₦airaland Forum

I totally agree. Chelle must learn to adjust his tactics based on the opponent, pitch , physical condition of players and game flow. It can't be attacking and aggressive game plan every single time. First was against Zimbabwe during World Cup qualifiers, this is another instance.

TheSuperNerd:
Fair point.

ScoreNigeria also reported protests by the players on the GNB pitch pregame and post game.

Be that as it was, a draw would have sufficed. Chelle should have managed the situation tactically and see us get a draw. He failed the plot coz he refused to read the room.

TheSuperNerd:
Fair point.

ScoreNigeria also reported protests by the players on the GNB pitch pregame and post game.

Be that as it was, a draw would have sufficed. Chelle should have managed the situation tactically and see us get a draw. He failed the plot coz he refused to read the room.

Yes I support ur second opinion…since he knew winning is next to zero ,den he shld have played for a draw and hopefully if a wins comes by ..we take it.. dts gone now anyway


Besides I am 100 percent sure Guinea Bissau will drop points , my fear is just if we can c out our remaining games by winning all

benji93:
You this man with "coulda not", "woulda not". You mostly ignored the most important part of my post. It's completely independent of whether Morocco gets beat or not. Let's say Morocco beats Guinea Bissau 10 out of 10 times.It doesn't change the fact that our side was far more talented that that team and still got thrashed, which means that there are other important issues that must be addressed to create a consistently dominant team.

Okay Benjamin

You've piqued my curiosity with your last sentence

Can you name 10.issues that need to.be addressed in the current Super Eagles team?

I can bet you, at least 6 out of those 10.issues you'll raise will.be tied to personnel issues

Which brings me back to my earlier submission, these home-grown guys lack proper football education and it shows

elyte89:
Yes I support ur second opinion…since he knew winning is next to zero ,den he shld have played for a draw and hopefully if a wins comes by ..we take it.. dts gone now anyway


Besides I am 100 percent sure Guinea Bissau will drop points , my fear is just if we can c out our remaining games by winning all

Na so u dey 100% sure one time like dat.

Napoleon55:
The bad pitch excuse some people are giving for this type of scandalous loss is not an excuse,
because countries like Morocco,Senegal and CIV could still go there and beat them convincingly on the same pitch, and they all play in Europe same as our players.

Na the players and coaches knows what's the problem why they have to let GB trash them like this.

If we are to move forward and reclaim our status,the NFF should take our youth teams very serious as part the rebuilding process.
Our U17,U20 and U23 is the foundation.
When our youth teams performs excellently at the world cups,the standout players got signed by European clubs,eventually it rubs off on our senior team,coupled with some excellent foreign borns,there would be plenty of good players to select and form a formidable squad.

When the Super Eagles qualify for world cup and performs well at the world,that's when the top clubs won't have choice but to sign them.
It is particularly hard for Nigerian players to get signed by top clubs these days,so if the super eagles players have any ambitious of playing for top clubs, doing well at the world cup is the key.

If we don't have at least one,two or three of players playing for big clubs,as big footballing nation,it would be difficult for us to dominate and win trophies,other countries won't fear and respect us as one of the powerhouses.

If Brazil for instance don't have some their players as one of the best of best players in the world,a Balon d’or worthy kind,it would be difficult for them to win the World cup.
A big footballing nation should have their players at some of the best clubs in the world.

Mr Joebie and co want you to believe that the kind of players we have are good enough and don't matter
.
I've said it hat we have only 3 good and reliable players in that team. This isn't a number that can guarantee you trophies...

AndSunGorilla:
Na so u dey 100% sure one time like dat.

Ehn na ..my predictions were right na …didn’t dey drop points? Dey did…na our players mumu 😁


Una almost turn South Africa 🇿🇦 to Brazil 🇧🇷 way go win all deir matches

Saw this report on ScoreNigeria but did not want to share as first. Let me do so now.

Aina obviously had PTSD from the South Africa game on their potatk farm.
Now I see what could have made Chukwueze not play at all. If this is so, then my initial knock on Chelle for benching Chuks is withdrawn.


EXCLUSIVE: Super Eagles stars lead revolt over bad Bissau pitch

SCORENigeria can report that Tuesday’s 2027 AFCON qualifier between hosts Guinea Bissau and the Super Eagles was already won and lost after four key players allegedly refused to play on the bad pitch at the 24 September Stadium in Bissau for fear of injury.

The four players were Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, George Ilenikhena and Ademola Lookman.

A team source told SCORENigeria: “The players bluntly refused to play this match for fear of injuring themselves on the bad pitch.

“You would recall that Ola Aina suffered a hamstring injury that needed surgery and kept him out for several months when he played on a bad pitch in South Africa in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

“So bad was the situation in Guinea Bissau that in the dressing room the players had to raise their hands who wanted to play and those who did not want to.

“In the end, (Ademola) Lookman had to be begged to play and that was why he played.”


My take on this: The NFF (or whatever is left of it currently) has to realise that this is now intentional by African teams when facing the Super Eagles. They know we dont function on potato farms.

Blueelf:
Mr Joebie and co want you to believe that the kind of players we have are good enough and don't matter
.
I've said it hat we have only 3 good and reliable players in that team. This isn't a number that can guarantee you trophies...

Our midfield is d problem …we can’t keep continue doing the same thing and expect diff results

D midfield combinations has achieved next to nothing in d span of 12years( 2world cup failures, no afcon trophies) .. Chelle needs to be brutal and sack some midfielders,or else dis player’s performance will sack him in no distant future

elyte89:
Our midfield is d problem …we can’t keep continue doing the same thing and expect diff results

D midfield combinations has achieved next to nothing in d span of 12years( 2world cup failures, no afcon trophies) .. Chelsea needs to be brutal and sack some midfielders,or else dis player’s performance will sack him in no distant future

Abeg make we kuku try kelechi nwakali. It is not a crime. They will not jail anyone if he plays for us.
The important thing is the success of the team not where a player okays. We must face reality sometimes. This our midfield needs help and nwakali could just be one of the factors.

You can never have a good football team without a good midfield. The reason why the likes of Senegal, Ivory Coast or Morocco rarely lose in Africa is because of their ability to control games. We have to rebuild that midfield. Enough of the runners, hustlers, and tacklers, we now need the ball carriers, manipulators and distributors. We went from the likes of JJ Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Sunday Oliseh, Mikel Obi to Ndidi, Onyeka and Onyedika. Throw that midfield positions wide open for real competition. Go hard on Francis Onyeka and Ethan Nwaneri for that creative midfield position. If we can get these two it will create a massive competition for Lookman in that 10 position. Iwobi to me is a winger. Move him to the left wing position. He will create a competition for Lookman in that left wing position and also in the 10 position if needed. This will bring out the best in Lookman who i still think is Nigeria second best attacking player. Get rid of the players that thier best football are behind them. The 5 central defenders are set. They should be Calvin Bassey, Emmanuel Fernandez, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Benjamin Frederick and Akpe Victory. The left back position is a shitshow. Bruno onyemachi and Sanusi are simply not good enough. They are very limited players. These two will not get us to the promise land. Good lads, but they are very limited. Get rid of them. Felix Agu is serviceable when fit but he is always injured. I will pay serious attention to the newly invited leftback in the Russia game and it will be totally unfair to cast judgement on him base on one game but i will evaluate the technical and defensive side of his game. Cast the net wide and see if you can find a proper leftback and if not, maybe moving Calvin Bassey to the left back position should be considered. Ola Aina is a very good right back. Thier are good prospects here for the backup roles. Wingers position should be a blood bath. We are loaded here. Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Femi Azeez, Zadok Yohanna, Moses Usor etc. We are really not as blessed in the strikers position as we think. The only real strikers we currently have in the supereargles are Victor Osimhen and George Ilenikhena. The rest are really below average. Victor and George will always be there. If Victor Osimhen is available I will probably go with Akor as the 3rd striker. We don't need 4 strikers use the extra striker spot for a midfielder. If Osimhen is not available The third striker spot should be wide open and should go any striker performing at a respectable level for his club ( The league he plays in should play a major factor) Finally the goal keeping position should be a battle between Maduka Okoye and Authur Okoronkwo. Get rid of Nwabali. The third goal keeping spot should go the U23 Starting Goalkeeper.

TheSuperNerd:
Saw this report on ScoreNigeria but did not want to share as first. Let me do so now.

Aina obviously had PTSD from the South Africa game on their potatk farm.
Now I see what could have made Chukwueze not play at all. If this is so, then my initial knock on Chelle for benching Chuks is withdrawn.


EXCLUSIVE: Super Eagles stars lead revolt over bad Bissau pitch

SCORENigeria can report that Tuesday’s 2027 AFCON qualifier between hosts Guinea Bissau and the Super Eagles was already won and lost after four key players allegedly refused to play on the bad pitch at the 24 September Stadium in Bissau for fear of injury.

The four players were Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, George Ilenikhena and Ademola Lookman.

A team source told SCORENigeria: “The players bluntly refused to play this match for fear of injuring themselves on the bad pitch.

“You would recall that Ola Aina suffered a hamstring injury that needed surgery and kept him out for several months when he played on a bad pitch in South Africa in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

“So bad was the situation in Guinea Bissau that in the dressing room the players had to raise their hands who wanted to play and those who did not want to.

“In the end, (Ademola) Lookman had to be begged to play and that was why he played.”


My take on this: The NFF (or whatever is left of it currently) has to realise that this is now intentional by African teams when facing the Super Eagles. They know we dont function on potato farms.

We should report any African country that takes us to s bad pitch to FIFA or caf. The issue is. Nff will keep quiet. Even if we win we should still report it. What is bad is bad.

The bad pitch wouldn't have been an excuse in years past as most of our players then started their career in Nigeria with even worse pitches.

I remember our match against Congo enroute to USA 94, the pitch was so awful yet we were able to grind out a 1 nil victory courtesy of Rashidi Yekini.

I would hv said our foreign borns not used to bad pitches are the ones affected but nowadays even our local players are no longer used to playing on bad pitches.

elyte89:
Ehn na ..my predictions were right na …didn’t dey drop points? Dey did…na our players mumu 😁


Una almost turn South Africa 🇿🇦 to Brazil 🇧🇷 way go win all deir matches

U also said u were sure we were going to world cup. Na the head of my forefathers prevent me from selling property to go buy ticket for world cup.

elyte89:
Our midfield is d problem …we can’t keep continue doing the same thing and expect diff results

D midfield combinations has achieved next to nothing in d span of 12years( 2world cup failures, no afcon trophies) .. Chelle needs to be brutal and sack some midfielders,or else dis player’s performance will sack him in no distant future

In fact, I can tell you that the current football leadership which includes some ex internationals won't think twice before sacking him.because they favor an indigenous coach

He has to use his tongue to count his teeth else, they'll find a good reason to relieve him of his job

It's as bas as, even if he wins all his remaining games and fails to qualify, they will sack him and I don't want that,. I'm not even sure we can win all our remaining games

AndSunGorilla:
U also said u were sure we were going to world cup. Na the head of my forefathers prevent me from selling property to go buy ticket for world cup.

I am still pained sincerely 🥹🥹

Nomyth:
The bad pitch wouldn't have been an excuse in years past as most of our players then started their career in Nigeria with even worse pitches.

I remember our match against Congo enroute to USA 94, the pitch was so awful yet we were able to grind out a 1 nil victory courtesy of Rashidi Yekini.

I would hv said our foreign borns not used to bad pitches are the ones affected but nowadays even our local players are no longer used to playing on bad pitches.

You can't really blame these players....they will be putting their careers on the line if they suffer a season ending injury on that type of pitch...

That field na potato farm. 🥔

See as ball the bounce like felele.

The players didn't stick their neck. Even Nwabali dey careful to dive go land on potato. Chaiiiiiii.

No problem. Make dem come make we beat dem 4 zero.

Blueelf:
In fact, I can tell you that the current football leadership which includes some ex internationals won't think twice before sacking him.because they favor an indigenous coach

He has to use his tongue to count his teeth else, they'll find a good reason to relieve him of his job

It's as bas as, even if he wins all his remaining games and fails to qualify, they will sack him and I don't want that,. I'm not even sure we can win all our remaining games

The ex internationals are not the ones running Nigerian football,and we are better off if they were the ones at the helm of affairs in our football irrespective of the bias some of you have against them.

If Chelle fails to qualify us for world cup,then it's a good sign he probably won't be able to qualify us for world cup, so it's a legit reason to sack him if they do.
He has failed to qualify us for the world cup when all the ball was on his court, all he had to do was to win the most important matches.
We can't afford to miss WC for the third time straight，anyone perceived not to be to deliver the WC sloth should be shown the exit door.

Chelle is not the best coach we can find out there if we look hard enough.
Not until Chelle is able to win some of the powerhouse teams in Africa convincingly,i won't be completely sold on him.

Our MD showed up unannounce that day, couldn't catch the match from the beginning. When i finally tuned in, the state of the grass put me off..

One of our midfielders passed the ball and the movement of the ball on the ground already told me the type of match that will unfold...

The scoreline is flattering, yet, I don't feel any type of way. .

GB will surely collect in NGA

Danielnino00:
You can't really blame these players....they will be putting their careers on the line if they suffer a season ending injury on that type of pitch...

I often hear a phrase like this "ready to die on the pitch"
If people could use such lines even though no one is expecting them to actually die on the pitch, then I wonder if risking injury is a big ask in order get themselves out of a difficult situation.
Instead I'm hearing that some players even declined playing at all because of the pitch,I hope the story is false.
I would have loved a situation where all the players collectively agreed not to play at all and damn the consequences,that would have sent a strong message to CAF and NFF to stop taking them to bad pitches

I have watched players like Osimhen,Aghahowa and Emenike sticked their neck on the ground to make sure they come out with something.
But na them sabi,soon they will start choosing which match is convenient enough for them to play.

Napoleon55:
The ex internationals are not the ones running Nigerian football,and we are better off if they were the ones at the helm of affairs in our football irrespective of the bias some of you have against them.

If Chelle fails to qualify us for world cup,then it's a good sign he probably won't be able to qualify us for world cup, so it's a legit reason to sack him if they do.
He has failed to qualify us for the world cup when all the ball was on his court, all he had to do was to win the most important matches.
We can't afford to miss WC for the third time straight，anyone perceived not to be to deliver the WC sloth should be shown the exit door.

Chelle is not the best coach we can find out there if we look hard enough.
Not until Chelle is able to win some of the powerhouse teams in Africa convincingly,i won't be completely sold on him.

You are right

TheSuperNerd:
Saw this report on ScoreNigeria but did not want to share as first. Let me do so now.

Aina obviously had PTSD from the South Africa game on their potatk farm.
Now I see what could have made Chukwueze not play at all. If this is so, then my initial knock on Chelle for benching Chuks is withdrawn.


EXCLUSIVE: Super Eagles stars lead revolt over bad Bissau pitch

SCORENigeria can report that Tuesday’s 2027 AFCON qualifier between hosts Guinea Bissau and the Super Eagles was already won and lost after four key players allegedly refused to play on the bad pitch at the 24 September Stadium in Bissau for fear of injury.

The four players were Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, George Ilenikhena and Ademola Lookman.

A team source told SCORENigeria: “The players bluntly refused to play this match for fear of injuring themselves on the bad pitch.

“You would recall that Ola Aina suffered a hamstring injury that needed surgery and kept him out for several months when he played on a bad pitch in South Africa in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

“So bad was the situation in Guinea Bissau that in the dressing room the players had to raise their hands who wanted to play and those who did not want to.

“In the end, (Ademola) Lookman had to be begged to play and that was why he played.”


My take on this: The NFF (or whatever is left of it currently) has to realise that this is now intentional by African teams when facing the Super Eagles. They know we dont function on potato farms.

....Why has the N.F.F never protested against playing on bad pitch, despite knowing that players might pick injury or players will not be able to give their all?.....Also is there a stipulated time to protest before a match is played?..If there is, whatis the duration, i will rather protest the game be postponed than my players getting injured.

carbonado:
....Why has the N.F.F never protested against playing on bad pitch, despite knowing that players might pick injury or players will not be able to give their all?.....Also is there a stipulated time to protest before a match is played?..If there is, whatis the duration, i will rather protest the game be postponed than my players getting injured.

Which protest? We no dey play for bad pitch before? Haven't we played in Port Harcourt, Benin, Abuja with horrible pitches? If not that the Uyo stadium was built, it would have been busy as usual.

Starboytwo:
Our MD showed up unannounce that day, couldn't catch the match from the beginning. When i finally tuned in, the state of the grass put me off..

One of our midfielders passed the ball and the movement of the ball on the ground already told me the type of match that will unfold...

The scoreline is flattering, yet, I don't feel any type of way. .

GB will surely collect in NGA

Oh flattering to us? Dey could have knocked us like 4-0. I remember a lucky one for Ajayi wey the ball bounce on top im head, na God say make referee bail us out.

Not even close to as bad as that potato farm to be frank.

AndSunGorilla:
Which protest? We no dey play for bad pitch before? Haven't we played in Port Harcourt, Benin, Abuja with horrible pitches? If not that the Uyo stadium was built, it would have been busy as usual.

Odunayaw:
E get match dem play these days wey we miss?

They beat Falcons this year to WC play off
They beat Eagles to the WC ticket

Akpe Victory leads the Swiss Super League in Passing Interceptions.

Sadly, reports reaching me say he will miss the Russia game and has been likely replaced with Vince Osuji of Tromso (formerly of Club Brugge).

Although not officially confirmed yet, John Otomewo of Reims is said to have been called up as Ndidi's replacement for the Russia Friendly.

19y/o Stephen Fumen Michael on his way to Russia for the friendly.

He's called the Naija Pedri by some admirers and I can see he also idolises Pedri.

I dont yet subscribe to the name but we will see.

Hope he impresses hugely.

TheSuperNerd:
19y/o Stephen Fumen Michael on his way to Russia for the friendly.

He's called the Naija Pedri by some admirers and I can see he also idolises Pedri.

I dont yet subscribe to the name but we will see.

Hope he impresses hugely.

See it's better we give players like these a chance. We need to try new untested players. This is what keshi did and we win the nations cup. If we keep that midfield we will be limited. Even in various positions just try new players. It's the only way forward. Even if the player does not perform, we learn something. Then we should not wait until a player is in a better league before using him..just use a player to win a match. See in football winning is everything and not if player is in real madrid or whatever.

Coach. I would like to but I don't think Chelle is it. He gets to continue because he inherited bad results. It's only fair. We have not gotten it right in a long time. In short I sometimes cannot help but think that the good options available have gotten so limited that we have to be very lucky to find the right coach. And I am not even sure we can extricate ourselves from this without pulling NFF apart, which is trouble cos the international community is watching and we may get sanctioned. Now let me circle back to it as you have. Your solution to solving the problem of inadequate training of home grown talent isn't it because if the goal is to be competitive we won't be because currently we get the worst of the bunch. Until that changes we will not do any better. A long term solution is for the NFF to help the local academies and licensed football personnel. It can be done if they are serious.

Blueelf:
Okay Benjamin

You've piqued my curiosity with your last sentence

Can you name 10.issues that need to.be addressed in the current Super Eagles team?

I can bet you, at least 6 out of those 10.issues you'll raise will.be tied to personnel issues

Which brings me back to my earlier submission, these home-grown guys lack proper football education and it shows

Meliforme:
Yes, the same call that was made for Mikel. Was Mikel ever appreciated. All kinds of complaints were made of Mikel, complaints like "He is sluggish, He slows down our game" and all kinds of uninformed takes.

We are yet to get a like for like replacement for Mikel The closest is Kelechi Nwakali, whom many of you detest for reasons that has nothing to do with his abilities.

When has Wilfred Ndidi ever been loved or appreciated, even during his early years in the EPL, you guys will find one thing or the other to criticise about him. Your criticisms of Wilfred Ndidi is that his legs are gone. When has Wilfred Ndidi ever had legs in the eyes of the likes of you. Has Wilfred Ndidi ever had legs?

The truth is never with the majority. All it takes to start a mob action is just one ill informed take and every other person blindly joins the procession without asking real questions or seeking facts.

You bring your feelings which are subjective, I table stats which are objective. The stats prove many of you wrong, but no, you must say out your feelings whether they are true or not.

Wilfred Ndidi is a much improved player. More improved than what I use to know about him. Take it or leave it, it doesn't change anything.

Ndidi is almost 30 and is a bench warmer in Turkey bro, Mikel Obi at 30 was still an active and far better player than Ndidi... so your comparison is baseless, save yourself the paragraph of epistle,Ndidi is done and should be phased out.