₦airaland Forum

Raphael Onyedika bounced back from last week's nightmare showing and delivered a solid 90mins Midfield performance for Eintracht Frankfurt in their 1-0 home win vs FC Koln in the Bundesliga.
Won 6 out of his 7 duels, made 3 tackles, had 7 recoveries and completed 34 passes.

20y/o CB, Akpe Victory started and scored⚽️ in FC Basel's 3-0 away win vs Stade Nyonnais in the Swiss Cup Round of 32. He played the whole 90mins.

27y/o LW, Philip Otele started and played 66mins for Basel.

23y/o 🇧🇪🇳🇬 Winger, Kazeem Olaigbe played 76mins for Basel.

27y/o Forward, Victor Olatunji scored⚽️ for SK Beveren in their 3-0 win vs Habay La Neuve in the Belgian Cup Round of 32.

19y/o CDM, John Otomewo subbed in on 78mins for Reims in their 4-2 home win vs Dijon in Ligue 2 and unfortunately committed an error leading to goal. His 2nd such error this season (Sept 11 vs Nancy was the 1st). Really solid lad but have got to get his concentration together in recent games.

19y/o CM, Stephen Michael played 77mins for Vendsyssel FF in their 2-1 away loss at Kolding IF in the Danish 1st Division.

31y/o CDM, James Igbekeme played 73mins for Wisla Krakow in their away goalless draw vs Widzew Lodz in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

Is he not the person frankfurt fans were swearing for just last week?

EElopa:
Rafael Onyedika starts for Frankfurt. Eric Chelle needs to find a way to integrate Rafael Onyedika. Nigeria is not France, England, or Spain, where we have elite talented players playing at the highest level. For a country like Nigeria, I still find it difficult to accept discarding a player who is one of the few we have that are constantly starting games in the top 5 leagues in the world. Bundesliga is a very technical and effective league. I believe Frankfurth finished 7th last season. All the players I see people mentioning here to replace Onyedika will not even make the Frankfurt match-day squad. Rafeal Onyedika is a good player; Eric Chelle needs to find a way to make him effective in the SE. This dude was a beast in Belgium; he is now a mainstay in Frankfurt. Logic should tell people that he is not a bad player. A country like Nigeria simply does not have that luxury to be discarding a player like this for a random nobody.

Amedino99:
Is he not the person frankfurt fans were swearing for just last week?

Yeah he was atrocious last week but he bounced back yesterday with a commanding display for Frankfurt

EElopa:
Rafael Onyedika starts for Frankfurt. Eric Chelle needs to find a way to integrate Rafael Onyedika. Nigeria is not France, England, or Spain, where we have elite talented players playing at the highest level. For a country like Nigeria, I still find it difficult to accept discarding a player who is one of the few we have that are constantly starting games in the top 5 leagues in the world. Bundesliga is a very technical and effective league. I believe Frankfurth finished 7th last season. All the players I see people mentioning here to replace Onyedika will not even make the Frankfurt match-day squad. Rafeal Onyedika is a good player; Eric Chelle needs to find a way to make him effective in the SE. This dude was a beast in Belgium; he is now a mainstay in Frankfurt. Logic should tell people that he is not a bad player. A country like Nigeria simply does not have that luxury to be discarding a player like this for a random nobody.

In the national team, we won't really see Onyedika's best until we pair him with a midfield partner with a profile close to Stankovic who partnered him at Club Brugge..
Not sure we have such a profile yet
We could try pairing him with Nnadi
That might work

The Fisayo/ Onyedika partnership worked against Mozambique at the AFCON as well, but we all know Mozambique is not a strong side..

I agree with you, Chelle should find a way to bring Onyedika into the team

We need to move away from Ndidi and Onyeka as mainstays

Napoleon55:
Mikel is Chelsea and Nigerian legend.

Anyone can define the term "world class" according to how he sees fit.
To some,Mikel was world class, to some,he was not. Both were right.

A player who held his own against other world-class players is not world class? aah ok o!

lbrichman2:
In the national team, we won't really see Onyedika's best until we pair him with a midfield partner with a profile close to Stankovic who partnered him at Club Brugge..
Not sure we have such a profile yet
We could try pairing him with Nnadi
That might work

The Fisayo/ Onyedika partnership worked against Mozambique at the AFCON as well, but we all know Mozambique is not a strong side..

I agree with you, Chelle should find a way to bring Onyedika into the team

We need to move away from Ndidi and Onyeka as mainstays

We can try Onyedika, Nnadi and Iwobi combo.

Today both the U17 Flamingoes and Golden Eaglets are in action.

Golden Eaglets play Cote D'Ivoire - 4pm
Flamingoes play Poland - 7pm

Crucial games today.

Goke7:
A player who held his own against other world-class players is not world class? aah ok o!

You are right to say Mikel is world class, l also think he is.

But Mikel was not globally acclaimed to be world class,
And that does not meant he was not undeniably an elite player who consistently performed at the pinnacle of world football

Kog45:
Oga Nwaiwu I watched recently is better than Fernandez,my opinion

Nwaiwu for me is better, though still have rough edges, not as refined as Fernandez.

Amedino99 he had a bad game last week, and he bounced back this week with an outstanding performance. The players people like you are clamouring for will struggle to make the match day squad of any team in the Bundesliga talkless of starting. All these players you guys are wishing to replace, Onyedika, are inferior players, and with time they will be exposed. I don't follow the crowd and shout 'blue murder' toward certain players due to personal biases. I think logically, and I look at issues from a critical thinking point of view.

I don't need Stanly Nwabili to have atrocious games to know that he is not better than Maduka Okoye. My logical point of view is in Maduka Okoye, I saw a player that won the best player of the season for a Serie A midtable club, Udinese; a player that Inter Milan are after; a player that Roma had an inquiry on this summer with Udinese. On the other hand, Stanly Nwabili cannot even get a club in Africa. There is no logical person that will tell you that Stanley Nwabali is better than Maduka Okoye. People don't think critically or logically in Nigeria. Everything is about emotion, biases and agenda driven. Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Senegal have top quality midfielders across the big 5 leagues. They can get rid of Onyedika, but Nigeria currently cannot afford to do that because we lack midfielders that are currently playing at the highest levels.

Time for these matches bro. And any link?

solonnachi:
Today both the U17 Flamingoes and Golden Eaglets are in action.

Golden Eaglets play Cote D'Ivoire - 4pm
Flamingoes play Poland - 7pm

Crucial games today.

2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup matches

Group stage · Matchday 1 of 3

Germany vs Argentina Today 16:00

North Korea vs Puerto Rico Today 19:00

Poland vs Nigeria Today 19:00

Morocco vs New Zealand Tomorrow 16:00

Japan vs Zambia Tomorrow 16:00

Canada vs Brazil Tomorrow 19:00

France vs Venezuela Tomorrow 19:00

Norway vs Ghana Mon 19 Oct 16:00

Spain vs Mexico Mon 19 Oct 16:00

Kenya vs China Mon 19 Oct 19:00

Australia vs Chile Mon 19 Oct 19:00

United States vs Samoa Mon 19 Oct 19:00


Group stage Matchday 2 of 3

North Korea vs Poland Tue 20 Oct 16:00

Argentina vs New Zealand Tue 20 Oct 19:00

Morocco vs Germany Tue 20 Oct 19:00

Nigeria vs Puerto Rico Wed 21 Oct 16:00

Japan vs France Wed 21 Oct 16:00

Canada vs Norway Wed 21 Oct 19:00

Venezuela vs Zambia Wed 21 Oct 19:00

Ghana vs Brazil Thu 22 Oct 16:00

China vs Samoa Thu 22 Oct 16:00

Spain vs Australia Thu 22 Oct 19:00

United States vs Kenya Thu 22 Oct 19:00

Chile vs Mexico Thu 22 Oct 19:00


Group stage · Matchday 3 of 3

Puerto Rico vs Poland Fri 23 Oct 16:00

Nigeria vs North Korea Fri 23 Oct 19:00

Argentina vs Morocco Fri 23 Oct 19:00

New Zealand vs Germany Sat 24 Oct 16:00

Ghana vs Canada Sat 24 Oct 16:00

Brazil vs Norway Sat 24 Oct 19:00

Zambia vs France Sat 24 Oct 19:00

Venezuela vs Japan Sun 25 Oct 15:00

Chile vs Spain Sun 25 Oct 15:00

Mexico vs Australia Sun 25 Oct 18:00

China vs United States Sun 25 Oct 18:00

Samoa vs Kenya Sun 25 Oct 18:00

AndSunGorilla:
We can try Onyedika, Nnadi and Iwobi combo.

Yeah, something like that
Chelle has to be brave to try it

The U17 Girls are sure to give one Joy today. There are massive ballers in this generation. I look forward to their games.

lbrichman2:
Yeah, something like that
Chelle has to be brave to try it

We need to start prepping for the next world cup from now. Better we try and fail with the younger ones than to keep recycling the older ones who most of them even know they won't be at the next world cup (Moses Simon confirmed it).

Kog45:
All I know Iwobi,Ndidi and Oyenka in the midfield we go nowhere

who do you prefer?

Moniter0:
Iheanacho should be the only player that should be starting with Victor Osimhen in a two man attack. There's no denying that Iheanacho is in form, and he scores and create chances as well. He can offer creativity in the final third while Iwobi focuses on creativity in the midfield.

from Turkey division 2? A league that probably can’t compete with the English 3rd tier

jihday:
from Turkey division 2? A league that probably can’t compete with the English 3rd tier

Iheanacho is in form this season. He can compete any where. He scored a scintillating goal out of nothing against Russia, friendly or no friendly, we all know the Russians took that game serious. You cannot rob the Super Eagles of what Iheanacho offers by downplaying his exploits.

jihday:
from Turkey division 2? A league that probably can’t compete with the English 3rd tier

iheanacho is a player that performs abysmally if he is not in form regardless of the league he is playing, and also performs exceptionally well when in form irrespective of the league he is playing. He is in form this season and the Super Eagles can benefit from that as well.

EElopa:
Amedino99 he had a bad game last week, and he bounced back this week with an outstanding performance. The players people like you are clamouring for will struggle to make the match day squad of any team in the Bundesliga talkless of starting. All these players you guys are wishing to replace, Onyedika, are inferior players, and with time they will be exposed. I don't follow the crowd and shout 'blue murder' toward certain players due to personal biases. I think logically, and I look at issues from a critical thinking point of view.

I don't need Stanly Nwabili to have atrocious games to know that he is not better than Maduka Okoye. My logical point of view is in Maduka Okoye, I saw a player that won the best player of the season for a Serie A midtable club, Udinese; a player that Inter Milan are after; a player that Roma had an inquiry on this summer with Udinese. On the other hand, Stanly Nwabili cannot even get a club in Africa. There is no logical person that will tell you that Stanley Nwabali is better than Maduka Okoye. People don't think critically or logically in Nigeria. Everything is about emotion, biases and agenda driven. Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Senegal have top quality midfielders across the big 5 leagues. They can get rid of Onyedika, but Nigeria currently cannot afford to do that because we lack midfielders that are currently playing at the highest levels.

Pls speak your opinion and let's stop at that,don't assume that everyone in Nigeria doesn't think critically or logically but you.

Okoye is better to you,that's fine.
Saying those who believed Nwabali is better are illogical and irrational also implicates you as being guilty of what you are accusing others.

Nwabali took us to back to back AFCON semi finals, winning silver and bronze, and almost qualified us for world cup if not for some players who failed to convert their penalty kicks.
When Okoye was given a chance at the AFCON,what did he do? he crashed us out after group matches.
So it's more logical to conclude he is better for us than Okoye

Nwabali is already aging while Okoye is young, he should prove he is better than Nwabali for us,not winning best player at Udinese.

Now because Osimhen couldn't get a club at top 5 leagues means that the likes of Akor,Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar are better than him?if your logic about Okoye and Nwabali is to be accepted.

Just like Okoye, Onyedika need to stamp his authority in that midfield to convince everyone when next the opportunity comes, Ndidi is already old.

jihday:
who do you prefer?

Scouting for more midfielders to compete with ones we have already, but mostly U23 players, and keep trying them with the U23 teams and friendlies.
No one knew Fredrick would bench Ekong until he was tried.

Napoleon55:
Pls speak your opinion and let's stop at that,don't assume that everyone in Nigeria doesn't think critically or logically but you.

Okoye is better to you,that's fine.
Saying those who believed Nwabali is better are illogical and irrational also implicates you as being guilty of what you are accusing others.

Nwabali took us to back to back AFCON semi finals, winning silver and bronze, and almost qualified us for world cup if not for some players who failed to convert their penalty kicks.
When Okoye was given a chance at the AFCON,what did he do? he crashed us out after group matches.
So it's more logical to conclude he is better for us than Okoye

Nwabali is already aging while Okoye is young, he should prove he is better than Nwabali for us,not winning best player at Udinese.

Now because Osimhen couldn't get a club at top 5 leagues means that the likes of Akor,Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar are better than him?if your logic about Okoye and Nwabali is to be accepted.

Just like Okoye, Onyedika need to stamp his authority in that midfield to convince everyone when next the opportunity comes, Ndidi is already old.

I mean i was baffled when i saw that stuff on nwaballi. Go and watch the last 2 nations cup and see the best of nwabali for Nigeria. he has paid his dues. He may be on a decline now but when he was good he benched Okoye. in the last 2 nations cup without nwabali we might have being in trouble. that is the fact. He saved us on many occasions.

Napoleon55:
Pls speak your opinion and let's stop at that,don't assume that everyone in Nigeria doesn't think critically or logically but you.

Okoye is better to you,that's fine.
Saying those who believed Nwabali is better are illogical and irrational also implicates you as being guilty of what you are accusing others.

Nwabali took us to back to back AFCON semi finals, winning silver and bronze, and almost qualified us for world cup if not for some players who failed to convert their penalty kicks.
When Okoye was given a chance at the AFCON,what did he do? he crashed us out after group matches.
So it's more logical to conclude he is better for us than Okoye

Nwabali is already aging while Okoye is young, he should prove he is better than Nwabali for us,not winning best player at Udinese.

Now because Osimhen couldn't get a club at top 5 leagues means that the likes of Akor,Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar are better than him?if your logic about Okoye and Nwabali is to be accepted.

Just like Okoye, Onyedika need to stamp his authority in that midfield to convince everyone when next the opportunity comes, Ndidi is already old.

You are not thinking critically. Go and sit down at a corner and critically think; you will see how wrong you are here. People in Nigeria need to start thinking critically and deeply. When the general populace starts doing that, maybe we will start developing. In Nigeria, government officials build roads with no pedestrian sidewalk and close drainage; that is because they are not thinking, and we are talking of a country where 98 percent of the populace does not own a vehicle. 99.99 percent of clubs in the top 5 leagues will get on their knees and beg Osimhen to come to their club if Galatasaray is willing to let him go for 20 million pounds.

Iwobi on the beat while Ajayi looks shocked

solonnachi:
Today both the U17 Flamingoes and Golden Eaglets are in action.

Golden Eaglets play Cote D'Ivoire - 4pm
Flamingoes play Poland - 7pm

Crucial games today.

I gave up on the boys already

GMBOFASIA:
Not just that osimhen first touch in yesterday game was just off for a striker

His first touch has always been inconsistent.

If anybody can find me a left center back in the premier league playing better than Bassey I will like to know who he is. Bassey is getting better by the day. I will not swap him for any center back in Africa. Iwobi is balling. When i here people talking of dropping this guy i Just laugh at the ignorance. There is no midfielder currently available for Nigeria that is anywhere remotely close to him.

Golden Eaglets play Cote D'Ivoire - 4pm

HT Nig 1 Cote DÍvore 4

Already...

oloriooko:
Golden Eaglets play Cote D'Ivoire - 4pm

HT Nig 1 Cote DÍvore 4

oloriooko:
Golden Eaglets play Cote D'Ivoire - 4pm

HT Nig 1 Cote DÍvore 4

I genuinely thought we were losing by a 4-1 scoreline at HT abi na true?