₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
“The NFF president said enough is enough for indigenous coaches and my question is, ‘Who does he know in coaching in Nigeria to insult us, saying enough is enough?’ Who have they trained and developed? For me, it’s an insult to coaches in this country for anybody to get up and say ‘enough is enough, I won’t invite indigenous coaches again’,” Laloko said.


“We’ll wait for the person he wants to bring. I’ve worked with at least three (NFA) general secretaries and four foreign coaches. The only foreign coach who added to what I knew was Philippe Troussier. I don’t know what type of coach they are going to bring. I worked with Thijs Libregts, Bora Milutinovic, Johannes Bonfrere and Troussier and they didn’t know anything different from what Nigerian coaches knew.


Slowly, it seems the biggest mistake we have made is appointing this man Pinnick as the head of Nigerian football governing body.

Pinnick's statement is ridiculous. Glad Kashimawo Laloko spoke out on his ridiculous statement. Men like Pinnick sabotages Nigerian coaches and blame them. How many foreign coaches can go through what Coach Keshi, Amunike and Siasia went through and deliver trophies.

If Pinnick is so blind to see the strides our indeginious coaches made in improving our football image, then he needs to leave his position.

Laloko is one of the coaches who discovered John Obi Mike.

Nigeria can not make any meaningful achievement in football with people like Pinnick at the helm of affairs.

What these NFF members do is to appoint local Coaches and give them harsh conditions to work under deliberately, so that they can fail and give the enough reasons as to why they can't engage Nigerian Coaches again.

Rubbish, let me see where they will get the Millions to hire the Foreign Carpenters again under this administration.

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Shittu: Mikel Will Decide On Olympics, Eagles Don’t Need Foreign Coach
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By Izuchukwu Okosi:
FIFA licensed players agent John Shittu has admitted that he has no influence on his client Mikel Obi’s decision to play for Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics.


Mikel missed the 2008 Olympics but could be in Rio if U-23 Eagles coach Samson Siasia includes the 28-year-old as one of three overage players.


“I think it’s too early to discuss who will be in the Nigerian football team to the Olympics,” Shittu told Comple tesportsnigeria.com. “You talk about Mikel, but it’s a decision for Mikel to make. Fortunately we have very good young players all over the world and FIFA acknowledges the Olympics.”


Shittu has also given a thumbs down to the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to hire a foreign coach for the Super Eagles in the aftermath of the resignation of Sunday Oliseh as the head coach of the national team.


The NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, had in a function in the USA revealed that the Federation have reached its “last bus-stop” on hiring indigenous coaches and will henceforth go for foreign coaches.


The NFF though appointed a consortium of Nigerian coaches headed by Siasia and also comprising of Emmanuel Amuneke, Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu to be in temporary charge of the Eagles as the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt on March 25 and 29 approach.


“For me, Nigeria don’t need foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. I will advise the Nigeria Football Federation to stick with our local coaches,” Shittu added.


“The game in Africa is different from that of Europe or South America. The best coaches, the world class coaches are not easy to hire. Will the NFF be able to accept such a coach’s conditions and perhaps salaries. We should be proud of our own. What class of foreign coach are we going for anyway, that’s another thing.”


On the task of beating Egypt to enhance Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, Shittu stressed all Siasia need do is invite the best Nigerian players currently based on form and fitness.


“Samson Siasia is on interim basis. Since he could not qualify the Eagles for the 2012 AFCON, he has a chance to redeem himself somewhat if he can defeat Egypt home and away or at least get a draw away.


“But more importantly he should invite players on current form and fitness. He’s going to work with good coaches too. I wish them the very best,” Shittu said.

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Mikel, Aubameyang, Ujah In African Team Of The Week
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African stars were on parade over the weekend and on Monday night in European leagues. Those whose impressive performances were key in their teams' league games make this week's African Team of the Week as presented by Comple tesportsnigeria.com's IZUCHUKWU OKOSI…
…………………………………………….


GOAL
CHARLES ITANDJE
Former Indomitable Lions of Cameroon keeper Charles Itandje was the Man of the Match in Rizespor's 2-0 home win vs Kasimpasa on Saturday.


The veteran keeper had 61 touches of the ball, was dominant in the air as he claimed one aerial ball and the distributed the ball most times accurately.


He beats off competition from fellow Cameroonian Idris Kameni who himself had a good game in Malaga's 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad.


DEFENCE
JOHN BOYE
Black Stars of Ghana central defender John Boye was outstanding for Sivasspor in the Turkish club's 0-0 home draw against Antalyaspor that parades Samuel Eto'O.


Boye made three defensive tackles, three interceptions and five clearances in the game on Sunday.


The defender blocked one shot, committed two fouls, completed 43 of his passes and played 11 long balls from his team's half into the opposition half in search of a teammate.


GODFREY OBOABONA
Super Eagles of Nigeria defender Godfrey Oboabona received a seventh yellow in the 2015/2016 season but that did not mask his good performance in Rizespor's win against Kenneth Omeruo's Kasimpasa.


The 25-year-old Oboabona made two tackles, five interceptions and five clearances. He won one aerial duel and committed two fouls, one of them leading to his booking.


FAOUZI GHOULAM
Algeria left back Faouzi Ghoulam helped his Serie A club Napoli grind out a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina on Monday night.


The defender made a tackle, one interception and five clearances.
Ghoulam made five crosses while joining his teammates to attack. He made 43 touches of the ball and touched the ball 56 times.


FLORENTIN POGBA
Sylli Stars of Guinea defender Florentin Pogba may have been on the losing side as Saint Etienne lost 2-1 at their Stade Geoffrey to Caen, but he had a wonderful individual performance in the game.


The brother of Juventus star midfielder Paul Pogba made two tackles, three interceptions and two clearances. He also blocked two shots and committed one foul.


MIDFIELD
MIKEL OBI
Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea midfield star John Mikel Obi continued his renaissance under manager Guus Hiddink as the Blues thumped Southampton 2-1.


Mikel had a good individual although one of his rare chances to score, a header in the Southampton was disappointing.


Mikel made two key passes, one tackle, two interceptions and two clearances.


The Nigerian committed one foul, had 85 touches of the ball and had completed 74 of his passes in his 15th EPL games thus far.


RYAD BOUDEBOUZ
Algeria's Ryad Boudebouz was Man-of-the- Match in Montpellier's 3-0 home win against Lille at the Stade la so Mosson on Saturday.


The Algerian international made four key passes. His heat map was outstanding as he touched the ball 101 times and completed 75 of his passes.


It was the 19th Ligue game of the season for the midfielder in which he has scored once and assisted five timees.


CHEIKHOU KOUYATE
Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté was impressive in West Ham United's 1-0 win against Sunderland.


The 26 year-old midfielder made four defensive tackles, four interceptions and blocked one shot. The box-to-box midfielder completed 46 of his passes.


He edges Algeria and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez who was as expected impressive in Leicester City's hard fought 1-0 win against Norwich on Saturday in the African Team of the Week.


SADIO DIALLO
Sadio Diallo was the Man-of-the-Match in Bastia's 2-0 away win against OGC Nice.


The Guinean midfielder was substituted in the 77th minute played two shots, one of them on target. He made one key pass, had 68.8% pass accuracy and won one aerial duel.


The skilful midfielder had 48 touches of the ball. He made four tackles, two interceptions and had 32 completed passes.


ATTACK
PIERRE EMERICK AUBAMAYANG
African Footballer of the Year Pierre Emerick Aubamayang scored his 22nd Bundesliga goal on Sunday as his team Borrusia Dortmund defeated Hoffeinham 3-1.


The game was the 22nd Bundesliga appearance of the season for the nimble-footed forward.


Aubamayang had five shots in the game. He completed 14 of his passes in 90 minutes.

ANTHONY UJAH
Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah scored one of his team's goals in Weder Bremen's 2-2 home draw against Darmstadt on Saturday.


The goal was Ujah's ninth of the season in 23 Bundesliga appearances for the side currently in 16th position in the Bundesliga table.


Ujah's aerial presence was key for Weder as he won three duels. He completed 21 of his passes and had three of his four shots on target.

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Oliseh predicts again: Eagles will beat Egypt home and away
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Nigeria VS Egypt at AFCON 2010

Former Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has made a bold prediction – the Super Eagles will beat Egypt in AFCON qualifiers home and away this month.


Nigeria will first welcome the seven-time African champions on March 25, before they travel to Cairo for the reverse clash on March 29.


And Oliseh has restated his belief that even though he is no longer in charge of the Eagles, the team are capable of doing a double over the Pharaohs with Nigeria even recording a bigger win in Egypt.


“As a Nigerian, I can assure you you should not fear the Egyptians,” he said on his personal website.


“Egypt is a good team but definitely far from the Egypt of 5 years ago and our new assembled team is definitely better.


“If we play with the philosophy and players I have put on ground, we will definitely beat Egypt home and away with a larger margin in Egypt!


“Remember we don’t concede easily anymore.”

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EXCL: 'Eagles big fan' Emenike backs Nigeria to beat Egypt
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Emmanuel Emenike Celebrates with Westham United

Despite a shock retirement from international football, Emmanuel Emenike has told AfricanFootball.com he remains a big fan of the Super Eagles and has backed them to beat Egypt in Kaduna later this month.


Nigeria take on group leaders Egypt on March 25 with a return match fixed for March 29 as the AFCON 2017 qualifying campaign gathers momentum.


“Irrespective of my decision not to play for the team anymore, I am still a very big fan of my beloved country, which I have been even before I got the chance to play for the team," Emenike told AfricanFootball.com


"And even without me, Nigeria will beat Egypt with the talented stars from across the world in the team with the fans always there to ginger and support the team to victory.


“I believe Nigeria will beat Egypt and nothing will stop them from getting to the Nations Cup."


The striker, who is on loan to West Ham United from Fenerbache, will also call on the fans to respect his decision to quit the Eagles amid rumours he could be recalled in the wake of Sunday Oliseh’s shock resignation and the return of coach Samson Siasia, who first capped him for Nigeria.


"With due respect to the fans and every patriotic football lovers across the World who still wants to see me play for the Eagles, my decision is very simple in the sense that I want to give room for other players in the team,” he maintained.


“I don't mean to hurt anybody especially my fans who want to see me back for Nigeria. I know the fans are always supportive whenever I played for the country. I can't turn back on the Super Eagles even though I am not going to be there again.


“The players have been wonderful, they are my friends and I always motivate some of them to get better and lift the team.


“I don't want to look disrespectful to the fans, who have always believed in me and the team."


By Olusola Alao

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Ahmed Musa fires CSKA to Russia Cup semis
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Ahmed Musa on target again

Nigeria skipper Ahmed Musa scored one of the goals as CSKA Moscow progressed to the semifinals of the Russia Cup courtesy of a 2-0 win at FC Ufa on Tuesday.


Ahmed Musa, target of several English Premier League clubs in the winter transfer window, and Shirokov were both on the score sheet thanks to two assists from Zoran Tosic.


CSKA have reached the last-four of the cup competition for the fourth consecutive year.


The army club are also top of the league, three points clear of closest rivals Rostov after 18 rounds of matches.

TheGoodJoe:
Dr Lekan Are said, “I was shocked when I read it but I was not surprised because I knew that the NFF was just acting a script. They had a plan before firing Stephen Keshi unjustly and brought in Oliseh, even though he had no cognate experience to handle the job. I did not comment on Oliseh’s performance before but now, I have no doubt in my mind that Oliseh was the wrong man for the job.


“With the way Oliseh left, NFF president Pinnick should have resigned if he was a decent man because he brought Oliseh. I am disappointed that they are looking for a foreign coach. The NFF is the problem of football in Nigeria and unless we restructure it and get the right people in, the actual stakeholders will be chasing shadows. If we need a foreign coach, then we equally need a foreigner to be the NFF president. They should learn on the job and improve.”


I agree 100% with Are here. This is a clear case of sabotage and that was why these men owed and starved our coaches regularly.

Some will say no money now. How about in the past when there was money and GEJ pumped in billions of naira into the NFF and the NFF owed the players ad coaches.

We need a total revolution in football because the Nigerian football governing body pulled us back for too long.