₦airaland Forum

ChrisKels:
Looks like Femi Azeez is a good set piece taker.

I said this before
He reminds me of Olise of France

yinkeys:
Let’s see if we can actually play competitive games without Osimhen & Lookman
I can’t believe people are complaining of his absence
Someone that plays like he’s going to keeel himself when he plays for Nigeria
Is he the only player we have in the country
Let us give other players a chance too
All these people talking Trish have never made any sacrifice for Nigeria o
All they do is destructive criticism
In my opinion, they should reserve these guys for serious tasks like the qualifiers or AFCON
Im not saying anyone can just walk straight into the team though but we should have competent options readily available
These friendlies will really be a true depiction of our football level globally
Do we have solid Iwobi & Ndidi replacements ready too for the future ?
Competition will make the team better

You don't say people are talking trash, fans will always complain when they noticed a big player most always misses friendly games. A coach will not wait for a serious game before getting his tactics, friendly is an avenue to test those tactics. So fans talking trash (according to you) is normal. Mikel, jayjay and some big players in the past have been called out for same.

Subzero047:
I want to say something about Lookman and Azeez but I'm sure this thread will kill me

baba talk. Honestly azzez is a massive coup

lbrichman2:
Cut Osimhen some slack Chief
If he's absent because of transfer issues, then best believe there are serious offers on the table
Remember Lookman too would be absent, and no specific reason was given..

Well, Chelle has finally gotten the team to score goals in Osimhen's absence..
I personally would have loved to see him against Poland and Portugal ( I hope he comes for the Portugal game), but if he doesn't show, nothing spoil
We go out there and play our game..

Lookman too, would have loved to see him..
If na another coach, I may have panicked a bit, but with Chelle, rest of mind full ground..

Other strikers should grab this opportunity and step up to the plate
And thank God, we have Femi Azeez to play that Lookman's role..

We move!!

honestly , the guy needs a competitor in our squad. By the time we find that person, you will see them hustling to play.
We just need someone that can press in that front.

I just saw someone on X say osimhen has only played 7 friendly games for us and i can confirm it. For context osihmen played his first friendly for us in 2018. We can even overlook 2018, 2019 and 2020 since he was just upcoming then but then the numbers are quite low regardless. Playing 6 friendly games in 9 years is something noticeable even with his injury records. Na like this he wan break rashidi yekini record??

zicky:
You don't say people are talking trash, fans will always complain when they noticed a big player most always misses friendly games. A coach will not wait for a serious game before getting his tactics, friendly is an avenue to test those tactics. So fans talking trash (according to you) is normal. Mikel, jayjay and some big players in the past have been called out for same.

Amedino99:
I just saw someone on X say osimhen has only played 7 friendly games for us and i can confirm it. For context osihmen played his first friendly for us in 2018. We can even overlook 2018, 2019 and 2020 since he was just upcoming then but then the numbers are quite low regardless. Playing 6 friendly games in 9 years is something noticeable even with his injury records. Na like this he wan break rashidi yekini record??

For someone that is 3 goals away from breaking the record?

Amedino99:
I just saw someone on X say osimhen has only played 7 friendly games for us and i can confirm it. For context osihmen played his first friendly for us in 2018. We can even overlook 2018, 2019 and 2020 since he was just upcoming then but then the numbers are quite low regardless. Playing 6 friendly games in 9 years is something noticeable even with his injury records. Na like this he wan break rashidi yekini record??

Record wey e don break already?


Nigha will set a new record with over 15 goals difference

lbrichman2:
Bro!!!
The guy is really underrated
See the way he bent his body
Timed his run to perfection
Class!!

They should give him more time to start in super eagles….He is giving me that yaya toure vibe of a goal scoring Midfielder

Chuks4041:
honestly , the guy needs a competitor in our squad. By the time we find that person, you will see them hustling to play.
We just need someone that can press in that front.

Simple !!!
Let others step up

Samueltemi337:
For someone that is 3 goals away from breaking the record?

The quality is undeniable

Samueltemi337:
For someone that is 3 goals away from breaking the record?

No matter aw we want to shy away from the truth ,it’s obvious that osimhen selects games he plays for Nigeria 🇳🇬,he doesn’t even like playing friendlies,however he’s far better Dan our so called legends den dt deliberately picked games even among important matches

minfelix:
They should give him more time to start in super eagles….He is giving me that yaya toure vibe of a goal scoring Midfielder

Yes o!!

elyte89:
No matter aw we want to shy away from the truth ,it’s obvious that osimhen selects games he plays for Nigeria 🇳🇬,he doesn’t even like playing friendlies,however he’s far better Dan our so called legends den dt deliberately picked games even among important matches

Chuks404 is right
Osimhen needs a strong competitor

I remember what someone said about Mourinho, how he developed Benzema
He said, once the match starts and he notices Benzema is not pressing, Mourinho will tell Higuain to start warming up..

Imagine Benzema, 5 minutes into the game, seeing Higuain warm up??
Omo dude became serious and put more efforts into the game..

Osimhen needs quality competition in the SE
Take nothing away from him
But other strikers need to step up

ChrisKels:
Looks like Femi Azeez is a good set piece taker.

Yes he is.

elyte89:
No matter aw we want to shy away from the truth ,it’s obvious that osimhen selects games he plays for Nigeria 🇳🇬,he doesn’t even like playing friendlies,however he’s far better Dan our so called legends den dt deliberately picked games even among important matches

Like you said friendly matches
I think it should be an issue if it's important matches

If Osimhen is missing these friendlies because of positive transfer related issues,I support him 100%.

Osimhen is one of the most committed super eagles top players.
Some of our past top players dey even select some world cup qualifier matches to play talk less of friendly game.

If it's a transfer issue involving a top club, he can even miss the next one join,I won't mind.

But notwithstanding, the way we Nigerians dey approach things is different from other countries,
In other countries,no matter who you are,even if you are Messi or CR7,you are still expected to show up for every match you are being called upon.

But this Osimhen's case is understandable.

Femi Azeez is looking like a coup. Glad we stumbled upon. Let me still see what he does against Poland and Portugal before coming to a final assessment.

I think our search for a starting number 7 has ended.

Below is my assessment of our current starting XI.

GK: Okoye/Nwabali - Both are good and have the ability to be number 1 but both have short comings. Okoye great club career but still looks unsure of himself in SE. Stanley wears the SE jersey with confidence and aura but club career is at a standstill.

RB: Aina is still the main man though injuries and age might soon be a factor. A potential successor is needed ASAP.

LB: Bruno with Zaidu deputizing for now is fine but other options should be tested.

CB: Most settled department in the team with a good mixture of youth and experience. Benji and Bassey are the obvious starters but wouldn't be having sleepless nights with Ajayi, Fernandez, or Igoh as options of the bench.

DM/CM: I think we have the tools but Chelle still needs to do more than cooking. Ndidi, Onyeka, Onyedika, Nnadi, and now Yusuf all look to have profiles that should make our midfield a well oiled machine but still has some inherent weaknesses which superior opposition midfields exploit again and again. Ebenezer and Tijani (?) on the periphery.

AM: Iwobi long time servant but he desperately needs competition/potential successor. FDB is a different profile kind of AM that brings energy and attacking instinct. We're crying out for a Jayjay or Oruma kind of creative player. Otele should be monitored closely.

RW: Azeez looks the part with Chukwueze to compete with for the starting berth. Zadok to be watched closely.

LW: Lookman is the undisputed starter. Simon looks to be waning but still effective in small bursts. Sani Suleiman a potential candidate to bring competition but needs to start playing.

ST: Of course Osimhen is the guy with Akor serving as the perfect foil. Moffi is still the best alternative forward who can function in the SE. Onuachu's club numbers can't be ignored so he's still a short term addition to our list of attackers until our other attackers playing in higher profile leagues (Awoniyi, Umar) start posting numbers that will be hard to ignore.

All told we have a good mix to traverse the qualifiers and realistically aim for the AFCON title next year.

lbrichman2:
Nothing do you Chief
Highest just some criticism here and there
Shey e pass say Azeez is better than Lookman?
Lol

Make em talk am.

Azeez wey be say if he plays the next match,if he no score,or he had a bad game,dey go roast am like corn.

Chuks4041:
baba talk. Honestly azzez is a massive coup

Good for us,but it need to be proved,in a tournament,or in world cup qualifiers,like Lookman or Victor Moses did.
less we get carried away so soon,not to kill your joy.

WarHammer2000:
I swear to God I love today's midfield. They are the real revelation of the tournament, forget Azeez.

Everything just dey click. Come be like say na Barca I dey watch. See as them dey string passes fluently. Even the one touch passing that has been like an insurmountable mountain for Ndidi and co. See as Nnadi dey carry ball like prime Maradona. Happiness wan kee me.

I wish we could maintain this same midfield trio for our Team A. Maybe with the addition of Iwobi alone.

You just brought me back memory lane.
Well lets hope when they meet tougher opponents they won't fizzle out.
The pressure mounted on them during the first 10mins of 2nd half made them a bit confused and disorganized.

Meliforme:
Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka retains their places in the starting lineup.

What Alhassan, Tijani, and Nnadi will achieve in five sequences of passes, Alex Iwobi can achieve in one stroke of a pass.
However, the only advantage that i saw in Alhassan, Tijani and Nnadi is in the cover they provide to the backline, their recovery rate is good, as well as their positioning during phases of defense.

You have point though for Alex Iwobi bul lets see how Chelle will pair them.
One thing I know he said is that He want his Starting 11 to be as Strong as his Bench.

Napoleon55:
Make em talk am.

Azeez wey be say if he plays the next match,if he no score,or he had a bad game,dey go roast am like corn.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Amedino99:
I just saw someone on X say osimhen has only played 7 friendly games for us and i can confirm it. For context osihmen played his first friendly for us in 2018. We can even overlook 2018, 2019 and 2020 since he was just upcoming then but then the numbers are quite low regardless. Playing 6 friendly games in 9 years is something noticeable even with his injury records. Na like this he wan break rashidi yekini record??

if this stat is true, then it's very poor. If he wants to break Yekinis record (which I believe he will) and surpass it with a large margin, those little friendly games are very important to statpad.

ThunderFireAgba:
You have point though for Alex Iwobi bul lets see how Chelle will pair them.
One thing I know he said is that He want his Starting 11 to be as Strong as his Bench.

Word...
You sef you sabi

zicky:
if this stat is true, then it's very poor. If he wants to break Yekinis record (which I believe he will) and surpass it with a large margin, those little friendly games are very important to statpad.

Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in international football and he will not reject any friendly match invitation even if it is against low rated countries like israel, andorra, estonia etc. Our highest goal scorer having 37 goals is too poor for a country like nigeria. Salah has 67 for egypt, eto has 56 for cameroon, gyan has 51 for Ghana, Drogba has 65 for ivory coast, sadio mane has 53 for senegal, and slimani has 46 for Algeria and these goals were not all gotten from just competitive matches. He is the one that will raise the bar of our goal scoring records and friendly matches are a good place to statpad.

TheSuperNerd:
Ibrahim Buhari, 24 y/o CB at Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan also attracting some interest from Turkey and the English Championship.

This guy played in the npfl few years ago, if I'm not mistaken

Confirmation
Be like Mourinho don contact Galatasaray
Omo

The comments on this post are not funny
See people roasting Osimhen and Lookman like bole

It's well
People are disappointed

Chelle's interview where he confirmed their absences.
He seems to understand the situation for both players, but na we the fans carry the matter for head like gala..

Watch here..

Eric Chelle confirms that Ademola Lookman & Victor Osimhen won't be available for the Poland & Portugal friendlies. pic.twitter.com/UlHCntxG1r

— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) May 31, 2026

lbrichman2:
Our second goal

Azeez send the guy to buy chin chin 😂😂

Bro, see that body feint pic.twitter.com/1qMoaWgnfR

— Football Einstein (@Africa_ftbl) May 30, 2026

Azeez na badt guy, the body feint dey feint me sef chaii, and he finish it up with a pinpoint cross to Moffi head

Amedino99:
Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in international football and he will not reject any friendly match invitation even if it is against low rated countries like israel, andorra, estonia etc. Our highest goal scorer having 37 goals is too poor for a country like nigeria. Salah has 67 for egypt, eto has 56 for cameroon, gyan has 51 for Ghana, Drogba has 65 for ivory coast, sadio mane has 53 for senegal, and slimani has 46 for Algeria and these goals were not all gotten from just competitive matches. He is the one that will raise the bar of our goal scoring records and friendly matches are a good place to statpad.

i see your point and wish Osimhen himself see that he has all it takes to set a long time legacy for Nigeria football by being our highest goal scorer for a very long time, only if he make himself available for these friendly games.

lbrichman2:
I said this before
He reminds me of Olise of France

👊👊👊👊👊👊👊

minfelix:
See ehn if Poland and Portugal will flog us no problem, but if i be chelle i will start these Unity cup boys in those 2friendlies, afterall na friendly them call am….if those boys pull up a shocking positive result then im afraid we are having a new super eagles starting 11.
Chelle may also be scared to spoil his massive 90mins unbeaten runs

na same una go blast Chelle if Portugal and Poland trash us

Una go say na minnows Chelle’s team fit only beat 🤣🤣🤣🤣