₦airaland Forum

daveP:
Okeke will continue at RB. Ohale and Captain Onome will still be the best pairing until we see how one does well with Zogg, preferably, Ebi.

This ZOGG you're seeing plays multiple positions for Zurich FC too..
She's naturally a Center Back but can play as a Right back too and on few occasions this season i watch her play as a Forward from the right side... She Scored about 4 goals this season..

AkinDS:
Don't trust Okeke either - her decision making was rather poor against the Jamaicans and she no get speed.
I would rather have Nicole Payne there. She get pace and often plays as a left back for WVU.
May be a baptism of fire for her, but she seems confident when she came in as rightback on Thursday.

Okeke is better, if you're to chose between her and Ogbonna
Nicole Payne plays Right back for WVU not Left....

AkinDS:
There needs to be, especially on the left defense.
The two Ogbonna girls were awful against Jamaica. Just piss poor!
That Jessica Silva girl would take Glory Ogbonna to school, big time.
She'll eat her breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, easy!
That's how bad it will be, unless Waldrum fields someone more intelligent and quicker at left back.

Glory Ogbonna is average, No Ebere Ngozi, No Patricia George still yet she can't hold on to that position... Since 2017 till date she hasn't..

I think Okeke would be moved down to the left, now I wished more that Patricia George wasn't injured..
Then Mitchelle Alozie to play from the right back Position...

AkinDS:
Stayed and watched the game.
Portugal has 2 outfield players to be mindful of:
Their #10 who plays on the right wing and their #8 who plays as a CM/AM (chubby lady, but brilliant midfielder). Their goalkeeper is also very good.
They are a solid team and Nigeria will definitely have their hands full tomorrow.

Jessica Silva #10
She's Portugal best player, gave the US a tough time in that game. This is where the Swedish style of play comes in been (very Compact) as a team.. being well organized matters a lot..

There would be few changes in our Line up tomorrow for the game..

enomakos:
haha

You wan just cast person for here so..hahaha

JohnBullMySon:
Is she injured?

Not at all, She's very fit and inform. VISA stopped her along side Okobi.. has 4goals in 8 games already..

enomakos:
by Sam,you mean Samuel ahmedu?

Hmmm....Calm down na

mostob:
Yea..I'm just afraid a new player may take advantage of her inability to make this tournament and displace her.

You don't need to be scared on a normal day she will always make the team..

She's ahead of the likes of Ihezuo, Ajibade, Anam IMO any day any time...

JohnBullMySon:
I don't think so. Okobi is good with through passes oh. I remember watching her at Afcon and the World Cup.

She edge Tony Payne in this aspect, by the way both player are excellent, like one of us just said with a Legit CDM we can play both of them but the Problem is it would be difficult to sit out an inform and energetic Central/Box-to-Box Midfielder like Halimatu Ayinde...

mostob:
The forward positions are getting crowded already. So sad KANU couldn't make it to this tournament. She is a player I rate so much .

Kanu will always make the final list for any tournament... This girl is the female version of Ronaldo in the Superfalcons. She has really improved a lot in Sweden..

PDPGuy:
Yea

The center back pairing could also be Plumptree/Zogg and Ohale at the next Nations and world cups. I wouldn’t risk fielding a 40 yr old center back at the World Cup against some of the fastest and skillful attackers in the world.

As we have seen with Chikwelu, who knows whether Ebi’s pace would slowed down by next year or the year after.

Both Veteran Players pace have really slowed down but Ebi especially makes up with her Experiences, game reading abilities and Positioning...

That Physical, ruthless and Pacey Chikwelu we used to know is no Longer there, let just hope we get to see a younger and better Midfielder who can fit in..

AkinDS:
Hi, everyone.
Was in the stadium on Thursday and the only two HB players worth mentioning were Vivian Ikechukwu and Tosin Demehin. The others were terrible.
Okeke is not good enough. She made far too many mistakes and simply is not smart enough to play on the back line.
For a 19 yr old playing her first ever international match, I think Demehin played very well - I actually focused on her in particular, as well as Zogg.

BTW, thanks for your intel, Schemerkhiz. How is Demehin doing? Looks like she twisted her ankle in the second half and had to leave. And is Oshoala and Ebi in camp now?

Not Certain about Oshoala and Ebi availability but Mr Sam told me they're already on their way to Houston....
Their arrival would be a major boost..

AkinDS:
I have seen her play a few times in for Benfica and I think she is okay (not spectacular). The issue I have with her is her limited speed. I think she will be ready in the next 2 years or so.
Frankly, Nigeria needs to scout the US for players. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Esther Okoronkwo and Michelle Alozie fit in like a glove in the team. That shows we have a massive lake of talent here in the US - we just need to find and convince them to play for Nigeria.

Have been in touch with Esther Okoronkwo in particular since last year, she made mention she's not ready to play for Nigeria after a lot of conviction, She actually opted to play for the US at first but here she's finally....

AkinDS:
In the course of time, I think Demehin MIGHT be one to watch also. I know you had mentioned her previously (and that's why I focused on her during the game). I was particularly impressed with her awareness and overall field generalship.
For someone that young making her debut on an intimidating stage like the BBVA stadium, she held her own and acquainted herself well. She did make mistakes, but that was to be expected.

Is going to be tough for her against the like of Ashleigh Plumptre the 23yrs old Leicester City Women FC Center Back, if she gets cleared ASAP then we would get her by September to come play...

AkinDS:
I don't think Okobi can hold a candle to Payne...She is not in Payne's class.
The problem I see is trying to replace an aging Chikwelu (slow and getting old) and Halimat (torn ACL, as you stated). We need to start looking for credible replacements for both players. Chikwelu kept getting dominated in the midfield by the white Jamaican girl. She really made Rita look old and outdated on Thursday.

Hahaha... The Battle between Okobi and Payne is a complex one,
We already have Christy Ucheibe 20yrs old Benfica SL, Portugal as the next DM of the team but haven't been able to turn up the few times she has been called up..

Going with Randy Waldrum picks at the Central Back.....

Onyinyechi Zogg for Osinachi Ohale
Ashleigh Plumptre for Onome Ebi

The most interesting part is having two Superb Players in one particular Spot..

That Attacking Midfield...

Ngozi Okobi vs Tony Payne...


What we lack right now is a Central Midfielder, Halimatu Ayinde is injured, out till next year..

She ruptured her ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament)

PDPGuy:
Form permitting, Zogg and Okeke should be the first choice center-back pairing from the 2023 WC onwards.

Not Possible we still have Ohale till date and Ebi might play till the next World Cup but the Possible pair at the back would be
Onyinyechi Zogg 24yrs of Zurich FC Switzerland and Ashleigh Plumptre 23yrs of Leicester City, England...

Okeke should be talking of how to keep her spot at the right side...

Among all the Home based players that were given chance against Jamaica... ONLY Vivian Ikechukwu impressed me. The rest need to step up big time or get shut out of the team for now....

All the Foreign born player were busy trying to secure a spot for them self but the Home based were far from it..

isan:
Ebi can partner zogg in defense the ogbonna na time bomb

Ogbonna always fumbles at the Big Stage....

Patricia George would have held the Left Back position if not for injury that have ruled her out... Such an intelligent, quick and Strong player...

We should note that the Foreign born player's especially those from the US will always have an edge over the Home based player's because they're always taught the basis right from the high School to the University level, play various positions.. and becoming a Pro Footballer gets easy for them with those knowledge's..

Look at Mitchelle Alozie for Example is a Winger/Forward but did well from the Right back Position, Okeke wasn't even as effective as she had with the little minutes she spent on the Pitch...

enomakos:
What is the score of US and Portugal game?

USA won 1nil... Goal by Sam Mewis

isan:
I was surprised people criticize her here , I can only blame the coach for getting his selection wrong

I believe lack of training contributed to the poor Selection, they only trained twice in one day and some of the players participated only once..

BascoVanVeli:
Alozie is not a full member of the Houston Dash. She only trains with them as of now. Although her showing might have made them sit up.

She's a National Team Replacement Signing.....for Houston Dash

enomakos:
nothing,just that nothing is know much about them

Esther Okoronkwo a Striker from Lamar University in the US... One of the best

Michelle Alozie a Winger/Forward who plays for Houston Dash in US NWSL.. she also had a stint with Kazakhstan Clubside Biik Kazygurt some time ago

I wasn't Expecting to see Esther Okoronkwo because she told me she isn't ready to play for Nigeria that if US call her up she would turn up instant...

Surprised she changed her mind, would speak to her later..

She, Payne, Oluehi and Zogg, Alozie impressed me alot...
Esther Okoronkwo #5...

Our Oyinbo dem...

Superfalcons Training Section this morning with 16players

Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale also out of the US Summer tournament....

Zainab Yewande Omoyiola Balogun
Age; 31yrs
Height; 5-8
Current Club; Cal Storm Women's Soccer, USA
They play in the WPSL

Recently came out of retirement over a month ago, though she has been working as an assistant coach in various Universities..

isan:
Please how many players are in camp now ? Because i don't think we will have a full house before the match

Players in Camp :
*Dimehin Oluwatosin •••• DF (NIGERIA)
*Ibe Abidemi •21yrs• DF (NIGERIA)
*Ogbonna Akudo •21yrs• DF (NIGERIA)
*Ogbonna Glory •22yrs• DF (NIGERIA)
* Etim Inyene Sunday •••• Gk (NIGERIA)
* Ikechukwu Vivian •23yrs• FW (NIGERIA)
*Bokiri Joy •22yrs• MF (NIGERIA)
* Monday Gift •19yrs• FW (NIGERIA)
*Mbadi Uju Amanda •21yrs• MF (NIGERIA)
*Yewande Balogun •31yrs• GK (USA)
* Onyinyechi Zogg •24yrs• DF (SWITZERLAND)
* Rossa Ariyo •26yrs• FW ( Finland)
* Nicole Payne •20yrs• DF/FW (USA)
* Ordega Fransisca •27yrs• FW (SPAIN)
* Toni Payne •27yrs• MF (SPAIN)
* Ifeoma Onomonwu •27yrs• FW (USA)

All Spanish based players expected from tomorrow.

*Rashedat Ajibade •21yrs• FW (SPAIN)
*Tochi Oluehi •34yrs• GK (SPAIN)
*Chidinma Okeke •20yrs• DF (SPAIN)
*Charity Adule •27yrs• FW (SPAIN)
*Rita Chikwelu •33yrs• MF (SPAIN)
* Asisat Oshoala •26yrs• FW (SPAIN)

mostob:
This girl is cute o. I dey crush on her already.

They're both already in Camp, Roosa and Zogg

Divepen1:
I thought Chiamaka withdrew?

Sorry it's an Old Pics, I posted it because of Onyinyechi Okeke, who we were having a discussion about as one of the tallest and best young Goalkeeper around