₦airaland Forum

Cocony:
My probable line up against Gabon if the players are invited

Gk Maduka Okoye
Df Benjamin Fredrick
Df William Troost Ekong
Df Calvin Bassey
Df Zaidu Sanusi
Mf Fred Onyeka or Raphael Onyedika
Mf Chidera Ejuke
Mf Fisayo D.Bashiru
Fw Samuel Chukwueze
Fw Victor Osimhen
Fw Jerome Akor Adams

I believe Gabon can be beaten with this or 75% of this as starting lineup by 3 or 4 goals margin.

ChrisKels:
Reaping where they didn't sow yet you ended up contradicting yourself with the bolded?

Getting talents from their offshore banks and nurturing the players through their age grade system is the total opposite of reaping where one didn't sow.

Your country waits until the other countries build the players completely, then pounce like criminals.

TheSuperNerd:
We will be here in 5 yrs and 10yrs and we would see how that stance ages. I see those comments and I laugh. SA talents that cant thrive in the best leagues have leapfrogged a county constantly exporting talents to the Euro leagues including some of the best leagues in the world, season after season, year after year? These are parts of the reasons SA would remain inferior to Nigeria in football despite their strong PSL league.

Is it not in this same continent we saw Egypt use their strong league organization and more to rule Africa at the Afcon for 3 straight editions between 2006-2010? Did heaven fall? Did they qualify for the WC? SA's last WC was in 2010. The one they hosted. They missed 2014, 2018 and 2022. They only managed to return for the 2026 edition because Naija didnt wake up sooner and SA played 7 of their WCQs games in SA.

I laugh really.

ChrisKels:
You are alone on this one oo

Samueltemi337:
Wetin be this

Truidstarr:
There is no contradiction, From U17 level Men and Women, they poach them from academies and clubs scattered all over Europe. These clubs and academies developed these players.

TheSuperNerd:
We will be here in 5 yrs and 10yrs and we would see how that stance ages. I see those comments and I laugh. SA talents that cant thrive in the best leagues have leapfrogged a county constantly exporting talents to the Euro leagues including some of the best leagues in the world, season after season, year after year? These are parts of the reasons SA would remain inferior to Nigeria in football despite their strong PSL league.

Is it not in this same continent we saw Egypt use their strong league organization and more to rule Africa at the Afcon for 3 straight editions between 2006-2010? Did heaven fall? Did they qualify for the WC? SA's last WC was in 2010. The one they hosted. They missed 2014, 2018 and 2022. They only managed to return for the 2026 edition because Naija didnt wake up sooner and SA played 7 of their WCQs games in SA.

I laugh really.

Cocony:
My probable line up against Gabon if the players are invited

Gk Maduka Okoye
Df Benjamin Fredrick
Df William Troost Ekong
Df Calvin Bassey
Df Zaidu Sanusi
Mf Fred Onyeka or Raphael Onyedika
Mf Chidera Ejuke
Mf Fisayo D.Bashiru
Fw Samuel Chukwueze
Fw Victor Osimhen
Fw Jerome Akor Adams

I believe Gabon can be beaten with this or 75% of this as starting lineup by 3 or 4 goals margin.

Cocony:
My probable line up against Gabon if the players are invited

Gk Maduka Okoye
Df Benjamin Fredrick
Df William Troost Ekong
Df Calvin Bassey
Df Zaidu Sanusi
Mf Fred Onyeka or Raphael Onyedika
Mf Chidera Ejuke
Mf Fisayo D.Bashiru
Fw Samuel Chukwueze
Fw Victor Osimhen
Fw Jerome Akor Adams

I believe Gabon can be beaten with this or 75% of this as starting lineup by 3 or 4 goals margin.

Samueltemi337:
Wetin be this

Cocony:
My probable line up against Gabon if the players are invited

Gk Maduka Okoye
Df Benjamin Fredrick
Df William Troost Ekong
Df Calvin Bassey
Df Zaidu Sanusi
Mf Fred Onyeka or Raphael Onyedika
Mf Chidera Ejuke
Mf Fisayo D.Bashiru
Fw Samuel Chukwueze
Fw Victor Osimhen
Fw Jerome Akor Adams

I believe Gabon can be beaten with this or 75% of this as starting lineup by 3 or 4 goals margin.

Cocony:
My probable line up against Gabon if the players are invited

Gk Maduka Okoye
Df Benjamin Fredrick
Df William Troost Ekong
Df Calvin Bassey
Df Zaidu Sanusi
Mf Fred Onyeka or Raphael Onyedika
Mf Chidera Ejuke
Mf Fisayo D.Bashiru
Fw Samuel Chukwueze
Fw Victor Osimhen
Fw Jerome Akor Adams

I believe Gabon can be beaten with this or 75% of this as starting lineup by 3 or 4 goals margin.

TheSuperNerd:
Chrisooblog, just know that as from today, ur own heaven na View Once. 😂

But seriously, Adingra did make mess of Aina but I understand Aina struggled as he carried a knock in that final. He battled through with a hamstring knock.

Quoting Iwobi and Bassey:

“For those that don’t know, Ola played with a grade 2C hamstring injury. I don’t know how he did it, but he was still one of the best players in the tournament. So many people sacrificed a lot for that AFCON, and he led by example,” Iwobi said.

“Even with that injury, he gave everything for the country. That’s why AFCON meant so much. You’re not just playing for a club, you’re carrying 240 million people on your shoulders,” he (Bassey) said.


Source: October 2nd, 2025 articles on Punch and Legit.ng
https://www.legit.ng/sports/football/1676775-alex-iwobi-details-ola-aina-struggled-simon-adingra-afcon-2023-final/



Now this same Adingra is in or out of the sunderland team in the EPL. Last game this weekend, he was benched for 90mins so he is bot exactly on fire at the moment but still a bonafide wing option for them.

Now, CIV do have a solid side overall. They are also reigning African Champs but I agree when it is said that their attack is not that great. CIV does not have a strong 9 currently.
They boast fine wingers especially Amad of Man Utd and this Yann Diomande lad of RB Leipzig who featured at the 2022 U17 Wafu B for CIV.
But their true strength lies at the back. Although not lot of firepower teams were in their WCQs group but u have to give them some credit going the whole campaign without conceeding in 10 WCQs games.

A different story in theit AfconQ group though. Zambia beat them despite the presence of Evan Guessand of Villa and Adingra of sunderland in attack and topped the group even. Sierra Leone also beat CIV.
Now with a decent CIV side, New Zealand without Chris Wood beat them.

CIV is not convincing offensively but their midfield is full of steel and brawn and their backline get men wey mount. Lol

elyte89:
To start with , no ndidi in dis line up,whether u like it or not,ndidi is a starter for chelle except if injured any line up wout ndidi under chelle is like lying to ursef dt tomorrow is not Tuesday

ChrisKels:
Nwabali ahead of Okoye who just came back from a ban

Keep Ekong away from the team. Play Bassey and Frederick.

Give the RB position to Osayi or Awaziem - I don't rate either of them though.

Ejuke plays football like a secondary school boy. Discard him for Lookman and warn Lookman sternly to stop trying to be the hero.

Dele Bashiru goes to the Bench for Iwobi.

If Lookman fails to heed to the advice, pull him out after the first 45minutes and push Iwobi to the left and introduce Bashiru.

Allow Chuks to roam between RW and AM

ChrisKels:
Nwabali ahead of Okoye who just came back from a ban

Keep Ekong away from the team. Play Bassey and Frederick.

Give the RB position to Osayi or Awaziem - I don't rate either of them though.

Ejuke plays football like a secondary school boy. Discard him for Lookman and warn Lookman sternly to stop trying to be the hero.

Dele Bashiru goes to the Bench for Iwobi.

If Lookman fails to heed to the advice, pull him out after the first 45minutes and push Iwobi to the left and introduce Bashiru.

Allow Chuks to roam between RW and AM

Cocony:
My probable line up against Gabon if the players are invited

Gk Maduka Okoye
Df Benjamin Fredrick
Df William Troost Ekong
Df Calvin Bassey
Df Zaidu Sanusi
Mf Fred Onyeka or Raphael Onyedika
Mf Chidera Ejuke
Mf Fisayo D.Bashiru
Fw Samuel Chukwueze
Fw Victor Osimhen
Fw Jerome Akor Adams

I believe Gabon can be beaten with this or 75% of this as starting lineup by 3 or 4 goals margin.

Cocony:
Your opinion is noted. I ask this in view of your opinion: Taking their past let's say 4 matches both for the National team and their clubsides who would you rather have start as your DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER between Wilfred Ndidi, Fred Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika? Constructive ideas only not sentiment.

Mujtahida:
I presume that you did not watch the podcast because he clearly stated that his advice goes against the grain of his philosophy but that we need to be pragmatic.

This is not league football but knockout play offs. And contrary to your assertion, it is indeed long term thinking necessary to make qualification possible. Anybody who watches the podcast will hardly disagree with him

Cocony:
I love your analysis with exceptions of NWABALI, OSAYI AND AWAZIEM ON THE BASIS OF PERFORMANCES IN THEIR LAST 4 NATIONAL TEAM AND CLUBSIDE INPUT.
EJUKE MIGHT BE AN UNKNOWN ACE UP OUR SLEEVES FOR BETTER SPLIT ACCURATE PASSES TO DELIVER GOALS.

typicalgamer:
Shay na players when carry you reach here be this ??

With this lineup you’ll end up like Remo stars 🤣

ChrisKels:
Lol this is the wrong time to change a goalkeeper. Psych up Nwabali and we are good. If we qualify, then during the scrimmages or world cup preparations you introduce Okoye.

Osayi though clueless will do better in the RB position than the now very slow Ekong would as a CB.

Unless I'm playing 3 at the back, Ekong won't start for me.

BascoVanVeli:
Flamingos vs Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OFBCQ0OgWU

QueenJazz:
Abeg no use PTSD finish us for this thread abeg. 🤧

The Remo Stars loss was expected. My only hope was that it would be a tight game (it wasn't 😂).

But you see this Flamingoes game... 😑😑😑

ChrisKels:
Lol this is the wrong time to change a goalkeeper. Psych up Nwabali and we are good. If we qualify, then during the scrimmages or world cup preparations you introduce Okoye.

Osayi though clueless will do better in the RB position than the now very slow Ekong would as a CB.

Unless I'm playing 3 at the back, Ekong won't start for me.

TheSuperNerd:
Forgiveness pls stop the deceit. Carney Chukwuemeka is not available to us. So just stop. Are u afraid to call Akinsanmiro so you wont be seen as Tribalistic by others? Or u dey fear Chriskels?
Call Akinsanmiro in your discussions pls and stop yapping about lads that u know have their hearts with England.

All I see here is you making a chess move. Lol.

Akinsanmiro >>> Carney plss. Focus on those actually available to us and dont have their hearts elsewhere.

Cocony:
Even when Nwabali's CLUBSIDE performance is subpar.
What was Ekong's performance like barring the own goal scored against SouthAfrica? I mean in the Saudi League?

jihday:
the first guy is struggling at Villa, the second one is ok not great while the last guy is just there, Brighton offloaded him to sunderland where he’s not exactly pulling up trees

QueenJazz:
I don't even count 2010 for SA because if it weren't for hosting rights, they wouldn't even smell the competition. The last tournament SA qualified for properly for the WC by playing against other African teams was in 1998. Lol. It's been nearly three decades since then, and they only managed to qualify this time by playing 90-95% of their games at home. 🤣🤣

Sugarboyy:
How often do you watch Nwabali to make this assertion that his club performance has been subpart? Nwabili has been doing excellently well for his club, his teammates are not just good enough and that's why they are last on the table. Nwabili usually makes atleast 3 saves per matches and he recently saved a 90mins penalty that helped his club to a draw