₦airaland Forum

Abeg how many teams will qualify from the African version of the playoffs?

lbrichman2:
Well, he got away with what should probably have been a clean goal today
He should be grateful the referee was that lenient
Another referee would have awarded that goal straight up

Did you also notice he dropped the ball again today?
That could have gone anywhere..

I like the guy
But he needs to get himself together

I will wait to get the details of what really transpired.

ChrisKels:
Abeg how many teams will qualify from the African version of the playoffs?

One

mrwilliams9:
So many of us have been screaming for a shift to the 433 or 4231

Good viewpoint. Know however that any astute Coach must be able to deploy at least 2 and at most 3 different formations in a single match based on the MATCH ANALYST review of their strengths and weaknesses as well as that of their opponents hence the 5 to 6 substitutions allowed. It was in the era of 3 substitutions that one may start and end with one formation or at best 2 formations.
Revisit ATLANTA 96, the absence of Sunday Oliseh versus the presence of Garba Lawal, the introduction of Wilson Oruma and Teslim Fatusi when if I remember Zagallo goofed bt substituting Rivaldo(or was it Amaral), that was the turnaround. Slightly similar in recent times was Jennifer Echegini's introduction in the final of the 2025 WAFCON tweaking the original formation and turning the game on its head.

I beg to be corrected where necessary.

Goke7:
Shebi it’s because we score 4 goals everybody Dey make mouth 😂 if Onyeka no score that fourth goal I wonder wetin you go Dey talk na! Na you go first attack Chelle like the Zimbabwe game!

oga I no follow u dey watch back of tv. Even if the game ended 3-0 or even 2-0 the boys played exceptionally well which is a sign that they understand Chelle’s tactical demands now

I watch the game from start to finish so nothing u fit talk wey go mk me think otherwise

Tactically this is Chelle’s best game with the super eagles since he took charge. Not because of the score line but how the boys executed his plans on the pitch.

The pitch South Africa played today was so smooth.

Happy we made the playoff but unhappy we helped South Africa qualified.

ChrisKels:
Abeg how many teams will qualify from the African version of the playoffs?

1
Two games: semifinal and final

MetalJigsaw:
You Think say them send us? We also had a chance to qualify why should we allow them

We shouldn't have allowed them anyway.

Osimhen gave a resounding NO right from the onset.

forgiveness:
The bolded explanation proofs today's game plan has nothing to do with the players.

Why single out Lookman? Na Lookman bi coach we dey do press?

Today, they allowed Benin to play while they countered and played long balls.

Today's game is tactical not about hugging ball or not.

Chief I didn't single out anybody, I have the right to make a comment like every other fan
And I just commented on my observations.

I talked about Nwabali, Ekong,Simon as well but why are you all getting emotional about Lookman.

he has been rusty that doesn't make him bad.
So give me a break.

I know our chances of qualifying directly would be higher if we won that game, but don't you guys think it's funny that the two disappointing draws against Zimbabwe somehow ended up keeping our World Cup qualifying dream alive? 😂

Odunayaw:
One

Oboy the road still tough oo.

charlesemeka85:
what happened? I checked and they are playing nil nil

If it ends goalless Senegal will top the group.

lbrichman2:
That first goal on 3 mins killed them and gave us impetus

Yes.
That first goal did them dirty.

Odunayaw:
Chelle won't understand what he saw this night

i swear , it is giving Nigeria vs Cameroon in Uyo where we won 4:1

Nehruvia:
Why is no one giving me my flowers 😒

Kudos. Dear Nehruvia. Cheers to you too. Cheers to everyone who believed.

CAR321... that 3pts revelation vs SA ensured Lesotho got the boost to not finish last. A hero u remain.
BankyGee
Odunayaw
Double Cs (Cocony & CapitalCee)... your qualification maths hopes lit up and enlightened the thread. I loved it. I knew it for myself already but u both took the time to enlighten.
Mineflix and Amedino99... Your monitoring of the 2nd placed team results was beautiful. Great compliment to the double Cs
QueenJazz
Mekabuachi
DrYa
Elyte89... a coach with never give up mentality. Elyte89 is one of the few who never wavered and kept pushing with belief exploiting any chance at all we have.
Semid4lyfe... Amiable moderator of the sports section who is as invested as anyone.


I cant mention all but just know that I see everything and everyone. You all rock. This thread had a direct hand in this Playoffs qualification.

This Super Eagles Thread proves once again why we are the best and most informed assemblage of fans and analysts on all our men's National teams and Nigerian football as a whole.

I salute u all and ask that u keep the faith and the fire ahead of the playoffs. We will get to USCAMEX 2026. We started so badly but here we are. Story not finished but will end in Glory.

Cocony:
Following the about to be concluded qualifiers, only SOUTH AFRICA does not deserve to be at the World Cup in my opinion. It is only in Africa I have seen a team play their home matches in the pitch of their opponent: 7 whooping home matches for South Africa and 1 neutral ground game with only 2 away matches of which they truly lost one(against Rwanda)
That was dubious from the onset. FiIFA and CAF should look into this next time to ensure a real neutral ground is used

So we are back at this

First We had the Zim match- fixing conspiracy theory
Then
During the match today , Rwanda was accused of selling the match to us ( Southern African solidarity) .....here is the problem with that ....their dictator president hates SA with a passion ....and ofcourse Rwanda is in East Africa .

If your NFF was competent, the poorer countries in West Africa should be using Nigeria as their homeground instead of whining over us capitalizing on our advantages .

Goodluck on the play offs, you deserve a win and thanks for all your did for us today ,we will never forget it🙏

Players that really impressed me against Benin

Samu
Zaidu
Osimhen
Bassey
Fredricks

charlesemeka85:
very tactical and only folks that understands the game will notice this

Chelle’s tactics worked perfectly well as he hoped, also that early goal was a big morale boaster

Chelle focused on exposing Benin’s highline with through long balls and cross into the box from the wing and it paid.

Once they are without the ball, they defended deep into their half.

When I saw the way they started playing, I said this coach no press today ooo. I just felt at ease.

Amen na extra boost. Senegal will do the Lord's Work. They will wanna finish on a flourish in front of their fans naa. U no see Tunisia?

minfelix:
Amen oo😀😀

9JAMac10:
Absence of lookman is a huge boost. No selfish play or holding up the play for too long. Let him start from the beach next time please.

I said this but someone started blabbing

Nehruvia:
Why is no one giving me my flowers 😒

well deserved flowers

In short mk I go cut iroko tree for u

mank1234:
The pitch South Africa played today was so smooth.

Happy we made the playoff but unhappy we helped South Africa qualified.

concur with you OG. Wish it was another team not South Africa. Can’t stand those xenophobic dummy people ruled by a white minority hahaha , no worry we will be at the World Cup

9JAMac10:
Absence of lookman is a huge boost. No selfish play or holding up the play for too long. Let him start from the beach next time please.

very big difference.

QueenJazz:
I know our chances of qualifying directly would be higher if we won that game, but don't you guys think it's funny that the two disappointing draws against Zimbabwe somehow ended up keeping our World Cup qualifying dream alive? 😂

Somewhat wrong. If we had beaten Zimbabwe with all other results remaining as they were/are, we would have only needed a 1:0 win against Benin to top the group while South Africa would have gone for playoffs.
It would have been 19points for us.

QueenJazz:
I know our chances of qualifying directly would be higher if we won that game, but don't you guys think it's funny that the two disappointing draws against Zimbabwe somehow ended up keeping our World Cup qualifying dream alive? 😂

Spill milk.

QueenJazz:
I know our chances of qualifying directly would be higher if we won that game, but don't you guys think it's funny that the two disappointing draws against Zimbabwe somehow ended up keeping our World Cup qualifying dream alive? 😂

If we won the home leg instead of drawing we’d already be in the WC.

charlesemeka85:
Players that really impressed me against Benin

Samu
Zaidu
Osimhen
Bassey
Fredricks

Not a big fan of Sanusi but I will take him over Bruno, any time any day.

If super eagles can get to Afcon semifinals I will be good with it. Rather we qualify for the World Cup than win Afcon . Let Morocco or Senegal win the Afcon hahaha

forgiveness:
Chelle focused on exposing Benin’s highline with through long balls and cross into the box from the wing and it paid.

Once they are without the ball, they defended deep into their half.

When I saw the way they started playing, I said this coach no press today ooo. I just felt at ease.

u sabi game bro 👊

mank1234:
The pitch South Africa played today was so smooth.

Happy we made the playoff but unhappy we helped South Africa qualified.

It is indeed a beautiful pitch🙏.

And thanks for your co operation ,you're indeed the Giant of Africa,our hero country , big Brother Africa....the hero in a cape . We love you Naija and we wish you the best going forward

Joebie:
this commentator dey praise us.. To talk true, we did what we needed to do since SA got thier win. But i'm not impressed with our overall play.

.

They actually played a relax game knowing d magnitude of d tension and knowing fully well dat any mistake(s) can be costly.

For me for the first time since employing Chelle I retract my statement calling him Secondary school coach.

The job was done anyway!!!!

Elock1:
Chief I didn't single out anybody, I have the right to make a comment like every other fan
And I just commented on my observations.

I talked about Nwabali, Ekong,Simon as well but why are you all getting emotional about Lookman.

he has been rusty that doesn't make him bad.
So give me a break.

I didn't see your post on Simon else I would have countered it.

Despite Nwabali error, he saved us today with his saves.