat to Kwara United in Ilorin on NPFL Matchday 14, Amuneke was caused by his players loss of concentration but noted that they must continue to work at improving the team.

Reflecting on the Naze Millionaires’ slow start to the season, Amuneke noted the absence of a proper pre-season preparation due to the tragic accident that claimed the life of their then chief coach, Christian Obi. He added that Heartland’s squad is predominantly composed of young, inexperienced players who are being nurtured to grow into competitive professionals.

“Before the 2024/2025 season started, we couldn’t have a pre-season because of the unfortunate accident in which we lost one of our coaches. May his soul rest in peace,” Amuneke told Heartland Media.
“Most of our players are young and have never played in the NPFL, but I believe in giving opportunities for growth. Nothing in life happens without a process.”

The former Super Eagles winger and 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup title-winning coach reiterated his life philosophy, saying, “I’m not interested in the destination; my focus is on the journey because the journey leads to the destination.”

The loss to Kwara United ended Heartland’s five-match unbeaten streak, with Emmanuel Ogbole’s 21st-minute strike proving decisive. Amuneke attributed the defeat to a momentary lapse in concentration but praised his team’s overall performance.

“It was a tough game. We conceded due to a lack of concentration, but our performance was impressive,” he said. “We hit the woodwork twice and created decent chances. Today, luck wasn’t on our side.”

Heartland’s appeals for penalties in the second half, after forward Suraj Lawal was twice brought down in the box, were waved away by the referee. Amuneke refrained from criticising the officiating but called for higher standards in Nigerian football.

Amuneke added: “If we want our football to grow, we must raise the standards at all levels. Football isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about building the capacity to compete.”

Heartland now sit 12th in the NPFL table with 17 points from 14 matches. They will host Nasarawa United, currently 18th with 15 points, in a Matchday 15 fixture at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, Kwara United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Heartland FC in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 14 clash at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin.

The Harmony Boys leading scorer, Emmanuel Ogbole’s first-half header proved to be the difference in a game that saw both teams create chances but lacking clinical finishing.

The hosts started brightly, dominating possession and pinning Heartland back in the early exchanges. Their persistence paid off in the 21st minute when a floated free kick from the left through Shola Abdulraheem found Ogbole unmarked in the box. His towering header left Heartland goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokoecha with no chance, despite the stopper having parried Ogbole’s earlier attempt. It was a well-deserved opener for Kwara United, who had been piling on the pressure.


Heartland, known as the Naze Millionaires, were slow out of the blocks but gradually found their footing midway through the first half. They began to look threatening, particularly from set pieces, but failed to convert their opportunities. A slick passing move in the 37th minute nearly brought them level, only for Kwara United’s goalkeeper, Nurudeen Badmus to produce a vital save to maintain his side’s lead. Despite finishing the half strongly, Heartland went into the break trailing 1-0.

The second half kicked off with Kwara United once again on the front foot, catching Heartland off guard. The visitors appeared unsettled but eventually grew into the game. However, their inability to capitalize on promising situations proved costly. The best chance of the half fell to Suraj Lawal in the 76th minute, but he blasted his effort high over the bar when unmarked inside the box.

Controversy struck in the 82nd minute when Heartland appealed for a penalty, claiming a handball in the Harmony Boys’ box, but the referee waved play on. Frustration mounted for the visitors as Kwara United expertly managed the closing stages, employing delay tactics to disrupt Heartland’s rhythm. The hosts’ game management was exemplary, and they comfortably saw out the match.