₦airaland Forum

Our best formation and starting XI going with Chelle's preferred 4-4-2 diamond

chrisooblog:
Garba Lawal, Tijani Babangida?

None of them are Fulani...

elyte89:
I doubt ….that would be too “harsh”

I hope so, but the body language of infantino and Motsepe suggests they were not happy about Senegal winning the AFCON during the trophy presentation, won't put it past FIFA to play bad politics here and screw Senegal here.

https://x.com/TouchlineX/status/2013497929244303496?s=20

It seems Senegal might be kicked out of the world cup for staging a walkout during the finals against Morocco, FIFA really want to make an example out of the incident...

Mujtahida:
Curiously you didn't mention Chrisantus Uche for the midfield. Is it that he doesn't fit anywhere in our midfield set up?

By the way, I don't like players like Dele Bashiru who have no clear and defined roles. Much like how several coaches found it hard to deploy Iheanacho towards the twilight of his national team career.

Maybe because many see Christiantus Uche more as a forward than a midfielder.

Kog45:
We're talking football here and I hate anything like agenda or hate...or did you see anyone advocating for Iheanacho prior to Afcon?...I just used Awaziem to buttress my point that anything can happen,yes the team is taking shape and it will be good seeing young talents making the team

The constant here is that the Iheanacho ship has sailed a long time ago, even Awaziem made the AFCON squad only because Benjamin Frederick was injured...our CB depth has already picked itself- Bassey, Benjamin,Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and most likely Chibuike Nwaiwu.

forgiveness:
It is now I know you are not following up. Person wey still play this month. Rafiu and Orban are still coming up. They have not reached Awoniyi level.

So a benchwarmer is good enough for the national team, but 2 young players who are doing well in the Seria A are still coming up? with this logic I can see why our national team is a joke, very nice one bro.

Kog45:
If Awaziem can still be considered as super eagles player that just finished Afcon then don't write Iheanacho off.

And how many games did Awaziem play at the AFCON? Chelle isn't calling up Iheanacho as long as he's coach, so make una dead that agenda.

forgiveness:
What kind of mischievous writeup be dis? How can you compare Awoniyi with Ahmed and Ighalo that has retired?

Has Awoniyi retired? Is he not still playing in EPL?


Who told you those players are better than Awoniyi?

Oga, Awoniyi is too injury prone, when last did he play a game for Nottingham? instead of talking about players like Rafiu, Orban etc na Awoniyi we still dey discuss...abeg!

Joebie:
Bro Iheanacho is truly not old yet

This isn't about age, it's about recycling the same players we've known for years...Iheanacho has always been one of my favorite players but his work rate is poor and we've been through that route already with players with those attributes, no disrespect to senior man but I struggle to see anything new and interesting he can offer us at this point. Sometimes it's just best to close the chapter on certain things.

ChrisKels:
Senegal no be anybody mate for Africa.

E get one of their handle I dey follow for X, na so dem dey showcase crazy young talents especially midfielders every day. And when I check I will find out that those players aren't even part of their senior team yet, I go just dey wish say we dey produce talents in same proportions too.

Generation-Foot and other great academies in their country have really helped them.

Bro they're far ahead of many African countries right now, it's actually crazy.

See what Senegal are building around, small Senegal o! see all the future stars all in their early 20's that will go on to dominate African football and compete against the best in the world soon.. meanwhile some enemies of Nigerian football here are still stuck around Onuachu, Iheanacho and other rubber legs in 2026? haba now, make una fear God o...

Senegal football is in safe hands for years to come

https://twitter.com/RisingStarXI/status/2013011909725876402

Joebie:
Funny I was about to do something similar to this.

I will say Onyedika is a perfect replacement for Ndidi, if not better when not playing against high pressing teams. How about Uche to deputize Onyeka, considering strength and ball carrying abilities.

I think Chukwueze is the closest to Lookman in that role.

At CF, I will say we have solid 3. Onuachu should definitely be in.

I'm not sold on our wingers yet. Moses should be phased out soon.

Una no dey rate Nigeria for this subforum sha, Onuachu as how? Did you watch how ridiculously bad he was vs Egypt in our 3rd place match ...na so another person take mention Iheanacho making a comeback, in 2026? why not then bring back or unretire the likes of Ahmed Musa, Ighalo, Awoniyi and other players who are in the football twilight of their playing careers.. exciting football no dey sweet una otherwise we should be talking about building around Osimhen, Akor and then others like Gift Orban, Rafiu Durosinmi, Philip Otele, Sani Suleman, Njinmah, Femi Azeez, Shola Shoretire and if NFF are serious try court Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha, George Ilenikhena, Emmanuel Emegha and other dual nationals who will elevate our attacking options to a 100... players like Onuachu and Moses Simon should be phased out respectfully in 2026, dem don try.

Moniter0:
may God remember Iheanacho and restore his form. Having an in-form Iheanacho and Lookman for that role behind the two strikers will be a very big boost to the team. Any shot on target from an in-form Iheanacho is goal, plus his defense-splitting and pinpoint passes.

We're talking about the future this one dey drag us back to Iheanacho in 2026! see how serious teams like Senegal, CIV, Morocco, Cameroon, DRC etc are boosting their squad with younger exciting talents and we are seeing the top level football from them, na why we no dey make progress in Nigeria...always recycling deadweights who are already past it, smh.

Omo we need to wake up fast and win one more AFCON, likes of Senegal are fast catching up and it will be a shame if they meet us at 3 AFCON titles and even surpass us...AFCONs 27/28 is a must, we have to win one of those editions otherwise we will become a meme narrative of a team that makes the most semi-finals or finals and never win it.

opes:
I listened to Amaju interview this morning where he said he and Alhaji Gasua discussed with Arsene wenger on the possibility of getting Chelle attached for an internship.

Which channel was this interview conducted? make una dey drop more details, this is good if true sha.

And it finally settles it that Sadio Mane has had a better career than Salah, arguably the better player all things considered.

Senegal needed an option off the bench to change their attacking dynamics, and the coach brought on a 17 year old maestro Ibrahim Mbaye (remember that name) to play the biggest game of in a tense atmosphere against over 80K fans dominated by hostile Moroccan fans...and Ibrahim Mbaye not only changed the dynamics of the game for his team by creating mazy dangerous runs that stretched the Moroccan defence, he also played a role in the build up that led to Senegal's title winning goal.

Where am I going with this? while nations like Senegal are looking forward to the future and put so much faith and hope on the shoulder of a 17 YEAR OLD KID, Nigeria is still wasting time on deadwood players like Simon Moses who has been in this team since 2015 and has given us zero end product, we're still wasting time with loquacious wann!-be comedians like Chukwueze who opened his big mouth while being recorded in the team bus to "jokingly" lambast other players like Bassey etc for putting in their 100% effort for Nigeria when they haven't gotten any bonus money.. a mentality that reflects the typical psyche of the Nigerian- all money and benefits over pride for country and self...meanwhile you're already a multi-millionaire in Nigerian values and should only play for your national team because it's a privilege and not a right...even though I'm not excusing the abysmal mismanagement of funds and other unacceptable acts of negligence by the useless NFF.

It's reasons like this countries like Senegal, CIV, Morocco etc eill continue to gap us until they leave us far behind, very soon Senegal will catch up to our trophy numbers and even surpass us at this rate, ditto Ivory Coast. Ghana will soon get its acts together while we languish in mediocrity.

See how Senegal beat the Moroccan press in that half...move the ball fast and run at them in quick overloads and transitions, we needed runners against them (Ejuke, Chukwueze even Fago ), Onyedika was a BAD choice to replace Ndidi, he dwelled too much on the ball and back-passed a lot when under pressure.

Senegal definitely watched our tactical mistakes and learned from it, though I feel they will tire out at some point and lose this game and title by 1 nil

9JAMac10:
Sunday Oliseh and Daniel Amokachi are a disgrace to ⚽️ commentators. They are lazy, presumptuous and obviously didn't do no research before any of the games they commentated on. Commentators should rather select on merit, forget ex stars who can't do simple assignment not proper research . Will take oliseh over amokachi though

Walahi I thought Daniel Amokachi did better than Oliseh in his commentary stint 🤣

AndSunGorilla:
Dem fit enter boat reach Spain now abi?

Morocco is close to Spain

Goke7:
Most of them will demand your full squad and regulars as a condition for the friendly match. The Russians we played the other day were not happy not seeing osihmen play so some of these desired friendlies may not give us enough opportunities to try new players like we are thinking maybe as subs during the games may suffice

Yeah, but 3-5 new players shouldn't be an issue for any top team that wants us to face our full strength squad, 80% of the players to prosecute the friendly games would be the same established players with the exclusion of Moses Simon who offers nothing at this point.

I hope NFF will get to work now and renew Eric's contract with a view of extension, and then we also need to be in the shopping window ahead of the upcoming international friendly matches, lots of world cup bound teams in Europe and South America will be looking for top African sides to play as a way to size up African teams in their group, and this Nigerian team especially under Chelle will be a beautiful bride for teams looking to play a top ranked side...it will also provide us the opportunity to see newer players like Philip Otele, Durosinmi, Nnadi, Akinsamiro, David Moses, Nwaiwu etc with the established players already.

Abi how you take see am?
Cc: @TheSuperNerd

Meliforme:
You are the one embarassing yourself.

They created more big chances and had more possession.

What hope is their for the NPFL teams and their CHAN twin if their big brothers from Europe needed to go into penalty shootout to win players from Al Ahly, Zamalek, pyramids. With a sound coach, big brother are supposed to flog these guys.

This was how many of you came after me when i complained about Eguavoen and Finidi.

We are yet to land a Grade A coach.

I think I have to end this discussion

Are you aware that the Egyptian team that dominated Africa for decades and won all those 7 titles for Egypt all played for the same Al Ahly, Zamalek and pyramids including their best legends like Hossam, Aboutrika, Mido etc? Bro you're so uninformed that I feel even embarrassed arguing with you sef, e be like to dey argue with football novice who get more pedigree between Arsenal and Burnley LMFAOOO

I think I have to end this discussion[/quote]Ok you win, NFF will get you your grade A coach soon, maybe Eguavoen will do another comeback since he's the anointed Pep Guardiola of Nigeria 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[quote author=Meliforme post=138174823]You are the one embarassing yourself.

They created more big chances and had more possession.

What hope is their for the NPFL teams and their CHAN twin if their big brothers from Europe needed to go into penalty shootout to win players from Al Ahly, Zamalek, pyramids. With a sound coach, big brother are supposed to flog these guys.

This was how many of you came after me when i complained about Eguavoen and Finidi.

We are yet to land a Grade A coach.

LMFAOOO

Meliforme:
Egypt had more possession of the ball and created more big chances.

Eric Chelle did not fully utilise the quality at his call.

Egypt had only ONE shot on target vs our 5 on target. Since you're impressed by ball possession that leads to nothing, we also had more possession against a whole Morocco (host team) but they had 5 shots on twrget against our 1.. so I ask again..so which superiority did the coach show? or you just don't understand how match stats work? Bros no dey embarrass yourself like this...

ThunderFireAgba:
He will be the oldest player in the department during the next World Cup by 2030.

Fortunately Goalkeepers have the most longevity, they get better with age. Arthur Okonkwo will be a perfect understudy for Nwabali.

Meliforme:
The Moroccan coach.
The Egyptian coach.

With the quality in our hands and with a sound coach, we should be the best in Africa.

Egyptian coach showed which superiority? Abi you dey troll?

forgiveness:
I thoug1ht the next one is just next year? Who will replace him?

Make we no dey deceive ourselves for here ooo.

Igoh Ogbu should be replacing Ajayi long-term based on what is expected, but Ajayi has to win something for Nigeria, the Bobo don try abeg...chance to finally win gold as his retirement package could happen in Afcon 2027/28.

Hopefully Chelle builds on this cause we are finally solid in defence and goal keeping, Arthur Okonkwo will join soon as #2 to Nwabali and Benjamin will miss his defensive best friend (Bassey), Ajayi is in his best prime and will provide effective leadership till he retires with a gold trophy in AFCON 27/28 insha Allah.

The foundation already looks good, the only few tweaks needed will be for Chelle to inject new prospects (as he promised) like Durosinmi who will be the next big #9 for us to understudy Osimhen and build a partnership with Akor (who is learning a lot from Osimhen already). We need them as reliable strikers who can hold it down when Osimhen is injured etc

Lastly the North curse seems to be broken under Chelle, we beat every North African team in this tournament except Morocco (arguably the best and most complete team in Africa at the moment) we didn't lose to them in regulation time, it took PKs with all the dodgy officiatings and Chukwueze's gaffe for them to beat us.

I make bold to say that right now, no African team can talk to us on the pitch except for Morocco, Senegal and maybe Ivory Coast.

At least we broke the penalty curse with this win, that's the biggest win for me 😭😂😂😂

Nwabali is a PK MVP, if only our players weren't so shit at penalties we would be at the world cup final playoffs and a AFCON final as bonus...