₦airaland Forum

On this you are right. If the game was a bit more open on the flanks and Yira had space, we would definitely see his best attribute.... His insane speed. That I cannot contend.

BascoVanVeli:
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.

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.

That was not the question, chief.

How many matches has Onyedika played and how many more games does he need to start becoming an actual option to the aging duo of Iwobi and Ndidi??

We can get to that of Iwobi and Osimhen right after that boss.

Speaking of Speed, dont expect a lot of that from these guys. Although CR7 has a way of defying speed-at-this-age expectations
Infact even Modric still does some chasing down at this age. Watch him in Serie A.

It was even not an actual question. You phrased it as a point and brought up Akor so I did same.

Also, I have already stated how many he started competitively prior to the Afcon. 2 games. In friendlies alone, it was 5. And guess what he still has more goals than some of our midfielders. How is that not impressive for someone with less starts alongside his midfield duties?
You can do the rest of the maths.

Look, I am not having a discussion about whether Onyedika did well yesterday because he actually did well. What I am saying is you lots should stop using the Morocco game to judge his recent games. It is lazy analysis.

MetalJigsaw:
That was not the question, chief.

How many matches has Onyedika played and how many more games does he need to start becoming an actual option to the aging duo of Iwobi and Ndidi?

We can get to that of Iwobi and Osimhen right after that.

TheSuperNerd:
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.

A good run of games at the national team level is hard to get before questions on performance gets heated up as just even a yellow card suspension for a game can be costly if another player performs better which was the lot of Fegor Ogude. At the club level yes but in the national team especially in crucial games?

Osayi just needed the crucial Tunisia game at Afcon to finally convince many. He has made it as far as anyone is concerned. It’s onyedika that still needs to convince many and he doesn’t have that luxury of time. Is anyone still asking questions on his teammate Onyeka who even plays in a lower tier league compared to onyedika?

BankyGee:
🧤 Can Francis Uzoho still improve for the Super Eagles?

Analysis of his last 6 games for Nigeria - dating back to 2023:
🚫 O cleansheets
🥅 8 goals conceded (4 from free kicks)
🟢 2 wins
⬜ 4 draws
🔴 0 losses

Breakdown of the free kick goals:
2 free kick goals conceded vs. Saudi Arabia.
FT: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia [2]–[2] Nigeria 🇳🇬

1 free kick goal conceded vs. Zimbabwe (almost 30 yards out).
FT: 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe [1]–[1] Nigeria 🇳🇬

1 free kick goal conceded vs. Jordan.
FT: 🇯🇴 Jordan [2]–[2] Nigeria 🇳🇬

Do you think he needs more playing time or he should go?

he needs more time………but away from the super eagles. Infact he should take all the time in the world

MetalJigsaw:
I dont know about you but I'm personally rooting for us to make the top 20 in the ranking this year because this team deserves it. So drawing teams lower than us will rather degrade the progress.

Imagine teams like Iran, Austria, Denmark, S. Korea, Ecuador being ranked above us.

but we don already beat one them above us na🤣…and CIV don help beat Korea 4-0 above us, and Czech republic help us remove Demmark above us🤣🤣…we will go closer to them soon

Osimhen got his run of games. Nacho did too. Iwobi did. Senegal do it so it is not rocket science.

Osayi has done well keeping himself in the conversation for RB but everyone knows Ola Aina still hovers. Yesterday showed again why Aina could still walk into the first XI.

On Onyedika, he has done well keeping himself in the Super Eagles conversations since age 21 or so despite the midfield hierarchy he deputises for and at Afcon 2025, he had a good tournament in general. Scored a couple of goals too. He has convinced the coaching crew enough to still stick around and be getting consistent chances now unlike before.
Onyeka, on the other hand, is already a bonafide Super Eagles starter and his Afcon 2023 showing did so much to solidify his Super Eagles place as the Tank in our first XI indeed. So why would anyone complain he is in the Championship when we all know of his gametime struggle at Brentford and not for lack of ability but just coaching preference?
Besides he will be back in the EPL anyway.


So while the rest of you needs convincing, I am already convinced and Chelle is convinced to still have him around. The more he plays, he better he gets for us just as he was good yesterday.

Goke7:
A good run of games at the national team level is hard to get before questions on performance gets heated up as just even a yellow card suspension for a game can be costly if another player performs better which was the lot of Fegor Ogude. At the club level yes but in the national team especially in crucial games?

Osayi just needed the crucial Tunisia game at Afcon to finally convince many. He has made it as far as anyone is concerned. It’s onyedika that still needs to convince many and he doesn’t have that luxury of time. Is anyone still asking questions on his teammate Onyeka who even plays in a lower tier league compared to onyedika?

So Iraq won their WCQs playoff final to get the final ticket to USCAMEX only to go meet France, Norway and Senegal? Ahh. Well, just go enjoy the show boys, nothing more.


Even Africa... 10 reps but there is the probability that none will make the Quarter finals. Or Maybe just 1 or 2. I hate to say it but Morocco "again" and/or one other could likely go the farthest (Quarter finals) or just capitulate in the Round of 32 or Round of 16.

In all, Time will tell.

minfelix:
but we don already beat one them above us na🤣…and CIV don help beat Korea 4-0 above us, and Czech republic help us remove Demmark above us🤣🤣…we will go closer to them soon

Yeah that's it. Those are favorable results.

But that draw was very avoidable. Imagine us winning both games, another leap in the ranking will be imminent.

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.

I read somewhere Emenike is pitching him to Fene in Turkiye

What constant does Frank Onyeka bring to our midfield?

The short answer is: Direct play

Frank Onyeka likes to venture with ball at his feet making progressive carries and forward passes of the ball the very things he wants to do. He is also good at link up play. Those in addition to what he does defensively make him a viable option in many midfield applications.

One of my earliest criticisms of Eric Chelle lay in his initial reglect of Frank especially after he declared openly his penchant for direct play, I believed that if he knew what he was doing, he couldn't have done the neglect. But maybe he decided to have another look at Frank and had a change of mind.

minfelix:
but we don already beat one them above us na🤣…and CIV don help beat Korea 4-0 above us, and Czech republic help us remove Demmark above us🤣🤣…we will go closer to them soon

After the world cup in the June our osition in the current FIFA ranking will drop due to the national team performance at the world cup if ivory coast that is below us reach the quarter final they may be rank above us

There are some reports that Ghana FA is in talks with Hervé Renard to take over as head coach of Black Stars starting from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Negotiations are currently ongoing between Renard and the Ghana FA regarding contract length, his backroom staff, and other conditions, before a final decision is made on whether he will accept the role. [ESPN]

Dumbest decision ever, so unfair

Damioduso1:
There are some reports that Ghana FA is in talks with Hervé Renard to take over as head coach of Black Stars starting from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Negotiations are currently ongoing between Renard and the Ghana FA regarding contract length, his backroom staff, and other conditions, before a final decision is made on whether he will accept the role. [ESPN]

Just reading funny tales about these worldcup since morning,
.image a football expert in Nigeria is Advising Ghana to go for Bosso, saying he did do well with the black Stars, even mentioning Finidi too 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

do4luv14:
Just reading funny tales about these worldcup since morning,
.image a football expert in Nigeria is Advising Ghana to go for Bosso, saying he did do well with the black Stars, even mentioning Finidi too 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

e no mention Amunike or Oliseh?

TheSuperNerd:
Na so this case drain Mujtahida reach? Please pass him my card so I may give him free medical consultation. I will examine him and ensure he is back to the fullness of his health. Consider it a "thank you" to him for his efforts (however futile tho) in the pursuit of Naija's WC 2026 mandate.

I weak. Fifa just used technicalities to evade examining the real thrust and substance of our case.

Mujtahida:
I weak. Fifa just used technicalities to evade examining the real thrust and substance of our case.

Coachee Elyte89, your main Legal mastermind has returned. Lol

How have you been my Good Sir? I understand the decision/fifa evasion is disappointing but take solace in the fact that you gave it your finest shot.

Kudos.

Zaire 🤝🏿 DR Congo.

52 yrs apart.

Mujtahida:
I weak. Fifa just used technicalities to evade examining the real thrust and substance of our case.

Delaw good to have you back o was beginning to get worried about your prolonged absence!

As for FIFA na leg over dem give us o but we move

BIG FOOTBALLING NATIONS THAT WILL MISS THIS WORLD CUP 2026.
1. ITALY
2. DENMARK
3. NIGERIA
4. CAMEROON
5. BOLIVIA
6. WALES
7. RUSSIA
8. UKRAINE
9. JAMAICA
10. SWEDEN
11. POLAND
12. ROMANIA
13. IRELAND
14. CHINA

Make una add to the list. I don tire

The Corruption and rot in the Italian Football Youth System according to an eye witness...

🇮🇹🚨 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 from Federico Mangiameli (former U17 and U19 player for AC Milan):

“On one hand I’m frustrated, on the other I’m happy. Only those who have lived in this world know how disgusting what goes on behind it really is.

Agents who push their players from lower divisions up to Serie C with envelopes of €50K, Serie A and youth teams made up only of overpaid foreign players, or coaches who couldn’t even decide their starting eleven.

I’ve witnessed things unworthy of money, and I’ve seen teammates treated horribly by club officials.

All of this is the system of Italian football—a toxic system that I fortunately left some time ago.

Unlike other sports, it has become something that should not be taken as an example: people who fake things, favoritism, ignorant and ill-mannered individuals who would do anything for a few bucks. And all of this is the result.”

https://x.com/i/status/2039420188722855998

Sweden qualified

solonnachi:
BIG FOOTBALLING NATIONS THAT WILL MISS THIS WORLD CUP 2026.
1. ITALY
2. DENMARK
3. NIGERIA
4. CAMEROON
5. BOLIVIA
6. WALES
7. RUSSIA
8. UKRAINE
9. JAMAICA
10. SWEDEN
11. POLAND
12. ROMANIA
13. IRELAND
14. CHINA

Make una add to the list. I don tire

chrisooblog:
Sweden qualified

Wow. Thanks for the correction

solonnachi:
BIG FOOTBALLING NATIONS THAT WILL MISS THIS WORLD CUP 2026.
1. ITALY
2. DENMARK
3. NIGERIA
4. CAMEROON
5. BOLIVIA
6. WALES
7. RUSSIA
8. UKRAINE
9. JAMAICA
10. SWEDEN
11. POLAND
12. ROMANIA
13. IRELAND
14. CHINA

Make una add to the list. I don tire

The list should have ended at number 4.

China, Jamaica na big footballing nations ke

TheSuperNerd:
The Corruption and rot in the Italian Football Youth System according to an eye witness...

🇮🇹🚨 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 from Federico Mangiameli (former U17 and U19 player for AC Milan):

“On one hand I’m frustrated, on the other I’m happy. Only those who have lived in this world know how disgusting what goes on behind it really is.

Agents who push their players from lower divisions up to Serie C with envelopes of €50K, Serie A and youth teams made up only of overpaid foreign players, or coaches who couldn’t even decide their starting eleven.

I’ve witnessed things unworthy of money, and I’ve seen teammates treated horribly by club officials.

All of this is the system of Italian football—a toxic system that I fortunately left some time ago.

Unlike other sports, it has become something that should not be taken as an example: people who fake things, favoritism, ignorant and ill-mannered individuals who would do anything for a few bucks. And all of this is the result.”

https://x.com/i/status/2039420188722855998

I always rejoice when corruption doesn't take time to reach it's fated end. When it's fruits ripen speedily.

Maybe man will learn.

solonnachi:
BIG FOOTBALLING NATIONS THAT WILL MISS THIS WORLD CUP 2026.
1. ITALY
2. DENMARK
3. NIGERIA
4. CAMEROON
5. BOLIVIA
6. WALES
7. RUSSIA
8. UKRAINE
9. JAMAICA
10. SWEDEN
11. POLAND
12. ROMANIA
13. IRELAND
14. CHINA

Make una add to the list. I don tire

Out of all the names you mentioned it's only Italy, Denmark, Nigeria, Cameroon and Russia that even qualify to be argued as footballing nations.

Sweden have pedigree but they qualified, so they don't count.

Romania's football peak was in the late 80s to early 90s if I'm not mistaken. Since the start of the 21st century, they've essentially been relegated to minnows.

Scrap the rest. They don't even come close to being called footballing countries.

FiveFootNinja:
Out of all the names you mentioned it's only Italy, Denmark, Nigeria, Cameroon and Russia that even qualify to be argued as footballing nations.

Sweden have pedigree but they qualified, so they don't count.

Romania's football peak was in the late 80s to early 90s if I'm not mistaken. Since the start of the 21st century, they've essentially been relegated to minnows.

Scrap the rest. They don't even come close to being called footballing countries.

Poland?

solonnachi:
BIG FOOTBALLING NATIONS THAT WILL MISS THIS WORLD CUP 2026.
1. ITALY
2. DENMARK
3. NIGERIA
4. CAMEROON
5. BOLIVIA
6. WALES
7. RUSSIA
8. UKRAINE
9. JAMAICA
10. SWEDEN
11. POLAND
12. ROMANIA
13. IRELAND
14. CHINA

Make una add to the list. I don tire

Hope say you dey joke sha, only Italy, Denmark, Russia, Nigeria and Cameroon are the big teams here.

Sweden qualified.

lbrichman2:
This dude no get joy 😊😊😊

And you couldn't qualify for world cup with the Lion 🦁