₦airaland Forum

charlesemeka85:
they should take him and leave onyedika abeg. Onyedika should be aspiring to move to England Spain , Italy, Germany or France not Hausa league

You dey aspire on behalf of player wey no get aspiration to go those places

opes:
Good addition for Galatasaray. They may not go for Onyedika again

He is better than Onyedika.

ChrisKels:
Dude hit your chest and say you don't rate Okoye, no one will beat you up. Stop pretending as if your anger is because he was excused from the AFCON. This was you in 2024 saying we can't go no where with Okoye, so why complaining today and calling him a sabo and a blackmailer?

Okoye will be back, and you will be fine.

Ore, I am responsible for what I post not your comprehension or lack of comprehension.

I still stand by my previous assessment that Maduka is not a dependable keeper, amd we won't win any championship with him as our starting goalie. However, I have always reckoned that he's good enough to deputize Nwabali and be part of the squad.

.........And pls stop making it seem as if Maduka was excused from the team. Tell the full story. MADUKA OKOYE was DROPPED because he attempted to blackmail the coach and sabotage the team by demanding to be made #1 for the AFCON and the coach refused, saying everyone must compete and earn their starting shirts, and dully dropped him from the squad

I rated Maduka a little before but with that silly stunt he pulled, I do not rate him anymore. Football is a team sport and anyone who places personal ambition above the team's is a saboteur.

lbrichman2:
That Femi Azeez is something else
That guy is 🔥🔥

Femi Azeez is good. Can play comfortably on the right or left wing, Plays directly, runs and takes on defenders, and can cross for Africa.

The guy is ambipedal and you gsts watch am keenly to know he's naturally left-footed. He will definitely be a good addition to the Super Eagles.

ChrisKels:
This take is emotion laden. You will be fine.

Both are good goalkeepers

Never said he wasn't good but any objective abd unbiased supporter of the Super Eagles will tell you the difference between the two is like 7up.

More importantly, Nwabali is dependable and has stood to be counted when it mattered most unlike Maduka who is lilly-livered and abandoned the team for years under the guise of "mental health".

.......and YES, i will be fine as long as he stays far away from the Super Eagles. I wish him well in his club career though

No to blackmailers.
No to saboteurs.

charlesemeka85:
💯

Maduka Okoye is NOT FIT to lace Nwabali boots.

Meliforme:
Those are the kind of questions that I take so much delight in giving answers to, as this will broaden our perspective of the game and give more validity to my stand, but you have soiled the entire discussion with your fingers pointing at me, saying things that are completely false, I don't like it when people say things that i did not say.

Maybe for the next time when this type of discussion comes up, i can lend my voice with good insights, but for now. I am done.

Lol. If your opinion had substance, it would welcome scrutiny and you'd answer the questions, not take the next available flight outta here.

Anyways, l have added your monicker to my list of fantasy football theorists in this thread, and henceforth I'll ignore and wouldn't engage your posts.

Love and light.

Meliforme:
You talk about me discrediting Eric Chelle, i responded by showing you a post where I highlighted the positives about him. If i can talk about Eric Chelles positives, I also retain the position to talk about his not good parts.

You talked about me discrediting the team (an unfounded and completely false position). I dare you with your conscience (if you have one) to point out a single instance where I talked down on the Super Eagles brand or players. My criticisms always border on player deployments and never on the player. I have stood against people that have talked down on our players calling them average.

What is wrong in positing that our players deserve the best hand.

I was the one who first pointed out Eric Chelle's overreliance on his fullbacks and that is a testament to how sound my interpretation of the game is. My insights are undeniably sound and many of you know it. I studied Eric Chelle's game tactics as every other analyst will do, now the big question that should come is, how will a coach respond when his game pattern has been figured out, what are his other plans.

I criticised the deployment of Raphael Onyedika in a position that has better fits. My stand took validity when Onyedika started losing especially his aerial duels.

I see no wrong criticising a coach that did not convince me.

You will have the same thing to say about me regarding my stand on Austin Eguavoen even after he won all his matches at the group stage of the last AFCON that he oversaw.

It is my love for the Super Eagles brand that engenders me to insist that the Super Eagles deserve nothing but the best.

Okay, let me concede that you love the Super Eagles and did not discredit the team, players and the coach

BUT

you are still skirting around the major thrust of my post which is the Grade A coach (best hands) you want appointed as coach of the Super Eagles because you are unconvinced by Eric Chelle who has no Plan B according to you.

So I have some questions for you and I'd appreciate it if you can give direct answers this time.


🔸Who and what is a Grade A coach? Which metrics determine a Grade A coach?
🔸Do you think a Grade A coach will want to coach the Super Eagles given the dysfunctional nature of our football administration?
🔸Do you have any Grade A coach in mind that you'll want to be appointed for the Super Eagles? If YES, who?
🔸Is the Super Eagles having a Grade A coach a guarantee for winning the AFCON 2027 ,& 2028?
🔸Has any Grade A coach managed the Super Eagles in recent years? If Yes, who?
🔸Do you consider Emerse Fae, the Ivory Coast coach to be a Grade A coach?

Meliforme:
The truth is not with the majority anyways.

I was trying to make some sense out of your positions, until you said the following "It's almost like you are on a paid agenda to discredit the coach and the team"

I am very sorry for you for using the words: paid agenda, you should have just said agenda, and even at that I have no agenda against the coach, i have pointed out previously in my posts Eric Chelle's good points, I have hailed his good contributions. Inspite of his good scores, I have also highlighed his shortcomings and insisted that i am not convinced.

On Eric Chelle, I am simply not convinced, and that is a glaring fact. I pointed out his failings, and every single point touted has a sound underpinning.

I have never called for his sack, I simply opined that if he gets a better offer that he should move on.

You also said that i tried to discredit the team.
I have always defended the Super Engles brand. I have always labelled the Super Eagles the best team in Africa. It is because of the potential that I see In the team that engenders my clarion call for a Grade A coach for a good harvest of the talent pool.
Many on this thread have labelled our players as average, a notion that i keep refuting. I simply don't know where you got the idea of me discrediting the Super Eagles brand.

Eric Chelle plays an attractive brand of football, his kind of football is flashy and can hide tactical flaws. There is everything good when those flaws are picked and exposed. That a coach is not as flashy does not make the coach tactically poor. A not-so-flashy coach might be more tactically sound with a better reading of the game than a coach that likes to keep the ball.

Have you ever played or coached at any level of football? I ask cos your reading and interpretation of the game is too theoretical and not based on reality. As a former aspiring footballer and a former assistant coach of an amateur football team, I'll tell you for free that coaching is not black and white.

Even the best and most accomplished coaches have had moments of tactical mishaps and failings. Pep Guardiola arguably the best coach of this decade fumbled the Manchester City vs Chelsea 2021 UCL final. Pep inexplicably benched Rodri and Fernandinho, and played without a CDM. In addition, he unfathomably played without an out-an-out striker opting to play KDB as a false 9 instead of in his natural AM role in the biggest game of his Manchester City coaching career then. Pray tell, did Pep's tactical gaffe in that UCL final make him a bad coach? What of when Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 4 nil in Munchen under Peo? The Man City's 0 - 4 drubbing by Tottenham at Etihad nko? Should we now regard Pep as a tactically poor coach with no Plan B?

You seem to be in the same whatsapp group with TGJ to me. Your football expectations are built on theoretical fantasies. In your fantasy football world, there are no bad days and a team must play well all the time.

The fact that you'd mention employing a "Grade A" coach for the team tells me you like building castles in the sky. Who or what is a grade A coach? Were Clemens Westerhoff, Bonfrere Jo and Stephen Keshi who won our biggest football laurels Grade A coaches? Bora Milutinovic, Lars Lagerback, Berti Vogts, Thijs Libregts who were the biggest profile coaches in our football history, what did they achieve? No be use and dump dem do us? What the Super Eagles need is a young (40-ish) dynamic coach with a playing identity, who is eager to coach and do well with the Super Eagles to make a name for himself.

I have been watching Super Eagles since '94, and I daresay only 2 coaches have brought something uniquely different to the team.

1. Philippe Troussier - played a 3-5-2 which was considered strange by many Nigerians at that time because 4-4-2 was the in-thing, and he was sacked for his "unfamiliar formation" despite qualifying the team for the '98 world cup. Now the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation is quite common and we all know Troussier was ahead of his time.

2. Eric Sekou Chelle - He plays a diamond formation in midfield which relies on the attackers pressing from the front, quick transitions and progressing the ball through the middle, and the wingbacks playing high, and providing width through the flanks.

You want Eric Chelle to move on right, no problem. Who is the grade A coach you have in mind to replace him? Can the NFF/NSC afford the remuneration of your so-called grade A coach? I challenged you to drop names over a week ago, till date nada you never drop.

In case you've forgotten Eric Chelle is unbeaten in regulation + extra time with the Super Eagles and his only losses have come via PSO.

BankyGee:
Onuachu 🤝🏾 Nwaiwu
🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

Chibuike Nwaiwu seems to have shed weight and is looking slimmer and fitter compared to the last time I saw him in that Eaglestracker interview with AyoT where he was looking like a dough of bread.

Meliforme:
Please tell them ooo.
I said that i wasn't convinced off Eric Chelle, they came for me.

I had previously submitted that our overreliance on fullbacks to provide the needed width to stretch the opposition's defence is one of the things that cost us. The Moroccans read our game and clipped our forays.

At some points in a game, depending on the flow, you might need wingers.

There is no formation without weaknesses. There is no system that cannot be countered. Relying on wing forwards also means weakening the midfield and progressing the ball mostly through the wings which concedes the middle game to the opponents.

Also, this thing you've been going on about bringing in wing-forwards like it's one big bright tactical adjustment, Eric Chelle did it. He brought in Moses Simon on the left wing to shore it up and support Bruno due to the way Hakimi and Diaz were double-teaming on him.

In all your criticism of Eric Chelle for the Morocco game, you have never acknowledged the biased officiating. The Moroccans foul-baited the referee for the entire 120 mins duration of our game, and he fell for it every time. He gave them soft fouls but turned a blind eye to the blatant fouls they committed against us, and even refused to card them, and this impeded us from playing our game.

By the way, do you know what winning the Bronze medal in the AFCON means for Eric Chelle, the coach you're not convinced with? The implicit implication of that finish is that Eric Chelle was the third best coach out of the 24 that participated in the competition, and on the African continent.

Also, given a choice between Walid Regragui and Eric Chelle, I will pick Chelle from a tactical standpoint. The former's team huffed and puffed throughout the competition and were never convincing even in victory despite the officiating-help and home support, and that's the reason many Moroccans are calling for his sack.

Eric Chelle on the other hand gave the Super Eagles a playing identity. A press from front playing style that chokes the opponents, does not allow them time on the ball and results in lots of turnovers and dominant possession In addition, he brought new nicks to our game by moving the ball through the middle, and not the wings like we're used to playing.

The Super Eagles played with fluidity and almost psychic understanding. Another often underappreciated but important mark of good coach which Eric Chelle exhibited in this AFCON but does not get enough credit for is the personal improvement he brought on the players. Bruno, Osayi, Bassey, Ajayi, Ndidi, Iwobi and Onyeka raised their games and were all unplayable this AFCON. That's what Eric Chelle has brought to the team. Is that the coach who has not convinced you?

It's almost like you're on a paid "agenda" to discredit the coach and the team because your stance fails by every objective metric. Lest I forget, I asked you to suggest a good and convincing 50k/month coach for the Super Eagles but since then na radio silence. I still dey wait....

All these sanctions that CAF is dishing out, did Morocco receive any?

Morocco should be punished for fapping Nwabali and Mendy's towels in the semi-finals and finals respectively.

Morocco should be punished for their fans making racist gestures at Nwabali by throwing bananas at him.

Also, officiating was poor in this AFCON and biased especially in favour of Morocco. There should be some shake-up and reconstitution of the referee committee with the head being replaced.

Until CAF does all these, they are unserious and just papering over the cracks.

Odunayaw:
And the why is?

Thank you. Verbose write-up from Solace . As usual, talking too much but saying nothing meaningful really.....

I've been away for a while. Just catching up on the story of Sunday Oliseh blaming Osimhen outburst at Lookman for his poor performance against Morocco.

All I'll say is Oliseh is evil and a terrible person. My God.

zicky:
Another video it was Hakimi that tried same thing but the Senegalese players took it from him.
What's their obsession with towel

Without the towel to wipe the gloves and face off sweat, eyesight will be blurry and grip may be slippery for their opponent's goalkeeper which plays to their advantage.

That's the reason they go to all lengths (players, ball boys and stadium wardens) to remove the goalkeeper's towel.

Very dirty and underhand tactics from the Moroccans.

Super Eagles players are happy Senegal won.

Bright Osayi - God is real

Akor Adams - God is great

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSa8kN3uN/

I love dem Morocco tears.

Danielnino00:
Deep pool of emerging coaches?

What nonsense!

Which emerging coaches self??

Finidi already messed up the chances of the NFF appointing a local coach anytime soon...

You dey mind the idyat.

One of the youngest, "brightest" and arguably one of the best coaches in Nigeria, Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo. Stars was humiliated by Sundowns 7 - 1 .

Local coaches that cannot even qualify their clubs to the group stages of CAF Champions league and Confederations cup

The local coaches for the age-grade National teams nko? U-17, U-20, U-23, Women U-17, Women U-20 etc What have they achieved?

Local coaches that will start doing home-based quota, cannot rise above parochial sentiments and will always populate their squads with players from their ethnicities.

Writer dey use reverse psychology write nonsense under the guise of Chelle is too good for Nigeria and needs a bigger challenge. Dem forbid us from good thing? Gaslighter oshi

Rubbish

Joebie:
He no be saboteur. When he comes he puts his all. That should be the yardstick.

At the time he opted out, Nwabali was nursing an injury and it was uncertain he'd recover before our first game.

Anyone who blackmails the coach for a starting position and puts personal ambition above the team's is a saboteur.

Moving forward, your Maduka should just stay away from our team the same way he opted out of AFCON.

Sarsaparilla524:
Why Nigeria Should Respectfully Let Éric Chelle Move On: A Pragmatic View on Super Eagles' Future
‎
‎In the wake of the Super Eagles' impressive run under Éric Chelle, voices are calling for a four-year contract extension to lock him in for the 2030 World Cup preparations. It's understandable—his tactical brilliance has injected new life into the team, turning potential into performance on the pitch. But as Nigerians, we must step back from the emotional high and embrace the cold realities of international football management. Letting Chelle depart respectfully isn't about ingratitude or doubt in his abilities; it's about being pragmatic in a cutthroat industry where opportunities, stability, and growth matter. Here's why allowing him to pursue new horizons, like the rumored Tunisian offer, could be the best move for everyone involved.
‎
‎First, let's address the elephant in the room: financial security and reliability. Rumors are swirling that Tunisia is eyeing Chelle with a lucrative $100,000 monthly salary package—paid promptly, without the infamous delays that plague our football administration. We've all seen it before—managers and players chasing owed salaries for months, only getting paid under mounting pressure from media or unions. This isn't just unfair; it's unsustainable for a high-caliber tactician like Chelle, who deserves a setup that matches his elite status. Our chronic payment issues aren't new, stemming from bureaucratic red tape and funding inconsistencies in the football community. By holding him back, we'd risk demotivating a coach at the peak of his powers. Instead, letting him go allows us to reflect on our systemic flaws and push for reforms that make the Super Eagles role more attractive to future talents.
‎
‎More crucially, Tunisia's interest aligns with a golden opportunity for Chelle: leading a team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Carthage Eagles have secured their spot in the expanded tournament, offering Chelle his first shot at managing on football's biggest stage. Imagine the exposure—a chance to pit his strategies against global giants, showcasing the genius that's already dazzled with the Super Eagles. This isn't just personal ambition; it's a milestone for African football. If Chelle excels (and given his track record, he likely will), he could become the first African manager to land a top European club gig post-World Cup. Think about it: if Liam Rosenior, with his promising but unproven stint at Hull City, is being linked to the Chelsea hotseat, why can't Chelle aim even higher? His tactical acumen, player management, and cultural insight could open doors that have long been shut to African coaches. Holding him here out of national pride would clip his wings, denying him—and Africa—a historic breakthrough.
‎
‎Football management is a revolving door, and pragmatism demands we recognize when a chapter ends. Chelle has transformed the Super Eagles, instilling discipline, flair, and resilience. But managers like him thrive on challenges, and stagnation isn't in his DNA. Nigeria has a deep pool of emerging coaches and could use this transition to blood fresh ideas, perhaps even appointing a homegrown talent to build long-term continuity. Clinging to Chelle risks resentment or a half-hearted commitment if better offers persist. We've seen it with past coaches—forced stays often lead to underwhelming results. Respectfully parting ways honors his contributions while positioning Nigeria as a mature football nation that values progress over possession.
‎
‎In the end, Éric Chelle's potential departure isn't a loss; it's an evolution. Let's celebrate what he's achieved, wish him well, and focus on building a system that retains top talent through reliability, not pleas. The Super Eagles will soar again—perhaps even higher—with the lessons he's left behind.
‎
‎#EricChelle #SuperEagles #Soccernittygritty #NigerianFootball #AFCON #WorldCup2026 #AfricanFootball #FootballManagers

This is nonsense. Writer contradicted himself. I am pained that I read it to the end.

Also, the soccernittygritty guy is not well informed because Tunisia has since appointed a new coach in Sabri Lamouchi and that door is closed to Eric Chelle.

And to think this was one of the guys that criticized the NFF for appointing Chelle.

Nigeria has a deep pool of emerging coaches and could use this transition to blood fresh ideas, perhaps even appointing a homegrown talent to build long-term continuity

Anyways. from the emboldened quote above, I know this is a paid PR job to launder the ability of local coaches.

Rubbish.

The stadium stewards tried to steal Mendy towels like they did to Nwabali but a Senegalese player stopped them from doing so and the Moroccans pursued him.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSa8j9VRp/

These Moroccans are terrible people.

Chai, AFCON too sweet abeg.

So na this kain spectacle CAF wan move to every four years from 2028?

I swear e no go better for Patrice Motsepe

WAFCON 2022 Final - Lost
WAFCON 2025 Final - Lost
AFCON 2025 Final - Lost

Morocco cannot get any joy from hosting tournaments.

They'll be so desperate to win the WAFCON 2026 in March.

Omo, the officiating go bloody.

lovewins:
There's no point arguing the facts with you. We'll know what happened after the facts in a few days.

Lol Facts? Brahim Diaz told you he missed it intentionally?

Trump - I will tariff all European countries that oppose the US acquiring Greenland.

European Countries - We will boycott the world cup if you take Greenland.

I am loving this. ........

Theflint1:
Too much individual glory hunting from this Senegalese side.

Ore, welcome to the home of Nigerian football

ThunderFireAgba:
We have enough strikers. It's left for the coach to understand their kind of play.
Onachu thrives most inside 18yrd box. You need a strong midfield to keep pushing the ball to him. Any lose ball that gets to his feet is a goal.
Osimhen on the other hand is long ball type of striker who thrives mostly with "on the run" types of pass.
All these strikers are good. It depends on the coach to know what formation to use and play them. This is were a Technical Adviser is needed to be employed by NFF to help Chelle.

NFF employ Technical adviser to help Chelle? Una dey talk sha

Papi85:
letting Chelle slip off our fingers will take the team back to level 0 and also one big mistake the NFF will regret

Shout it from the rooftops. Carry megaphone enter market.

I stand gidigba in support of Eric Chelle.

Kog45:
Kai semid,we Sabi ourselves here and our reasonings so sometimes it would be difficult for a newcomer here to understand reasons for some comments... don't be surprised everything is down to a player not getting enough playing time under the coach.

Elder, pls talk am straight and no dey pass through the corners.

After that nonsense Ejuke played when he came in against Tunisia, he deserved to chop bench for the rest of the tournament.

Meliforme:
There is a recurring theme in Eric Chelle's style that is highly limiting.

I have never resonated with the crowd in all my stands.

Eric Chelle is not yet the man.
When the right man shows up, you will witness my unwavering validation.

I am not advocating for his sack anyway.
All that i am saying is that we should not raise our hopes in him.

If Eric Chelle sees a better paying job let him take it and continue his growth.

You are the chairperson of an adhoc committee designated by the NFF to appoint a Grade A coach for the Super Eagles.

The remuneration of the coach is pegged at $50,000.

Kindly recommend your top three candidates for the job.

?

Meliforme:
The NFF is not ready to invest in Grade A coaches.
This won't be the first time we are getting this kind of result, even with the quality in our hands.

Pls mention a Grade A coach that collects 50k USD salary?

Ordinary Pitso Motsimane una no fit afford but una go dey trumpet Grade A coach up and down like say Grade A na person name.

Gosh, some of you are just annoying and arrogantly delusional.

Joebie:
Okoye is still good for the team. Nwabali, Okoye, Uzoho. The depth is okay. We will see about Okwonkwo. We should go 3 deep in every position. Zaidu's bench position should be up for grabs as it stand. in CB Bassey, Ajayi, Fredericks, Ogbu. We need two more solid option. At RB, Alebiosu is okay as 3rd choice

Perish every thought of Okoye. He is a saboteur and should never think of dorning the Super Eagles jersey ever again.

He should focus on his club career.