By Allwell Okpi

As the Super Eagles settle down to the fact that they won’t feature in the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, two ex-internationals, Taribo West and Garba Lawal, have said the next step should be the rebuilding of the team with young players such as Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and KAA Gent’s Moses Simon.

owolaball:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLIW-8PF9I

TheSuperNerd:
Iheanacho, Iwobi, others can lift Eagles again —
Taribo, Lawal




Garba Lawal.
[b]

Regarding the need to inspire the young players to be more committed to the national team, West said there was the need to treat the older players well, particularly when they are about to retire.


“The way Vincent Enyeama retired was very bad. It is only in a system like Nigeria you get that. Enyeama should be retired with a lot of honour and respect. I think Samson Siasia should try and get Enyeama back and let him retire with honour, so that the younger players will see a good future in playing for the
national team,” the former Eagles defender said.

“They retired the generation of Segun Odegbami anyhow; they did it to our generation, now they are doing it to this generation. Imagine if I wasn’t a pastor, what would I have done? The system didn’t give me any future. If the present generation do not
see any future in representing Nigeria, they will not go all out to play and die for the nation.


“We do well in the age-grade competitions because the players see it as an opportunity to make a future for themselves. But when they come to play at the senior level, they will not want to risk their career because if they get injured representing Nigeria, the country will abandon them. I hope the injury Oghenekaro Etebo picked up during the Egypt game is not very bad. Because I fear that the people in the
Nigeria Football Federation may abandon him.


“Two years ago, I had to fight for Ogenyi Onazi
and Elderson Echiejile, who were injured at
the World Cup. I spoke with the then Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, and told him that he had to do something for those players. I think he eventually got the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, to call them and I think they got help somehow.”


West, however, said the Eagles defence did well against Egypt but failed to concentrate to the end and therefore conceded cheap goals.

The Legend has spoken. Very on point. But the question is 'When shall we begin to learn from our past?'[/b]







After drawing 1-1 in Kaduna and losing 1-0 in Alexandria, the Eagles now have one last game with Tanzania in September, which would not matter.


West told our correspondent that the Eagles lost the AFCON ticket in the first game in Kaduna and noted that the Egyptians were not better than the Eagles in both legs but agreed that they were more aggressive and more eager to win.


“In my opinion, our boys didn’t play like they
wanted to win. They played to instruction; they were tactically good, but they also carelessly conceded goals. The Eagles didn’t do well,” he said.


“The only thing that made me happy with the team was the rebuilding. I was happy that the young players, who came into the team newly, were able to play together with the likes of Mikel Obi. If you watched the second leg, you’ll see that Mikel’s experience showed.


“At this moment, we should start talking about
rebuilding for the future. Most of our younger players that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE and some of the U-23 players are good. We should be able to merge the two teams and get a team that will make us proud.”


“At this moment, we should start talking about
rebuilding for the future. Most of our younger players that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE and some of the U-23 players are good. We should be able to merge the two teams and get a team that will make us proud.”


On his part, Lawal said rebuilding the Eagles with focus on the young players in the team that played against Egypt over the two legs, should be the focus.

He added that the boys tried their best in the games against Egypt but it wasn’t enough.

Lawal said, “We have to focus on preparing for
the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers coming up later this year. I believe it is going to be tougher than the AFCON qualifiers.


“Iwobi, Iheanacho, Simon and the other young
players that played those two games were fantastic.

The way they played made me confident about the future of the Eagles. The important thing now is for them to be consistent and committed. The key is being injury-free. When you are lucky to go through
your career without a major injury, then that
is great. I hope they will continue this way.


“They are young and of course they are the future of the Eagles. Playing time is also important. If you play every week, you will attain maturity quicker. I believe we should rebuild our team with these players in the
core of it. There are others we can add to them. A player like Isaac Success is good. He is playing regularly for his club, Granada, in La Liga. There are a couple of others.”


Regarding the need to inspire the young players to be more committed to the national team, West said there was the need to treat the older players well, particularly when they are about to retire.


“The way Vincent Enyeama retired was very bad. It is only in a system like Nigeria you get that. Enyeama should be retired with a lot of honour and respect. I think Samson Siasia should try and get Enyeama back and let him retire with honour, so that the younger players will see a good future in playing for the
national team,” the former Eagles defender said.

“They retired the generation of Segun Odegbami anyhow; they did it to our generation, now they are doing it to this generation. Imagine if I wasn’t a pastor, what would I have done? The system didn’t give me any future. If the present generation do not
see any future in representing Nigeria, they will not go all out to play and die for the nation.


“We do well in the age-grade competitions because the players see it as an opportunity to make a future for themselves. But when they come to play at the senior level, they will not want to risk their career because if they get injured representing Nigeria, the country will abandon them. I hope the injury Oghenekaro Etebo picked up during the Egypt game is not very bad. Because I fear that the people in the
Nigeria Football Federation may abandon him.


“Two years ago, I had to fight for Ogenyi Onazi
and Elderson Echiejile, who were injured at
the World Cup. I spoke with the then Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, and told him that he had to do something for those players. I think he eventually got the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, to call them and I think they got help somehow.”


West, however, said the Eagles defence did well against Egypt but failed to concentrate to the end and therefore conceded cheap goals.



http://www.punchng.com/iheanacho-iwobi-others-can-lift-eagles-again-taribo-lawal/

forgiveness:
GUEN ACCEPTS EAGLES JOB


by Ade Ojeikere, April 02, 2016 at 12:00 am


Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that Frenchman Paul Le Guen has tacitly accepted to coach Nigeria’s senior team, the Super Eagles in a two-year deal that is renewable based on the team’s performance.
SportingLife scooped further that the Frenchman demanded that the NFF gets him a house in Abuja where he hopes to stay and monitor the domestic league players plying their trade weekly.
Indeed, Le Guen will get a house in Lagos where he would go to watch the league matches in the two stadia in Lagos and also the games in the South South, South East and South West areas of the country.
Interestingly, SportingLife reported yesterday that NFF chieftains have offered the new helmsman a whooping 40,000 Euros monthly and that the new tactician would pay for the services of his assistant and a trainer from the monthly 40,000 euros which he has accepted to earn during his three-year tenure.


Le Guen, who was born 1 March 1964, is a French football manager and a former player. His last role was as manager of the Oman national football team, from which he was relieved in November 2015.
Interestingly, NFF chiefs have decided to allow the technical crew that prosecuted the two-legged ties against Egypt in Kaduna on March 25 and in Alexandria on March 29 in tact, given the remarkable manner in which they worked as a team for the games.
Indeed, on Tuesday, NFF hierarchy would meet with the sports minister, Solomon Dalung where the issue of Le Guen’s employment would be exhuastibly discussed, just the NFF’s plans for the Russia 2018 World Cup competition with draws of the competition slated to hold in June.
NFF men are also toying with other options principal of which is the urgent need to fill the void that would arise in the squad when Samson Siasia head for the Rio’ 2016 Olympic Games, in the event that the minister isn’t persuaded to employ a foreign coach for the Super Eagles after the Tuesday’s meeting in Abuja.
Already, the NFF have contacted renowned agents to shop for international friendly games meant to keep the Eagles busy now that the draws for the Russia 2018 World Cup would be held later in June.


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/823865882?-21310:8643:t

Behold our "new coach".

safarigirl:
Shey una dey see the Iwobi that daft Siasia couldn't start? Tomorrow someone will tell me Siasia deserves the Super Eagles job.

All over twitter, people are expressing dismay that Nigeria couldn't qualify with that talent. It was never the players, just a clueless coach

TheSuperNerd:
@Bolded..... Chaiii.... Hahahahahahaha.... Mehn! I love your sense of humor jooor.... Hahahaha.... You really got me laughing here. Wow! Hahahahaha....

But anyway shaa... Make dem withdraw sef. It's five groups we're gonna have meaning only group winners will make it to Russia 2018. #smiles


Meanwhile, in response to the "19-yrs old statements" you made, I'll quote Sir TheGoodJoe....


"......If you're good enough, then you're definitely old enough......"

It's not and will never be by age but by ability and the mental strength/attitude that goes with the super talents in the "kid".

I always had this argument with a forumite (he knows himself #smiles) on the U-23 thread..... It was turned into the "epic" Experience vs Young talents (youthful precociousness).

I have nothing against Experience. Experience is highly important but I detest when people make it the ultimate.

TheGoodJoe:


I still believe Coach Siasia was under pressure to play some players. I still do not understand that selection until tomorrow. Just like the Coach Garba U20 selection against Germany.

Look at the case of Enyeama and Coach Oliseh falling out with Pinnick because of the Kaduna venue.

Coach Oliseh pointed out interference from people for him to play some players in the Super Eagles.

I feel there is more than meets the eye. Why bench Iheanacho when he converted the most chances in training and had two good shots in the first leg over those who had no shot on goal in the first half.

I think our problems starts with the NFF.

TheGoodJoe:


I still believe Coach Siasia was under pressure to play some players. I still do not understand that selection until tomorrow. Just like the Coach Garba U20 selection against Germany.

Look at the case of Enyeama and Coach Oliseh falling out with Pinnick because of the Kaduna venue.

Coach Oliseh pointed out interference from people for him to play some players in the Super Eagles.

I feel there is more than meets the eye. Why bench Iheanacho when he converted the most chances in training and had two good shots in the first leg over those who had no shot on goal in the first half.

I think our problems starts with the NFF.

NRIPRIEST:
Give me a gun and a right and I will blast all those iidiots in the glass house! That second leg selection in Egypt buried us for good. You benched our most creative players(Iweobi,Iheanoacho,S.Moses) for Umaru and Musa in the name of attacking football...What good is your attacking football without creativity and technique. Musa and Umaru are just like Garba Lawal....so so run without ball sense. Ok,sometimes musa gets lucky when his many wasteful shots mistakenly finds its way into the net. Siasia has no balls....At least ,Olise quit because he couldn't let them destroy his reputation.fffucck NFF and Siasia!

safarigirl:
same old excuse. Siasia must be a weakling.

if I were a coach, I would shun the NFF and play who I please. Keshi till the next generation, will remain the most ballsy local coach ever. He did what was best for his team, left to NFF the likes of Mba and V. Moses would never have seen game time, even Oboabona and Omeruo, but look where his guts got him

If Siasia cannot have such balls and save his integrity over NFF's pettiness, then he does not deserve to be the coach of the Super Eagles. We need to stop making excuses for sheer incompetence.

safarigirl:
same old excuse. Siasia must be a weakling.

if I were a coach, I would shun the NFF and play who I please. Keshi till the next generation, will remain the most ballsy local coach ever. He did what was best for his team, left to NFF the likes of Mba and V. Moses would never have seen game time, even Oboabona and Omeruo, but look where his guts got him

If Siasia cannot have such balls and save his integrity over NFF's pettiness, then he does not deserve to be the coach of the Super Eagles. We need to stop making excuses for sheer incompetence.

daveP:
NFF have closer links with our individual stars than any said indigenous coach have. It's going to be hard to shun then, cos that's exactly what Oliseh did to an extent.


And come to think of it, Oliseh is the only one that has ever stood face-face against him employers. lots of hidden mud around.

daveP:
I agree with you on the interference part. these non-tactician with tyre-like bellies sit in the glass house and enforce that certain player(s) must be fielded. NFF has always been the problem. The day a former football of repute, like Odegbami, or any other gets to handle our football affairs, then il say yes, we've just started. these sportliticians don't reason like a footballer would. why? cos they sit in the via section.

safarigirl:
same old excuse. Siasia must be a weakling.

if I were a coach, I would shun the NFF and play who I please. Keshi till the next generation, will remain the most ballsy local coach ever. He did what was best for his team, left to NFF the likes of Mba and V. Moses would never have seen game time, even Oboabona and Omeruo, but look where his guts got him

If Siasia cannot have such balls and save his integrity over NFF's pettiness, then he does not deserve to be the coach of the Super Eagles. We need to stop making excuses for sheer incompetence.