₦airaland Forum

minfelix:
we all have different endurance and temperament to this patriotic thing….some will get to a point and mention the ills we are facing even while being patriotic while will want to be adamantly patriotic till kpai do them and Nigeria part….so stop freaking out when when the short enduring patriots voice out the obvious…make una calm down
Nobody is wrong…everyone here is right
-Yes we are Giant of Africa!✅
-Yes we are now doing like mumu of Africa!✅

both facts are currently mixing up like aporo epa ijebu

Simple accountability by admitting their shortcomings is a serious problem for this lot. There's nothing to improve on. Everything is fine according to them.

NasirIbnLaAhad:
There's a difference between "will" and "capability." We never lost the technical ability. But we've lost institutional integrity and commitment to maintenance. It's not just about wanting something but about establishing systems that prevent corruption and ensure accountability, which requires structural reform, not just desire.

If you read this post and couldn't decipher it, I'm forced to call your level of education into question.

NasirIbnLaAhad:
Simple accountability by admitting their shortcomings is a serious problem for this lot. There's nothing to improve on. Everything is fine according to them.

im telling you🤣🤣….once you sound small negativity, those ones that was born in 1966 will come and attack and start shouting GenZ…im even shocked that one that call himself Bossoflife whatever talking down on Queenjazz…making her look like she is a kid….no b d same queenjazz dey lament say she would be 40 by 2030 WC? abi who again, cos i know a female moniker made that painful statement immediately we lost that penalty to DRC….

If we Nigeria can’t bounce back to her glory days, make nobody attack me if i patriotically as a Nigerian start to harmlessly call Morocco a giant oo🤣🤣.

See the way those f**lish vuvuzela south africa just start to dey close up the winning ratio gap we had over them omo🤣🤣🤣….
MAKE UNA TELL CHELLE and this SUPER EAGLES
-SA MUST NOT BEAT THE GIANT OF AFRICA AT AFCON OOO!!
-WE MUST AT WORST EXIT THE COMPETITION AT ROUND 16 OOOOO

ELSE WE NO B GIANT ANYTHING AGAIN OOO

A 3-5-2 setup with a 3-man midfield having an enforcer, a mezzala and an attacking midfielder cum "wingfielder". No true winger due to presence of wingbacks who will be key in offensive transitions. Not a bad one. Ogbu, Bassey and Semi are okay in this setup and Zaidu/Osayi as wingbacks suit it as well. Osayi to be covered by Semi on that right side.

Ogbu as CCB just as he features in his club is a solid selection for this setup.

In midfield, I would firstly interchange Akin with Iwobi. Akin on the LHS and Iwobi on the RHS. Both acting as 8s but with distinct functions. Akin as B2B 8 from the LHS and Iwobi as 8 from the RHS providing the vision and passing lanes to connect with Osimhen and Lookman.

Now while Ndidi sits deep, shields and try to contribute to our first phase buildup, Akinsanmiro can come deep and link up, ball-carry when needed and break the lines pushing our 1st phase into the 2nd and final phases of our offensive transition. I pick Akin for this and not Iwobi because I need Iwobi lurking closer to the final third, between the opposition lines either centrally or on the Right half space. Iwobi's eye for a final ball is far more effective closer to the final third than from deep.
This does not mean Iwobi can't fall back sometimes to help pick up the pieces in case of possession turnover. But on-the-ball, when we are in possession, he is to stick closer to the frontlines, exploiting the gaps in between their defensive midfield, fullback and central defensive lines. He wont be doing this alone though.


Now in attack, Lookman in a 2 man attack with Osimhen but mainly covering the top left final third moving central as Osimhen spearheads from the top right final third and centrally.
Lookman could also fall a few steps behind Osimhen as an SS and join Iwobi in exploiting the gaps in between those opposition defensive lines, this draws markers towards Iwobi and Lookman coz they also can shoot from those gaps or lay a further final pass to the Predator in wait (Osimhen) to land the kill.

This is dynamic as even a few times Osimhen himself could fill the gap freeing Lookman to attack the central zones in the final third and finish the move.

But ofcourse, this is not the only strategy of attack. Crosses from the channels, the surprise switch of plays, the long balls, the setpieces and more are other channels we can use to punish.

Defensively, this 352 metamorphoses easily into a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 shape. The wingbacks fall back into the extreme defensive third in step with the core back 3. Ndidi falls back just slightly ahead of the defensive line providing another layer of defence in step with Akinsanmiro on the left and Iwobi on the right. 5-3-2. Leaving Lookman and Osimhen to act as outlets when posession is recovered.

In a 5-4-1... it would see Lookman join them leaving Osimhen to stay close to their last man or next to last man, in case of a quick possession recovery on our part.

In terms of pressing out of possession with the ball still in the opposition's first phase of buildup, Lookman, Osimhen, Akin and Iwobi and the corresponding Wingback get close to shut out enough passing lanes, put pressure on the closest potential receiver and choke out their buildup.


Again, a fine setup. Gives us offensive and defensive balance if utilised correctly. Tactically similar to Peseiro's 343/3421 but with its own sound variations.

joelsteron:
Work load on Iwobi reduced and his close to the box with Akinsanmiro bossing the midfield. Since he's box to box player.

Ndidi covering the defense.

Sanusi and Osayi helping the defence, closing up midfield, busting forward for crosses and pressing.

Osimhen amd Lookman wrecking havocs.

What is missing here my people?

Nothing concern me with giant or whatever.
Make nobody add outright lies and exaggerations in the name of "short endurance Patriot"

minfelix:
we all have different endurance and temperament to this patriotic thing….some will get to a point and mention the ills we are facing even while being patriotic while some will want to be adamantly patriotic till kpai do them and Nigeria part….so stop freaking out when when the short enduring patriots voice out the obvious…make una calm down
Nobody is wrong…everyone here is right
-Yes we are Giant of Africa!✅
-Yes we are now doing like mumu of Africa!✅

both facts are currently mixing up like aporo epa ijebu

in all i remain 100000000% blooded🩸SUPER EAGLES….remove super eagles i dont think there is anything making me a Nigerian oo🤣🤣….This country is dancing kurukere on a time bomb, only God will deliver it

Goke7:
Losing a bid means there’s no accountability 😂

Words of wisdom 😂

Na the claim of high ground de amuse me

Dem say Morocco get the facilities and infrastructure.....where the fans? See how stadium for Mali vs Zambia empty. If na Nigeria host...empty seat go hard to see.

Odunayaw:
Nothing concern me with giant or whatever.
Make nobody add outright lies and exaggerations in the name of "short endurance Patriot"

once you see the lie, abeg dey quickly bolden am, make we tear am open wether na LIE or na TRUTH

minfelix:
im telling you🤣🤣….once you sound small negativity, those ones that was born in 1966 will come and attack and start shouting GenZ…im even shocked that one that call himself Boss12 whatever talking down on Queenjazz…making her look like she is a kid….no b d same queenjazz dey lament say she would be 40 by 2030 WC? abi who again, cos i know a female moniker made that painful statement immediately we lost that penalty to DRC….

If we Nigeria can’t bounce back to her glory days, make nobody attack me if i patriotically as a Nigerian start to harmlessly call Morocco a giant oo🤣🤣.

See the way those f**lish vuvuzela south africa just start to dey close up the winning ratio gap we had over them omo🤣🤣🤣….
MAKE UNA TELL CHELLE and this SUPER EAGLES
-SA MUST NOT BEAT THE GIANT OF AFRICA AT AFCON OOO!!
-WE MUST AT WORST EXIT THE COMPETITION AT ROUND 16 OOOOO

ELSE WE NO B GIANT ANYTHING AGAIN OOO

Don't mind them. Let them keep using the past to console themselves as other countries push forward. There's a reason Morocco is the golden child in African football right now and everyone is looking at us like the rejected stepchild. We can reclaim our position as giants but we need to put in the work, not sit down like jobless people reminiscing about times long gone.

Truidstarr:
Dem say Morocco get the facilities and infrastructure.....where the fans? See how stadium for Mali vs Zambia empty. If na Nigeria host...empty seat go hard to see.

na that area Nigeria use solidly crase pass them…we turn up for everything football in this country

Nigeria of old also reached the Afcon final last year.

Nigeria of old also won the Wafcon this year.

Nigeria of old also won 2 of the last 3 APOTYs.

You make it sound like everything we have achieved so far were done in 1800.

In the end, you can see with evidence that Morocco is still worlds away from catching up to Cameroun/Egypt not to mention Nigeria.

Egypt dominated Africa consistently between 2006 and 2010, winning 3 Afcons back to back to back. Their clubs were also winning the CAF CLs in that time period, winning twice in 2006 and 2008. As grand as their football legacy is, they still fall below Nigeria and Cameroun on the overall.

Morocco is not even in Egypt's class yet. Egypt is still North Africa's biggest football nation.

I am Team Morocco as always. Always have been for years now but I am also a student of history and facts. Not just recency bias.

minfelix:
kudos to Nigeria of old, but currently i prefer to be a fan thats enjoying a run of form thats looking like its not ending soon….back then most moroccans envy and would wanna enjoy what Nigerians are enjoying, but currently most Nigerians envy and would wanna enjoy what morocco is enjoying….we have simply put down legacy fine and good, there was once a Pele, now there is no more Pele.

Morocco may not be close to equaling us but they are pretty on the verge of pursuing an catching our legacy…
We should not be slacking abeg, the giant tag is rottening away….we first Ghana qualified for the world cup 3 times back to back(94,98,2002)…now Ghana don dey catch us on same number of appearance with their first qualification in 2006(sorry for steering thw ship towards Ghana, but na still same giantism vanishing syndrome plaguing us)….Almost all our football noise making rivals don single handedly host Afcon from the beginning of Y2K oo
SA 2013(though not our rival, but a match up with them always deafen the whole of africa)
Gha 2008
Egypt 2006
Cam 2017
CIV 2024

we go dey here now Algeria andSenegal go host😃, while we are still waiting for NFF to remove kpako advert board…..ahhhh omo our NFF so shameful ajeh😂😂🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

minfelix:
im telling you🤣🤣….once you sound small negativity, those ones that was born in 1966 will come and attack and start shouting GenZ…im even shocked that one that call himself Boss12 whatever talking down on Queenjazz…making her look like she is a kid….no b d same queenjazz dey lament say she would be 40 by 2030 WC? abi who again, cos i know a female moniker made that painful statement immediately we lost that penalty to DRC….

If we Nigeria can’t bounce back to her glory days, make nobody attack me if i patriotically as a Nigerian start to harmlessly call Morocco a giant oo🤣🤣.

See the way those f**lish vuvuzela south africa just start to dey close up the winning ratio gap we had over them omo🤣🤣🤣….
MAKE UNA TELL CHELLE and this SUPER EAGLES
-SA MUST NOT BEAT THE GIANT OF AFRICA AT AFCON OOO!!
-WE MUST AT WORST EXIT THE COMPETITION AT ROUND 16 OOOOO

ELSE WE NO B GIANT ANYTHING AGAIN OOO

That one just argues with mostly throwing insults how he likes. The rest of the super eagles fans here that feel we can host afcon as of now that were arguing without insults and emotions must be strange na. I'm glad most avoided him to avoid migraine before tomorrow's game.

Truidstarr:
Dem say Morocco get the facilities and infrastructure.....where the fans? See how stadium for Mali vs Zambia empty. If na Nigeria host...empty seat go hard to see.

Lol it's not easy as it may sound

TheSuperNerd:
Nigeria of old also reached the Afcon final last year.

Nigeria of old also won the Wafcon this year.

Nigeria of old also won 2 of the last 3 APOTYs.

You make it sound like everything we have achieved so far were done in 1800.

In the end, you can see with evidence that Morocco is still worlds away from catching up to Cameroun/Egypt not to mention Nigeria.

Egypt dominated Africa consistently between 2006 and 2010, winning 3 Afcons back to back to back. Their clubs were also winning the CAF CLs in that time period, winning twice in 2006 and 2008. As grand as their football legacy is, they still fall below Nigeria and Cameroun on the overall.

Morocco is not even in Egypt's class yet. Egypt is still North Africa's biggest football nation.

I am Team Morocco as always. Always have been for years now but I am also a student of history and facts. Not just recency bias.

bros the back to back consistency that gave us the tag is no longer there….excluding the female football which is still making us solidly a giant…other things now BECOMING wash 🧼 …..you are talking as if somebody is saying we dont have history…me im telling you that your history would start becoming irrelevant if the recent is not maintaining fighting to keep that pride…yeah we go to the last afcon final but the previous we exited in round 16, then before the previous it was bronze medal, before the bronze medal we disappeared from the continental scenes for 2editions, na there our ekukeness started….my own is as we are blowing hot and cold, people like morocco dey break record oo…this year alone they won 2FIFA organized competition and also participated at the club world cup….
we just need to sit up shaaa

Kilishihunter:
That one just argues with mostly throwing insults how he likes. The rest of the super eagles fans here that feel we can host afcon as of now that were arguing without insults and emotions must be strange na. I'm glad most avoided him to avoid migraine before tomorrow's game.

his regular quotes is
“its a waste of time arguing with you”🤣🤣 so why you come dey quote the person na
na so one came one time with “Yes men” “yes men”🤣🤣

another mumu will just enter here after any bad super eagles game and scream
“aveeeerrrraaaaageeeee”

omo 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Odunayaw:
Na the claim of high ground de amuse me

All of them wey Dey talk about accountability put them for position now they won’t be different na to Dey shout institutional competence online dem sabi because we lose hosting bid! Nonsense

minfelix:
na that area Nigeria use solidly crase pass them…we turn up for everything football in this country

This na lie 🤣

Local jeun jeun tournament has more fans than Npfl games

Truidstarr:
Dem say Morocco get the facilities and infrastructure.....where the fans? See how stadium for Mali vs Zambia empty. If na Nigeria host...empty seat go hard to see.

Same way Nigerians gather to go and watch a NPFL ?

Why would Morocco fans go and watch Mali vs Zambia when it’s not their team ?

This is what I feared in relation to Morocco hosting the AFCON.

Enough fans from participating countries won't be able to attend due to affordability and the Moroccans stiff visa protocols (which is understandable due to it being a transit country for people wanting to japa to Europe.

Unfortunately the Moroccan fans can't be bothered attended non-Morocco games to create atmosphere which was what stood out the much celebrated AFCON in CIV.

Truidstarr:
Dem say Morocco get the facilities and infrastructure.....where the fans? See how stadium for Mali vs Zambia empty. If na Nigeria host...empty seat go hard to see.

TheSuperNerd:
Gen Zs who hate True History Lessons. "2025 Recency-only" full their eyes and that is all they know and run with. Very reactive pseudointellectuals. Lol

The World Cup loss has really done a number on lots of folks so tey they don abuse everyone and everything that has nothing to do with the game sef. What manner of ptsd 😂

TheSuperNerd:
A 3-5-2 setup with a 3-man midfield having an enforcer, a mezzala and an attacking midfielder cum "wingfielder". No true winger due to presence of wingbacks who will be key in offensive transitions. Not a bad one. Ogbu, Bassey and Semi are okay in this setup and Zaidu/Osayi as wingbacks suit it as well. Osayi to be covered by Semi on that right side.

Ogbu as CCB just as he features in his club is a solid selection for this setup.

In midfield, I would firstly interchange Akin with Iwobi. Akin on the LHS and Iwobi on the RHS. Both acting as 8s but with distinct functions. Akin as B2B 8 from the LHS and Iwobi as 8 from the RHS providing the vision and passing lanes to connect with Osimhen and Lookman.

Now while Ndidi sits deep, shields and try to contribute to our first phase buildup, Akinsanmiro can come deep and link up, ball-carry when needed and break the lines pushing our 1st phase into the 2nd and final phases of our offensive transition. I pick Akin for this and not Iwobi because I need Iwobi lurking closer to the final third, between the opposition lines either centrally or on the Right half space. Iwobi's eye for a final ball is far more effective closer to the final third than from deep.
This does not mean Iwobi can't fall back sometimes to help pick up the pieces in case of possession turnover. But on-the-ball, when we are in possession, he is to stick closer to the frontlines, exploiting the gaps in between their defensive midfield, fullback and central defensive lines. He wont be doing this alone though.


Now in attack, Lookman in a 2 man attack with Osimhen but mainly covering the top left final third moving central as Osimhen spearheads from the top right final third and centrally.
Lookman could also fall a few steps behind Osimhen as an SS and join Iwobi in exploiting the gaps in between those opposition defensive lines, this draws markers towards Iwobi and Lookman coz they also can shoot from those gaps or lay a further final pass to the Predator in wait (Osimhen) to land the kill.

This is dynamic as even a few times Osimhen himself could fill the gap freeing Lookman to attack the central zones in the final third and finish the move.

But ofcourse, this is not the only strategy of attack. Crosses from the channels, the surprise switch of plays, the long balls, the setpieces and more are other channels we can use to punish.

Defensively, this 352 metamorphoses easily into a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 shape. The wingbacks fall back into the extreme defensive third in step with the core back 3. Ndidi falls back just slightly ahead of the defensive line providing another layer of defence in step with Akinsanmiro on the left and Iwobi on the right. 5-3-2. Leaving Lookman and Osimhen to act as outlets when posession is recovered.

In a 5-4-1... it would see Lookman join them leaving Osimhen to stay close to their last man or next to last man, in case of a quick possession recovery on our part.

In terms of pressing out of possession with the ball still in the opposition's first phase of buildup, Lookman, Osimhen, Akin and Iwobi and the corresponding Wingback get close to shut out enough passing lanes, put pressure on the closest potential receiver and choke out their buildup.


Again, a fine setup. Gives us offensive and defensive balance if utilised correctly. Tactically similar to Peseiro's 343/3421 but with its own sound variations.

See analysis omg!
Guys lets draft this man into our technical department pls. I doubt piece like this will get to the team. I doubt

People do care as do FIFA. The constant referral to Nigeria being Record winners of the World U17 Title echoes loudly.

For Elite Football nations like Spain, it also matters. They won it in 1999 and 2003 and it is no surprise those winning sides gave us Xavi, Iker Casillas and Cesc Fabregas.
Till today, the best football nations on earth still fight to win it.


And it is no surprise you are a custodian of this MRI lie that we have tackled repeatedly on this thread.

You said, Since the MRI scan has been enforced strictly by FIFA Nigeria hasn't even come close to winning those youth tourneys.

Fact check: The MRI was introduced firstly and experimentally by FIFA at the 2009 U17 WC but was now widely and further enforced as from the 2011 FIFA U17 WC. Ever since its intro in 2009, Nigeria went on to win the 2013 and 2015 U17 World Cup titles.

So Mr Chinedu, you lie!


And yes, Morocco remain underachievers in African football and their fantastic WC run in 2022 to the semis (first for an African side) does not change that fact.
In Asia, no team has gotten to the Semis apart from South Korea in 2002 but we all know the best team in Asia remains the Japanese whose best WC performance is a round of 16 place in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022.
Even North Korea has reached the Quarters before and that does not make them an Asian Powerhouse over Japan.

I am Team Maroc (Morocco). Always have been since the days of the Great Mustapha Hadji's younger brother, Youssouf Hadji. Always loved their football style and colors and more but truth be told, they dont command the pedigree and class of Elite Football nations like Nigeria, Cameroun, Egypt and even Ghana.
I am rooting for them at this Afcon too only behind the Super Eagles but the truth is the truth, they are still underachievers and have wobbled & fumbled at Africa's biggest tournament and time will tell if that story plays out again this edition.

Edu93:
No one cares about who wins the baby tournaments...they are for development of young kids...That's the main objective...For elite football nations. Winning them is secondary.
It's the nonsense which is why Nigerian youth teams were fielding over aged players back then to impress the gullible Nigerian society.
Since the MRI scan has been enforced strictly by FIFA Nigeria hasn't even come close to winning those youth tourneys.
Yes Morocco have been underachievers in the AFCON but I do believe they're going to win one soon and the fact the fact that they're a genuinely good side who can match up to any team currently in world Football

My 5 Hot Takes for Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON:

1. Osimhen will break Yekini's all time goal scoring record at some point during the tournament. Will also win Golden Boot.

2. Nigeria will get to a second consecutive final. Don't know if we will win sha.

3. Fisayo and Ebenezer to be break out stars.

4. Chukwueze to finally have a string of signature performances for the Super Eagles at a tournament.

5. Expect everyone to pitch in but MVP for the team at the end of the competition will be between Osimhen & Chukwueze

Everyone deals with loss in their own unique way.

Goke7:
The World Cup loss has really done a number on lots of folks so tey they don abuse everyone and everything that has nothing to do with the game sef. What manner of ptsd 😂

Any link to watch it with Android phone?

chrisooblog:
This is what I feared in relation to Morocco hosting the AFCON.

Enough fans from participating countries won't be able to attend due to affordability and the Moroccans stiff visa protocols (which is understandable due to it being a transit country for people wanting to japa to Europe.

Unfortunately the Moroccan fans can't be bothered attended non-Morocco games to create atmosphere which was what stood out the much celebrated AFCON in CIV.

The crowd in this stadium seems sizable though most are Malians. I've also seen the camera pan to a few Moroccans in the stadium

Mali still missed the penalty after the chants from their fans for a var review, lot of African sides have a scoring problem

They won 2 FIFA organized competitions. Really? You are seriously counting the FIFA Arab Cup which is literally a tournament made by FIFA to pander to the Arab world for their money and continued partnership? Lol

Pls. Only the U20 WC counts.

And yes, we have struggled and encountered dark times. We missed the Afcon in 2012 before we won it in 2013. Didnt we?
We missed the 2015 and 2017 editions before we came back strong in 2019 reaching another semis and bagged another afcon medal.
2021... another bad run. But in 2023 held in 2024, we reached the final. Another Afcon medal bagged.

In the last 3 Afcons alone, for all the bad times we faced, Nigeria has bagged 2 medals. Morocco bagged Zero.

See, it would be hard to erase years of pedigree built up across all categories. Very difficult. Almost impossible even despite the downtimes because eventually Nigeria always seem to find a way back into reckoning.

If you really paid attention to the history you claim to acknowledge (yet want to knock as irrelevant because of a sour period), then you would not see past the point already made.

minfelix:
bros the back to back consistency that gave us the tag is no longer there….excluding the female football which is still making us solidly a giant…other things now BECOMING wash 🧼 …..you are talking as if somebody is saying we dont have history…me im telling you that your history would start becoming irrelevant if the recent is not maintaining fighting to keep that pride…yeah we go to the last afcon final but the previous we exited in round 16, then before the previous it was bronze medal, before the bronze medal we disappeared from the continental scenes for 2editions, na there our ekukeness started….my own is as we are blowing hot and cold, people like morocco dey break record oo…this year alone they won 2FIFA organized competition and also participated at the club world cup….
we just need to sit up shaaa

Number 1 is a big call but I will tag your post celebratingly if it happens.

Osimhen is on 31 goals. Yekini had 37. Osimhen needs to bag 7 goals at this Afcon to break the record not equal it. Break!

In other words, Osimhen would need to be top scorer at this Afcon to shatter Yekini's record. In the top scorer race, we have Algeria's Amoura... my eyes are on him too if he does come to the party.

For #4... If Chelle uses him right, I expect it. The Benin performance shows promise.

chrisooblog:
My 5 Hot Takes for Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON:

1. Osimhen will break Yekini's all time goal scoring record at some point during the tournament. Will also win Golden Boot.

2. Nigeria will get to a second consecutive final. Don't know if we will win sha.

3. Fisayo and Ebenezer to be break out stars.

4. Chukwueze to finally have a string of signature performances for the Super Eagles at a tournament.

5. Expect everyone to pitch in but MVP for the team at the end of the competition will be between Osimhen & Chukwueze

joelsteron:
Work load on Iwobi reduced and his close to the box with Akinsanmiro bossing the midfield. Since he's box to box player.

Ndidi covering the defense.

Sanusi and Osayi helping the defence, closing up midfield, busting forward for crosses and pressing.

Osimhen amd Lookman wrecking havocs.

What is missing here my people?

My starting line-up too.

We've been leaking goals playing a back four and change of playing personnel hasn't worked. Perhaps playing three centre-backs and two wing-backs will solve the problem like in the last AFCON.

chrisooblog:
Everyone deals with loss in their own unique way.

Anyone who is sore angry with the country should go and rant in the politics section make we focus on the game here!

Meanwhile I love your positive takes and postulations on the Afcon.