Abusule007: Salisu picks Ezenwa, Ali, Okpotu, 20 others for CHAN
Head Coach Salisu Yusuf on Tuesday released his final squad of the Super Eagles B for the 5th African Nations Championship starting in Morocco next week, with goalkeeper and skipper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, midfield Trojan Rabiu Ali and marksman Anthony Okpotu listed.
Ezenwa is joined for the goalkeeping duties by Oladele Ajiboye and Theophilus Afelokhai, and defensive stalwarts Osas Okoro, Stephen Eze and Kalu Orji Okogbue also made the list, as midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Sunday Faleye and Emeka Atuloma.
The team of 23 players and their officials are expected to fly out of the country in a few days, to continue preparations in Morocco ahead of Nigeria’s first match of the campaign against Rwanda in Tangier on Monday, 15th January.
The 2014 bronze medallists will also play 2014 champions Libya at the same Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier on Friday, 19thJanuary, before travelling to Agadir to tackle Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, 23rd January.
What more do you expect from a Nigerian coach, he doesn't have plans for what happens in the MF probably his plan is to play from defence to attack or deploy some attackers to play as AMF.
that's a problem he should have overcome by now.... yeah... we really have to see that maduka play...moreover i believe this current goal keeping crisis will turn out to be a blessing in the longrun...as many young goalies will grow up to stem the tide years from now.
Abusule007: Salisu picks Ezenwa, Ali, Okpotu, 20 others for CHAN
Head Coach Salisu Yusuf on Tuesday released his final squad of the Super Eagles B for the 5th African Nations Championship starting in Morocco next week, with goalkeeper and skipper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, midfield Trojan Rabiu Ali and marksman Anthony Okpotu listed.
Ezenwa is joined for the goalkeeping duties by Oladele Ajiboye and Theophilus Afelokhai, and defensive stalwarts Osas Okoro, Stephen Eze and Kalu Orji Okogbue also made the list, as midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Sunday Faleye and Emeka Atuloma.
The team of 23 players and their officials are expected to fly out of the country in a few days, to continue preparations in Morocco ahead of Nigeria’s first match of the campaign against Rwanda in Tangier on Monday, 15th January.
The 2014 bronze medallists will also play 2014 champions Libya at the same Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier on Friday, 19thJanuary, before travelling to Agadir to tackle Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, 23rd January.
Who do you watch on YouTube?
Don't generalize that all NPFL goalkeeper are terrible ...
Still have Ajiboye , suraj ayeleso, theophilos and others..
You can't tagged them terrible...
how come suraj ayeleso didn't make the CHAN final cut.
Icon4s: HOTSHOT: Onuachu Is Nigeria’s Top Scorer In 2017; Beats Onyekuru, Okpotu, Ighalo
Midtjylland of Denmark striker, Paul Onuachu, has emerged Nigeria’s top goalscorer in 2017, finishing the calendar year three goals ahead of Anderlecht of Belgium striker Henry Onyekuru, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Onuachu scored 26 goals in 41 games for Midtjylland in 2017. His goals for Midtjylland include four braces and one hat trick.
The 23-year-old bagged braces against Nordsjælland home and away in the Danish Super Liga, and against AaB and Brondby. Onuachu’s only hat trick in 2017 was against Derry City in the UEFA Europa League.
Also, Nigerian international Henry Onyekuru who has two international caps to his name, continued his fine scoring form on loan at Anderlecht from Everton, netting 10 times so far in the 2017/18 campaign to take his total to 23 goals in 50 games in all competitions in 2017 for club and country.
Onyekuru scored a brace against KSV Roeselare over two legs and also against KV Kortrijk in their 3-2 win in the Belgian play-offs in May.
The former Eupen ace scored 24 goals, got nine assists in 41 appearances in all competitions last season for Eupen before he signed for Everton and was loaned to Anderlecht at the start of the 2017/18 season.
Home Eagles forward, Anthony Okpotu, also scored 19 goals for Lobi stars in 2017 to finish as the Nigerian Professional Football League top scorer in the 2017/18 season.
Odion Ighalo who joined Chinese club Changchun Yatai at the start of 2017 scored 17 goals, providing eight assists in 51 games for club and country in the outgoing year.
Ighalo’s only goal for the Super Eagles in four games in 2017 was against Cameroon in Uyo which Nigeria won 4-0.
Girona’s Kayode Olanrewaju also scored 10 goals in 36 games this year to take fifth spot with none of those goals coming in the colours of Girona where he currently plays.
and some of my brothers here want an old leg to be called in place of a talent of this caliber.... to some Martins have class...class only them can see because even wit my medicated glasses still see nothing...special in his play...
here is a young man who will bring something different to the super eagles....good in the air and skillful as well....
somehow: The coach's discretion. Same way better keepers got dropped for Ezenwa in the main SE
discretion my foot....that's lopsided discretion.... reason why an indigenous coach will hardly succeed wit the super eagles...because sentiment is their life wire...
MetalJigsaw: INTERVIEW – Ogu: Why I Believe Super Eagles Will Go Far At Russia 2018 World Cup
Completesportsnigeria.com’s JOHNNY EDWARD gets Super Eagles and Hapoel Beer Sheva midfielder, John Ogu talking, about his stint so far with the World Cup bound Gernot Rohr’s team.
# You were an unused substitute in the Super Eagles’ first five games of the World Cup qualifying campaign, but finally got a chance to play in the dead-rubber clash against Algeria which ended 1-1. What went through your mind during those period?
To be honest, nothing went through my mind during those period. I was there trying to stay prepared to give my best whenever the chance comes. I felt like that at some point, but the joy is that everyone was doing well and we were winning games. I’m happy that at the end of it all we qualified and I got a chance to play against Algeria. As a team, we played better. We were in control and coming out with a 1-1 draw was great. We were just out to do the country proud and I’m glad that it turned out well.
# Did you lose faith in the system, especially with a self belief that you possess the quality to start games as well?
Hmmm no. There wasn’t a time I lost faith in the system because of the qualitiies of players starting the games. Also my relationship with the manager gave me more confidence before I got my chance which was very key. I was just excited to be called up to the team and the fact that we qualified for the World Cup in Russia seamlessly. We achieved qualification without struggling a bit unlike in the past when we had so many difficulties. So for me, that was something to cheer about, rather than sulk on the bench.
# The current Super Eagles managed to stay unbeaten during the World Cup qualifying campaign. Just how good is this team judging from how you all played against Argentina, in which you were a beast in the midfield?
The win against Argentina says a lot about the Eagles and we won’t rest on our oars going into the World Cup. We have been together and we keep reminding ourselves we are here for a reason. Kudos to the coaches, the NFF and the fans who supported us all the way. First of all, the unity in the team has been key as we reach out for one another. Fighting for ourselves made us stronger too. The Super Eagles qualifying for Russia 2018 without losing was no fluke, and we showed that in the friendly against Argentina despite the fact that we were without five key players and the Argentine team paraded top quality players as well, regardless of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuian and Mauro Icardi missing the game.
# You have played in different formations at club level. How difficult or easy was it playing in a 3-5-2 formation with the Super Eagles against Argentina?
It wasn’t difficult playing in the 3-5-2 formation, but the fact that the Super Eagles had one training session saw the team struggle in the first half. But we picked up in the second half and showed the class we were made off. Scoring four goals against an Argentine star-studded side isn’t a fluke at all. We worked it out with our bond.
# Would you prefer the Super Eagles maintain this 3-5-2 formation when the missing players return, or rivert to the old 4-2-3-1?
That is for the manager to decide. I’m just in the team to carry out his match-day plan.
# Nigeria has faced Argentina more than any other team at the World Cup. Are you comfortable facing the La Albiceleste again in Russia, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Mauro Icardi in the squad?
There are no easy teams all the teams that have qualified will be tough. We have to prepare for a game as it comes. It’s the World Cup and not a friendly, so other factors will come to play. It’s going to be Nigeria vs Argentina and not Lionel Messi vs Nigeria. As a team, we have the quality to break them down again even with the inclusion of Messi. They have had it smooth in the past, but it’s time to end that jinx against Argentina in Russia.
# How far do you think the Super Eagles can go in Russia?
It’s not going to be easy. We will be out there to win games and play quality football. We have the talent and quality to go far.
# Watching the World Cup as a growing kid, tell us your best memory as a fan?
Watching the world Cup as a fan was the game involving Nigeria and Spain in France 1998. We won 3-2, I remember the goal Sunday Oliseh scored won us the game. That team showed determination and great strength which is what we are also imbibing. We will go far in Russia.
The bolded is what a team sport like Football is all about. The better the understanding the better the performance!
some of the forwards are Midfieders also... as LM and RM...the case of nura Muhammad is one of them....i think he plays left midfied
We play a 3 man midfield with a double pivot and an AMF at the top. Remember our midfield was Afeez, Ifeanyi and Ali. U can't play that type of system and only have 4 midfielders, this is what killed us in WAFU. Ali and Dayo Ojo are AMF, that means we only have 2 complete midfielders who can boss a midfield. I will always support my country but I am not impressed with Salisu right now. This is why people always say our players are not good because of poor management.
So who should he drop for your keeper? BTW, Rohr no be Nigerian yet using Ezenwa when we have better keepers. Rohr isn't Nigerian coach too, yet looking at calling a div 3 GK who is even less than 19 years from Germany in place of GKs we have in Europe.
So my bro, it's not really a Nigerian thing, it has more to do with the coaches just like Puel went for misfiring slimani in place of KC. (Coach's discretion lolz)
discretion my foot....that's lopsided discretion.... reason why an indigenous coach will hardly succeed wit the super eagles...because sentiment is their life wire...
somehow: So who should he drop for your keeper? BTW, Rohr no be Nigerian yet using Ezenwa when we have better keepers. Rohr isn't Nigerian coach too, yet looking at calling a div 3 GK who is even less than 19 years from Germany in place of GKs we have in Europe.
So my bro, it's not really a Nigerian thing, it has more to do with the coaches just like Puel went for misfiring slimani in place of KC. (Coach's discretion lolz)
rohr had to use the goal keepers that was presented before him....
he is not the goal keeping coach... if he was so impressed wit the two goal keepers @ his disposal I don't think..he will who be craving for enyeama return....
i think...he is getting tired of alloy agu incompetency too...reason for the foreign goal keeper trainer....
should rohr have the opportunity to follow up the Nigeria league...I bet you he won't go with ezenwa....
don't be surprised that under 19 years old goal keeper from Germany might be technically better and sound than many goalies the npfl parade....
and some of my brothers here want an old leg to be called in place of a talent of this caliber.... to some Martins have class...class only them can see because even wit my medicated glasses still see nothing...special in his play...
here is a young man who will bring something different to the super eagles....good in the air and skillful as well....
Onuachu seems to be growing in status.He looks a lot improved player from the one we saw a couple of Seasons ago.
His Aerial ability could be an asset to the SE. However, there may be questions about the level of competitiveness in the Danish league.
He should keep working hard. If he continues in this form till March, who knows...?
Sentimental fallacy at the last set of statements made by you. He's not the GK's trainer but decides who plays so he can as well reject a GK that's not the best or does he not watch the NPFL? Didn't he watch some of the last matches of NPFL to know that Ajiboye and Theo are better than Ezenwa? Anyways like I said, it's the coaches that determine who's good or not based on their discretion no matter how "bad" they are. Same goes with our home grown coaches.
rohr had to use the goal keepers that was presented before him....
he is not the goal keeping coach... if he was so impressed wit the two goal keepers @ his disposal I don't think..he will who be craving for enyeama return....
i think...he is getting tired of alloy agu incompetency too...reason for the foreign goal keeper trainer....
should rohr have the opportunity to follow up the Nigeria league...I bet you he won't go with ezenwa....
don't be surprised that under 19 years old goal keeper from Germany might be technically better and sound than many goalies the npfl parade....
Why do we have Ezenwa, Ajiboye and Afelokhai going to CHAN These men have no long term future in the SE. These guys are already close to 30 or in their 30s.
At least one young goalie should have made the team.
These men have no long term future in the SE. These guys are already close to 30 or in their 30s.