Icon4s:


Ah

No oo. The kind Jeun-Jeun football wey we play, we had clubs and we contributed Money for tournaments and then there were trophies.

We played regular 11 against 11. Even with Jerseys. It was usually "a Winner take all" competition. And sometimes it went violent when there was poor officiating.

They were teen clubs mostly for Children between 12 & 17.

Some of the players then will progress to the Senior teams that played the Mock nations cup.

A lot of Nigerian professional coaches used to attend the Ajegunle Mock nations cup then. I only played in one for my Team Madagascar when I was 15 (I was kind of big relative to most other AJ kids then). Some Golden Eaglets players of yester years were picked from that Tournament.

Then you had to chose between your academics and football because you could hardly combine both because of the number of hours you may have to spend on the field weekly. I went for my academics and rather preferred to watch other boys play when I had the freedom to. Thank God today we have football academies. Nothing of such then. Na mostly NFAs (No Future Ambition) dey take ball serious then.

Ok oo, I thought your case was similar to that of the guy in the goal post here

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1275104383425019905?s=20

Haha

ChrisKels:


You well so?

Wow,,,,,,

Icon4s:


Me and Taribo West played Jeun-Jeun football for Ajegunle . We were team mates.

He is AJ-AJ to the core.

Big ups to our "coach Ibe" for discovering some of those talents.


Na Bridge Boys Taribo start him professional football from.

Danielnino00:

Musa is one of those players who never really reached their full potentials.

If he had joined a club with a decent coach who knows how to develop players, he would have turned out better...
Even at his age,he still has his speed...his final ball product has always been at best average..

Agreed

I wish things worked out at leicester

He still do that badly to me

the viper na correct guy

ChrisKels:
The Viper's response to this post sha, he had to call the tweep by his real name to show his disappointment

Samu to score

ChrisKels:


Ok oo, I thought your case was similar to that of the guy in the goal post here

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1275104383425019905?s=20

I saw that video this morning and laugh wan kee me.

TheSuperNerd:
Cc Ihenzy

The post below is dated and quoted from October 14, 2019 on this thread.

This is to help you further understand the context. I do this because now I wonder who else out there must be having the same thought process like you about #TheNorthRemembers.


Next time, try to understand where one is coming from and what his/her comments mean. #Peace

I get it now.
Thought you were trying to play the sentiment card.
Apologies

Chukwueze is a very talented footballer....that boy would grow into something very beautiful

According to OGN, if it's true:
"Ejaria won Rohr over with his dribbling abilities in tight spaces. When Rohr watched him he was convinced he has found a different kind of midfielder than the ones in the team at the moment", a backroom staff of the team told OGN.

Danielnino00:

Musa is one of those players who never really reached their full potentials.

If he had joined a club with a decent coach who knows how to develop players, he would have turned out better...
Even at his age,he still has his speed...his final ball product has always been at best average..

Kai,this guy have four World Cup goals.The SE current wingers are learners forget all the hypes.

Otife don destroy nwakali and one mumu journalist wey dey patronize am for Facebook

This matter sha

Villarreal should win this match na

Alhassan Yusuf with a Fire performance today . abeg see his heat map first !!! touched all parts of the MF. 102 Acc passes ,124 touches, 4 interceptions, 1 tackle, 4 key passes, 14 out of 14 long balls, 3 successful dribbles. He is d truth , a future super Eagle player


@naijafootball2

The person behind that futbalgalore acct is very unreasonable and shows poor knowledge of the game. A player just returned. Haven't even played a full 90mins yet and he is shouting SE invite already. They should allow Nwakali return well in peace abeg.

Plus when he was subbed in twice for Huesca, he played deep and not as AM. Na wa for Gbenga!! Lol

ChrisKels:
The Viper's response to this post sha, he had to call the tweep by his real name to show his disappointment

Lol...

It is well.

ChrisKels:


They lied to us that Nwaorisa was the best thing since sliced bread, just to get him a place in Aigbogun's team to Poland. They told us he already had a precontract with Sampdoria while other bigger clubs were mulling, las las, just like Abdul Zubairu's, all na wash

July 7 should come quickly make Anderlecht come bag this boy. A Real gem.

Keep your eyes on another like him. Ishaq Abdulrazak of Norrkoping. He just joined them and they didn't waste time giving him his debut and he has been featuring ever since off the bench.

ChrisKels:
Alhassan Yusuf with a Fire performance today . abeg see his heat map first !!! touched all parts of the MF. 102 Acc passes ,124 touches, 4 interceptions, 1 tackle, 4 key passes, 14 out of 14 long balls, 3 successful dribbles. He is d truth , a future super Eagle player


@naijafootball2

It's fine. Take care.

Ihenzy:

I get it now.
Thought you were trying to play the sentiment card.
Apologies

ChrisKels:
Alhassan Yusuf with a Fire performance today . abeg see his heat map first !!! touched all parts of the MF. 102 Acc passes ,124 touches, 4 interceptions, 1 tackle, 4 key passes, 14 out of 14 long balls, 3 successful dribbles. He is d truth , a future super Eagle player


@naijafootball2

wishing him well

Your last four words sum it up.

Philosopher1979:


Is Ahmed Musa still relevant for nigeria. Sometimes he plays well sometimes he doesnt and as a winger his finall ball is poor. But he sure has some ability as shown above. Its something i wonder about. His moving to a nonsense league makes matters worse.
I think hr purst into the scene 10 years ago when there was little talent in the super eagles.
However we have so many good players in his position from chidera ejuke yo samuel kalu. Well time will tell

ChrisKels:
Alhassan Yusuf with a Fire performance today . abeg see his heat map first !!! touched all parts of the MF. 102 Acc passes ,124 touches, 4 interceptions, 1 tackle, 4 key passes, 14 out of 14 long balls, 3 successful dribbles. He is d truth , a future super Eagle player


@naijafootball2

this dude is awesome
I pray Anderlecht or other decent club sign him

TheSuperNerd:

The person behind that futbalgalore acct is very unreasonable and shows poor knowledge of the game. A player just returned. Haven't even played a full 90mins yet and he is shouting SE invite already. They should allow Nwakali return well in peace abeg.

Plus when he was subbed in twice for Huesca, he played deep and not as AM. Na wa for Gbenga!! Lol

I no talk say Nwakali is better suited for deep lying maker and CM role a forthnight ago. If he can rediscover his old self he will metamophose to a superb player in the aforementioned role.

The players suited for the number 10 role currently in the super eagles re Iwobi, aribo, uncapped duo of ejaria and Ejuke and eze who is yet to make up his mind

rabzy:
Chukwueze is a very talented footballer....that boy would grow into something very beautiful

I must confess it an eyesore watching him play for Villarreal .....he needs a better club to fulfill his potential...He is really talented

sheyishemba:


I must confess it an eyesore watching him play for Villarreal .....he needs a better club to fulfill his potential...He is really talented

with time he will get a move to a better club. Saw him play today and he performed very well. Need to move into the oppositions box more inorder to get goals.

Also i noticed he has improved tremendously the defensive side of his game. Kid is work in progress

Danielnino00:

Musa is one of those players who never really reached their full potentials.

If he had joined a club with a decent coach who knows how to develop players, he would have turned out better...
Even at his age,he still has his speed...his final ball product has always been at best average..

another player I had high hopes on

sheyishemba:



this dude is awesome
I pray Anderlecht or other decent club sign him

very good cm

Torunarigha, Uduokhai, Agu, Ehizibue: Nigeria's defence of the future, made in Germany
News Hub CreatorJun 11, 2020 12:57 PM


Only for Opera News funs.

Follow
Jordan Torunarigha, Felix Uduokhai, Felix Agu and Kingsley Ehizibue head a fabulously gifted group of Nigerian Bundesliga-based defenders who could provide the three-time African Cup of Nations winners Nigeria with a solid platform for the next decade.



Perhaps Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr knows this already, but join AdemetanAbayomi as we take a look at the sheer abundance of Nigerian born defensive talent honing their craft in Germany…


Jordan Torunarigha (Hertha Berlin)

When you are blessed with the stature that Jordan Torunarigha has, it's almost by default that you have to learn how to use that stature and he certainly does do that. He defends with a seemingly impossible blend of calmness and aggressiveness that you wouldn't traditionally see in a towering center back. But if you were to task him with the usual role of sitting back and absorbing attacks, he'd do that just fine as well, seeing as how he is well aware of how to wield his size and strength to his advantage as well as how not to over extend his zone of coverage.


Calmness, size and aggressiveness combine to form his primary style point, but where Torunarigha's style really sets itself apart from his contemporaries is in his almost-swashbuckling confidence. He is a controller of the ball and has skill moves and dribbling ability to ward off opponents, just in case his size and strength gets too boring for him. He pushes play forward when the opening is there and isn't afraid to fire audacious balls down the pitch searching for over-the top runs.


When it comes to defending one on one, he is blessed with a solid dose of speed and agility that allows him to go head-to-head with just about any attacker and call himself their equal. He is adept at winning the ball back and even better at keeping it.


His list of strengths is a near-perfect match to a list of the ideal central defender's strengths, but you have to start with his calmness.

This calmness has been the subject of praise since his youth days, as it allows him to remain composed no matter the situation. There is no panic in him, nor has there ever been. For a young defender, that is massive, as one of the main problems that plagues young, central defenders, is a misplaced sense of urgency on and off the ball. He does not have that panic button.

He is also obviously one of the feared player, standing at 1.89m. Having had this plus-size from his early teen years, he has had time to master how best to wield this physical strength to not only win the ball back, but maintain the ball. In terms of using his strength and size in the air, he can check that off his list as well. While aerial dominance was a later development for the Nigerian born defender, he can now add that to his list of personal improvements.


Then there is his assertiveness. Along with having tremendous strength and reflexes, the lad has the confidence to go after just about any ball, which, thanks to his solid judgment, has worked out well. And, in the rare situations where he is left exposed after over-committing himself, he possesses excellent recovery speed, which is something not many of his contemporaries can claim.

Calmness, strength, speed and harnessed aggression. You can't ask for much more from a defender, let alone a defender who is only 22 years old.

Felix Uduokhai (Augsburg)

Felix Uduokhai quintessential ball-playing defender. He likes to make long passes and frequently ventures into the opposition half with the ball at his feet. He is not shy of going into a tackle either. His tall frame also helps him win aerial duels and is of great help while defending set-pieces.


Not to be deceived by his lanky frame, he has a good amount of pace too. However it is his ability to start the move, linking defence to attack, is what is making him highly a desirable asset for teams across Europe.


A look at his stats and one thing that clearly stands out is his passing percentage.


Very much in the Uche Okechukwu mould of defenders, Uduokhai is a tough tackler like the Super Eagles great. He has the natural pace to track runners and if needed, put in a challenge at just the right time. Since his game is very much built on his ability on the ball, his pace is an asset when he loses the ball and is quick enough to recover. ‘Recovery pace’, as it is now being called these days, is as important – if not more – as his other defensive skills.


With his pace, he has the ability to make runs down the wings too. He is an adept passer of the ball, which helps in the decision-making in the final third.


Numbers wise, what also stands out is the two yellow cards he has received in Augsburg colours this season. Given the fact that he is a natural central defender who is not afraid of going into a tackle, this is indeed mind-boggling. It only shows how successful he is at winning the ball back – legally at that.

Felix Agu (VfL Osnabruck)

Felix Agu is very much the prototypical modern footballer. He's found his first-team niche at left-back, a position that he seems to have been born to play in.


Physically strong and very quick, Felix Agu has the capacity to support in both the defensive and attacking phases. He recovers his position well and reads the game effectively enough to provide good cover for his defensive teammates.


The modern day full-back must boast speed and stamina to charge up and down the line constantly. He is also expected to be composed and precise enough to deliver a steady stream of crosses in the final third. The defensive sense surely is an innate prerequisite for a fullback.


The rare combination of these major prerequisites explains the demented demand of the position in recent times. But, Agu who is yet to be any sort of high horse in this regard, certainly has the instincts and potential to reach the aforementioned heights if managed properly.


He is still regarded as one of Nigeria's brightest young defensive prospects and it's easy to see why.


His versatility obviously tops the list; being capable of playing at left wing, elevate the Werder Bremen bound footballer far beyond rising prospects of his age.

Furthermore, he boasts of great physical attributes and shows good technical qualities. All contribute to his rapid and swift style, paving his way to roam forward and help his team on the front foot. At 21, the future is bright for Felix Agu.

Kingsley Ehizibue (FC Koln)

Newly invited Super Eagles defender Kingsley Ehizibue is very much an attack-minded fullback in the modern mould. Given that Koln play an extremely offensive game, he is perfectly suited. He enjoys dribbling down the line or receiving from an inverted winger before delivering a cross.


He also makes movements infield himself and frequently makes free man runs to get on the on the end of a move in a similar manner to Dani Alves. His versatility with regards to his movements and capabilities in different attacking zones makes him a perfect fit for any ambitious coach.


Ehizibue has the physical and technical profile to excel as an attacking fullback. His close control, endurance, pace and dribbling abilities mean he is capable of making overlapping runs or carrying the play forward himself from deep. He also has the passing range to switch the play and the capacity to find teammates with crosses.


Additionally, he has a tendency to make underlapping runs.

Chima Okoroji (Jahn Regensburg)

Chima Okoroji is a strong defender both technically and physically.


In fact, the left-back is distinguished not only by his technical skills, but also by his imposing physical structure, using it to enhance his defensive efficiency and scaring opposite wingers that might come across him. This is a combination of qualities that right-backs or left-backs have.


The Bayern Munich product is an utterly straightforward player, limited to soberly delivering his task in the pitch, which would already be interesting for any coach.

However, Okoroji increases his contribution to any team by being an extremely vertiginous left-back, not shying away from dribbling and trying to actively participate in the build-up from his position. He does not restrict himself to lateral movements, liking and looking for disrupting movements from his position to the centre of the pitch whether with the ball or with clever and pernicious passes, exploring the half-spaces in the opposition’s defensive organisation. All in all, he is a versatile and skillful player with a varied set of solutions to offer.


Defensively, Chima Okoroji is a very assertive and intelligent player. He seems to be able to weigh in the pros and cons of every decision he makes on the pitch at a speed that does not compromise the execution of the actions he decides to take; and he is almost right in making them. For example, in plays where the majority of the left-backs would kick arbitrarily the ball out of the pitch when there was no need for that, Okoroji would look for a safe way to continue an offensive play for his team and giving a boost to the build-up phase. That makes him not a mere reactive player, but rather a proactive one; not only expecting the adversaries moves and tackling his opponents accordingly, but also looking to smartly intercept every play, a tendency that he has been able to impose with more or less difficulty (more challenging antagonists might pose him greater difficulties in terms of tactical positioning as we will discuss below).


As we have referred above, Okoroji is a technically developed player. He reveals a fairly decent dribbling capacity, agility and great pace with or without the ball. His speed helps him in defensive transitions as he is able to recuperate with ease after an attacking movement, not compromising his side’s balance. Furthermore, he presents a great perception of the game, easily encountering his teammates with precise crosses and long passes. His passing capacity might be one of his most distinctive characteristics, considering that we are talking of a left-back and not a midfielder or a playmaker of any sort.


In addition, Okoroji has developed amazing tackling and interception capacities, always showing an excellent ratio of won balls during a game and creating a perception of being almost insurmountable in his adversaries. He is very efficient in holding back and "locking" the opposition’s player he is marking, which enhances these defensive qualities I have just mentioned. Also contributing to his constant and reliable performances is his concentration in the moments where he is asked to rest deep and wait for attacks to come his away. He reveals great focus in this process, boosting to great lengths the completion of his defensive tasks.

Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim)

Kevin Akpoguma is an assured defender who comfortably plays out from the back. The utility player has the ability to control the tempo of games. Without the ball he stands off attackers and waits for them to make a move before typically timing standing tackles. When winning back and receiving the ball, Akpoguma maintains possession with great composure. He has the ability to shield off incoming players, create space and finding a teammate in order to create a move going forward. He is known to be a bit of a risk taker because of his habit of pressing on surging runs with the ball and often looks for a killer-pass.


Although Akpoguma is a player who looks to bring positivity to the pitch, there are incidents where he can make a rash decision when there are options which looks far simpler. This could be a case of naivety down to age, but it is certainly something which brings hunger and excitement to his game.


The former Germany U21 skipper is an extremely versatile player. He arguably operates best as a centre-half, but he can do a job filling while in as left-back and even covering as a defensive midfielder. This is becoming a modern-day trend to have a player in your team who is dependable as a utility man; someone who can fill the holes when other players are injured or absent.


Akpoguma has speed on his side. For a defender, he is quick off the mark, often accelerating in small bursts. He maintains long distance sprints to support in offensive positions.

From Opera News Hub

Based on current form I will go for only 2 in the list which re uduokhai and Ehizibue. Also okoroji is doing very well in bundesliga 2 as well

sheyishemba:
Torunarigha, Uduokhai, Agu, Ehizibue: Nigeria's defence of the future, made in Germany
News Hub CreatorJun 11, 2020 12:57 PM


Only for Opera News funs.

Follow
Jordan Torunarigha, Felix Uduokhai, Felix Agu and Kingsley Ehizibue head a fabulously gifted group of Nigerian Bundesliga-based defenders who could provide the three-time African Cup of Nations winners Nigeria with a solid platform for the next decade.



Perhaps Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr knows this already, but join AdemetanAbayomi as we take a look at the sheer abundance of Nigerian born defensive talent honing their craft in Germany…


Jordan Torunarigha (Hertha Berlin)

When you are blessed with the stature that Jordan Torunarigha has, it's almost by default that you have to learn how to use that stature and he certainly does do that. He defends with a seemingly impossible blend of calmness and aggressiveness that you wouldn't traditionally see in a towering center back. But if you were to task him with the usual role of sitting back and absorbing attacks, he'd do that just fine as well, seeing as how he is well aware of how to wield his size and strength to his advantage as well as how not to over extend his zone of coverage.


Calmness, size and aggressiveness combine to form his primary style point, but where Torunarigha's style really sets itself apart from his contemporaries is in his almost-swashbuckling confidence. He is a controller of the ball and has skill moves and dribbling ability to ward off opponents, just in case his size and strength gets too boring for him. He pushes play forward when the opening is there and isn't afraid to fire audacious balls down the pitch searching for over-the top runs.


When it comes to defending one on one, he is blessed with a solid dose of speed and agility that allows him to go head-to-head with just about any attacker and call himself their equal. He is adept at winning the ball back and even better at keeping it.


His list of strengths is a near-perfect match to a list of the ideal central defender's strengths, but you have to start with his calmness.

This calmness has been the subject of praise since his youth days, as it allows him to remain composed no matter the situation. There is no panic in him, nor has there ever been. For a young defender, that is massive, as one of the main problems that plagues young, central defenders, is a misplaced sense of urgency on and off the ball. He does not have that panic button.

He is also obviously one of the feared player, standing at 1.89m. Having had this plus-size from his early teen years, he has had time to master how best to wield this physical strength to not only win the ball back, but maintain the ball. In terms of using his strength and size in the air, he can check that off his list as well. While aerial dominance was a later development for the Nigerian born defender, he can now add that to his list of personal improvements.


Then there is his assertiveness. Along with having tremendous strength and reflexes, the lad has the confidence to go after just about any ball, which, thanks to his solid judgment, has worked out well. And, in the rare situations where he is left exposed after over-committing himself, he possesses excellent recovery speed, which is something not many of his contemporaries can claim.

Calmness, strength, speed and harnessed aggression. You can't ask for much more from a defender, let alone a defender who is only 22 years old.

Felix Uduokhai (Augsburg)

Felix Uduokhai quintessential ball-playing defender. He likes to make long passes and frequently ventures into the opposition half with the ball at his feet. He is not shy of going into a tackle either. His tall frame also helps him win aerial duels and is of great help while defending set-pieces.


Not to be deceived by his lanky frame, he has a good amount of pace too. However it is his ability to start the move, linking defence to attack, is what is making him highly a desirable asset for teams across Europe.


A look at his stats and one thing that clearly stands out is his passing percentage.


Very much in the Uche Okechukwu mould of defenders, Uduokhai is a tough tackler like the Super Eagles great. He has the natural pace to track runners and if needed, put in a challenge at just the right time. Since his game is very much built on his ability on the ball, his pace is an asset when he loses the ball and is quick enough to recover. ‘Recovery pace’, as it is now being called these days, is as important – if not more – as his other defensive skills.


With his pace, he has the ability to make runs down the wings too. He is an adept passer of the ball, which helps in the decision-making in the final third.


Numbers wise, what also stands out is the two yellow cards he has received in Augsburg colours this season. Given the fact that he is a natural central defender who is not afraid of going into a tackle, this is indeed mind-boggling. It only shows how successful he is at winning the ball back – legally at that.

Felix Agu (VfL Osnabruck)

Felix Agu is very much the prototypical modern footballer. He's found his first-team niche at left-back, a position that he seems to have been born to play in.


Physically strong and very quick, Felix Agu has the capacity to support in both the defensive and attacking phases. He recovers his position well and reads the game effectively enough to provide good cover for his defensive teammates.


The modern day full-back must boast speed and stamina to charge up and down the line constantly. He is also expected to be composed and precise enough to deliver a steady stream of crosses in the final third. The defensive sense surely is an innate prerequisite for a fullback.


The rare combination of these major prerequisites explains the demented demand of the position in recent times. But, Agu who is yet to be any sort of high horse in this regard, certainly has the instincts and potential to reach the aforementioned heights if managed properly.


He is still regarded as one of Nigeria's brightest young defensive prospects and it's easy to see why.


His versatility obviously tops the list; being capable of playing at left wing, elevate the Werder Bremen bound footballer far beyond rising prospects of his age.

Furthermore, he boasts of great physical attributes and shows good technical qualities. All contribute to his rapid and swift style, paving his way to roam forward and help his team on the front foot. At 21, the future is bright for Felix Agu.

Kingsley Ehizibue (FC Koln)

Newly invited Super Eagles defender Kingsley Ehizibue is very much an attack-minded fullback in the modern mould. Given that Koln play an extremely offensive game, he is perfectly suited. He enjoys dribbling down the line or receiving from an inverted winger before delivering a cross.


He also makes movements infield himself and frequently makes free man runs to get on the on the end of a move in a similar manner to Dani Alves. His versatility with regards to his movements and capabilities in different attacking zones makes him a perfect fit for any ambitious coach.


Ehizibue has the physical and technical profile to excel as an attacking fullback. His close control, endurance, pace and dribbling abilities mean he is capable of making overlapping runs or carrying the play forward himself from deep. He also has the passing range to switch the play and the capacity to find teammates with crosses.


Additionally, he has a tendency to make underlapping runs.

Chima Okoroji (Jahn Regensburg)

Chima Okoroji is a strong defender both technically and physically.


In fact, the left-back is distinguished not only by his technical skills, but also by his imposing physical structure, using it to enhance his defensive efficiency and scaring opposite wingers that might come across him. This is a combination of qualities that right-backs or left-backs have.


The Bayern Munich product is an utterly straightforward player, limited to soberly delivering his task in the pitch, which would already be interesting for any coach.

However, Okoroji increases his contribution to any team by being an extremely vertiginous left-back, not shying away from dribbling and trying to actively participate in the build-up from his position. He does not restrict himself to lateral movements, liking and looking for disrupting movements from his position to the centre of the pitch whether with the ball or with clever and pernicious passes, exploring the half-spaces in the opposition’s defensive organisation. All in all, he is a versatile and skillful player with a varied set of solutions to offer.


Defensively, Chima Okoroji is a very assertive and intelligent player. He seems to be able to weigh in the pros and cons of every decision he makes on the pitch at a speed that does not compromise the execution of the actions he decides to take; and he is almost right in making them. For example, in plays where the majority of the left-backs would kick arbitrarily the ball out of the pitch when there was no need for that, Okoroji would look for a safe way to continue an offensive play for his team and giving a boost to the build-up phase. That makes him not a mere reactive player, but rather a proactive one; not only expecting the adversaries moves and tackling his opponents accordingly, but also looking to smartly intercept every play, a tendency that he has been able to impose with more or less difficulty (more challenging antagonists might pose him greater difficulties in terms of tactical positioning as we will discuss below).


As we have referred above, Okoroji is a technically developed player. He reveals a fairly decent dribbling capacity, agility and great pace with or without the ball. His speed helps him in defensive transitions as he is able to recuperate with ease after an attacking movement, not compromising his side’s balance. Furthermore, he presents a great perception of the game, easily encountering his teammates with precise crosses and long passes. His passing capacity might be one of his most distinctive characteristics, considering that we are talking of a left-back and not a midfielder or a playmaker of any sort.


In addition, Okoroji has developed amazing tackling and interception capacities, always showing an excellent ratio of won balls during a game and creating a perception of being almost insurmountable in his adversaries. He is very efficient in holding back and "locking" the opposition’s player he is marking, which enhances these defensive qualities I have just mentioned. Also contributing to his constant and reliable performances is his concentration in the moments where he is asked to rest deep and wait for attacks to come his away. He reveals great focus in this process, boosting to great lengths the completion of his defensive tasks.

Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim)

Kevin Akpoguma is an assured defender who comfortably plays out from the back. The utility player has the ability to control the tempo of games. Without the ball he stands off attackers and waits for them to make a move before typically timing standing tackles. When winning back and receiving the ball, Akpoguma maintains possession with great composure. He has the ability to shield off incoming players, create space and finding a teammate in order to create a move going forward. He is known to be a bit of a risk taker because of his habit of pressing on surging runs with the ball and often looks for a killer-pass.


Although Akpoguma is a player who looks to bring positivity to the pitch, there are incidents where he can make a rash decision when there are options which looks far simpler. This could be a case of naivety down to age, but it is certainly something which brings hunger and excitement to his game.


The former Germany U21 skipper is an extremely versatile player. He arguably operates best as a centre-half, but he can do a job filling while in as left-back and even covering as a defensive midfielder. This is becoming a modern-day trend to have a player in your team who is dependable as a utility man; someone who can fill the holes when other players are injured or absent.


Akpoguma has speed on his side. For a defender, he is quick off the mark, often accelerating in small bursts. He maintains long distance sprints to support in offensive positions.

From Opera News Hub

charlesemeka85:
very good cm

yh also a good AMF

charlesemeka85:
very good cm

yh also a good AMF

sheyishemba:


yh also a good AMF

Hmmm thought he can only play the CM role. Nice

charlesemeka85:
with time he will get a move to a better club. Saw him play today and he performed very well. Need to move into the oppositions box more inorder to get goals.

Also i noticed he has improved tremendously the defensive side of his game. Kid is work in progress

yh he has improved immensely in his defensive play but needs to learn how mark
he is a good offensive player he needs to leave Villarreal coz playing him as AMR is limiting his offensive ability this is something affecting iwobi too (that why many folk here could say he is overrated )