₦airaland Forum

minfelix:
out of the 3 afcons we have 2 were against lowly rated rivals(Zambia and Burkina Faso) the other one in 1980, we won as the host.

im beginning to see that super eagles cant measure up in final/semifinal when they meet a fellow african power house in a back to back, either they win 1 and jah in the next stage
Mali 2002 (senegal comot us for semifinal)
Tunisia 2004 (Tunisia comot us for semifinal after beating Cameroon in quarterfinals)
Egypt 2006 (CIV comot us for semifinal after beating Tunisia in quarterfinals)
Ghana 2008(Ghana jah us for quarterfinals)
Angola 2010 (Ghana jah us for semifinal)
SA 2013 (we met Mali and Burkina faso enroute winning the cup)
Egypt 2019(Algeria jah us for semifinal)
2021 (Tunisia jah us for round 16)
2023 (we played Angola,Cameroon,SA and CIV remove us)

omo seeing the way powerhouse nations lined up from quarterfinals to the final, i was just having some scary feelings….make super eagles beat powerhouse back to back to back ? aaah omo e go hard in this era oo

You’re very right, I think when we start meeting tougher nations back to back we Dey crumble!

Honestly once the game entered extra time I was no longer interested in the final cos if we had won we won’t have been able to win the final as our players will be fatigued against an in-form Senegal. I preferred we bow out in the semi final than having another heartbreak in the final. Once we couldn’t do the business in 90 mins I knew we were done. Check out back in 2013 We did the quarters, semi and finals in 90 mins.

Eric Chelle, has been praised greatly by majority of the Nigerian football fans and while I appreciate his zeal to succeed with the Super Eagles, I still think he's not the right man for the position.

He is poor tactically and finds it hard to change tactics. Yesterday's game game was seriously yearning for tactical change but he couldn't read the game.

His whole front was completely inactive, playing 2 point men (Osihmen and Akor) for a game you were expecting to absorb pressure and your key midfielder missing was a complete amateurish decision.

Playing Lookman behind the front men may have worked in other matches but definitely didn't work against Morocco and a tactical change to the wing would have taken off pressure from the back wingers who were obviously over laboured.

Eric Chelle obviously doesn't know his players. Awaziem is a better penalty taker than Chukwueze. How did Chukwueze get selected for penalties?

Generally, the game yesterday was poor from both teams and the CAF-backed referee killed it entirely.

If una like tell dem make dem no practice PK training for training. Una go still come here and cry against Egypt on Saturday.

minfelix:
But shebi na same Chelle eagles beat Jamaica on penalties at Unity cup….why is his head no longer winning pk shootouts again

Jamaica na team? 😂

123jamessmith:
Waiting concern Bruno conern penalty. Chelle choice of penalty takers is killing us. After the full time. You next line of action as a coach you are start preparing for penalty. Attackers are usually the best penalty takers. I don't know if oshimen is injured. Oshimen left the pitch second half of extra time, when the game is almost finish, why not leave him for him to take one of the penalty.

im telling you broooo🔥…there are some players u will see going up to take the penalty and you know they have the chance to convert it.
After Morocco lost their first, a more prolific striker should have come in to boost our chance, Osimhen is still having PTSD on penalty matters, but its likely Osimhen converts his own after that Morocco loss…e jus b like bringing up Ekong after the opponent miss, baba no get time, he will enusre he scores his own.
Onuachu scored his own
Bring up another fearless…Bassey and Ajayi lost against DRC, but i will prefer to use them again…they will surely convert…but you see this PTSD of a thing is really a demon 😅😅, all are scared not to come and lose for a second time after that DRC experience…but 9ja penalty history is not like that..im sure all those who lost against DRC would have converted theirs yesterday…people like Simon,Bassey will be more aware….
Yobo scored in 2004 penalty shootout and lost in 2006 penalty shootout

Goke7:
Jamaica na team? 😂

dem dey use penalty shootout kno who and who be strong/weak team?🤣🤣….no b Zambia use penalty collect Afcon for CIV head?

Meliforme:
How many times was Iwobi involved in duels during the matches that had Wilfred Ndidi.
Raphael Onyedika's poor game reading placed Iwobi in difficult situations.

The most painful part was his poor positioning and movements that made it difficult for him to receive passes from the back.
He was just lost.
He was supposed to be free in order to receive passes, He was supposed to drop deeper to receive passes.

If Iwobi dropping deeper was to escape the Moroccan press, Why was he dropping even deeper than Onyedika.
The act was simple, he was helping another who failing woefully.
Onyedika wasn't helping to progress plays.
He was now looking up to Iwobi to deliver passes to him, and even at that he wasn't identifying free spaces to move into.
Dude killed our game flow, simply put he was missing.

I appreciate your support for him, but his performance was abysmal.

That guy finished us totally!!!!!!!
As in Capital Letters TOTALLY!
If you follow all these Nairaland fan boys(like the one you quoted) with all these their ye-ye, ye-ye write ups you will get lost.

Subzero0477:
One thing I'll give Morocco, they studied us to the last detail every single player except Bassey was nullified, I won't be surprised if they did the same to the Senegalese

They had enough time in their hands to do that as they played a day before us and also didn't have to travel.

But we should have a system to atleast take a look at all our possible opponents when we get to the round of 16 subsequently to help us with this too.

SymphonyRad:
Yup, not sure it's a coaching issue at this point..we just lack the players with the elite mentality like the Senegals etc when it matters the most at the most crucial stage.

It's psychologically gutting to lose out on a world cup final playoff on PKs after demolishing Benin republic and Gabon...

And then this after all that show against Algeria, these boys can't scam me anymore. Hats off to them for trying, but this is it...it's time to rebuild with younger players like we saw Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal etc do at this tournament, Ademola, Osimhen etc aren't winning shit, they are a generation comparable to Belgiums own.

17 semifinals, 8 finals and ONLY 3 AFCONs is a very diabolical return, the type that makes you question if we are truly cursed?
This isn't a coaching issue anymore, even prime Pep Guardiola can't save this bunch.

Yeah I thought this team had a destiny with a title but looks like this is the best they can offer us. Making it to the entire finish line na problem 😂 especially our midfielders and strikers 😂

I will put it more on players like Simon, Chuks, Iwobi and Nididi(though not available yesterday) who are the most experienced in the team who don’t have very strong finish line mentality. In games like this you need them more to step up. Simon and Chuks perhaps it’s time to leave as these are players who’ve got trickery in their play but can’t translate it in big moments, too bad!

Afobear:
I hear na Chukwueze killed Mohbad

Eh, afor you don come?
How many beer you drink yesterday

As you can see even Ghanians are complaining about the refree even in the Ghana League
Check the date

TheSuperNerd:
Onyedika fall my hand in that Physical aggression aspect. Yes, he helped out a few times defensively and progressively BUT on the whole he was timid in duels. Like a soft ginger breadman. Haba! I know he is technically brilliant and can pull off great passing but he was being tossed in nearly every duel and in nearly every moment he was pressed.


If I have 2 or 3 more midfield lads built and aggressive like Bassey and they have the technical and tactical traits to excel, then forget it, it is over for Africa and the world too. Add those 2-3 to Ndidi and Onyeka and we are really cooking. Add the experienced Iwobi creative spice and it is the top off.

Akor tried ooo. Akor did use his physicality in certain passages of plays. I remember him powering past 2-3 markers on the right, holding them off with a fine mix of raw power and technical nous and won a throw in the offensive half.
If Onyedika was like Akor in the physical aggression aspect... he would have coped better against the Moroccan press as he had the technical part on lock already.


My midfield scouting just got narrowed. Easy to find midfielders but are they technical, progressive and aggressive? Na the main focus be this, all 3 must be present not 2/3 but if it is 2/3 then one of the 2 must be physical aggression. Would be a huge advantage too if the MFs have fine height. I am now more obsessed with the Yaya Profile.

Onyedika is not Ndidi and will never be we just need to start grooming replacements for both Ndidi and Iwobi as they are not getting younger. I almost thought our midfield woes were over but looks like it’s still a major headache we can’t be getting bullied in the midfield on the African continent na wetin we go do for World Cup if we had qualified! haba

ChrisKels:
I don't know the criterion used in choosing the captains of the team but I think Bassey deserves to be our captain. Last night, when the team was down(tired), this guy almost single-handedly carried the team on his shoulder and took the team to penalty shoot out. He was never under pressure eventhough he was on yellow. He never loses his head. Dude just enjoy playing football and having fun with it. Very intimidating and bullish. Even our opponents were scared of pressing him because it was always an effort in futility, hence they always waited for him to pass to Ajayi before pressing.

Chinedu "Bassey" Ughelumba, the son of Ikenna Ughelumba is a solid rock in defense.

The guy was at a time even playing LB for Bruno trying to get a cross to Osimhen.
Played DM position for Onyedika that was clueless looking like a donkey in the midfield.

SymphonyRad:
Yup, not sure it's a coaching issue at this point..we just lack the players with the elite mentality like the Senegals etc when it matters the most at the most crucial stage.

It's psychologically gutting to lose out on a world cup final playoff on PKs after demolishing Benin republic and Gabon...

And then this after all that show against Algeria, these boys can't scam me anymore. Hats off to them for trying, but this is it...it's time to rebuild with younger players like we saw Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal etc do at this tournament, Ademola, Osimhen etc aren't winning shit, they are a generation comparable to Belgiums own.

17 semifinals, 8 finals and ONLY 3 AFCONs is a very diabolical return, the type that makes you question if we are truly cursed?
This isn't a coaching issue anymore, even prime Pep Guardiola can't save this bunch.

Trust me you are not being scammed, we can’t dismantle two North African teams and you wont wana put faith in the guys…this is just a matter of team pass team….it shows why we are not number 1 on africa…maybe 3rd best is our real position…keeping faith in them is actually justified especially winning 5straight games with heavy scorelines…imagine starting the worldcup qualifiers with 5wins and a draw, its more like winning all the first 5matches and drawing the 6th, thats a whooping 16points…ajeh dis afcon no pain me at all…na world cup pain me…this team is a world cup team…qualified to play at the world cup quarterfinals

Fredrick Benjamin please do well and come back. You and Bassey need that combo. 🙏

ThunderFireAgba:
The guy was at a time even playing LB for Bruno trying to get a cross to Osimhen.
Played DM position for Onyedika that was clueless looking like a donkey in the midfield.

Onyedika was really clueless in dt game.,as in d look on his face says it all..fear catch am,for a player dt plays in champions league,he didn’t cover himself in glory at all

yinkeys:
Morocco deserve to win abeg
See infrastructure

Should Qatar also have been given the worldcup for having such glorious infrastructure during the worldcup?

Because of infrastructure, CAF just handed over the cup to Morrocco.

Anyways, I see Senegal upsetting them come Sunday.

It's going to be very sweet watching them cry.

Come Saturday, Chelle should use players that haven't tasted action this AFCON even if it's for 45 mins.

mrwilliams9:
I just dislike how off we look in this big games. We just look like a team that doesn’t belong…

That’s where your most experienced players come in see how Mane rescued Senegal against Egypt. See how Salah even dragged an underperforming side to the semi final that’s what your most experienced players can do.

Now going forward since most experienced players like iwobi, Ndidi, Simon and chuks can’t push us further than this, from next tournament and if they are still in the team players like osihmen, Lookman, Bassey, Onyeka the onus now falls on them to finally deliver us from this curse if not then they too won’t be different from their seniors.

minfelix:
Trust me you are not being scammed, we can’t dismantle two North African teams and you wont wana put faith in the guys…this is just a matter of team pass team….it shows why we are not number 1 on africa…maybe 3rd best is our real position…keeping faith in them is actually justified especially winning 5straight games with heavy scorelines…imagine starting the worldcup qualifiers with 5wins and a draw, its more like winning all the first 5matches and drawing the 6th, thats a whooping 16points…ajeh dis afcon no pain me at all…na world cup pain me…this team is a world cup team…qualified to play at the world cup quarterfinals

No be lie o Morocco semi final finish at the last World Cup was no fluke just that they don’t need bad officiating to win fairly but dem no care.

Our boys did give good account of themselves based on that I mean we played the number one ranked team in Africa and they couldn’t beat us in 120 mins that’s something great to cheer about sha

Sarsaparilla524:
NFF must petition CAF to change the centre referee assigned to oversee the Nigeria Vs Morocco game.
He is very controversial.
Our last AFCON finals against the Ivory Coast is a testament that he is compromised.
NFF must act fast.
The time is now.

who saw this?
That was why my prediction failed.

Odunayaw:
The extreme of playing the clairvoyant, knowing his intentions? If you like find 1000 Twitter screenshots, it still holds no water.

That's your opinion. In the mouth of two or three witnesses a matter is established.

Goke7:
No be lie o Morocco semi final finish at the last World Cup was no fluke just that they don’t need bad officiating to win fairly but dem no care.

Our boys did give good account of themselves based on that I mean we played the number one ranked team in Africa and they couldn’t beat us in 120 mins that’s something great to cheer about sha

I didn't see anything special about this Moroccan team. They were bolstered by home support.

Meliforme:
How many times was Iwobi involved in duels during the matches that had Wilfred Ndidi.
Raphael Onyedika's poor game reading placed Iwobi in difficult situations.

The most painful part was his poor positioning and movements that made it difficult for him to receive passes from the back.
He was just lost.
He was supposed to be free in order to receive passes, He was supposed to drop deeper to receive passes.

If Iwobi dropping deeper was to escape the Moroccan press, Why was he dropping even deeper than Onyedika.
The act was simple, he was helping another who failing woefully.
Onyedika wasn't helping to progress plays.
He was now looking up to Iwobi to deliver passes to him, and even at that he wasn't identifying free spaces to move into.
Dude killed our game flow, simply put he was missing.

I appreciate your support for him, but his performance was abysmal.

If na me talk them go say i be hater

We literally were clueless in the creative department last night

Nothing was working they were using ghen ghen press on us 3v1

Instead of releasing ball on time our boys will try to dribble out of a 3 man closing you how dumb is that ??

Akor Adams

Mujtahida:
That's your opinion. In the mouth of two or three witnesses a matter is established.

Witnesses? 😂😂

elyte89:
Onyedika was really clueless in dt game.,as in d look on his face says it all..fear catch am,for a player dt plays in champions league,he didn’t cover himself in glory at all

I was insulted on Facebook when I questioned Eric Chelle's stance of starting Onyedika in a game of such magnitude.
Why is he still stuck in Club Brugge?
Nnamdi would have done better as DM than Onyedika.
With Iwobi playing,there was no need starting Him.
I faulted the exclusion of Chrisantus Uche.

we move

etebefia:
Eric Chelle, has been praised greatly by majority of the Nigerian football fans and while I appreciate his zeal to succeed with the Super Eagles, I still think he's not the right man for the position.

He is poor tactically and finds it hard to change tactics. Yesterday's game game was seriously yearning for tactical change but he couldn't read the game.

His whole front was completely inactive, playing 2 point men (Osihmen and Akor) for a game you were expecting to absorb pressure and your key midfielder missing was a complete amateurish decision.

Playing Lookman behind the front men may have worked in other matches but definitely didn't work against Morocco and a tactical change to the wing would have taken off pressure from the back wingers who were obviously over laboured.

Eric Chelle obviously doesn't know his players. Awaziem is a better penalty taker than Chukwueze. How did Chukwueze get selected for penalties?

Generally, the game yesterday was poor from both teams and the CAF-backed referee killed it entirely.

You know when a coach loses a match, it's always about what we think he should have done but didn't do. There's no guarantee that if he had done what you suggested and we still lost, you'd have suggested another tactical option and use that to label the coach as poor.

Once you lose, you are a bad coach.

UncleHaba22:
Spew rubbish??

Omo I know you'll make reference to that crossing to osihmen from Bruno

We all know that crossing na once In a blue moon

How many Crosses did Bruno pull in the whole afcon since he started playing and what is the success rate

Nigeria no get good crossers of the ball fullbacks
Except you wanna deny it

They're too average mehn 😢

I am very sure that refree will be smiling to the bank or maybe dem go don build house for the ref or gave him a Morocco passport that performance was an eyesore

Na now you talk..
Our defense was monstrous in the quarters and semis..
They may not have put in so much crosses as you say, but they defended excellently..


Brahim no see ball play yesterday
Bruno locked brahim yesterday and Mahrez in the Algeria game
Osayi locked Amoura in the Algeria game and that Morocco winger yesterday ( don't remember his name)

They defended well
If not for that chukwueze miss yesterday, we would have won

Honestly, the Super Eagles deserve respect and some serious slack. They fought hard, but the referee sucked the life out of the game with obvious one-sided decisions. Our boys had to play on eggshells, while Morocco played freely, knowing fully well they had the referee on their side.

Add to that the fact that Morocco were comfortably based in Rabat all through the tournament, while our lads had to move twice, both physically draining and mentally unsettling. Then throw in a massive home crowd roaring behind the hosts; that kind of pressure can overwhelm even the best teams.

Yes, Chelle could have done more tactically in the second half, the changes and substitutions didn’t quite spark the boost we needed. But even with all these odds stacked against them, the boys showed heart, grit, and character.

For me, they played beyond expectations. Proud of them.

Odunayaw:
Witnesses? 😂😂

So we who watched the match and drawing deductions aren't witnesses. Abeg move go front. I don't have time for obtuseness

Akkin:
I doubt this team can even win bronze and Nigeria should remember that there is only one more AFCON left before it becomes a 4 year spectacle....which means that we have had the chance to become 5 times champion but near success syndrome has held us back twice

Once AFCON becomes 4 years gap... you'll only have 2 times in 10 years to win the title making it tougher and harder and I fear that if the players of Nigeria keep having this stage freight when big games come......our next afcon win would be in a long long loñg time

And we would all look back on this generation as promising as they looked and ask ourselves: "what did you ever achieve? Why are you like a snake who passed on top of a rock"

Back to factory reset
One loss everybody don turn complainers

Joebie:
Me I just wan know if Chelle go stay, and what we will do next. Also status of our petition to FIFA. Other than that, we continue to build

Simple