Kog45:
Apart from Chile 87 which was U20 tourney,Willy Opara wasn't given chance in eagles even when he was at top form in South Africa league with Orlando Pirates.Prior to France 98 he deserved the spot ahead of Rufai after Ike injury.

Wilfred Agbonavbare was a solid keeper with Rayo Vallecano in Spanish LA liga, pls forget the Agbonibasket stuff.He deserved the number one spot than Rufai prior to Afcon and US 94.

Pls i thought Baruwa was the third keeper to Atlanta 96,i can't recall vivdly but I know Dosu was the first choice and Emma second choice.

TheGoodJoe:


Contrary to the negative feedback, after Agu's poor performance in the first half when he replaced Onazi in the game against Zambia, he put up a tidy display in the second half. Something only Ogu and Hope Akpan has brought to the Super Eagles in recent years. I am not quick to write Agu off.

People try to hang onto a poor few minutes and deliberately decided to neglect Agu's good second half display.

That is like saying Nigeria was poor against Argentina in the friendly because of our display in the first half.

Agu had a poor fifteen minutes in the first half. The second half was refreshing.

chidi1:
I posted this elsewhere. But since I am looking for a response, I copied and pasted it here....

I may sound a little biased. However, I am an avid supporter of Imoh Ezekiel. In my earlier post, I voiced my concern when I taught he was going to be excluded from the Olympic team by Siasia, after a convincing display during a friendly with Brazil. Ofcourse, he undoubtedly became our most creative playmaker at the Olympics. I watched with dismay as he was overlooked during the world cup qualifiers. Hence, this promoted the creation of this topic.

Guys, I would love your honest opinion on this. What do you think of Victor Moses and Imoh Ezekiel combination on the wings during the world cup. You may rewatch his highlight during the Olympics on YouTube to refresh your memory. I know our attack is one of the best parts of our national team, but my plan is to make it more potent (as to be honest, our defence is very worrisome currently). I sincerely believe that if enough interest is voiced, it may draw the NFF to look more closely at that option. We may start out by trying him out in a friendly match (ideally paired with Moses).

Trudy12:


mobi oparaku eventually made it to france 98 and started the first game against spain

TheGoodJoe:


From what I noticed, Rohr is more interested in the defensive qualities of his midfielders than their offensive qualities. I used to be one of the loudest drums for Aluko's invitation, with what I see, I do not see Aluko fitting the bill.

Keep in mind that Mikel Obi also has a brilliant ability to read the game and intercept build up plays of the opponents.

I think these are the qualities Rohr is looking for than a creative attack midfielder.

chidi1:
I posted this elsewhere. But since I am looking for a response, I copied and pasted it here....

I may sound a little biased. However, I am an avid supporter of Imoh Ezekiel. In my earlier post, I voiced my concern when I taught he was going to be excluded from the Olympic team by Siasia, after a convincing display during a friendly with Brazil. Ofcourse, he undoubtedly became our most creative playmaker at the Olympics. I watched with dismay as he was overlooked during the world cup qualifiers. Hence, this promoted the creation of this topic.

Guys, I would love your honest opinion on this. What do you think of Victor Moses and Imoh Ezekiel combination on the wings during the world cup. You may rewatch his highlight during the Olympics on YouTube to refresh your memory. I know our attack is one of the best parts of our national team, but my plan is to make it more potent (as to be honest, our defence is very worrisome currently). I sincerely believe that if enough interest is voiced, it may draw the NFF to look more closely at that option. We may start out by trying him out in a friendly match (ideally paired with Moses).

goldfish80:


Our attack is overrated. Remove Ighalo and the much maligned Nwakaeme, the rest of our attackers and midfield combined cannot boast of 5 goals between them this season.
I hope the chicken don't come home to roast come June next year.

Humility017:

Lol.......that one if oga forgiveness and he crew go hear .....

I trust rohr though.....he is a man that think of the future...

Kog45:
Apart from Chile 87 which was U20 tourney,Willy Opara wasn't given chance in eagles even when he was at top form in South Africa league with Orlando Pirates.Prior to France 98 he deserved the spot ahead of Rufai after Ike injury.

Wilfred Agbonavbare was a solid keeper with Rayo Vallecano in Spanish LA liga, pls forget the Agbonibasket stuff.He deserved the number one spot than Rufai prior to Afcon and US 94.

Pls i thought Baruwa was the third keeper to Atlanta 96,i can't recall vivdly but I know Dosu was the first choice and Emma second choice.

Kog45:
On Sokari i don't want to talk much cos of my experience with Nwakili invitation.

It was here some just came from nowhere to justify Nwakili invitation but just too glaring it was not a merited one now Sokari which nobody as ever mentioned here as a prospect to replace Mikel is now the ultimate solution.

Let's wait and see how things unfold cos i don't think our solution is in Tunisia league if we are really serious,meaning player like Junior Ajayi should be considered too for CF.

I thought Joel Obi, Raheem Lawal,Ajagun,Azeez and Alhassan Mazzam are available or do we want to say Sokari has a better performance than these players this season.

enomakos:

You are right about willy "the cat" opara ,he was a solid goalkeeper and what never given much chance with the super eagles, maybe because he plays his football in southafrica then

Wilfred deserve to be first choice at Tunisia 94 but Mr Clemens choose peter rufai instead

Abiodun "shagari" baruwa was the third choice at Atlanta 96

MetalJigsaw:
Oga , forget Agu. Haven't you seen enough of his terrible performances when given a chance? He's a waste of spot bro. We should be talking about replacing him with the other uninvited midfielders.

Icon4s:


The beauty of this team is we do not rely on our strikers for goals.

Moses, Iwobi and Mikel do the damage. I am glad Rohr experimented a false 9 formation against Argentina and that worked perfectly.

Icon4s:


Yeah, Eguavoen was recalled but i think Bora gave Oparaku another chance.

MetalJigsaw:
The thought if Mikel being our only tested and trusted AM makes me pity Rohr and his team when/ if the dude gets visited by an injury. We need another AM Rohr!!

Kog45:
Kanu was a flop against Argentina,Shorunmu a flop against Sweden,gave them the second goal on a platter of gold and England match was the best with introduction of Enyeama, Akwuegbu,Opabunmi and James Obiorah who controlled the midfield perfectly with Okocha.

FabioPeter:

We can get a psychologist to make you believe you can man our Post....it takes a lot more bro.
If you watch the games Ezenwa has played for SE, you will notice he has been consistently erratic, even the games he kept a clean sheet.
Akpenyi is terribly poor and Uzoho is inexperienced. If we can’t get an in form Enyeama, we can kiss the group stage good bye

Icon4s:


Ezenwa has been in the national team for a while. He was worked with a good number of coaches and was first choice at Ifeanyi Uba until of late.
He was the first choice goalie for the NPFL All stars that played in Spain not too long ago. Last season.

Should you question why Ezenwa, a second choice at Ifeanyi Ubah, is in the SE? Why not question why he is second choice to Uche Okafor at Ifeanyi Uba. Or who is current first choice?

As for Dosu he was a third choice goalie at Julius Berger (not even plateau united) prior to Atlanta.

Trudy12:


Eguavon had no business in that team, even when oparaku was replaced, the coach still drafted mutiu adepoju to the RB. eguavon only played the 3rd group game against Paraguay after we had qualified

zicky:
abeg make ena leave the guy, he was playing for psg so he was worth the hype, my biggest annoying flop of that wc was opabunmi, youngest player my foot. the guy discover late that football was not his calling

Kog45:
My man pls go and check archives.very well Dosu was never a third keeper at Julius Berger.He remain one of the best keeper to come out of Julius Berger.As at 1996 he was a super regular deputised by Victor Gbenebechie.

enomakos:
femi opabunmi was never a flop,he hads challenges

chidi1:
I posted this elsewhere. But since I am looking for a response, I copied and pasted it here....

I may sound a little biased. However, I am an avid supporter of Imoh Ezekiel. In my earlier post, I voiced my concern when I taught he was going to be excluded from the Olympic team by Siasia, after a convincing display during a friendly with Brazil. Ofcourse, he undoubtedly became our most creative playmaker at the Olympics. I watched with dismay as he was overlooked during the world cup qualifiers. Hence, this promoted the creation of this topic.

Guys, I would love your honest opinion on this. What do you think of Victor Moses and Imoh Ezekiel combination on the wings during the world cup. You may rewatch his highlight during the Olympics on YouTube to refresh your memory. I know our attack is one of the best parts of our national team, but my plan is to make it more potent (as to be honest, our defence is very worrisome currently). I sincerely believe that if enough interest is voiced, it may draw the NFF to look more closely at that option. We may start out by trying him out in a friendly match (ideally paired with Moses).

Icon4s:


Football in SA was still at its rejuvenation stages then so also was league. Not until Orlando Pirates won the CAF champions league in 1996 or so before people started taking them serious.

Willy Opara play U20 in 1987 but the progression to the senior team was made difficult for him firstly due to his poor outing in that U20 tourney.
Secondly he had better goalies like Peter Rufai, Alloy Agu, Willy Agbonivbare to contend with. Later Ike Shorunmu, Abiodun Baruwa and Emma Babayaro emerged and were also good goalies.
The third factor was his playing in the SA league which u and I know was just recovering from a long ban of SA participation in international tourneys due to apartheid.

MetalJigsaw:
The thought if Mikel being our only tested and trusted AM makes me pity Rohr and his team when/ if the dude gets visited by an injury. We need another AM Rohr!!

oloriooko:
Nacho must seek loan move this Jan or he should forget WC

enomakos:
you are right

forgiveness:



In football, future is now. The ones una wan force on us are not even making match day team, how do you know what will become of them in the next 4 years?

Even Mikel go be 33 then, so what should be done about him?

oloriooko:
Nacho must seek loan move this Jan or he should forget WC