₦airaland Forum

I hear you, but I don’t fully agree. Yes, the performance was flat, and the midfield lacked spark, but going back to 3-4-3 isn’t automatically the solution. That system worked in flashes at the World Cup, true, but football isn’t static—teams evolve, players change, and opponents adapt.

For me, the bigger issue isn’t the formation, it’s the coaching and execution. Even if we switch to wing-backs, who’s guaranteeing that the crosses will suddenly improve? Ola Aina and Oyemechi can bomb forward, but if the delivery is still poor, Osimhen will keep starving for service.

And let’s be real—dropping to a 3-man defence might make us look solid on paper, but we don’t have the most reliable centre-backs right now. Playing three at the back exposes us if one defender switches off. In fact, sticking to 4-3-3 could work if the midfield is balanced properly. Instead of forcing Iwobi into a No. 10 role, why not pair him with a proper ball-winner and a box-to-box runner? That way, he has freedom to link play without the burden of carrying creativity alone.

Also, let’s not throw Moses Simon completely under the bus. Yeah, his final ball frustrates sometimes, but he’s still the only one consistently stretching defences. If he sharpens that decision-making, Osimhen benefits massively.

The truth is, no system works if the players don’t understand each other’s movement. That’s not a formation issue, that’s chemistry and coaching. Whether it’s 4-3-3 or 3-4-3, until the midfielders start connecting with the forwards and we train to move as a unit, Osimhen will always look isolated.

So I’d say instead of tearing down the 4-3-3, fix the midfield roles, drill combinations, and build chemistry. Once that’s in place, even the so-called “rubbish crosses” start turning into assists.

Seunfretty:
Its crazy u know....we were winning 1-0...and the guyz were hailing the keeper for wasting time ...is that how bad we have turn...how many clean link ups did we have today...I can't count anytime we played the ball smoothly from the back and got into the opposition box or even creating a good one on one from the flanks


The truth is we need to stop this Osimhen clamour ....who is going to give him that through ball....who is going to give those good cross from the wing ...I mean "good crosses" ...not the rubbish Moses Simon is doing

Our midfielder is flat ...we don't have that creative spark...hence in my opinion and if anyone should ask me ..we need to revert back to the 3-4-3 we were playing at the last world cup...at least with that we can have numerical advantage on the flanks and keep crossing the ball since that's all we can do to get chances ...

This team is not is not equiped to play a 4-3-3...iwobi is never a no10 ..he Is only good in a free role picking the ball and progressing it will fast passes ...he can also play a wide midfielder too...

The team should simply go back to the wing back strategy ...ola aina can play as the right wing back ...and oyemechi on the left ..we can crowd the box ...with that we can even play 2 strikers if things are not working

Look man can also play well in the system ..he isn't a winger passey but an inward forward ...

This team isn't sync ...they don't know each other's movements ...they are not a unit...but the last nations cup they looked a unit with the 3-4-3

SQLmastar:
An abysmal performance from a national side with 2 consecutive African POTY within their ranks (Osimhen and Lookman).
Let them prove their quality by carrying the whole team to glory...single handedly.
CR7 did it with Portugal in 2013, Dwight Yorke did it with Trinidad in 2005. And more recently, Antony Davies did it with Canada in 2022.

Why Una dey always talk like this. Carry the whole team to glory? So what is the point of the other players? Nobody dey carry anybody. Football is a team sport. Osimhen and Lookman can only do their part. If the others are hopelessly poor then nothing for the full country because football is a team sport.

Nigeria will win their next 3 games while South Africa will lose one and draw the next 2 games. We qualify

Donbabaj:
Nigeria will win their next 3 games while South Africa will lose one and draw the next 2 games. We qualify

And Benin will be looking at you right?

seunlayi:
This team should not qualify

.why ?

GanagiBitrus:
FT 1-0

They tried, but why do they struggle to score a 2nd goal. We just manage score 1 & relax. That was what cost us 2 valuable pts against Zimbabwe with a last minute equaliser. Else we for dey 2nd now with 12pts.

How many qualify from each group

I shudder

RightChannel:
Dresser or what is his name is a calamity to this team!

How is he a calamity? Don't judge a player with just 1 match u watched.

True, but football doesn’t really work like that. Even the best players need a functional system and supporting cast to shine. CR7 with Portugal didn’t “single-handedly” win Euro 2016—he had Pepe, Nani, Moutinho, and a coach who built a structure around him. Same for Alphonso Davies with Canada; he had a disciplined team and a clear style of play.

Osimhen and Lookman are brilliant, but expecting them to drag the Super Eagles alone is unfair. If the midfield can’t link play, the defense keeps panicking, and the coach has no clear plan, even Ballon d’Or winners would struggle. Football is a team sport first.

SQLmastar:
An abysmal performance from a national side with 2 consecutive African POTY within their ranks (Osimhen and Lookman).
Let them prove their quality by carrying the whole team to glory...single handedly.
CR7 did it with Portugal in 2013, Dwight Yorke did it with Trinidad in 2005. And more recently, Antony Davies did it with Canada in 2022.

Manfromlasvegas:
Why Una dey always talk like this. Carry the whole team to glory? So what is the point of the other players? Nobody dey carry anybody. Football is a team sport. Osimhen and Lookman can only do their part. If the others are hopelessly poor then nothing for the full country because football is a team sport.

No mind that guy, na their type no even sabi kick ball in the right direction. He's talking about only Ronaldo carry portugal in 2013 forgetting that 11players make a football team. Mtchewww

Donbabaj:
Nigeria will win their next 3 games while South Africa will lose one and draw the next 2 games. We qualify

..and let NFF put pressure on FIFA to withdraw the 3 points from south Africa for playing an ineligible player against Lesotho..the player already had 2 yellow cards .but south Africa played the player in the next match against Lesotho which was against the FIFA law..so FIFA up till now has not withdrawn 3 points from south Africa for that

Nigeria have no team yet. This generation just have big names but not no how to played 😒 no authority on them, and they always relax by passing round in one circl? Is not their fault but their level of playing. You can't give what you don't have. But true I bet this team can't beat south africa either they lose or draw with enough pressing from the south africa team. Just like ivory coast did to us at the final of 2023. It just as if I'm watching Brazil vs Chile. Nigeria has lost the battle of authority of football. I no no wen we played good football. Maroco.senegal. Egypt.algeria. South Africa bow they are trying but nigeria Is going down now. No matter the team they meet aha they must struggle aha wety jor.

DeepSight:
How many qualify from each group

9 groups.
1st in each group qualify.

All the 2nd in each group will be ranked. Top4 go for Playoffs. Only 1 emerges to go & play further Playoffs...

A whole super eagles struggling in this dead group

Raxxye:
What matches are remaining for Nigeria;
Which countries? Home or away?

South Africa Away

Lesotho Away


Benin Home

I think

femi4:
Na why una stadium no dey last....using stadium for all manner of gatherings that isn't sporting

Local leagues dey command crowd like the Super Eagles

Toor u see wetin we dey talk... U said d stadium will be empty after today I said that's false...people use it for various events from religious gatherings, political campaigns to musical concerts... U talk say na only for sporting... Do u know how many non sporting competitions Wembley stadium in England has hosted.....

GanagiBitrus:
9 groups.
1st in each group qualify.

All the 2nd in each group will be ranked. Top4 go for Playoffs. Only 1 emerges to go & play further Playoffs...

Thx. Are the further play offs with teams from other continents

Apcshit:
And where is the money going to?

to d state government of course... Where u wan make d money go?

The super eagle of. Old would go to South Africa and best them 4 : 0

Hamachi:
I hear you, but I don’t fully agree. Yes, the performance was flat, and the midfield lacked spark, but going back to 3-4-3 isn’t automatically the solution. That system worked in flashes at the World Cup, true, but football isn’t static—teams evolve, players change, and opponents adapt.

For me, the bigger issue isn’t the formation, it’s the coaching and execution. Even if we switch to wing-backs, who’s guaranteeing that the crosses will suddenly improve? Ola Aina and Oyemechi can bomb forward, but if the delivery is still poor, Osimhen will keep starving for service.

And let’s be real—dropping to a 3-man defence might make us look solid on paper, but we don’t have the most reliable centre-backs right now. Playing three at the back exposes us if one defender switches off. In fact, sticking to 4-3-3 could work if the midfield is balanced properly. Instead of forcing Iwobi into a No. 10 role, why not pair him with a proper ball-winner and a box-to-box runner? That way, he has freedom to link play without the burden of carrying creativity alone.

Also, let’s not throw Moses Simon completely under the bus. Yeah, his final ball frustrates sometimes, but he’s still the only one consistently stretching defences. If he sharpens that decision-making, Osimhen benefits massively.

The truth is, no system works if the players don’t understand each other’s movement. That’s not a formation issue, that’s chemistry and coaching. Whether it’s 4-3-3 or 3-4-3, until the midfielders start connecting with the forwards and we train to move as a unit, Osimhen will always look isolated.

So I’d say instead of tearing down the 4-3-3, fix the midfield roles, drill combinations, and build chemistry. Once that’s in place, even the so-called “rubbish crosses” start turning into assists.

Good point but we will likely not achieve that...it's true we are quick to crucify this guyz but look at this team...where is the synergy...they barely play together ones in 3 months ...the understanding is just not there ..it's very obvious he way we play and how we progress the ball...we don't play with purpose ...he attackers are not sync and they don't know each other's movements perfectly m.
osimhen is a good striker but sometimes it's even better we don't play with him...u need a working system from the base to the flank to the midfield to get a striker in play...
We simple don't have that combinations that can lead to a goal...and when one player seem to start it with his football instinct it doesn't work cos either the other players aren't moving or they are moving too late ...we are not just a unit yet

Ask yourself...when last did we score a goal with a good combination from the midfield ...most of our goals in the last 5 games are just scrappy and from half chances

That's one of the reasons I propose the 3-4-3...and I never mean it to be a long term solution just for the short term so we can get what we need with what we have ...ofcourse the 3-4-3 isn't going to solve our problem but look at it deeply...do we have the time to make this team play together and syn...they have less than 2 days to face south Africa...

This team is not bad on paper but we are not a unit yet...football is about movement but even sometimes they don't how to move to create that space ...

GanagiBitrus:
FT 1-0

They tried, but why do they struggle to score a 2nd goal. We just manage score 1 & relax. That was what cost us 2 valuable pts against Zimbabwe with a last minute equaliser. Else we for dey 2nd now with 12pts.

This performance isn't encouraging. Let the serious-minded nations represent us in west africa jare. See as everyone wanted to score, sagging pants everywhere on the pitch. Bunch of unserious minds. Super 🐔

SQLmastar:
An abysmal performance from a national side with 2 consecutive African POTY within their ranks (Osimhen and Lookman).
Let them prove their quality by carrying the whole team to glory...single handedly.
CR7 did it with Portugal in 2013, Dwight Yorke did it with Trinidad in 2005. And more recently, Antony Davies did it with Canada in 2022.

How did CR7 carry Portugal to glory when he didn’t finish Semifinal and didn’t play the finals?

GanagiBitrus:
FT 1-0

They tried, but why do they struggle to score a 2nd goal. We just manage score 1 & relax. That was what cost us 2 valuable pts against Zimbabwe with a last minute equaliser. Else we for dey 2nd now with 12pts.

How many matches remain now?

GanagiBitrus:
FT 1-0

They tried, but why do they struggle to score a 2nd goal. We just manage score 1 & relax. That was what cost us 2 valuable pts against Zimbabwe with a last minute equaliser. Else we for dey 2nd now with 12pts.

na football anything still fit xup... Let's jst win our remaining games... We really fumbled.... Very easy group... I see people blaming coaches.... Do we even need a coach to beat Rwanda or Benin republic.... Kai....

Lukuluku69:
South Africa Away

Lesotho Away


Benin Home

I think

Thank you very much!

princeade86:
nigeria and England are d same. Just full of superstars, nothing for head. 1.01 that can't even do over 2.5.

Thank God my phone went off. Wud hv lost money this evening. Wud hv def played England over 3.5 against andora. Imagine England playing 2 nil against andora. Dem go later sack tuchel

I keep. wondering; is it that there is no Nigerian that can do what CHELLE is doing?

Perhaps, what a way to steal money.

But God don catch dem. No world cup. No FIFA Money

Akinfenwamight:
If we beat South Africa on Tuesday

We'll qualified to world cup with or without 3 point deduction or God miracle

Is that game home or away

MadamExcellency:
How did CR7 carry Portugal to glory when he didn’t finish Semifinal and didn’t play the finals?

If he didn't score at the prelims, how would they have gotten to semi? They would have been probably knocked out at the group stages. Those are the deadly stages in every tournament, not the last 2 stages. Once you scale through those stages, your chance of getting to final is bright.

Judolisco:
Toor u see wetin we dey talk... U said d stadium will be empty after today I said that's false...people use it for various events from religious gatherings, political campaigns to musical concerts... U talk say na only for sporting... Do u know how many non sporting competitions Wembley stadium in England has hosted.....

Yes it will be empty in terms of sporting activities. Not even league games can command today's crowd.

Akinfenwamight:
Make him no use osimhen against South Africa oooo

Una done start but d coach get mind o to remove oshimen

sterlingD:
I shudder

You shuddered?

Wetin happen?