₦airaland Forum

I want us to meet Morocco again at the next AFCON, but this time without the same washed up players like Ajayi, Simon and Moses in our future line up...let's see the likes of Benjamin, Azeez, Zadok ,Bewene etc in that battle.

Vini jnr showing what it means to step up! Beautiful goal. Now let's play some Samba!

WTF is wrong with Brazil, this is lethargically bad

TheSuperNerd:
This Moroccan side is dangerous in quick transitions!!!

They could not even score us at home in the Afcon with bad refereeing too ooo but here they have stunned Brazil!!!

Saibari as a #9 by Ouahbi could be one of his best tactical changes to this Moroccan side.

Senegal clocked their style of football and use good old African gidigbo physical football to outmatch them, something we failed to do.

Brazil really bad tbh, that midfield just isn't good enough.

The hate watch on Morocco fit no work cause unlike South Africa, Morocco is a very good team capable of beating Brazil.

Nomyth:
But the Americans never did such when they hosted in 94.

What changed?

Perhaps the need for them to impose themselves more that USA is a rising force in football (could also be a political statement). Back in '94 nobody regarded USA as a reckoning force in football so expectations weren't the same.

Nomyth:
I wonder my brother.

Players have been taking fluids during the match at anytime they feel like, I wonder why they hv to create a special session for that.

Na their game sha.

It's all a way to introduce the American system of doing commercials via "hydration breaks " for their various brand endorsements like they do in the NFL. Since America are the major financiers of this tournament, the other Co-hosts allowed them do it their way.

AndSunGorilla:
100% but the US is playing hig octane gengen press. Engine go knock after a couple of games.

This US team I'm seeing will make it far o, they are very solid.

AndSunGorilla:
Balogun with a goal. He had scored one that was disallowed as offside. The US is playing with too much energy and urgency, I doubt it can be sustained throughout the tonight.

Paraguay are utterly toothless, this can easily be a 4-0 drubbing if the USA are more clinical.

USA look really good under Poch, beautiful football on display from them.

TheSuperNerd:
Elyte89.... I dedicate this post to you.

DR Congo national team go viral after arriving for the 2026 World Cup wearing custom suits with leopard-print accents. 🇨🇩🐆🔥 pic.twitter.com/j254gLt54T

— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) June 12, 2026

I can't even hate on this lol

Omo this world cup no be child's play o, Canada denied Thomas Partey access to their country due to his pending case of rape charges.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2065479786869268636?s=20

Sugarboyy:
These people are just underrating that Fernandez. Someone that's so calm with the ball on his feet, very good aerially and hardly make mistakes. Fernandez might ends up playing for a bigger club before even Bassey

💯

TheSuperNerd:
I enjoyed the discussion on Semi Ajayi.

Team A saying Ajayi is limited make fine points.

Team B saying Ajayi is still valuable because of his experience are not wrong either.

Truth is, we have to admit that to see the Super Eagles at her very very very best, we need our BEST OF THE BEST on the field and restricting the discussion to the defence alone, we know who the Best are in defence.

But with that said, I would like us to understand that Chelle is being strategic with the defence's synergy. In Benjamin's absence, Ajayi proved to be a capable partner for Bassey at Africa's biggest tournament of stars, THE AFCON. Yes, a few moments of lapse vs Morocco but he recovered and finished strong. He brought that tournament experience to full bear and his experience across board from partnering Ekong in 2- and 3-man defence setups to partnering Bassey at the last Afcon make him quite invaluable due to his synergy and chemistry with the rest of the backline. His experience makes him quite adaptable.

Now how do you expect Chelle to hastily dump a CB of that experience and worth in terms of chemistry with the others? Ajayi's Top Class Afcon showing was just couple months back. He also helped Hull to EPL promotion recently.


Look, in time, Ajayi will be phased out and thanks goodness we have ready made upgrades already on ground in Nwaiwu and even Fernandez but it is also fact that they are "new" (plus Benjy's absence) that has made Chelle persist with Team Chemistry for now over shiny new toys (Upgrades) who need a bit more time to still blend in.

Chelle will keep inviting Ajayi for now especially ahead of the September/October AfconQs window. And with Benjamin also making his long expected return alongside Aina and Osayi as well, we will be back to our fullest strength at the back.

Ajayi's time is almost up and Chelle knows this but before it hits closure, Chelle will keep extracting what he can from Ajayi's experience for tactical and chemisry balance at the back.

Cheers all.... both teams debated well... and you are both right. The only difference is Ajayi's time is just not yet up.

Thank you. 🔚

School us Prof, we're your humble students

You said it all boss, talk of putting the cap on the bottle.

mostob:
Akpoguma, Torunarigha (or wetin dem dey call am)
Na so we dey hype this two then. Dem put the former for match, Akpoguma turned to Akpors. From 4-0, we drew 4-4. Not to Germany or France or Brazil o. Against Sierra Leone. Now, I'm not heaping the whole blame on Akpors.
In short, the new guys need to come in and show their worth (like Ben) before ranking them ahead of the current players.

You're harsh on Torunarigha, he never really got enough opportunities with the NT, he still plays at the top level for Hamburger so I don't know why he is yet to get a real chance till date...Akpoguma was just an odd player, always had a decent club showing but looked out of sorts in the NT.

The new guys are showing their worth, Nwaiwu has won a unity cup in his debut, won a league cup at his club and is being courted by Borussia Dortmund so his ceiling is obviously high. Fernandez was recently voted the best player for Rangers fc, and has not put in a wrong foot in his appearances for Nigeria so far. I'm willing to take my chances on the younger generation, they have a higher ceiling and better learning curve...you can't teach an old dog new tricks and that's why Ekong got the hint and retired before football left him.

Mujtahida:
Why will it shock me? What have we not seen in football. The point is that as it stands Ajayi is number 3 despite his limitations. This does not negate the fact that he can be pushed down the pecking order by any of the other CB options.

The algorithm of recently played games will beg to differ, Ajayi more often than not just comes off the bench to close out a game with his experience...i doubt he will consistently be a starter for us.

forgiveness:
Benjamin played in the second match at the unity game which happened to his debut but was benched in the final whichhappenedto be the next match. That doesn't show sequence as you claimed. Ajayi still played in that same final. Was Benjamin not fit for the next match?

Ajayi was not available in the next match which happened to be the qualifiers because he wasn't playing games for his club. EOD.

If they not in the same age gap, why are you claiming Benjamin is above Ajayi?

Who is weird now?

This is why you should stick to actually getting your facts right first before rushing to engage your fingers just because you want to drop bangers. We played only two games at the unity cup, the first one was vs Ghana in which Ajayi paired with Ogbu as CBs, and the second one which was the final against Jamaica where Benjamin paired with Ogbu...this was the game that Felix Agu and Benjamin Frederick got introduced as the exciting prospects so wetin you dey yarn .

Ajayi has been stuck in the championship for years until recently when his club gained promotion...fair play to him for finally getting a chance to play in the prem, Benjamin on the other hand is back to first team at Brentford...make if this information as you wish.

I never claimed Benjamin is above Ajayi, that's you trying to project on me but I jump am pass. The whole premise of my submission is that Benjamin has more upsides to his game compared to Ajayi and this isn't even on the basis on who is younger or older...Benjamin can defend, is more versatile (he can play as a DM, CB and RB), he is a superb ball playing defender (Benjamin embodies the type of modern day player every manager will jump at every opportunity to have in his team), it's left for him to stay disciplined and continue to work hard.

Ajayi is a good defender, but he is limited in the sense that he lacks ball playing abilities and will always struggle badly against high pressing teams...he can get away with his limitations against teams like Sao Tome or Nambia, but against top draw teams? that will be suicidal.

Mujtahida:
You are mistaken. The order for the CBs is Bassey, Benjamin, Ajayi and then the rest.

E go shock you when Fernandez shuts down your hierarchy.

forgiveness:
You lack comprehension skills or you are deliberately twisting my point.

At no point did I say Ajayi was the reason Benjamin didn't play CB against Congo. The point is, Ajayi played even when Benjamin was fit. EOD.

Eelopa submission lacks substance. It can't stand the test of truth. He was prejudiced in his submission because we saw Ajayi thread the ball forward many times. Na only agenda people go come here they lie. Infact, Ajayi loves doing that alone. Watch match.

Benjamin is better in recovery because he is young and pacy while Ajayi is getting older and slower.

Ambrose better pass Aina for that in Green white green. Osimhen is better because of APOTY. Spot the difference.

At the highlighted, bros do mind throwing more light on these games Ajayi played when Benjamin was fit? are you aware Benjamin only made his debut in the previous unity cup and literally walked into the starting XI and started benching a whole Ekong who was captain? and went on to play in almost all the high stake world cup qualifier games afterwards? Ajayi was never in competition with Benjamin cause they aren't even in the same age gap and belong to different generations, so that assertion of yours is weird.

Benjamin is the reason why Ekong realized his best days were behind and did the honorable thing by retiring...

Napoleon55:


I wonder who you dey refers to as football novices, certainly not Elder Kog45,baba Forgiveness, or even me.

Abi you just manage watch two AFCON editions,and you automatically turn to football aficionado.

My chairman abeg make una no vex, I extend my apologies to my ogas whom I might have unwittingly disrespected with my choice of word. I shouldn't have used the word novice and I take it back 🙏🏿

forgiveness:
Which one? The one Ronald missed with his head?

Or the one the ball went behind CR7? Which one?

No, you have one more chance to re-watch all of Ronaldo's misses to spot the incident I'm talking about...

Hint: The said incident starts from 0.28, observe very closely the defender who ball watched as a simple cross that was within his reach of interception somehow found it's way to CR7.

Ronaldo first half misses 😭😭😭😭😭

All these in just one half 😭 pic.twitter.com/3dOXPniK1k

— Otiga 🇦🇷 (@Otti129) June 10, 2026

chrisooblog:
Ajayi is a solid CB that still years to offer in the SE not doubt.

That said I think you're engaging in a bit of historic revisionism.

Benjamin played in the RB position because Osayi was shaky in that position in the prior games we played and the coaching crew felt since it's Congo who don't carry so much of a threat and Ajayi not being a liability in the defense we should be able to cope.

Benjamin mind you was benching even Ekong so it wasn't so much if Ajayi was figuring for his club but who was the best in that CB role.

When everybody is fit Benjamin is a starter.

Ajayi is solid backup but Fredricks is better.

For example Akor is a good striker and solid player but if I have to choose between him and Osimhen to start bros na Victor all the way.

It's refreshing to see we still have sound minds on this forum who are up to speed with their facts and knowledge...I gave up on that dude when he asked me why Chelle started Benjamin as a RB against DRC and Ajayi as the CB pairing to Bassey (thought he scored a gotcha point with his warped logic)...I'm glad you brought up the Osayi conundrum as a RB in that playoff game vs Gabon where he was so lucky not to have even conceded a penalty to Gabon (VAR saved our blushes and fear in that incident). It was due to how badly Osayi struggled in that game that Chelle had to take a leap of faith with Benjamin (who isn't even a RB), yet Benjamin delivered a monstrous performance and ran his legs to the ground against a rampaging DRC attack, all the while playing in an unfamiliar position.

Nobody has an agenda against Ajayi, if anything several fans have always admired the aerial advantage and calm he brings to the defence, but just like Ekong he is simply very limited as a ball playing defender and that is one important quality every defender needs in the modern game, that's why top teams like Man city, PSG, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern etc have been very successful. The semi-final game against Morocco really exposed this theory, we saw how Bassey single-handedly bombed forward with the ball and tried to beat the press from the Moroccans by trying to build up from the back with passes through the channels...Ajayi on thr other hand just kept hoofing the ball aimlessly and conceding possession to the Moroccans simply because he lacked the ability to counter-press with his glaring lack of ball playing abilities. Bassey was doing the job of defending and attacking at the same time, and that was why he earned an MVP rating in that game cause he was a one-man machine...if he had a player like Benjamin pairing him in that game, the outcome would most likely have been different.

I encourage the novices here to watch the performances of Benjamin when he paired with Bassey against Lesotho, South Africa, Rwanda, Benin republic, and Gabon...watch how pleasing it looked to see us play the ball on the ground and build up so delightfully from defence to attack.

EElopa:
Some of you guys can't seem to understand that there are levels to football. If Nigeria's Super Eagles are serious about winning the AFCON or perhaps making a deep run in the 2030 World Cup, a player like Semi Ajayi needs to be weeded out of the team. I have nothing against Semi Ajayi; he has represented his country well and, to be honest with you, has performed better than significantly more talented players in that position. There are levels to this game, mate. Did you even watch the South Korea game yesterday? Did you not see how every single South Korean player on that team was completely comfortable on the ball and could run and advance with the ball and how they all could thread the ball comfortably to the midfielders without aimlessly booting the ball down the field? Semi Ajayi is not a ball-playing defender, and every time he gets the ball, he simply does not have the ability to comfortably carry the ball and thread in a pass to a midfielder. Go back and watch Nigeria vs. Morocco and see how the Moroccan coach specifically tasked his players to press hard against Nigeria every time the ball goes to Semi Ajayi. Benjamin Fedricks, Emmnuel Fernandez, and Chibuike Nwaiwu are ball-playing defenders. These are the kind of players that take a team to a different level because they can advance with the ball and they can thread a pass to a midfielder in behind a hard press. This is the reason Emmanuel Fernandes is attracting interest from Dortmund; Benjamin Fredricks will soon be a starter at Brentford and Bayer. Laverkusen submitted 20 million euros for Nwaiwu, which Trabzonspor rejected. Seyi Ajayi has done well for Nigeria, but he is a limited player, and there are levels to this game, mate. If Nigeria wants to get back to the levels we were in in the 90s, players like Semi Ajayi and Sanusi should be thanked for their services and retired from the national team. Good guys but are simply limited players.

You said it all, I'm tired of breaking it down for this football novices that pointing out Ajayi's glaring limitations which you brilliantly elucidated isn't a campaign against his outstanding service to Nigeria...thanks for taking your time to deliver this submission cause I no get power to dey explain.

forgiveness:
Are you talking about this cross? Who was the player that was nearest to the crosser?

Who was closer between Ajayi and Akpan?

Where was Bassey?

Na lie full una mouth.

You just singled out Ajayi out of 4 players. Wow!!!

Goalkeeper self mess up. Him for run out.

I'm not talking about this one...

Kog45:
Oga so to you Ogbu,Fernadez and Nwaiwu are ahead of Ajayi?Oga you do not rate Ajayi simple,we have players some of us don't rate here....are you talking about another Ajayi abi no be the same Ajayi that paired Bassey during Afcon.....

Stop it,Ajayi and Bassey are billed to start Portugal match,forget Ogbu injury

Right now Fernandez is ahead of Ajayi
Maybe not Ogbu but Nwaiwu is definitely going to displace him soon...now when Benjamin Frederick returns, both of us know what that means for Ajayi.

forgiveness:
You don't know football. Besides, that ball didn't evade him, rather it frozen Bassey and the LB. Watch ball deviod of bias.

The same Ajayi intercepted a ball through pass to CR7. Didn't you see that? Na only one inconsequential one you dey see.

You too dey yarn nonsense, ogbeni go and watch the replay of the cross and CR7 miss again, observe the defender who froze in his tracks and let the ball somehow evade him when he was in a better position to intercept the ball before it landed in CR7's path...except all of us are blind not to have seen it was Ajayi who messed up there, then I don't know what else to tell you.

I

forgiveness:
Which Ajayi was rusty against Portugal? Most of you watch faball through bias or sentiment which is clouding your judgment.

Dude played well against Portugal. His interception, clearance etc were obvious for all eyes to see.

Benjamin and Fernandez does not possess the experience Ajayi possess currently. Do you thing they will fare well in a competitive tournament like AFCON? Time will tell.

Besides, the 2 goals we conceded has nothing to do with Ajayi. All had to do with the RB and LB. So make you na stop this joke of giving a dog bad name to hang it. Na lie.

The RB was Akpan... and yes he had a very nervy game because Chella threw him into the thick of battle against a world class team so we can cut the kid some slack (not every debutant has the calm and composure of a Bewene), our LB was Zaidu, who has no business making the team.

Lmao Oga, if Benjamin Fredrick was fit you and I know Ajayi won't smell that starting XI under Chelle, and you can bet your two kidneys that the same Benjamin who is back with Brentford will definitely send Ajayi back to the bench once he's back for the September AFCON qualifiers. You talk of experience? Benjamin Frederick literally announced himself in a big way during the last unity cup and went on to have MOTM performances in those tough qualifiers we played that saw us make the playoffs, while your Ajayi was subpar against DR Congo, Benjamin who was played out of his natural position still outperformed him and even had to clean up some of the mistakes Ajayi made, so which yeye experience nonsense are you talking about?

I like Ajayi and think he has earned his stripes as one of our reliable defenders over the years, but right now if we go by the pecking order of our CBs at least under Chelle> it will easily be Bassey, Benjamin Fredrick, Fernandez, Igoh Ogbu, Nwaiwu and then Ajayi. The only reason Ajayi even played that Portugal game was because Ogbu was injured and Fernandez had a slight groin injury.

Sugarboyy:
So you think these Japan and S/Korea that you mentioned won't be scared playing Nigeria?
Yes, Portugal dominated the SE without Osimhen, Lookman and with a debutant and inexperienced right back, why they had their full squad. Did you watched how Portugal totally dominated Chile? Or you think just the presence of a player like Osimhen wouldn't have changed a narrative in the match?

I don't know why this is so hard for these people to grasp, the absence of one or two top level players significantly affects the dynamics of a game...if we had Felix Agu, Aina, Nwabali, Osimhen, Lookman, Benjamin, Nwaiwu and even Femi Azeez...our odds of converting those chances Akor, Chukwueze and Moffi missed would have been higher. The presence of these aforementioned players would have made that game more cagey and competitive...the fact that we didn't field our best backline (Akpan was too green, Zaidu is not good enough to be our starting LB, Ajayi was rusty and is behind Benjamin and Fernandez in the order now) yet limited a world class Portuguese attack to shots outside of our box actually shows we did better than expected.

oloriooko:
when was this posted?
If Eric is leaving then it's a confirmation of what i've always said: NFF is the problem of our football and 9ja football may never see progress again

It was posted yesterday, check his IG...not sure what to make of that post cause it seemed ambiguous.

Eric Chelle posted this on his Instagram account, hope it's not what I'm thinking sha?

TheSuperNerd:
The best player Mexico brought to this World Cup is on the bench and he is only 17yrs old. Gilberto Mora.

If he steps in, you go see ball.

Mora? That kid is good abeg