₦airaland Forum

123jamessmith:
Henceforth, chukwueze should always be starting games, the coach can be alternating between Moses Simon and ademola lookman.

I don't think it should be absolute. Match day game analyses, type of opposing defenders, synergy with available strikers and training outcome added to experience(no fixed percentage on these) are the main determinants.
That approach cost us the 2nd round against Italy at USA 94 WORLD CUP.

TheSuperNerd:
Relax my good man. I don clear our amiable mod on that one. Lol

Not only did the Modakele High Chief reach final, he faced a powerful, World Cup Team in Cameroun. Two yrs before that final, Cameroun had already debuted at the WC. Na Emmanuel Kunde, Theophile Abega, and Thomas Nkono we face ooo. We even try score sef. 3-1 na im we collect.

1984 is the only afcon final wey I gree say Cameroun pass us. They won deservedly.

Thanks for reminding him.

Also were we not victims of the away goal rule that Ghana used to knock us out last time even though UEFA didn't apply it for their own WCQ then.

Goke7:
Were we not victims of the head-to-head rule introduced for the 2006 World Cup that saw Angola qualify ahead of us? Make Burkina Faso go rest jor, na we suppose dey complain pass with SA playing most of their games in the same stadium, city, and country. Make no person provoke me, abeg. Is play-off automatic qualification?

Just come join us train to an undisputed starter

You'all need to appreciate ladan bosso too sha

TheSuperNerd:
Kog45, I second this one. Olakunle was out of his depths all through the 45mins+ he got. Wasted certain offensive transitions and we are favored we got more transitions that didnt go through him. Omo... I was disappointed.

Thank you jare.

Because na Kwara Academy and ABS product, parochial interest has overridden meritocracy and Kog45 is turning a blind eye to his boy's otuness and woeful performance

TheSuperNerd:
Kog45, I second this one. Olakunle was out of his depths all through the 45mins+ he got. Wasted certain offensive transitions and we are favored we got more transitions that didnt go through him. Omo... I was disappointed.

Unbanned.

forgiveness:
We that were already born then appreciate him for that. He gave us a true legend that won us AFCON with motm performance.

The 2002 players were rightly dropped in my own opinion.

Whilst we may not rate Chief Festus Onigbinde as the worst, Finidi is/was not the worst either. 2 matches are not sufficient to establish that.
As for Onigbinde in 2002, dropping the bulk of the team that ensured your qualification and going with more than 60%neophytes was not a brilliant idea at least not for a tournament as huge as the FIFA WORLD CUP all in a bid to punish certain players. That was travesty and foolish decision at the time hence our worst participation at the World Scene managing only 1goal in 3matches.

Why did I say Finidi was not the worst: he had not gotten enough time yes the Osimhen issue also considered valid but things could have changed. His offence for me was losing to Benin Republic(a historical dent considering the array of stars at our disposal).

Away from the comparison of FINIDI WITH ONIGBINDE, A good yardstick(my idea) to label a Coach(especially at National Team levels) would be his 1st 8matches in charge of the team. A 60% points achievement should allow for continuity and a revaluation after another 8matches should show further improvement greater than the former or equalled otherwise a sack should follow.

chrisooblog:
Also were we not victims of the away goal rule that Ghana used to knock us out last time even though UEFA didn't apply it for their own WCQ then.

in fact we don suffer no be small but many people no know

CapitalCee:
It will be played in Mexico. Omo we need to do everything to avoid Bolivia oo, they play well in high altitude. They do well in high altitude. From your projection if we can play UAE that will be best.

Let's not be faster than our shadows
Make we first climb the one way dey our front.

A step at a time.

TheSuperNerd:
CALVIN UGHELUMBA BASSEY, WARRIOR 100%

He was never subbed out once. He finished all 10 games A-Z.

Bassey = Unbreakable.

The only other person who the title Jagun-Jagun fits

Came into the team in the middle of fire for 2022 WCQ, still in the fire this 2026.

Cocony:
Whilst we may not rate Chief Festus Onigbinde as the worst, Finidi is/was not the worst either. 2 matches are not sufficient to establish that.
As for Onigbinde in 2002, dropping the bulk of the team that ensured your qualification and going with more than 60%neophytes was not a brilliant idea at least not for a tournament as huge as the FIFA WORLD CUP all in a bid to punish certain players. That was travesty and foolish decision at the time hence our worst participation at the World Scene managing only 1goal in 3matches.

Why did I say Finidi was not the worst: he had not gotten enough time yes the Osimhen issue also considered valid but things could have changed. His offence for me was losing to Benin Republic(a historical dent considering the array of stars at our disposal).

Away from the comparison of FINIDI WITH ONIGBINDE, A good yardstick(my idea) to label a Coach(especially at National Team levels) would be his 1st 8matches in charge of the team. A 60% points achievement should allow for continuity and a revaluation after another 8matches should show further improvement greater than the former or equalled otherwise a sack should follow.

My stance is hinged on the Clemens Westerhof era which allowed for improvement and players discovery.

opes:
2026 World Cup Qualifiers Fallout: Burkina Faso President Seeks Clarification Over Nigeria’s Playoff Spot

Traore think say na by wearing camo and holding pistol

minfelix:
🤣🤣🤣lol
Argentina
Brazil
Colombia
Paraguay
Uruguay
Chile
are the Conmebol teams that use to show us pepper, but you see all this
Peru
Venezuela
Nicaragua
Bolivia
them go chop am….lets just cross this crunch hurdle first, then we go take it from there

Until you jam Venezuela before you know say football no be cho cho cho again .

Biggest mistake in football.
Underestimating any team

We watched these kids grow from U-17, God of soccer should be nice on us and reward their effort with the World Cup ticket. Chukwueze though not too consistent in recent times has been sidelined for too long. I’m glad he made proper use of the opportunity he got yesterday and delivered two neat assists. We need more of that from him.

So nice to watch the U-17 partnership again… We are not talking enough about the second goal Osimhen scored. That cross from Chukwueze was too brilliant, from the corner flag area. The way he lofted the ball, perfect delivery for AirOsi. Chukwueze to Osimhen

Frank Onyeka vs Benin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Gw6fHg6OA

Calvin, Nwabali faceoff: Fire in their bones

Calvin Bassey and Stanley Nwabali had a small run in with each other at half time on the pitcj before they all retired to the dressing room. Now I dont know what transpired but my guess is Bassey telling Nwabali to cut his unnecessary acts and focus on the game and a cleansheet (probably referring to the first half action where Nwabali faced a Benin player for pushing him, with Ndidi coming to talk to him to let it go and Nwabali brushing Ndidi off).
Nwabali obviously would defend himself and let Bassey know that he too wants the ticket but had to defend himself against the Beninoise.

Like I said, just my guess. because I cant think of anything else they would be having a little argument over.

But it is good. They cleared each other and moved on and won the game together. I like that the fire is back in the team and they are holding each other accountable. Not only Osimhen doing the accountability check.

Poetic Impact. The Tank deserves Thanks.

BascoVanVeli:
Frank Onyeka vs Benin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Gw6fHg6OA

Between the Two APOTYs, Osimhen and Lookman: Bromance

Image 1: Lookman calling Osimhen #1. Nwabali also throwing in his encomiums.

Image 2: Osimhen praising Lookman's support from the sidelines.

Cocony:
Actually Osimhen, Chukwueze, Adams upfront. Moses Simon should get brief roles as an incoming sub.Fred Onyeka is our Modern Day Thompson Oliha and we might need Ejuke for creativity. There was a boy in one of the U17 WAFU B tourneys between 2020 to 2023 that was an excellent freekick taker reminiscent of Austin Okocha. I think we need him as well.
Chijioke Aniagboso former U20 2023 goalkeeper currently playing his trade in Ukraine should be called up to give NWABALI and Okoye a keen fight same as Detan Ogundare good at stopping penalties.

The Boy I referred to as the freekick specialist is currently based in Austria with LASK if I am not mistaken. Emmanuel Michael is his name; a product of Simoiben Academy in Kaduna. Played as a left full back but can be played in the left side of midfield.

lbrichman2:
The role Adams played yesterday, that's Lookman's best role.. support striker
Having him and Osimhen upfront immediately increases our quality..
Lookman should be competing for the second striker role, not with Simon or Chuks

exactly

lbrichman2:
Aniagboso is in Ukraine?
Top flight or the lower league?

starting for the second placed team in the second division

My major concern now is, will Osimhen remain fit for the entirety of the playoffs?

Goke7:
How do you even concede the midfield to a poor team, just how? Well, we should just remember that Gabon, DRC, or Cameroon won't do us any honours or respect in the play-offs, it will be do or die, so our boys better bring their A game from start to finish, any slip up or giveaway, o ti lo!

Naim we dey shout here since na
But because we win 4:0, everybody thinks we played exceptionally well..
Thank God for the big win and we appreciate the boys
But the overall play leaves a lot to be desired..

ChrisKels:
The invitational tourney in England provided us with an avenue to improvise and look for solutions to our creativity problem, you tried out Chukwueze and it was a success, then suddenly you relegated him to the bench for some clueless Simon that can neither complete a take-on nor make a single decent cross to save his life? Aswear this Chelle na confirm tozo.

Chelle read my take, and sat up.

Chuks is the only ball carrier we have in this team. Allow him to roam or commute between AM and the RW and Osimhen will always get services.

Goke7:
If there's any country that has been a victim of unfairness in football, it's Nigeria, which has cost us Afcon wins, WCQ, and the likes. I even think justice was done to us somehow, considering the undue advantage SA has had in this WCQ series.

Add this case to the list, it was 2003 U17 world cup (Mikel Obi set). FIFA resolved this by tossing of coins and it went against Nigeria and Costa Rica progressed. Sad day. The golden goal rule that favoured us in 1996 Olympics has been abandoned since

What Chuks did yesterday is what I have been expecting from Lookman since he joined the super eagles, but the guy is always looking to be the hero. To pass ball to the better positioned player, na wahala for him.

ChrisKels:
My major concern now is, will Osimhen remain fit for the entirety of the playoffs?

We pray, hope and believe so. However if he doesn't, Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman would fit in. Tolu still needs time to gel with the team and I believe he will have a good AFCON if makes the cut. Gift Orban (The Tiv/Togolese) of Hellas Verona has been consistent over the years in all the clubs he played for and should be given a call-up. We want a situation where a suitable backup is readily available for all positions.

Lest I forget, I won't be fooled by Simon's two lucky assists yesterday. Dude was crap all game, and should not be anywhere near eagles' starting line up.

Cocony:
We pray, hope and believe so. However if he doesn't, Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman would fit in. Tolu still needs time to gel with the team and I believe he will have a good AFCON if makes the cut. Gift Orban (The Tiv/Togolese) of Hellas Verona has been consistent over the years in all the clubs he played for and should be given a call-up. We want a situation where a suitable backup is readily available for all positions.

Thanks man but I don't rate Orban. I'm not even sure he's been totally cleared to represent Nigeria.

TheSuperNerd:
CALVIN CHINEDU UGHELUMBA BASSEY, WARRIOR 100%

He was never subbed out once. He finished all 10 games A-Z.

Bassey = Unbreakable.

Tanimu is better than him

Cocony:
We pray, hope and believe so. However if he doesn't, Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman would fit in. Tolu still needs time to gel with the team and I believe he will have a good AFCON if makes the cut. Gift Orban (The Tiv/Togolese) of Hellas Verona has been consistent over the years in all the clubs he played for and should be given a call-up. We want a situation where a suitable backup is readily available for all positions.

On 31 January 2023, Orban joined Belgian Pro League side Gent on a permanent deal.[13] On 11 February, Orban scored two goals on his Pro League debut in a 3–3 draw with Westerlo.[14] On 12 March, Orban managed to score four goals in a 6–2 away win over Zulte Waregem, which made him the first Gent player to do so in the 21st century. All the goals came in the second-half.[15][16] In his very next game on 15 March, he scored a first-half hat-trick in 4–1 away win over İstanbul Başakşehir in the UEFA Europa Conference League round 16. The hat-trick was scored within three minutes and 25 seconds, setting a new record for the fastest hat-trick in UEFA club competitions, breaking the previous record of six minutes and 12 seconds held by Mohamed Salah in the Champions League.[17] In the 2023–24 Europa Conference League campaign of KAA Gent, Orban scored another European hat-trick, this time against Pogoń Szczecin in the first leg of the third qualification round, resulting in a 5–0 win for Gent.[18] One of his sterling stats.

ChrisKels:
Thanks man but I don't rate Orban. I'm not even sure he's been totally cleared to represent Nigeria.

Cleared by whom if I might ask?