₦airaland Forum

safarigirl:
4PM

The whole world will be airing it, DSTV will not be dumb enough to be left out of such a grand event

terzurum5:
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: John Obi Mikel - Nigeria skipper criticised by academy founder

https://africanfootball.com/bp_images/2017/11/mikel_china.jpg
Mikel at his Chinese Club Tianjin Teda

With Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel no doubt looking forward to learning his side’s group stage opponents for the 2018 World Cup when the draw is held this coming Friday, he has been criticised by the founder of an academy he attended as a youngster.


Former Nigeria Football Federation technical director Kashimawo Laloko, who founded the Pepsi Football Academy at Agege Stadium in Lagos, believes Mikel - a product of the institution - has not done enough to give back to the youth in Nigerian football.


“Mikel was brought to limelight through our Jos centre around 1995 to 2002. We gave him the breakthrough that made Nigerians to know him,” Laloko is quoted by the Vanguard.


“He was unpolished when he came but we refined him. If not for us, maybe, he would not be where he is today but since he became a star, I have not heard that he visited the Jos centre to donate a pair of jersey to the players there. That is most unfair.


“Some former players give us money for the running of the centres but Mikel has not done such. Osaze is an example of a player who paid us because he recognised what we did for him.


“There was a time we wanted to use Mikel in a advertising campaign for the academy but he shunned us. His agent was asking us to pay a huge sum of money but Mr. Nelson could not believe it and that was how the deal fell through. I don’t think Mikel has done well for Nigerian youths.”


With Mikel currently enjoying the off season, following the completion of the Chinese Super League's 2017 campaign earlier this month, perhaps he'll make time to give back to those who helped his rise in the game.


https://africanfootball.com//news/735808/PLAYER-SPOTLIGHT-John-Obi-Mikel-Nigeria-skipper-criticised-by-academy-founder

oloriooko:
Seem the word overhaul is being misunderstood here
Overhaul means
to look at every part of (something) and repair or replace the parts that do not work
: to change (something) completely in order to improve it
No one is saying totally discard but Rohr needs to work his sox off if he wants to make impact at the WC
Nigeria should stop completing the square at WCs.
Its high time we made serious statement at the WC
Rohr should justify his pay

safarigirl:
there is no rule that says we must play the formation we used during qualifiers. That is why there are friendlies, for experiments, whichever formation turns out to be the most effective, we use.

There is a saying of "use what you have to get what you want"... We want wins, so we use the best formation we can to get it and if we cannot get an effective Top 9, then we should build our team and formation with what we can get.

All the Top 9's we have been taking to World Cup for our last five appearances, how far did they take us? How many goals did they score? One of the biggest misses of all time was made by an EFFECTIVE Top 9, was it not?

Football is not a one-way street o, this is 2017, we cannot be playing 1996 footy in 2017, you need to come with an element of surprise sometimes, can't give opposition an easy target. Confuse the enemy's camp so that they don't know who to mark, that is how we excelled this round of qualifiers, we did not need an effective Top 9 to score 12 goals

terzurum5:
NIGERIA 5 – 2 EUROPE: Super Eagles Scorecard Against European Teams At Past World Cup Group Stages

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Nigeria-vs-Spain-France-1998.jpg

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will get to know their group stage opponents when the draws for the 2018 FIFA World Cup holds in Russia on December 1.

In their last five World Cup group stages, the Super Eagles have always been drawn against European oppositions.

Ahead of the 2018 World Cup draw billed for Friday, Completesportsnigeria.com’s JAMES AGBEREBI highlights how the Super Eagles have fared in their last eight encounters against European teams in the group stage at the World Cup…


NIGERIA 3-0 BULGARIA (USA 1994: Group D)

Nigeria’s first ever opponent at the World Cup was a European team, Bulgaria.

Both teams met in their opening Group D match at the USA 1994 World Cup with Nigeria winning 3-0.


Goals from the late Rashidi Yekini (21st minute), Daniel Amokachi (43rd minute) and Emmanuel Amuneke (55th minute) gave Nigeria the impressive win.


NIGERIA 2-0 GREECE (USA 1994: Group D)

After losing 2-1 to Argentina in their second Group D clash, Nigeria bounced back with a 2-0 win against another European team Greece.

Finidi George put Nigeria 1-0 up in the 47th minute before Daniel Amokachi doubled the lead in five minutes of added time in the second half.

The win saw Nigeria finish as group winners with six points after three games.


NIGERIA 3-2 SPAIN (France 1998: Group D)

At the 1998 World Cup, once again Nigeria opened their campaign with a European team in the group stage, this time one of the favourites Spain.

Despite being the underdogs, Nigeria stunned the Spaniards 3-2.

Fernando Hierro gave Spain the lead on 21 minutes before Mutiu Adepoju equalised for Nigeria on 24 minutes.

In the 47th minute, Spain took the lead again through Raul Gonzalez while an own goal by Andoni Zubizarreta brought Nigeria back at 2-2 on 73 minutes.

And with 12 minutes left, Sunday Oliseh decided the game with a superb strike from outside the box to give Nigeria the shock win.


NIGERIA 1-0 BULGARIA (France 1998: Group D)

For the second time at the World Cup, Nigeria and Bulgaria met with the former once again having the last laugh.

Victor Ikpeba’s 28th minute goal secured a 1-0 win and a place in round 16 of the 1998 World Cup.


SWEDEN 2-1 NIGERIA (Korea/Japan 2002: Group F)

The first European team to beat Nigeria in the group stage at the World Cup was Sweden following their 2-1 comeback win in Group F.

Julius Aghahowa gave Nigeria the lead in the 27th minute while Henrik Larsson drew Sweden level on 35 minutes.

And in the 63rd minute, Larsson scored from the penalty spot to give Sweden the win.


ENGLAND 0-0 NIGERIA (Korea/Japan 2002: Group F)

In their final group game Nigeria met England and played out a 0-0 draw.

It was an inconsequential game for Nigeria after they had already been eliminated following defeats to Argentina (1-0) and Sweden (2-1).

Both England and Sweden advanced while Nigeria and Argentina both crashed out.

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Greece-vs-Nigeria-South-Africa-2010-400x267.jpg

world cup-world-cup-super-eagles-super eagles-completesportsnigeria.com


GREECE 2-1 NIGERIA (South Africa 2010: Group B)

Nigeria had the chance to bounce back from their opening Group B 1-0 defeat to Argentina when they took on Greece in their second group game.

Kalu Uche got Nigeria off to the best start with a 16th minute goal.

But everything started to go wrong for Nigeria when Sani Kaita was sent off in the 33rd minute.

Greece capitalised on their numerical advantage as goals from Dimitris Salpingidis and Vasilis Torosidis in the 44th and 71st minutes gave the Greeks their first ever World Cup win.


NIGERIA 1-0 Bosnia Herzegovina (Brazil 2014: Group F)

Debutant Bosnia Herzegovina became the eight European team to face Nigeria in the group stage of the World Cup.

This time Nigeria triumphed 1-0 through a 29th minute goal by Osaze Odemwingie.

Nigeria lost their last group game 3-2 to Argentina but still progressed into the round of 16.

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nigeria-5-2-europe-super-eagles-scorecard-european-teams-past-world-cup-group-stages/

terzurum5:
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: John Obi Mikel - Nigeria skipper criticised by academy founder

https://africanfootball.com/bp_images/2017/11/mikel_china.jpg
Mikel at his Chinese Club Tianjin Teda

With Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel no doubt looking forward to learning his side’s group stage opponents for the 2018 World Cup when the draw is held this coming Friday, he has been criticised by the founder of an academy he attended as a youngster.


Former Nigeria Football Federation technical director Kashimawo Laloko, who founded the Pepsi Football Academy at Agege Stadium in Lagos, believes Mikel - a product of the institution - has not done enough to give back to the youth in Nigerian football.


“Mikel was brought to limelight through our Jos centre around 1995 to 2002. We gave him the breakthrough that made Nigerians to know him,” Laloko is quoted by the Vanguard.


“He was unpolished when he came but we refined him. If not for us, maybe, he would not be where he is today but since he became a star, I have not heard that he visited the Jos centre to donate a pair of jersey to the players there. That is most unfair.


“Some former players give us money for the running of the centres but Mikel has not done such. Osaze is an example of a player who paid us because he recognised what we did for him.


“There was a time we wanted to use Mikel in a advertising campaign for the academy but he shunned us. His agent was asking us to pay a huge sum of money but Mr. Nelson could not believe it and that was how the deal fell through. I don’t think Mikel has done well for Nigerian youths.”


With Mikel currently enjoying the off season, following the completion of the Chinese Super League's 2017 campaign earlier this month, perhaps he'll make time to give back to those who helped his rise in the game.


https://africanfootball.com//news/735808/PLAYER-SPOTLIGHT-John-Obi-Mikel-Nigeria-skipper-criticised-by-academy-founder

Nigerdeltaboi:
this is good for the team. nacho, simon, moses and now agbo options for freekicks in one team.
And idowu too, I saw of pic of him taking one on his Instagram page too . Iwobi with his eye for spaces also looks like a potential set piece taker if worked on.

Gone are the days of odogwu (Mikel) style of freekicks.

PDPGuy:
It starts at 4pm Nigerian time. Not sure if it will be broadcast on DSTV.

terzurum5:
Wilfred Ndidi Is Nigeria's Pass Master In The Premier League, Ahead Of Iwobi, Moses

https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/football_pics/8535Ndidi.png

Central midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is Nigeria's pass master in the English Premier League, having completed more passes than other Nigerians playing in the league, even his Leicester City teammates.

According to stats from the official website of the Premier League, Ndidi took his tally for the season to 600 after the Foxes 1-1 draw with West Ham on Friday.

The former Racing Genk star has made more passes than Harry Maguire (526), Danny Simpson (437), Christian Fuchs (434) and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (398).

Leicester City number eight Kelechi Iheanacho is sixteenth on the list with with 78 passes made in only 255 minutes of game time.

Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi is second on the list of Nigerian passers with 241 successful passes, while Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses comes third with 131 passes.

The top passers in the Premier League after thirteen matches are Fernandinho (1,141), David Silva (1,091) and Nicolás Otamendi (1,066).

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25603

olapluto:
tbaba1234, please can you do a mental quiz by suggesting the 23 players you will take to Russia....plus the 3 standbys.... Sorry I just felt like seeing your team before the draws on Friday.

tbaba1234:
Coaches should criticize their players privately. The Anderlecht coach should be working to help his player not constantly criticising him in the press.

nelszx:
It'd be live on Supersport
If Supersport no carry watch BBC
The draws is like the tournament itself it'd be aired everywhere

Mujtahida:
It beats me when people say Ndidi is not a good passer of the ball.

EEGA:
Both Mikel and Rohr said "going to the WC you need to perfect at least 3 different formations".

Our first formation(4-2-3-1) is our best because with it, we qualified from the group of death and we are more accustomed to playing it, being that we faced oppositions in competitive matches with it.

I will say the formation is tested , trusted and more reliable to others(not saying we shouldn't try others).

There is also 70% probability that the 4-2-3-1 will be played in one or more of our group stage matches.

Why is Rohr still searching for a 9 ?

The reason is that he sees the 4-2-3-1 as indispensable because you can't compare competitive matches to friendlies.

Rohr is trying to make sure that we have players who will do well with our "first choice formation".

It's wrong to say we abandon a formation we played in our "six -qualifying matches" and pick another which we only played at most 2 or 3 times.

Just like you don't change a winning team, you don't drop a winning formation.

A friendly is what it is, "a friendly".

Taliban:
Possibly when some of us watch him that's when he misplaces passes. Good thing is he's still young and has time to horn his skills. People like me are looking for those incisive passes like those of JJ, Mikel, Fabrepass, De Bruyne and pirlo.

MetalJigsaw:
Oga e be like say Rohr Bleep your wife o.

Take am easy oo

goldfish80:
It is really sad if this information is correct. I mean, not giving back to the academy is one thing but asking for stratospheric sums of money for advert from the structure that formed you is pure greed.
The kids at the academy need all the support they can get. I was part of the system for awhile back in junior high school and I must say, it was very difficult for lots of kids then.

Mujtahida:
Ozil ma bad ooo. Well if that's the case Ndidi rarely gives that kind of pass but they way they were saying I had the impression like the guy no sabi pass ball. What they mean is through passes abi?

EEGA:
Rohr said the door is still open for Victor Osimhen and other fast forwards.

With Uzoho I think we are okay in the GK department but we need more options.

Our concern now should be "Who is our no.9?"

Rohr is not satisfied with Nacho as his no. 9, which is the reason he played Nwakaeme as his nine and started Nacho on the wings against Algeria, just to see if he can do well on the wings.

If Rohr is not satisfied with Ighalo and Nacho.
Who then,is the right man for the Eagles.

Probably , the search continues.

MetalJigsaw:
True talk and Very relevant issue.

Iwobi could be the wanted CF in disguise. The guy is excellent in positioning and he hardly misses his shots... Characteristics of a potent number 9.

I'm not saying he should be our numbe 9. But I think he won't do bad in that position if drafted there.


How do you asses Ighalo? seems he's not trusted by many.

TheGoodJoe:
All these natural top nine or nothing crew would have been those who would have kicked against the likes of Aguero and Dries Mertens leading an attack. As safarigirl clearly pointed out, use what we have. If we can not find a natural top striker that can fit into the team, then we play a system that suits what we have.

oloriooko:
It will be a big joke ig Rohr thinks he has a formidable defence to take to the WC
Our defence will be our biggest undoing if we don't overhaul the back 4
We have more than enough in other departments

terzurum5:
20 Y/0 Nigerian Ace Wanted By Manchester United: Do They Really Need Him?

https://the4thofficial.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/862862868-1.jpg

Manchester United scouts have been sent out to monitor the progress of on-loan Everton forward, Henry Onyekuru. The Toffees beat a whole of clubs to secure his services in the summer, before deciding to loan him out to Belgian champions, Anderlecht.
Since his move, he has scored seven goals in 14 appearances this season, which has attracted interest from some of the giants of European football.

HLN are now reporting that the Red Devils have been monitoring his progress and keeping a keen eye on his performance in the recent times.


The 21-year-old scored the winner in Anderlecht’s 2-1 win over R. Excel Mouscron away from home. His goal scoring efforts have helped his side to third place in the Belgian first division. The forward scored in the last ten minutes of the game, which handed Anderlecht all three points.

Anderlecht has played one more game than Belgian league leaders, Club Brugge with a tally of 28 points in 15 games this season.

https://the4thofficial.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/862870996.jpg

There have also been reports suggesting that Everton might recall their £7m signing as they look to find some inspiration in front of goal. The Toffees have struggled to score enough goals this season, which has led to an early elimination from the Europa League and are currently in 16th place in the Premier League, just three points above the relegation zone.


The Daily Star are reporting that Premier League clubs, Southampton and Stoke City are also interested in the Nigerian. Dutch giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven may also join in on the race for the midfielder.


The brilliant marksman was born in Onitsha, Nigeria and was part of the Aspire Academy in Qatar. He began his professional career at K.A.S. Eupen in 2015 where he scored 28 goals in 57 appearances.


The on-loan winger is highly versatile and can play in either flank or as a central forward. His current Everton contract runs until June 2022 so it is expected that if he does move in the near future, it would be for big money.


Onyekuru earned his first international cap recently when Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw against Algeria in a World Cup qualifier. Nigeria boss, Gernot Rohr has high expectations of him and may include his name in the national squad for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia next summer.


Manchester United started their campaign this season in emphatic fashion, scoring a plethora of goals in the first few matches. However, with the season progressing, the goals have dried up and they might need a genuine sharpshooter like Onyekuru to become a part of their lineup. Now, it remains to be seen whether he will indeed leave Goodison Park without having kicked a ball for the Toffees

http://the4thofficial.net/2017/11/long-term-arsenal-transfer-target-now-wanted-by-manchester-united-do-they-need-him/

Taliban:
Those goals against the argies were too good walahi!!!!

Taliban:
Those goals against the argies were too good walahi!!!!

EEGA:
Both Mikel and Rohr said "going to the WC you need to perfect at least 3 different formations".

Our first formation(4-2-3-1) is our best because with it, we qualified from the group of death and we are more accustomed to playing it, being that we faced oppositions in competitive matches with it.

I will say the formation is tested , trusted and more reliable to others(not saying we shouldn't try others).

There is also 70% probability that the 4-2-3-1 will be played in one or more of our group stage matches.

Why is Rohr still searching for a 9 ?

The reason is that he sees the 4-2-3-1 as indispensable because you can't compare competitive matches to friendlies.

Rohr is trying to make sure that we have players who will do well with our "first choice formation".

It's wrong to say we abandon a formation we played in our "six -qualifying matches" and pick another which we only played at most 2 or 3 times.

Just like you don't change a winning team, you don't drop a winning formation.

A friendly is what it is, "a friendly".

Mujtahida:
We already have a 9 in Ighalo and Rohr is looking for his backup so that we can have Iheanacho, Ighalo and then whosoever is chosen. I don't think the coach was impressed with Nwakaeme.
But even without a top 9 we can and should be able to play. That's tactical flexibility that the lady was talking about. The possibilities though, are that soon distinctions as to player roles might not exist ooo. Every player might be required to be as good in any position.

Mujtahida:
I watched that match today again. Something struck me:We played Argentina like the way Brazil played Ghana in 2006. Ghana like Argentina did all the playing though Argentina scored too, we like Brazil did more scoring.
How can we translate this victory in a friendly into a victory in a non friendly game with South American countries?