₦airaland Forum

There's this special kind of pain that comes when you're the first to be elimnated in the knockouts

Almost feels like you left in the group stages

EElopa:
If you watched the South African team this tournament and you think their only issue was lack of a number 9, I don't really know whether you actually understand football. Their decision-making in the final third, technical ability of their players in dangerous positions, and inability of their wingers to beat an opponent in one-on-one scenarios were glaring to see. Should I continue? What about their off-the-ball movements and ball control in dangerous areas of the pitch? Their players in the final third were often miscontrolling the ball, taking too many touches to control the ball, and constantly making bad decisions. Most of their attacking players were lightweight, and the way they were easily being bullied and shrugged off the ball was glaring for all to see.

Sithole and Mokoena in the midfield are just not good enough at this level, and I'm not sure either of these two players can make a match-day squad of any championship team in England.

With regard to their goalkeeper. I agree with you that he is good enough to go to some of the non-top-5 leagues in Europe, and he is also on a decent salary for Sundowns, which is probably better than he will earn playing for mid-table teams outside of the elite European leagues. He is not better than any starting goalkeeper in Serie A or any of the top 5 leagues because if he were, he would not be in the South African league. Football is not like a music or movie career, where you can be active in it for 50-plus years. In football, an average career is less than 10 years long, so every player wants to maximize profits before Father Time comes, and until you can give me a substantial and data-driven reason why Williams would turn down earning millions of dollars more playing in the top 5 leagues in the world as opposed to playing in South Africa, I am not buying any of your argument.

So many of this your argument have been punctured. You are right in some while some are fallacious.

Meet Simeon Rapsch (born February 9, 2008) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and he is eligible to play for Nigeria.

​Quick Bio:

​Born in Köln, Germany, and of Nigerian descent, Rapsch developed his skills in the youth setups of Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Viktoria Köln before joining the Bayer 04 Leverkusen academy in 2024. Standing at 1.90 m (6'3", he has established himself as a promising goalkeeper within the club's youth structure.

​During the 2025/26 season, Rapsch competed for the Bayer Leverkusen U19 side. His development has seen him feature across various youth competitions, including the DFB Youth League and the UEFA Youth League, where he has been noted for his height and technical positioning as a goalkeeper.

​Rapsch currently holds German citizenship and has represented Germany at the U-18 international level. With his contract at Bayer Leverkusen running until June 2027, he continues to be a key young prospect within the club's ranks.

JohnBullMySon:
There's this special kind of pain that comes when you're the first to be elimnated in the knockouts

Almost feels like you left in the group stages

S/Korea would’ve done a better job
I don’t know why some teams don’t take the initiative to attack or be proactive & try to win
Sitting back to what cost
Hoping for a deuce to what end
This attitude cost South Korea & now South Africa
Why dem Dey fear teams that ain’t in top 20
I didn’t watch the Canada game though

I talk am

chrisooblog:
If you see the way I hiss when I see the final scores this morning

Anyway they go surely chop am in the next round. Delay is not denial

Qatar 2022 is the best World Cup in my opinion
This edition is filled with Ra.cism, Iran complaints, Senegal & DRC fans absent, regular fans complaining of the ridiculos tipping culture in the States.

Only thing that’s improved to me is the graphics, picture quality I see on the TV
This éditions logo

Or maybe because I’m just worried about Osimhen & Nwabali not getting upgrades

Esther Okoronkwo is back after an injury layoff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1_cvShFHuE

Mujtahida:
You no go understand. My bad belly is especially for Congo, SA and Ghana. Once these three flop, the rest have their fate in their hands whether to advance or not. But those three must come back home.

😂 they must go beck to their kentry!

daveP:
What does Nigeria need to do under 4 years to match the form of Morocco in the last 2 world cup that we missed.


They didn't lose in the group stage. When last has Nigeria registered no L in group stages?


We need to set this house in order nd funds and each of protocol and seriousness in recruitment is needed.

We also need to have a pattern of play and players that fit such profile.
We also need to have an emergency appro6when things are not going our way vs top teams, incase we go backfoot.

There's no way we would have been here and not get 2 wins with the level of football im seeing from the african reps. The only downside is we go be goal-goal team for this WC.

Nwabali better do what is necessary or else...
We still need him i won't lie. But he needs to fix that club issue asap.

What needs to be done is Retain Chelle, left all players selection to him

Make him the U23 Coach with free hand to pick his Assistant,

We also need to define our style of footie

Joebie:
Home advantage don commot who home advantage help

Buh no be Canada Dem play the match na

As Brazil vs Japan draws closer, I cant help but go back to this video dropped by Mujtahida weeks ago...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WetxNrUAQaE?si=AO8bNh5RxZj_4UuV

Before the WC began, this Economist's model predicted a Brazil vs Japan clash in the Round of 32 and here we are.

Listen to what he says at 3.38....

Brazil are my guys so this has me kinda worried a little.

Netherlands and Morocco are my guys too so whoever wins pleases me but I am leaning slightly in Netherlands's favor and not even because of the model prediction.

In the end, time will tell, my people... time will answer all

Japan aren’t underdogs, they’re at the same level with this present Brazil team if you ask me. expect to see a good football performance between both teams today

Mujtahida:
You no go understand. My bad belly is especially for Congo, SA and Ghana. Once these three flop, the rest have their fate in their hands whether to advance or not. But those three must come back home.

Add Morocco to the list. Though I think they'll defeat Netherlands

Wishing my Nippon brothers the best of luck today. Even if you lose to Brazil, go out in a blaze of glory and make them sweat blood. Don't go out weak, limp and useless like Tunisia and South Xenophobia.

Got a feeling deep inside my soul that this Brazil Vs Japan game is going to be an all timer

The Best Player in African Women's football is back at the right time ahead of the Wafcon. Title Number 13 (Officially 11) loading.

That 1v1 moment where she did the hand thing indicating "sit down" or something... lol.. Esther is a savage footballer.

BascoVanVeli:
Esther Okoronkwo is back after an injury layoff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1_cvShFHuE

SolaFide:
Meet Simeon Rapsch (born February 9, 2008) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and he is eligible to play for Nigeria.

​Quick Bio:

​Born in Köln, Germany, and of Nigerian descent, Rapsch developed his skills in the youth setups of Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Viktoria Köln before joining the Bayer 04 Leverkusen academy in 2024. Standing at 1.90 m (6'3", he has established himself as a promising goalkeeper within the club's youth structure.

​During the 2025/26 season, Rapsch competed for the Bayer Leverkusen U19 side. His development has seen him feature across various youth competitions, including the DFB Youth League and the UEFA Youth League, where he has been noted for his height and technical positioning as a goalkeeper.

​Rapsch currently holds German citizenship and has represented Germany at the U-18 international level. With his contract at Bayer Leverkusen running until June 2027, he continues to be a key young prospect within the club's ranks.

From the picture, he doesn't look convincing. Pardon my hastiness though

E don dey happen!

Japan leads 1-0

TheSuperNerd:
As Brazil vs Japan draws closer, I cant help but go back to this video dropped by Mujtahida weeks ago...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WetxNrUAQaE?si=AO8bNh5RxZj_4UuV

Before the WC began, this Economist's model predicted a Brazil vs Japan clash in the Round of 32 and here we are.

Listen to what he says at 3.38....

Brazil are my guys so this has me kinda worried a little.

Netherlands and Morocco are my guys too so whoever wins pleases me but I am leaning slightly in Netherlands's favor and not even because of the model prediction.

In the end, time will tell, my people... time will answer all

TheSuperNerd:
The Best Player in African Women's football is back at the right time ahead of the Wafcon. Title Number 13 (Officially 11) loading.

That 1v1 moment where she did the hand thing indicating "sit down" or something... lol.. Esther is a savage footballer.

Nerdie, your post just made something like fury rise up from the pit of my stomach. Esther was the undisputed Women's player of the year but those Supreme FC decided to rig it for Checkback or whatever her name is.

Wishing them plenty and bountiful streams of losses.

TheSuperNerd:
E don dey happen!

Japan leads 1-0

Brazil not too inspiring even before the goal by Japan

mostob:
From the picture, he doesn't look convincing. Pardon my hastiness though

Really!!! 😄🤣 so na from picture you don use decline this lad… Omo your own scouting go terrible gan ooo…

C as Brazil 🇧🇷 Dey play like Cape Verde 🇨🇻 😃😃😃

minfelix:
Really!!! 😄🤣 so na from picture you don use decline this lad… Omo your own scouting go terrible gan ooo…

Oya... If you're walking at night and suddenly you jam Nwabali, how would you feel? Talk true o

Japan beating brazil 1-0….Japan is looking like team that can go all the way to the final, if this game end with this momentum

mostob:
Oya... If you're walking at night and suddenly you jam Nwabali, how would you feel? Talk true o

Baba no b by looks oo🤣🤣😂 if na so Ezenwa,Akpeyi,Agbim all 3 had that big head looks too oo

mostob:
Nerdie, your post just made something like fury rise up from the pit of my stomach. Esther was the undisputed Women's player of the year but those Supreme FC decided to rig it for Checkback or whatever her name is.

Wishing them plenty and bountiful streams of losses.

😂😂😂... Relax... Esther is here 😉

Mujtahida:
Whenever that time comes, it must be Nigeria to win it!

Amen I
Nigeria to win 2030 world cup

yinkeys:
S/Korea would’ve done a better job
I don’t know why some teams don’t take the initiative to attack or be proactive & try to win
Sitting back to what cost
Hoping for a deuce to what end
This attitude cost South Korea & now South Africa
Why dem Dey fear teams that ain’t in top 20
I didn’t watch the Canada game though

Until you’re there running around the pitch you wouldn’t understand

Our Newest Starboy turns 19 today.

https://x.com/i/status/2071560858316988579

typicalgamer:
Until you’re there running around the pitch you wouldn’t understand

There is nothing there to understand, it's their job and they are expected to do it perfectly, same way a banker at the bank is expected to do his/her job perfectly.
The footballers are being paid, they are not doing charity

Endrick has just 34mins of WC action but is the first lad trusted off the bench by Ancelotti for this crucial half. Huge responsibility.

Japan should watch him closely.

It is official: Frank Onyeka is a Coventry City Player.

https://x.com/i/status/2071633039000572342