₦airaland Forum

ChrisKels:
Yes I have noticed that he tends to make that Kanu's signature curve move to evade his markers quite often. That was same move he made from the centre of the pitch to set up Iwobi for a pre-assist that gave us our first goal. His is more simple though because he does it facing his marker, while Kanu does his almost backing his marker(s)

Goke7:
But let’s cut paseiro some slack this present team has more squad depth. We had no Ndidi in the last Afcon. It was even the absence of Ndidi that completely changed our formation in the last Afcon. I hope we don’t truly miss Ndidi against Morocco. Akor is another player that has added to the depth of this squad. No Akor last Afcon too.

CapitalCee:
Here are Morocco's last 23 matches (most recent first, as of Jan 12, 2026, based on available data):

1. Jan 9 '26: Cameroon 0-2 (W)
2. Jan 4 '26: Tanzania 0-1 (W)
3. Dec 29 '25: Zambia 0-3 (W)
4. Dec 21 '25: Comoros 0-2 (W)
5. Dec 18 '25: Jordan 2-3 (W)
6. Dec 15 '25: UAE 0-3 (W)
7. Dec 11 '25: Saudi Arabia 0-1 (W)
8. Dec 8 '25: Syria 0-1 (W)
9. Dec 5 '25: Oman 0-0 (D)
10. Dec 2 '25: Comoros 1-3 (W)
11. Nov 18 '25: Uganda 0-4 (W)
12. Nov 14 '25: Mozambique 0-1 (W)
13. Oct 14 '25: Congo 0-1 (W)
14. Oct 9 '25: Bahrain 0-1 (W)
15. Sep 8 '25: Zambia 0-2 (W)
16. Sep 5 '25: Niger 0-5 (W)
17. Aug 30 '25: Madagascar 2-3 (W)
18. Aug 26 '25: Senegal 1-1 (D)
19. Aug 22 '25: Tanzania 0-1 (W)
20. Aug 17 '25: DR Congo 1-3 (W)
21. Aug 14 '25: Zambia 1-3 (W)
22. Aug 10 '25: Kenya 1-0 (L)
23. Aug 3 '25: Angola 0-2 (W)


They said Morocco has been unbeaten in the last 23 matches. But a basic inform team can easily rack up these results against these teams.
For Example Senegal has not lost any match in 90minutes for a long time except for Brazil

Danielnino00:
You and I know too well that Ndidi's absence wasn't felt at the last AFCON... Onyeka did his job perfectly well .. In fact, it was around that period that there was a clamour for Ndidi to be benched from the team....
Peseiro even preferred to bring in Aribo instead of Onyedika in certain games.... He played Osimhen until he picked a knock.... I'm sure he was aware that Aina was carrying a knock prior to the final but still went ahead to start him...

daveP:
Nerdie you fes disagree but ended and said very few las las. Meaning you sha agree las las. Like 70% just wasted time and resources. Im good with all you said shaa.

I hope Dan and Fidelis go on to even better tactical relevance with their respective clubs after this tournament. High hopes on them. We need a dozen of them in the NPFL to change the league

Goke7:
So what are you saying then? And for Ndidi he offers so much defensively and offensively at the same time, not sure onyedika can do both that well like him. Akor is like the Boniface we missed at the last Afcon. Lookman and osihmen are doing much better because of him. This current team has more quality than the previous Afcon team

So many foreign pundits I have seen are tipping the eagles over Morocco but warning we might miss Ndidi.

9JAMac10:
Algerian Football Federation: The refereeing decisions in the last match against Nigeria cannot be overlooked, as they raised questions and left widespread dissatisfaction, striking at the credibility of African refereeing

chrisooblog:
JP had Onyedika so why did he decide to go hyper defensive?

Fisayo too he didn't invite.

The major difference in this squad is that Eric called more midfielders and is using them adequately.

Imagine how Aina would have been cooking with this setup at the AFCON.

JP overused the Haram approach. I understand for Ivory Coast and maybe Cameroon but haba Angola and SA!?

TheSuperNerd:
Aina and Benjamin Frederick are not at this Afcon. Have we not missed them? Or have we?

TheGoodJoe:
Peseiro benched Onyedika without mercy.

Goke7:
You know our defence is still our weakest but thanks to Ndidi, Onyeka, bright and Bruno for the work so far. Especially to our full backs for stepping up!

Goke7:
Angola with mabululu and SA were smoking hot in the last Afcon but for Lookman and osihmen we won’t have trumped over those teams o!

Make this team win Afcon first before we crucify paseiro finally! I still think paseiro did best with the materials at his disposal.

TheSuperNerd:
That is relatively my point.

We have missed Aina at this Afcon. Osayi didnt convince some in the 1st 2 games. Yes, I noticed Osayi's improvement vs Tunisia but some still doubted. So Aina has been missed.
We have also missed Benjamin Frederick. Some argue that we would keep more cleansheets if Benjy was around. I cannot argue much against that too.

So yes, we have missed them. But we have also adapted very strongly without them.


Now, we will miss Ndidi's experience and command in the middle of the park. He is one of the players making up the team's spine but even in surgery, we have cases where a damaged spinal disc is replaced by a prosthetic one to restore function and enable life to move on effectively. It gets the job done even for several athletes in that some who have engaged in such procedure still returned to Sports.

The case is same here with Ndidi. He has a capable replacement. One not with Ndidi's vast experience, yes, but with the confidence and elite game experience already garnered at this Afcon and previously in the UCL. This replacement has been MOTM in this same AFCON.

Onyedika is like the prosthetic disc in this case. One who will plug in and execute the same functions Ndidi dished out in all games he featured prior to the Morocco game.

Onyedika may not be as aggressively defensively assertive as Ndidi but he is assertive enough to plug in and brings far more technical skillsets than Ndidi possesses. Dont forget that Onyedika has balled repeatedly alongside Frank Onyeka in the NT with good synergy and even came into the Rwanda WCQs game away from home (Chelle's first game in charge) and slotted in seamlessly alongside Iwobi and Ndidi.

So we will miss Ndidi but we will also adapt strongly without him. It would almost look like he never left.

lexyman:
truth be told told , all the team s in the semi final are worthy to lift the trophy .... this should be one of the toughest semifinal pairing in recent times ..... SUPER EAGLES all the way

realpoacher:
This is a good one


The only reason Morocco are favorites here is due to home advantage

The results on the field so far says a different story.

My prediction - Nigeria wins 2:1

..

9JAMac10:
Algerian Football Federation: The refereeing decisions in the last match against Nigeria cannot be overlooked, as they raised questions and left widespread dissatisfaction, striking at the credibility of African refereeing

chrisooblog:
Jobless lot. Was it the referee that prevented them from having a single shot on target against us throughout the match?

They will be okay las las.

nairalandankrah:
The truth of the matter is, Ndidi provides essential midfield stability, leadership, and defensive work rate for us...
So I believe his absence is really a major blow for us.
Coach Chelliolla may shift to a double pivot with Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, freeing Alex Iwobi higher up, while Victor Osimhen as usual, takes the armband... Our forwards would really need to take their chances..

Tchinaidi:
This record is indeed very scary.God Abeg o

TheSuperNerd:
Chelle is not shifting to a double pivot because it has always been a double pivot. Onyedika is only coming to take up Ndidi's place in that double pivot in the 4-3-1-2 cum 442 diamond setup. Chikena.

AndSunGorilla:
The penalty shout is their major grouse. And as shown multiple times, it wasn't. It touched Ajayi's thigh first before his arm. They were lucky they didn't get a red card. Ndidi got an unfair yellow card etc.

semid4lyfe:
I prefer Chelle switch the personnel. Onyeka should play Ndidi's role. Onyedika should play Onyeka's former role.

TheSuperNerd:
Chelle is not shifting to a double pivot because it has always been a double pivot . Onyedika is only coming to take up Ndidi's place in that double pivot in the 4-3-1-2 cum 442 diamond setup. Chikena.

daveP:
Calmness ke? Lars Lagerback is the calmest coach the super eagles ever had. We know how it ended. No be by calm pls o. Lol

Aside that one, his on pitch ideas and decisions were terrible ones.

With time we'll need better coaches not giving mediocrity 2nd chances, esp when we can't see any significant upgrade from that person as well.


I'll rather give Amuneke if it came down to the two