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Nigeria will battle for a third place finish in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Algeria Sunday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.
Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez was the match winner as his last gasp free kick secured victory for the Desert Foxes who will face Senegal in Friday's final
Algeria put the Eagles defence under tremendous pressure in the early stage of the game.
Algeria had a seventh minute effort go off target after a teasing cross by Youcef Belaili was not converted by Baghdad Bounedjah while Akpeyi had to palm away a dangerous cross from Riyad Mahrez in the 10th minute. William Troost Ekong cleared the ball eventually.
Ramy Bensebaini saw his 16th minute header miss target by whiskers but a goal would not have counted as he was in an offside position.
Four minutes later Bounedjah made an intelligent run to receive a pass from a team mate but Kenneth Omeruo cleared the ball inside the Nigerian box.
Akpeyi made himself big to deny Bounedjah after a failed clearance by Omeruo soon afterwards.
Both sides produced more tensed moments but Algeria's superior goal threat culminated in an own goal conceded by Nigeria's William Troost Ekong in the 40th minute after a Riyad Mahrez's innocuous cross came off Jamilu Collins and deflected off his chest.
The Eagles dominated possession midway into the match but an Iwobi shot in the 54th minute was tame.
An Oghenekaro Etebo shot struck Algerian defender Aissa Mandi. Referee Papa Gassama consulted VAR. Mandi was cautioned after the verdict was a penalty. Odion Ighalo scored from 12 yards to restore parity in the 73rd minute.
Eagles coach Gernot Rohr handed an AFCON debut to Henry Onyekuru in place of Samuel Chukwueze in the 77th minute.
Riyad Mahrez struck a free kick from 25 yards which beat Akpeyi in goal in the last minute of added time.

Goodluck to Nigeria but from My point of view at least 6 home based players must be invited to the next AFCON.

Leicester City have signed striker Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United for £30m on a four-year deal.

Perez, 25, leaves St James' Park after five years. The Spaniard was the club's top scorer in 2018-19 with 12 goals.

He is Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers' second signing of the summer, following the arrival of defender James Justin from Luton Town.

"Ayoze will be a wonderful addition to the squad. He's a player who will excite our fans," Rodgers said.

"He's quick, has a good eye for goal and he's experienced in the Premier League too."

Perez, who was bought from Tenerife for £1.5m in June 2014, has scored 48 times in 195 appearances for Newcastle and got the winning goal on each of his previous two visits to King Power Stadium.

"I'm very happy and very pleased. I'm very proud to be part of the Leicester family and I can't wait to get started," said Perez.

Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf wants forward Karl Toko Ekambi to rediscover his La Liga form against Nigeria.

Ekambi, who scored the most league goals at Villarreal last season (10), has failed to find the net for the Indomitable Lions in three group matches.

The defending champions have only scored two goals in their opening three games but Seedorf has defended his side, and out-of-form striker Ekambi, saying "sometimes teams do not score for weeks and forwards do not score for months".

"Karl and the other forwards have to improve a few details, be smarter and create more chances," added the four-time Champions League winner.

"We pushed forward in each group game, we introduced attacking players off the bench, but we dare not try crazy stuff. We have to respect our opponents."

The only way that the Super Eagles of Nigeria can defeat the Indomitable lions of Cameroon is by Playing a 5-3-2 formation.

The goal of soccer training is improved performance, injury prevention, soccer skills and tactics. Improved performance should never come at the cost of an injured player. Goal #1 is injury prevention in a soccer conditioning program. Goal #2 is to improve performance.

The 5-3-2 formation is a defensively oriented formation, that can be used with a sweeper or with a flat line of 5 defenders. The 5-3-2 puts pressure on the full backs to support the attack and provide width.

Defending
The 5 defenders offer’s a tremendous amount of cover along the defensive line. This position can use a traditional sweeper placed 3-5 yards behind a back four, or use 3 defenders central that cover wide if the full backs join the attack. Diagram A illustrates a sweeper formation and also highlights a consideration coaches and teams must take into account;

Diagram A
5 3 2 formation
[img][/img]

Diagram A illustrates the sweeper formation but also shows the potential flaw, O11 has drifted goal side of X2 but is played onside by the sweeper. This requires the sweeper to cover out wide, or to communicate with X2 and let her know to recover goal side. A team that plays a sweeper should be aware that the entire offside dynamic changes.

Diagram B illustrates how the 3 central defenders can be beneficial when a fullback joins the attack;

Diagram B
5 3 2 soccer formation

In diagram B X2 has been sucked high and the team has lost possession. X5 slides over to the right back spot while X4 and X6 remain central covering the forwards. This shape makes a team very resilient and able to cover forwards when a teammate is caught in attack or beaten off the dribble. (O11 has the ball)

Attacking
The 5-3-2 formation is defensive oriented and puts a lot of pressure on the fullbacks to join the attack and provide width. Full backs who do not do this will leave the side very narrow and play congested in a central area. The extra defender frees up a fullback to bomb down the flanks without fear of being exposed in a quick counter attack.

When width is supplied by the full backs, the formation allows a numbers up situation in midfield where 3 central players will often be matched up against 2 opposition players. This allows a team to keep possession with sharp passing, or send an extra body forward to outmatch the defenders and create 2 v 1 mismatches. Diagram C illustrates a mismatch that can be created by an overlapping fullback when playing against a traditional 4-4-2;
[img][/img]
Diagram C
5 3 2 diagram 3

In diagram C O6 and O8 are occupied already marking midfielders. X2 coming up and joining the attack provides a mismatch and a dilemma for O11. O11 can stay wide and track the run of X2, but this leaves X6 to carry the ball into a 3v2 central mismatch that benefits the attackers, or a chain reaction of O8 pressuring the ball could free up an easy pass to X8 in an attacking position. If O11 pressure the ball then X2 is in space to attack down the flanks and put the defense under pressure.

Strengths
Plenty of numbers in the back line, leaving no open players and little room for attackers to operate in.
Numbers in central midfield to win the ball and keep possession.
Two forwards allowing the option of one checking for ball to feet and one to stretch the back line.
The option to play a sweeper and cut out threat from long, high ball in behind, or through balls to attackers.
Weaknesses
A sweeper may leave opposition who are goal side of defenders in an onside position.
Lack of width in a 3 man midfield.
Can fatigue fullbacks who are asked to cover a lot of ground up and down the flank.
Can be difficult to get numbers forward in attack.
Requirements
Fast, athletic full backs who have a very high level of stamina and endurance. The fullback is asked to fulfill the role of defender and midfielder over the course of the game in order to provide the team with enough width.
Defenders who have the pace and awareness to cover behind wide if a full back is caught high and the team lose possession.
Midfielders with the ability to win the ball and pass for possession.

Rohr claims that the eagles lost because his 5 key players did not play, technocrats would fault that. There are times teams play two matches in a week in Europe. There are times they even play three games in one week. If the Eagles had a match about three days from the encounter with Madagascar one could appreciate his fears to avoid injuries or burn-out of the players. But even if that was the case, dropping five regulars was indefensible. In a tournament like the Nations Cup, players get better with matches. You have players from different clubs who have probably been together for about three weeks or one month. They blend more with matches. What Rohr did was to break the rhythm or momentum. But he has never impressed in terms of match planning and reading. The weekend the ongoing Nations Cup started, I wrote here that I hoped he would make up for his Russia 2018 World Cup blunders. There were flaws I saw in their friendly matches which were not corrected before the World Cup started and I said the Eagles should be celebrated if they reached the second round. They did not. I knew it would be difficult. They could not play as a unit defensively and offensively. Again, Rohr appeared overwhelmed in the match against Argentina and could not read the game to make the right changes. At a time Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa were completely burnt out and were no longer running. Rohr allowed them until Argentina scored the winning goal and he moved to make changes two minutes to time. After we lost to Madagascar, Odion Ighalo, our top striker, complained that he was not getting enough supplies. That wouldn’t have been so if they were collective in their approach. It’s the same problem I pointed out before the World Cup. But I don’t want to delve in the past. We play Cameroon today in the round of 16. They are a strong football country, the first African country to reach quarter-finals of a World Cup tournament which they set in Italia ’90. They beat the defending champions, Argentina playing Diego Maradona and only lost to England in a penalty shootout. They have a stronger and richer football history than Nigeria, having won the Nations Cup more times than Nigeria. Three of the five times they won the African Cup were against Nigeria in the final. It is always interesting to recall history or past meetings in games but what matters is current form. You may argue that the Cameroon we saw in the first round in Egypt looked stronger than the Eagles, especially after the awful outing against Madagascar. When we beat Burundi 1-0 and Madagascar played 2-2 with Guinea, I told Christian Chukwu who has been monitoring the games in Egypt from his London hospital that the standard Guinea and Madagascar displayed was higher than what I saw of Eagles and Burundi. I was disappointed we lost to Madagascar, but I was not surprised going by their game against Guinea. Does Genort Rohr monitor opponents? I hope he has watched the matches of the Indomitable Lions in the ongoing games in Egypt. I saw in them a very strong, physical side with a lot of pace. They run, and they are quick. They move almost with the pace of the ball. But they lack the finesse Eagles have in passing the ball. They also come short of the Eagles in individual skills. The Eagles made a lot of wrong passes in the game against Madagascar, something I attribute to the discord that resulted from the changes Rohr made. He was wrong. Can he get it right against Cameroon? He has his game plan. I wish it works for us. But based on what we saw of Cameroon, Eagles could be outrun and physically overwhelmed if they don’t play many players behind the ball so that Cameroon would not find space to use. Having many players behind the ball will create room for a passing game and breakaways. If they leave space between the midfielders and defenders, the game may even be over for us in the first half. Cameroon could muscle them. But when they have many players behind the ball and many players around the ball when necessary, they can beat Cameroon. In attacking, they should be collective, and that’s what having players around the ball when attacking creates. I’m not their coach. I make these points based on what I saw of the two teams in this tournament. I recommend the Cameroon/Benin Republic match to Rohr to watch and to see how Benin, without high-quality players but with good tactical play, withstood Cameroon. Cameroon’s coach, Clarence Seedorf even gave credit to the bench of Benin for shutting every space in their area. This piece was written before their match against Morocco last night. But they are a team with quality coaching. Rohr has the players to beat Cameroon, but I can’t vouch for his tactics. And I hardly see him passing instructions to the players other than urging them on to keep up the tempo without specific instructions on how to do that. I wish all that could change today for us to move on. Goodluck Nigeria.

Wonderful analysis

Oh boy you too the words out of my mouth, nigeria does not need a foreign coach.

The injury of Ghana skipper Andre Ayew will not make Cameroon complacent when the Indomitable Lions taken on the Black Stars according to head coach Clarance Seedorf.

The influential Ghana skipper has not trained for two days after sustaining an injury during their clash with Benin.

Ayew was forced out of the game after picking a knock on his ankle and has not trained since Tuesday, a worrying situation for the Black Stars.

But Seedorf believes Ghana have quality to be dangerous and the possibility of Andre Ayew not playing could even be dangerous for his side.

“Andre Ayew us an important player for Ghana but if he doesn’t play, that will not make lose focus.

“We’re keen on qualifying to the next stage by topping the group because it feels good to be top,” he said.

Cameroon, however, are also sweating over the fitness of skipper Eric Choppo-Moting who also failed to train with the side on Thursday.

Nigeria have one of the most potent attacks in African football but have struggled to score goals at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, netting twice in two matches.

Kenneth Omeruo who has become such an important player for the Super Eagles in Egypt scored off a corner kick to hand the three-time African champions a slender 1-0 win against Guinea on Wednesday.

Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi tested the goalkeeper from outside the box on two occasions while Oghenekaro Etebo and Odion Ighalo also had opportunities to break the deadlock before the game-winning goal from the Chelsea defender.

''I am not worried about the level of our attack because we had other opportunities to score. We had two nice opportunities to open the scoring in the first half,'' Rohr told reporters on Wednesday.

''If you remember our first goal (scored by Ighalo), it was for me one of the most beautiful goals in the tournament, the goal we scored the other day against Burundi, it was prepared.

''Against Guinea we scored from a set-piece, it's good for a coach to know that we can also score from set-pieces and corners. In the past we conceded goals from corners, if now we can score goals from corners I am very happy.''

The Super Eagles returned to the training pitch on Thursday to begin preparations for their next game against Madagascar.

If Nigeria's coach does not rest his midfielders (Eetebo, Iwobi) against Madagascar, Nigeria will have problems in the knock-out round.

The deal is worth £50m and the 21-year-old England Under-21 international is set to travel for a medical imminently before going on holiday.


United have offered Wan-Bissaka a long-term contract and wages of up to £80,000 a week.

He is on £10,000 a week at Selhurst Park, the lowest-paid player in Palace's first-team squad.


Wan-Bissaka, who has been on international duty this month at the European Under-21 Championship, joined Crystal Palace academy when he was 11 and made his first-team debut in 2018.


United would pay £45m up front, which would make him the Old Trafford club's fifth-biggest signing, behind Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Angel di Maria and Fred.

A sticking point in negotiations was the 25% sell-on clause that United inserted into Wilfried Zaha's contract when they sold the winger back to Palace for £6m in February 2015.

The Eagles wanted the clause removed or reduced, but United eventually refused - based on the low fee they received four years ago - and it will remain in place.



If the deal is completed, Wan-Bissaka will be United's second summer arrival, after 21-year-old Wales winger Daniel James joined from Swansea for £15m earlier in June.

my brother do not mind those making silly statements to you, WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IS THE OBVIOUS TRUTH, BUT SACKING THE COACH NOW IS NOT THE BEST THING.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) have expelled midfielder Amr Warda from the national team squad for behavioural reasons.

Warda was initially called up to the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad after an outstanding season with Greek champions PAOK.

However, the 25-year-old has been recently involved in a series of online harassment allegations after Egypt’s opening game in AFCON against Zimbabwe.

The reason behind the EFA’s decision is that they want to maintain discipline and commitment within the team according to their statement.

Egypt’s reduced 22-man squad will face DR Congo in their second game in Group A as the Pharaohs look to get a step closer to AFCON’s knockout stages.

NIGERIA VS GUINEA PLAYER RATINGS.


Goalkeeper

Daniel Akpeyi: HE HAD VERY FEW SAVES TO MAKE AND WAS COMPOSED WHEN CALLED INTO ACTION.
8/10.

Defenders

Chidozie Awaziem : HE PLAYED ON THE RIGHTWING. HE WAS ASSISTED BY SIMON MOSES WHO CAME BACK TO COMPLEMENT THE DEFENCE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HE COMMITED SO MANY FOULS WHICH LED TO FREEKICKS, HE WAS REGULARLY ASSISTED BY SIMON MOSES THE WINGER OPERATING ON HIS FLANK. HE NEVER SUPPORTED THE ATTACK, WITH CROSSES.
5/10.

Ola Aina: HE PLAYED AT LEFT BACK HE HAD A VERY GOOD AND STABLE PERFORMANCE BUT SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE WITH HIS CROSSES.
7/10.

Kenneth Omeruo: HE HARDLY PUT A FOOT WRONG IN THE GAME, HE COVERED FOR HIS DEFENSIVE PATNER AND SCORED A GOAL TO HELP THE TEAM EARN THE THREE POINTS. 9/10.


Leon Balogun: HIS ARIEL ADVANTAGE WAS CALLED INTO PLAY; HE OUTRAN THE OPPOSITION ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO MAKE INTERCEPTS. HE PUT PRESSURE ON OMERUO WHEN HE WAS OUT OF POSSITION BUT HAD A GOOD GAME. 7/10


Midfielders

Wilfred Ndidi: HE PROVIDED COVER FOR THE BACK FOUR, BROKE THE GUINEANS PLAY AND HE MADE A TERRIBLE TACKLE ON NAIBY KEITA, LUCKY NOT TO BE BOOKED. 7/10

Peter Etebo : HE WAS LUCK NOT TO BE SENT OFF, HE WAS UNABLE
TO KEEP POSSESSION FOR THE SUPEREAGLES FOR LONG PERIODS, HE MADE SOME INTECEPTIONS, LOST THE MIDFIELD BATTLE TO THE GUINEANS, MADE A LOT OF WAYWARD PASSES. 5/10


Alex Iwobi : DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS DEPLOYED IN HIS FAVORITE POSITION (ATTACKING MIDFIELD)HE PREFERRED TO OPERATE FROM THE WINGS, HE FAILED TO MAKE A SINGLE PASS THAT BIT THE OFFSIDE TRAP OF THE GUINEANS, HE LET HIS TEAM GET OUTNUMBERED IN THE MIDFIELD. HENCE THE REASON GUINEANS HAD MORE POSSESION. HE WAS UNABLE TOP HOLD ON POSSESSION FOR LONG PERIODS BUT PROVIDED AN INVALUABLE ATTCAKING OUTLET FOR THE TEAM AND WAS A THREAT TO THE GUINEANS COMPARED THE FORWARDS. 7/10

Ahmed Musa : HE HAS NOT SEEMED TO IMPROVE WITH IS CROSSES FOR THE TEAM AND ALMOST CREATED JUST ONE CHANCE FOR THE TEAM HIS INABLITY TO CROSS THE BALL OR CUT-IN FROM INSIDE TO ACCES THE 18 YARD BOX . HE BARELY HAD A SHOT ON TARGET. HIS WORK RATE WAS HIGH BUT HIS RUNNING AMOUNTED TO NOTHING. HE FAILED TO SUPPLY THE CENTER FORWARD. 4/10.

Moses Simon : HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME ASSISTING AWAZIEM DEFEND THE RIGHT FLANK. HE WAS UNABLE BEAT TWO GUNIEANS IN SUCCESSION AND FAILED TO PROVIDE PIN POINT CROSSES. HE WAS THE BEST SUPER EAGLES FORWARD JUDGING BY HIS WORKRATE AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEFENCE. HE PROVIDED THE ASSIST TO THE GOAL. 6/10.

Odion Ighalo : HE WAS NOT APTLY SUPPLIED WITH BALL IN THE BOX, FAILED TO DRIBBLE A FOOTBALLER AND SHOOT FROM INSIDE THE BOX . FAILED TO BEAT A MAN INSIDE THE BOX. MADE A POOR CHOICE DURING THE MATCH, BY SHOOT FROM A TIGHT ANGLE INSTEAD OF SQUARING A PASS. WAS INVISIBLE IN THE SECOND HALF.HE WAS LEFT ON THE PITCH FOR FAR TOO LONG. 5/10

The Substitutes

Samuel Chukwueze : SURPRISINGLY BROUGHT IN TO REPLACE IWOBI, INSTEAD OF AHMED MUSA. RATING NOT AVAILABLY

Samuel Kalu : CAME IN SO LATE. RATING NOT AVAILABLE

Paul Onuachu. REPLACED IGHALO LATE IN THE GAME. RATING NOT AVAILABLE.