₦airaland Forum

Odunayaw:
Why does this always come up sef?

just racking my head as to why a normal thinking coach who knows what he's doing will compile such a list having 5 CF with oshimen available and just 3 midfielders and yet you want to play a diamond formation that's based on midfield. Fingers crossed

Spainever:
It is time for NFF and West African football associations to complain about the regional policy by CAF for under 17 and 20 qualifications. Paring best teams against themselves does not make sense. Nigeria , Ghana and Senegal cannot qualify for under 20 because they have to eliminate themselves. West Africa has good result and better teams in world cup ,why not allow the best teams to qualify ? Why should Nigeria play against Ghana in under 17 qualifiers ? These two countries have the best results. Ivory coast and Cameroon could not qualify for women AFCON because they played against Nigeria .

solonnachi:
Since Dr Motsepe assumed office, this has been the order of the day. I'm so pained that a golden generation of Golden Eaglet players of 2025 and 2026 will go unforgotten because of a stupid policy which doesn't develop the West African subregion. If they must use this format in WAFU B comprising of seven teams; Nigeria, Benin, Cote Ívoire, Togo, Ghana, Niger, Burkina Faso- then why not play it the way it is done in South America, each team play themselves in a league format and the two top teams qualify. This is much better instead of this 2 group thing system that eliminates the best by mistakes or shear luck.

This is you assuming that federations in west Africa have the same motivations as you do and will like things to change. You need to know how this started first before you reach your conclusions.

First, this didn't start under Motsepe as @solonnachi inferred, it started under Ahmad Ahmad I believe in 2018. Federations in west Africa lead the charge for this to happen (though not solely). The experience then was that many countries in Africa skipped qualifiers for both age grade and CAF competitions complaining about the logistical cost it took to prosecute those games. It was common place for teams to withdraw from games instead of travelling, particularly when they were certain they didn't have a chance. This affected the women's team the most as teans for example will rather not travel than come play Nigeria in a qualifier. They considered that a waste of money for a game they were sore to lose. Federations in west Africa also didn't like spending money so they sought a solution, that's how regional qualifiers started. It wasn't forced on them, they instead championed for it to happen. It saved them money as they only needed to travel once and play every game in one location till the winner is determined.

t inception it was limited to the women's team, but of course other regional federation saw the loop hole and increased participation to the men's team. West African federations still didn't push back cause left to them, it was saving them money but the other folks saw the bigger picture; a path to qualification that wouldn't have been possible had the qualification being continental and not regional. It began to become obvious when power houses in Africa women's football like Ivory coast and Ghana began to miss WAFCON, but federations didn't mind since women's football wasn't really priority for them.

My point is, Motsepe and other regional federations didn't start this, they are only taking advantage of a something that was given to them on a platter. I'm also pretty sure west African federations aren't as pained about this as you think, it's fans who are the real victims that are calling for a change and not them.

Danielnino00:
I can easily predict our starting eleven from this squad list.. it's likely going to be 4-4-2 with Iwobi paired with Ndidi in midfield, hence limiting him.
SMH.

.

Baba, does it means then, this Chelle is not thinking out of d box? Or he wants to play safe? Even Onyedika is not invited.

QueenJazz:
Nigeria doesn't deserve to go to the World Cup abeg. Let's tell ourselves the truth. In fact, I hope Benin wins and secures the top spot. Nigeria isn't going to the World Cup. 🤣

If you like quote me later, but you'll just be acting foolish. The way our team is structured, we can't perform consistently. We'll have brief moments of joy, but we'll always flop when least expected. Until we sort out the virus that is NFF, nothing will change.

If a miracle happens and we go to the World Cup (we won't), the highest we'll get is 2 points (2 draws and a loss). We might win only one game if we're lucky to face a team that doesn't even know what a football is. We've seen this script play out over and over again.

Abeg make I go watch Big Brother Naija.

England for World Cup 2026. It's coming home this time. ✌🏾

Now you are venting your anger, it is understandable nff is D REAL VIRUS THAT WE MUST NEUTRALISE, THEY ARE BUNCH OF USELESS PEOPLE. Even if Chelle submit this list can't they see that d midfield is very thin and what happens if one of d midfielder gets injured? I don't want to curse but may..........

🗣️ @GaryLineker: "I need to apologise to @VictorOsimhen9

Gary 🤝 Victor Osimhen pic.twitter.com/qe0LSSPVvl

— The Rest Is Football (@RestIsFootball) October 3, 2025

Thesupernerd, lineker apologized to osimhen

Franktom247:
Why not drop Chukwueze for another defender

5 defenders too small to prosecute a double header

U dey talk Chukwueze. That last name wey Dem smuggle in sef. Olakunle Olusegun. See as Dem hide the name

comodo:
U dey talk Chukwueze. That last name wey Dem smuggle in sef. Olakunle Olusegun. See as Dem hide the name

Exactly. What's the use of including him instead of another Cb like ogbu,Jordan or akpoguma. I really want to know the thought process of those in the technical committee

Diavolo:
just racking my head as to why a normal thinking coach who knows what he's doing will compile such a list having 5 CF with oshimen available and just 3 midfielders and yet you want to play a diamond formation that's based on midfield. Fingers crossed

He’d play Lookman where he’d be ineffective like always lol

Onuachu assist

lovewins:
This is you assuming that federations in west Africa have the same motivations as you do and will like things to change. You need to know how this started first before you reach your conclusions.

First, this didn't start under Motsepe as @solonnachi inferred, it started under Ahmad Ahmad I believe in 2018. Federations in west Africa lead the charge for this to happen (though not solely). The experience then was that many countries in Africa skipped qualifiers for both age grade and CAF competitions complaining about the logistical cost it took to prosecute those games. It was common place for teams to withdraw from games instead of travelling, particularly when they were certain they didn't have a chance. This affected the women's team the most as teans for example will rather not travel than come play Nigeria in a qualifier. They considered that a waste of money for a game they were sore to lose. Federations in west Africa also didn't like spending money so they sought a solution, that's how regional qualifiers started. It wasn't forced on them, they instead championed for it to happen. It saved them money as they only needed to travel once and play every game in one location till the winner is determined.

t inception it was limited to the women's team, but of course other regional federation saw the loop hole and increased participation to the men's team. West African federations still didn't push back cause left to them, it was saving them money but the other folks saw the bigger picture; a path to qualification that wouldn't have been possible had the qualification being continental and not regional. It began to become obvious when power houses in Africa women's football like Ivory coast and Ghana began to miss WAFCON, but federations didn't mind since women's football wasn't really priority for them.

My point is, Motsepe and other regional federations didn't start this, they are only taking advantage of a something that was given to them on a platter. I'm also pretty sure west African federations aren't as pained about this as you think, it's fans who are the real victims that are calling for a change and not them.

Wow, this is a beautiful insight into what led into this regional arrangement and seem noble enough.

Truly , I remember when a lot of teams did pull out of qualifiers due to logistics.

But curiously, the women team qualifications are not being played in this format

Then, what stops the strongest regions from getting a higher number of representatives?

NFF should push for Golden Eaglets to be at the next U17 AFCON after winning the 3rd place game. Why should east africa get 3 slots and west africa B that produces all the U17 world champions only have 2 Last edition it was east africa that got 3 slots and that was what pushed Nigeria out. Also East Africa were so poor last time around. None of their teams qualified for the knockout round. This is were the NFF needs to come in and lobby CAF to increase the # of slots for west africa B but unfortunately we have buffoons running Nigeria football

yinkeys:
He’d play Lookman where he’d be ineffective like always lol

you play lookman who's Africa best in a wrong position because of Simon. Indirectly you are saying Simon is better than lookman. If he wants to play both of them. Just play a traditional 442 with 2 dms,Simon on the left and Iwobi on the right,then lookman and oshimen upfront. Simple. No he will rather play players out of position. It's crazy

we go complain we go tire..

Diavolo:
you play lookman who's Africa best in a wrong position because of Simon. Indirectly you are saying Simon is better than lookman. If he wants to play both of them. Just play a traditional 442 with 2 dms,Simon on the left and Iwobi on the right,then lookman and oshimen upfront. Simple. No he will rather play players out of position. It's crazy

Nomyth:
Wow, this is a beautiful insight into what led into this regional arrangement and seem noble enough.

Truly , I remember when a lot of teams did pull out of qualifiers due to logistics.

But curiously, the women team qualifications are not being played in this format

Then, what stops the strongest regions from getting a higher number of representatives?

This was the case for the women's team even to the senior team as recent as the WAFCON qualification of 2022 and subtly for the Olympics qualification in 2024. They just did away with the tournament part of it. I remember in 2022, Nigeria had to knockout powerhouses like Ghana and Ivory Coast to qualify for that year's WAFCON. Also, WAFU teams were paired to knock each other out in the build up to the Olympics in the first 2 rounds before meeting other continental opponents in the last 2. Pretty sure the outcry generated from teams like Ghana and Ivory coast not making the WAFCON informed the decision to revert to the power ranking format.

Predator87:
NFF should push for Golden Eaglets to be at the next U17 AFCON after winning the 3rd place game. Why should east africa get 3 slots and west africa B that produces all the U17 world champions only have 2 Last edition it was east africa that got 3 slots and that was what pushed Nigeria out. Also East Africa were so poor last time around. None of their teams qualified for the knockout round. This is were the NFF needs to come in and lobby CAF to increase the # of slots for west africa B but unfortunately we have buffoons running Nigeria football

I just don't understand how we fail to use our influence when it comes to football. We get short changed every time and we always seem to be cool with it.

You can never try this with England or US without them using their fill power on you.

Remember how England made heads roll in fifa for losing the 2006 world cup hosting rights to Germany?

USA did d same thing after losing out to Qatar for 2022.

Diavolo:
just racking my head as to why a normal thinking coach who knows what he's doing will compile such a list having 5 CF with oshimen available and just 3 midfielders and yet you want to play a diamond formation that's based on midfield. Fingers crossed

I used to be really active on this thread back in 2019-2022. Suprised to come back here and it’s still the same old midfield argument lol

comodo:
U dey talk Chukwueze. That last name wey Dem smuggle in sef. Olakunle Olusegun. See as Dem hide the name

I believe in giving everyone a chance but Chuks is still adapting at a new team he should be given time off

QueenJazz:
Nigeria doesn't deserve to go to the World Cup abeg. Let's tell ourselves the truth. In fact, I hope Benin wins and secures the top spot. Nigeria isn't going to the World Cup. 🤣

If you like quote me later, but you'll just be acting foolish. The way our team is structured, we can't perform consistently. We'll have brief moments of joy, but we'll always flop when least expected. Until we sort out the virus that is NFF, nothing will change.

If a miracle happens and we go to the World Cup (we won't), the highest we'll get is 2 points (2 draws and a loss). We might win only one game if we're lucky to face a team that doesn't even know what a football is. We've seen this script play out over and over again.

Abeg make I go watch Big Brother Naija.

England for World Cup 2026. It's coming home this time. ✌🏾

I don't blame you my sister. It's enough to give up on the team completely.

I swear, the sheer administrative amateurism of the Super Eagles management is enough to drive any true fan to despair. We just got handed the miracle of the decade, and a chance to qualify for the World Cup, even if through the playoffs, provided we take six points from Lesotho and Benin. And what does Eric Chelle do? He rewards us with a squad selection that perfectly encapsulates the very rot that has stalled our progress for years: prioritizing administrative tourism over actual footballing merit.

The inclusion of Semi Ajayi is the most egregious example of this sickness. I surmise that the only reason Ajayi is being included is because he is deemed to have the requisite "experience", the code word for a collection of unnecessary caps.

We are going into must-win games against highly motivated opponents, and our defense needs pace, energy, and players who are absolutely flying high at their clubs. Ajayi’s profile and track record in the aforementioned doesn't inspire enough confidence. But the real kick in the teeth here is that the players who do bring that dynamism are the ones being sacrificed at the altar of "experience."

How do you justify leaving out a young, hungry, and talented midfielder like Chrisantus Uche? Uche is exactly the type of player who offers steel, energy, and a fresh perspective that the engine room desperately needs, especially when we have serious questions about Wilfred Ndidi’s lack of match sharpness this season. Instead of backing the youth who earned their place, Chelle cuts Uche, only to bring back someone whose primary qualification seems to be breathing the national team air before. It's a double standard that costs us crucial dynamism.
It’s infuriating because Chelle has proven he knows better. Just recently, he had the courage to bench the captain, William Troost-Ekong, and start the 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick in a crucial qualifier against Rwanda, and Fredrick didn't disappoint. Why, then, does he selectively abandon that meritocracy when it comes to defensive depth? Why acknowledge the future with Fredrick but cling to the past with Ajayi?

We need six points to potentially qualify, which means aggressive, high-risk, high-octane football. But when I see a midfield core under pressure from Ndidi’s fitness and a defense still prioritizing known quantities over peak performers, I see a setup ripe for the kind of error that has plagued our qualifying campaign all along. My expectations are grim. We have the firepower up front with Osimhen and Lookman, but the team looks psychologically and structurally weighted down by decisions that prioritize sentiment over necessity. We needed pure aggression and tactical ruthlessness. We got half-measures. Get ready for two agonizingly difficult matches, because if Chelle's "experience" choices falter, we will watch our World Cup dream collapse for a second time this month.

Spainever:
Which training session? This is politics . I am sure the coach is not in charge. They compiled list and forced on him. He is a low grade coach hence he will play along wishing for a miracle to happen . Uche and the guy that played in Pisa Italy deserved call up to beef up the midfield. It means that if we qualify for world cup , Uche will be dropped ..

What is this confident beer parlor misyarn

Diavolo:
just racking my head as to why a normal thinking coach who knows what he's doing will compile such a list having 5 CF with oshimen available and just 3 midfielders and yet you want to play a diamond formation that's based on midfield. Fingers crossed

In about 7 games now I think it's an open secret the man gives no shit about the midfield

Odunayaw:
In about 7 games now I think it's an open secret the man gives no shit about the midfield

Lol what are you gonna say about the 5 defenders only
Is he gonna play 3-4-3 or what ?
Anyway let me not say anything, this was how Peseiro started until we got to Afcon final
But back then we beat a team 10 goals to nil, I think we struggle to get goals now

Toylove:

🗣️ @GaryLineker: "I need to apologise to @VictorOsimhen9

Gary 🤝 Victor Osimhen pic.twitter.com/qe0LSSPVvl

— The Rest Is Football (@RestIsFootball) October 3, 2025

Thesupernerd, lineker apologized to osimhen

Good man

Toylove:

🗣️ @GaryLineker: "I need to apologise to @VictorOsimhen9

Gary 🤝 Victor Osimhen pic.twitter.com/qe0LSSPVvl

— The Rest Is Football (@RestIsFootball) October 3, 2025

Thesupernerd, lineker apologized to osimhen

After Gala give their English champions Gala chop
Elite Spanish teams will always flog their giants normally too so
I’d really like to see Atletico Madrid play English giants this season tbh

See lamentations and wailing...person die? Na wa.

Diavolo:
you play lookman who's Africa best in a wrong position because of Simon. Indirectly you are saying Simon is better than lookman. If he wants to play both of them. Just play a traditional 442 with 2 dms,Simon on the left and Iwobi on the right,then lookman and oshimen upfront. Simple. No he will rather play players out of position. It's crazy

.

.......but it is now glaringly clear that we have buffoons running our football and buffoon as a coach. I only pity Osimhen

villagereporter:
.

.......but it is now glaringly clear that we have buffoons running our football and buffoon as a coach. I only pity Osimhen

Yea wrong generation
Even Obafemi Martins & Emenike generation better
Let’s not totally write the Eagles off though
Remember Peseiro didn’t start great
I wish sometimes we can switch to 3-4-3
It hides our defensive flaws since the coach hasn’t found guys that can play the way Mali played at last years AFCON
Why drop Uche though
Coach don’t like his play style or what
7 defenders my bad
Benin Republic may just expose and embarrass this coach lol

Nomyth:
I just don't understand how we fail to use our influence when it comes to football. We get short changed every time and we always seem to be cool with it.

You can never try this with England or US without them using their fill power on you.

Remember how England made heads roll in fifa for losing the 2006 world cup hosting rights to Germany?

USA did d same thing after losing out to Qatar for 2022.

.

Nigeria football administrators are dunce where it has to do with politics but when it comes to embezzling the bleeped Peoples' flag will be up.

joelsteron:
Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabili
RB: Agu
Cbs: Benjamin, Calvin Bassey
LB: Onyemaechi
DM(Base of Diamond): Wilfred Ndidi
CMs (Sides of Diamond): Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf
AM (Tip of Diamond): Chukwueze
Strikers: Alex Iwobi, Osimhen

Eric Chelle give us this formation, abeg

what is this

yinkeys:
Lol what are you gonna say about the 5 defenders only
Is he gonna play 3-4-3 or what ?
Anyway let me not say anything, this was how Peseiro started until we got to Afcon final
But back then we beat a team 10 goals to nil, I think we struggle to get goals now

At least fact check yourself first. What 5 defenders?

villagereporter:
.

Nigeria football administrators are dunce where it has to do with politics but when it comes to embezzling the bleeped Peoples' flag will be up.

They are conventional politicians wey no see space for Nigerias main politics field
I don’t like when they’re tagged technical football admins sometimes lol
To be sincere other countries like Cape Verde, Botswana are really investing in sports
It may seem like a joke until we miss out on the 2030 edition
Cameroon may not qualify this year too
Organisation & planning makes an average set of players look extra ordinary

Truidstarr:
See lamentations and wailing...person die? Na wa.

😂💔