₦airaland Forum

lbrichman2:
I'm happy we came away with our unbeaten record in regulation time..
The second half wasn't so good and we were falling into traps set by the Jordanians

True.

But the way dem dey flog passes and trivelas yesterday 😂 omo e crazy.

BankyGee:
True.

But the way dem dey flog passes and trivelas yesterday 😂 omo e crazy.

Like!!

That game was beneath the two midfield generals (Iwobi and Ndidi) if you ask me and more reason why Iwobi vex for that Jordan guy. It was like, "I pass you, you know yet you still dey flex muscle because ref dey help una. U still come dey hold me like say na wrestling..."

I understand Iwobi but still he should have just walked away from the disgust. This was part of why they just did not come to the party in the 2nd half. They knew the Jordanians were taking it too seriously and they (Iwobi & Ndidi) did not want to exert more than they needed to so it resulted in some form of passive surrender to the gra gra of the arabs.

lbrichman2:
Make we no lie
There was no need for Iwobi and Ndidi to play that match..

I might even argue same for Simon and Lookman

But we didn't need Iwobi and Ndidi at all
The midfield was doing well and should have been allowed to see out the game

TheSuperNerd:
What did Iwobi and Ndidi do yesterday different from what the Onyedika and Onyeka duo showed in the first half?
Answer that and you will be taken more seriously because it is clear that their introduction even saw the Jordanians up their game. As if they got even bolder. So pray tell, answer the question and dump this your lazy analysis of always poking at Onyedika who was key to our plays in the first half that produced 3 goals.

Lastly, Funny how you can easily discern Frank onyeka's role yet cannot discern why Ejuke keeps up with his school boy football. Yet according to your "tactical eyes", he is our best winger. I cannot trust such eyes please.
Frank was one of our better players yesterday yet he gave the ball away more times than a pro should which makes my point on his limited technicality which I always harped for years.

Your english is good, but your temper and manners are quite the opposite.
You can't bring me down to your level. It is too toxic.

For me o I was happy to see the aggression from Iwobi. I like to rest assured all our boys are capable of choko.

Iwobi had always looked soft to me until yesterday.

TheSuperNerd:
That game was beneath the two midfield generals (Iwobi and Ndidi) if you ask me and more reason why Iwobi vex for that Jordan guy. It was like, "I pass you, you know yet you still dey flex muscle because ref dey help una. U still come dey hold me like say na wrestling..."

I understand Iwobi but still he should have just walked away from the disgust. This was part of why they just did not come to the party in the 2nd half. They knew the Jordanians were taking it too seriously and they (Iwobi & Ndidi) did not want to exert more than they needed to so it resulted in some form of passive surrender to the gra gra of the arabs.

To be fair, Jordan beat South Korea to reach the recent Asian Cup Semifinals. Korea complete with Son ooo.

Arab Cup Runners up too. So yeah, not exactly pushovers but they tried to prove too much yesterday and protested shamelessly. Way too much that Onyedika's good goal was cancelled.

BankyGee:
True.

But the way dem dey flog passes and trivelas yesterday 😂 omo e crazy.

TheSuperNerd:
That game was beneath the two midfield generals (Iwobi and Ndidi) if you ask me and more reason why Iwobi vex for that Jordan guy. It was like, "I pass you, you know yet you still dey flex muscle because ref dey help una. U still come dey hold me like say na wrestling..."

I understand Iwobi but still he should have just walked away from the disgust. This was part of why they just did not come to the party in the 2nd half. They knew the Jordanians were taking it too seriously and they (Iwobi & Ndidi) did not want to exert more than they needed to so it resulted in some form of passive surrender to the gra gra of the arabs.

Exactly
Chelle should trust the other midfield guys to do the job

TheSuperNerd:
That game was beneath the two midfield generals (Iwobi and Ndidi) if you ask me and more reason why Iwobi vex for that Jordan guy. It was like, "I pass you, you know yet you still dey flex muscle because ref dey help una. U still come dey hold me like say na wrestling..."

I understand Iwobi but still he should have just walked away from the disgust. This was part of why they just did not come to the party in the 2nd half. They knew the Jordanians were taking it too seriously and they (Iwobi & Ndidi) did not want to exert more than they needed to so it resulted in some form of passive surrender to the gra gra of the arabs.

👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

I believe you dont have the capacity in this instance to present evidential substance to back up all the grammatical constructs you have been laying out. That is what is toxic to you. The fact that you have no substance to put into the fire of the discussion. It will simply burn on the altar of sound analytical evidence. Level? I dont deal with Ejuke-like school boy level of analysis. So stay there.

Meliforme:
Your english is good, but your temper and manners are quite the opposite.
You can't bring me down to your level. It is too toxic.

lbrichman2:
This dude no get joy 😊😊😊

The guy heaven na view once 😂

Goke7:
The guy heaven na view once 😂

🤣🤣🤣

TheSuperNerd:
And take a good look at Osimhen. You forget Osimhen did not bag his 1st Super Eagles goal until his 7th cap.

Take a good look at Iwobi too. Despite the several caps he had, he kept getting the stick even after Afcon 2021.

Onyedika is doing well despite getting fewer starting caps in midfield. He did well yesterday and with more games, he will get even better.

Lest we forget Iwobi has been massive for the eagles before his form or performance took a dip, it’s not that Iwobi needed all the time in the world to impress o, as a youngster he was excellent as his goal took us to the 2018 World Cup! Osihmen too was coming off a great performance from our underage teams.

I pray onyedika gets better but also remember that a bashiru that’s not as technically gifted as Iwobi yet he (Iwobi) had to sit up!

The less said about Zaidu, the better!
Omo the dude too stiff!!

I missed Bruno yesterday
We need to recall Felix Agu

Nwabali has offers, will move in summer – Etafia

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Greg Etafia has revealed that Stanley Nwabali already has several offers on the table and is set to secure a new club when the season ends, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nwabali parted ways with South African side Chippa United by mutual consent following the January transfer window, a move that caught many by surprise. Etafia, a former Nigerian goalkeeper who has worked closely with Nwabali since his departure from the Chilli Boys, explained that the 29-year-old had been keen to leave during the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he was one of Nigeria’s standout performers, but could not get the necessary clearance from his club.

“When I spoke to him, he told me he had a lot of offers when AFCON was on, he needed to go, but there is no agreement within the club,” Etafia said in an interview with Brila.

“He came, felt like he needed to play or go. Don’t forget, Dumisani Msibi was doing well in his absence. At the same time, he decided what he wanted, the club and him came to an agreement, and he moved on. Right now, he has a lot of offers and is waiting for the season to end.”

Nwabali was not among the goalkeepers invited to the Super Eagles’ current international camp, a decision Etafia found difficult to accept given the goalkeeper’s contributions to the national team.

“He is doing fine. He wanted to keep fit, thinking about the camp because he isn’t among the invitees. The three goalkeepers that were invited are playing at their clubs. But Nwabali has really contributed for Nigeria, I feel he could have been with them in camp,” Etafia said.

“Sometime ago, they did that too with Ademola Lookman, even when he was having issues with Atalanta.”

Since making his international debut in 2024, Nwabali has won two AFCON medals with Nigeria.


Source: Punch Nigeria.

TheSuperNerd:
Nwabali has offers, will move in summer – Etafia

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Greg Etafia has revealed that Stanley Nwabali already has several offers on the table and is set to secure a new club when the season ends, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nwabali parted ways with South African side Chippa United by mutual consent following the January transfer window, a move that caught many by surprise. Etafia, a former Nigerian goalkeeper who has worked closely with Nwabali since his departure from the Chilli Boys, explained that the 29-year-old had been keen to leave during the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he was one of Nigeria’s standout performers, but could not get the necessary clearance from his club.

“When I spoke to him, he told me he had a lot of offers when AFCON was on, he needed to go, but there is no agreement within the club,” Etafia said in an interview with Brila.

“He came, felt like he needed to play or go. Don’t forget, Dumisani Msibi was doing well in his absence. At the same time, he decided what he wanted, the club and him came to an agreement, and he moved on. Right now, he has a lot of offers and is waiting for the season to end.”

Nwabali was not among the goalkeepers invited to the Super Eagles’ current international camp, a decision Etafia found difficult to accept given the goalkeeper’s contributions to the national team.

“He is doing fine. He wanted to keep fit, thinking about the camp because he isn’t among the invitees. The three goalkeepers that were invited are playing at their clubs. But Nwabali has really contributed for Nigeria, I feel he could have been with them in camp,” Etafia said.

“Sometime ago, they did that too with Ademola Lookman, even when he was having issues with Atalanta.”

Since making his international debut in 2024, Nwabali has won two AFCON medals with Nigeria.


Source: Punch Nigeria.

Abeg he needs a club
I no want see any of those pipes for our post again

Iwobi needed all the time for he was a youngster. I remember his games alongside Iheanacho who was also still at Man City. That he is close to 100 caps today, you think say na by encouraging him in training camps without regular games? His run of games bestowed a lot of privileges.

Onyedika has been fantastic too for us. When last did you see a central midfielder come in and began tearing up the scoring stats from the get go? That guy is Onyedika. Not only is he a good midfield option but a goal threat with his superb ball striking.

Yesterday, Onyedika did not put a foot wrong. He was good so this Dinho alarm is false.

FDB played vs Iran but did not play this one vs Jordan... Chelle's call. He too needs more games. Our young midfielders both in the team and upcoming uncapped ones need their run of gametime in matches like Jordan. Leave out the Generals please! Save them for the real war.

Goke7:
Lest we forget Iwobi has been massive for the eagles before his form or performance took a dip, it’s not that Iwobi needed all the time in the world to impress o, as a youngster he was excellent as his goal took us to the 2018 World Cup! Osihmen too was coming off a great performance from our underage teams.

I pray onyedika gets better but also remember that a bashiru that’s not as technically gifted as Iwobi yet he (Iwobi) had to sit up!

lbrichman2:
Abeg he needs a club
I no want see any of those pipes for our post again

😂 take am easy bro shebi when Chelle said he doesn’t need a gentleman as a keeper some people dey criticise am! You see am now 😂

Goke7:
He needs to improve very fast so his case won’t be like Fegor Ogude despite how very good he was got displaced by an Onazi!

I bet you that if we manage to get Ugochukwu from Burnley Onyedika may go into oblivion especially if he leaves Brugge to a non UCL playing side because playing in the UCL helps in giving him visibility

By now Onyedika should be benching Ndidi for that CDM starting position but from observation he hasn’t done enough which is obvious when the Besiktas CDM isn’t playing or starting

Like I do tell some United fans that many of them will notice how poor and sluggish mainoo is in the team’s midfield when the club gets a proper CM to compete with him, same goes to Onyedika.

We really need midfielders who can detect and control games easily not the ones that attempts to trap the ball 3 times, turn and pass to the nearest defender or full back

Goke7:
Lest we forget Iwobi has been massive for the eagles before his form or performance took a dip, it’s not that Iwobi needed all the time in the world to impress o, as a youngster he was excellent as his goal took us to the 2018 World Cup! Osihmen too was coming off a great performance from our underage teams.

I pray onyedika gets better but also remember that a bashiru that’s not as technically gifted as Iwobi yet he (Iwobi) had to sit up!

in the current super eagles team no Iwobi no midfield which is very bad

Chineke, so you no rate Kobbie Mainoo. So you agree with how Amorim left him out? Carrick came in and began playing him ooo. Mainoo has featured in nearly all games since Carrick took over and contributed real good to your good run of form. So even for your club, u no dey appreciate good thing. Smh.... Charles u get problem.


Also, Lesley Ugochukwu, as much as I like the look of him and appreciate his quality, played for France U21s this international break. Your reply was "good for him".
Lesley still wants France as things stand... so for now, it is Onyedika, FDB and the other young lads like Akinsanmiro, Nnadi, David Moses, Otomewo, Dennis, etc that we have to focus on.

It is not like your club football where you can go bid for Tchouameni to come man your DM role.

Papi85:
I bet you that if we manage to get Ugochukwu from Burnley Onyedika may go into oblivion especially if he leaves Brugge to a non UCL playing side because playing in the UCL helps in giving him visibility

By now Onyedika should be benching Ndidi for that CDM starting position but from observation he hasn’t done enough which is obvious when the Besiktas CDM isn’t playing or starting

Like I do tell some United fans that many of them will notice how poor and sluggish mainoo is in the team’s midfield when the club gets a proper CM to compete with him, same goes to Onyedika.

We really need midfielders who can detect and control easily not the ones that attempts to trap the ball 3 times, turn and pass to the nearest defender or full back

Yesterday, it was no Iwobi and our midfield helped us get 3 goals in one half. Make una talk something else abeg.

Papi85:
in the current super eagles team no Iwobi no midfield which is very bad

Papi85:
I bet you that if we manage to get Ugochukwu from Burnley Onyedika may go into oblivion especially if he leaves Brugge to a non UCL playing side because playing in the UCL helps in giving him visibility

By now Onyedika should be benching Ndidi for that CDM starting position but from observation he hasn’t done enough which is obvious when the Besiktas CDM isn’t playing or starting

Like I do tell some United fans that many of them will notice how poor and sluggish mainoo is in the team’s midfield when the club gets a proper CM to compete with him, same goes to Onyedika.

We really need midfielders who can detect and control games easily not the ones that attempts to trap the ball 3 times, turn and pass to the nearest defender or full back

Once views are divided about any player’s performance, it’s up to that player to sit up! Till today if osihmen isn’t performing we all complain despite his stats. Osayi was a player almost everyone wrote off but today the story is different even Ndidi we thought was finished until he gave us a master performance at the Afcon. A player doesn’t need much games to douse any doubts? How many games did osayi play at Afcon to command his place?

@Thesupernerd, that’s it o! enough said!

Meliforme:
I joined 34 minutes into the watch and throughout my viewing of the match, Raphael Onyedika did not impress me.
What exactly does Raphael Onyedika's contribute to our midfield.

When it comes to accuracy in the long and short passes of the ball, Raphael Onyedika is second to none, but what does he even do with those.
I have not seen any significant forward passes of the ball.
I am yet to see any significant forward carries of the ball.
He doesn't open up that much to help build and progress play from the back due to his positioning (is he running away from something, I can't just tell)
I have not seen him control or swith play despite his ability to deliver long balls.

Let's be real, Raphael Onyedika owns the skills to perform all the aforementioned acts, but what exactly is his problem?
Anyone close to Raphael Onyedika should please wake him up with a slap. He should reward his coach's confidence in him.

The quoted post was my take on Raphael Onyedika's performance yesterday also taking into consideration his overall contributions to the midfield for all the matches that has him invested.

Below is my take on Iwobi performance yesterday.

Iwobi came on and made himself easily available for the backline to give him passes of the ball, helping to transit the play to the midfield with forward passes and progressive carries of the ball.
Iwobi was also spotted actively supporting the forwards with his passing and movements with some of his passes intended for lines breaking.

And same Osayi was not exactly at his best yesterday.


A player generally needs a good run of games to solidify his place in a team. Profiles differ. Some may need 1 game (Nwabali is a case study for that). Spme may need 10. We have preached this for years on this thread when it was the case with Iheanacho at Man City. TheGoodJoe and I were always for "him having a good run of games". And this was despite the fact that Nacho did perform in several of his opportunities. Even at Leicester, Nacho needed a run of games to show his worth and when he finally got it, Leicester won their 1st FA Cup in the 2020/21 season. Same season saw Nacho bag 12 EPL goals and become the only man to score on every day of the week in the same season.

A good run of games matters in the grand context of experience and battle hardening at the international level and even in Club football.

Goke7:
Once views are divided about any player’s performance, it’s up to that player to sit up! Till today if osihmen isn’t performing we all complain despite his stats. Osayi was a player almost everyone wrote off but today the story is different even Ndidi we thought was finished until he gave us a master performance at the Afcon. A player doesn’t need much games to douse any doubts? How many games did osayi play at Afcon to command his place?

@Thesupernerd, that’s it o! enough said!

TheSuperNerd:
Chineke, so you no rate Kobbie Mainoo. So you agree with how Amorim left him out? Carrick came in and began playing him ooo. Mainoo has featured in nearly all games since Carrick took over and contributed real good to your good run of form. So even for your club, u no dey appreciate good thing. Smh.... Charles u get problem.


Also, Lesley Ugochukwu, as much as I like the look of him and appreciate his quality, played for France U21s this international break. Your reply was "good for him".
Lesley still wants France as things stand... so for now, it is Onyedika, FDB and the other young lads like Akinsanmiro, Nnadi, David Moses, Otomewo, Dennis, etc that we have to focus on.

It is not like your club football where you can go bid for Tchouameni to come man your DM role.

Nerdy this one person wey dey like and share every of your post no dey wait mk u post em don like and share immediately 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣, well that’s by the way

Nwanne I’m not a fan of Mainoo, he is slow and easily bullied of the ball, also that Academy graduate disease that ruined the likes of Garnacho and Rashford is in him just that he became cautions because of how the above mentioned duo were trashed

United’s best midfielders this season remains Casemiro and Bruno

Lesley wants France which is known to everyone here but since he is yet to be capped by the French senior national team he is still an option to us

Mentioning him doesn’t imply that he has accepted to play for us but trying to make a point that if he can atleast get a midfielder of his quality onyedika will find it more difficult to play games for the super eagles

Meliforme:
I joined 34 minutes into the watch and throughout my viewing of the match, Raphael Onyedika did not impress me.
What exactly does Raphael Onyedika's contribute to our midfield.

When it comes to accuracy in the long and short passes of the ball, Raphael Onyedika is second to none, but what does he even do with those.
I have not seen any significant forward passes of the ball.
I am yet to see any significant forward carries of the ball.
He doesn't open up that much to help build and progress play from the back due to his positioning (is he running away from something, I can't just tell)
I have not seen him control or swith play despite his ability to deliver long balls.

Let's be real, Raphael Onyedika owns the skills to perform all the aforementioned acts, but what exactly is his problem?
Anyone close to Raphael Onyedika should please wake him up with a slap. He should reward his coach's confidence in him.

you are 💯 right. To me he is not a bad player but not up to the level he is been hyped here by nerdy in particular

This is just repetitive analysis coz Onyedika did same in the first half. You said you watched the game from 34mins so you clearly have no true sight of how the first half truly went. He called for the ball and made himself available for the ball. He also transited and was caught motioning forward a couple times on the right. This is so funny to read as you have not said anything novel AT ALL.

And this is just grammer... "Intended for linesbreaking?" We hardly created any real chance of note in the second half. Even the one keypass he tried to give should not have been given coz he was in a shooting position himself which he blew. Onyedika found himself in a shooting position in the first half and took his.

Abeg, this is so repetitive as if you are recylcing old games.

Meliforme:
The quoted post was my take on Raphael Onyedika's performance yesterday also taking into consideration his overall contributions to the midfield for all the matches that has him invested.

Below is my take on Iwobi performance yesterday.

Iwobi came on and made himself easily available for the backline to give him passes of the ball, helping to transit the play to the midfield with forward passes and progressive carries of the ball.
Iwobi was also spotted actively supporting the forwards with his passing and movements with some of his passes intended for lines breaking.

He is wrong. Ofcos such bollocks will be right to you. You have never ever had a good thing to spill on Onyedika. So your agreement is highly expected.

Also you agree with someone who claimed he watched from 34mins. Lol.... Laughable.

Papi85:
you are 💯 right. To me he is not a bad player but not up to the level he is been hyped here by nerdy in particular

Papi85:
you are 💯 right. To me he is not a bad player but not up to the level he is been hyped here by nerdy in particular

You are also right. He is not yet up to that level, but with grooming and strict instructions, he might. His passes of the ball both in the long and short ranges are very elite.

As an older man and father now, likes and shares still bite you? I thought you would have matured beyond that now. I clearly have fans. Is that hard to figure out?


And Michael Carrick is no f**l to keep playing Mainoo either. Your club's good run includes wins vs Arsenal and Man City and Mainoo was at the heart of those games in midfield. But ofcos Mainoo's good showings no mean say una no fit upgrade... Una get Papa Ratcliffe naa. Make him write cheque go buy Tchouameni

And sincerely I would love to see Lesley play for us but for now, it is what it is. We bide our time on hopes that he realises his chance of international football is better with us than with Les Bleus. E pain me as Carney escape go Austria I wont lie. I did not see that Austria angle coming. I have said this before.

Also, Onyedika was already not seeing enough games, and especially starts, because of Ndidi and Frank Onyeka. Two behemoths and experienced heads in the midfield hierarchy of the Super Eagles. Ndidi was declining at a point and Onyedika was on the rise as a 21-22yr old but Ndidi eventually picked up again and redefined his game under Eric Chelle so that ensured Onyedika's attempt to displace Ndidi is not gonna happen anytime soon.
Onyeka, albeit technically limited, has proven times without number how invaluable his engine is. Onyedika does not have such engine but is far more superior technically. So it is hard to have him start big games over those two.

I believe in time, Onyedika will either be moved to CM permanently or evolve his physical/aggressive side to adapt better to the demands of a lone pivot CDM because right now, he is a double pivot CDM who can also play CM and provide goal threat thanks to his timed box arrival-ability and ball striking.

This is the reality of the quality at our disposal and yesterday the lad did good. The talk of midfield absence in the first half is a lie you all are running with for agenda sake. Period.

Papi85:
Nerdy this one person wey dey like and share every of your post no dey wait mk u post em don like and share immediately 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣, well that’s by the way

Nwanne I’m not a fan of Mainoo, he is slow and easily bullied of the ball, also that Academy graduate disease that ruined the likes of Garnacho and Rashford is in him just that he became cautions because of how the above mentioned duo were trashed

United’s best midfielders this season remains Casemiro and Bruno

Lesley wants France which is known to everyone here but since he is yet to be capped by the French senior national team he is still an option to us

Mentioning him doesn’t imply that he has accepted to play for us but trying to make a point that if he can atleast get a midfielder of his quality onyedika will find it more difficult to play games for the super eagles

Digressing a bit, Vinicius Junior's Winger Profile is so scary man... Technical yet Powerful with big engine too. The Biggest Lad Brazil will be banking on at the World Cup (in Neymar's absence). Neymar still has the class but has definitely lost some physical spark.

I look at us debuting Yira Sor and I was shaking my head. But it is well.

Three of a kind. pic.twitter.com/1ReBYLYc1a

— Corzek (@CorzekM) April 1, 2026

TheSuperNerd:
I was expecting more folks to comment on Collins Yira Sor's transformation into the Invisible man but I guess you cannot comment on who you did not see. The fact that Onyedika gets comments means he was really seen afterall. Lol

Yea Yira Sor was poor but I also feel we didn't play to his strengths. I wanted to see some pace merchant stuff going on.