BlackAlbino6:
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4 Reasons Home Eagles Failed In Rwanda
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Comple tesportsnigeria.com's ADEBOYE AMOSU who is still covering the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda, highlights four key factors that militated against the Home Eagles' progress in the competition, and a consequent failure to go beyond the group stage.


1. Lack Of Motivation
The home-based Super Eagles started their campaign at the African Nations Championship on an impressive note, mauling Niger 4-1. Not long after that, the players started complaining about the poor treatment meted out on them by their officials despite assurances by sports minister, Solomon Dalung that they would soon be paid all their outstanding allowances and bonuses.


For the players, who had the same experience at their respective clubs last season where they were owed for several months, it was another pill to swallow.


Majority of the players were in a sad mood on the eve of their last game against Guinea as they complained bitterly once again, and that reflected on their performance as they put up their worst performance in the three games they played at the 2016 CHAN.


2. Failure Of Key Players To Turn Up
The loss of form of some key members of the squad really affected the team in Rwanda. In defence, Jamiu Alimi was totally awful in the first game against Tunisia and it was a surprise he earned a recall into he side in the last game against Guinea.


The highly rated Paul Onobi was by far the biggest flop in the competition. His sluggish play in the midfield led to the two goals the Eagles conceded in the games against Tunisia and Guinea.


Enterprising Enyimba winger, Ezekiel Bassey struggled to replicate his old form in training and was never trusted to start a game, while forward, Tunde Adeniji also flopped.


3. Lack Of International Experience
The fact that majority of the players are playing in their first competition also affected their performance. Only the two goalkeepers; Femi Thomas and Ikechukwu Ezenwa who were part of Nigeria's U-20 squad to the World Cup in Canada in 2007, and Ifeanyi Matthew have played in an international competition in the past.


It showed in their performance in the first game against Niger where they struggled for most of the first half and the last game against Guinea where they needed just a point to qualify for the quarter-finals, and they threw everything away.


4. Coach's Inexperience
Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh's inexperience was one of the biggest factors why the Eagles failed to make it beyond the group stage in Rwanda. A more experienced tactician would have fashioned out a conservative approach that would have helped the team pick a point in their last Group C match against Guinea.


Instead, Oliseh's team went all out attacking and lost the game in the end.


Also, Oliseh's decision to start Jamiu Alimi instead of Kalu Orji in the last game against Guinea was a surprise to many. Orji helped stabilise the defence after coming on as a substitute in the Eagles' first two games, but he was left on the bench in the game against Guinea.


The coach also persevered with players like Paul Onobi and skipper Chima Akas when it was obvious there were better options on the bench.
www.completesportsnigeria.com/4-reasons-home-eagles-failed-in-rwanda/
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BlackAlbino6:
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Wenger: “Clever” Iwobi Should Play For England, Not Nigeria
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By Izuchukwu Okosi:
Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi should be playing for England’s Three Lions and not the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said.


Iwobi was in action for Arsenal on Saturday in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Burnley and Wenger was impressed with the 19-year-old’s performance and believes he is a talent that got away from England’s grasps.


Iwobi pledged his future to Nigeria and has been capped twice by Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh after representing England at U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels.


“I think he’s one England have missed because he plays for Nigeria now,” Wenger told the Guardian. “He should play for England. I don’t think he has played in a competitive game for Nigeria.”


Wenger then revealed he deliberately stopped Iwobi from representing Nigeria last year at the U-23 level.


He added: “I remember I turned him down for an U-23 tournament. But then Nigeria called him up for the first team to force him to go.


“I think he has shown everybody that he is a good football player, again. I find him personally very interesting.”


Wenger went on to praise the youngster, who was brilliant against Burnley on Saturday.
It was Iwobi’s third start and eighth appearance for the club – all of them this season – and Wenger gave a glowing assessment of his game.


“His decision-making is spot on and his awareness is very interesting,” Wenger added. “He’s a boy who, two years ago, not many would have said: ‘This will be.’ He develops very well. He’s very clever. I like the timing and the quality of his decision-making.


He always turns where you want him to turn and he plays the ball where you want him to play the ball. He’s very interesting.”
www.completesportsnigeria.com/wenger-clever-iwobi-should-play-for-england-not-nigeria/
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TheGoodJoe:


The analyst last point is terribly wrong. He obviously did not watch the game. What killed the Super Eagles team as a conservative approach to get a draw. It was a ridiculous approach.

We met a team we could crush and Coach Oliseh chose to "Sit Back And Let Them Have The Ball." That is the exact phrase Coach Oliseh used as a pundit during the AFCON final game Coach Keshi won.

We let the ball and made Guinea look like Germany. It was after we conceded Coach Oliseh switched the tactics. We pressed and outplayed the Guineans for the rest of the game but the goal did not come.

Coach Oliseh should kill that conservative football and go to crush his opponents. Look at what Zidane is doing with Real Madrid. As long as a coach learns to make his team attack with force, results will go your way.

krattoss:
i personally think nff should be giving credit for this one.. cap these young stars for future use.

BlackAlbino6:



But this part of the point 4 stands right?

"Also, Oliseh's decision to start Jamiu Alimi instead of Kalu Orji in the last game against Guinea was a surprise to many. Orji helped stabilise the defence after coming on as a substitute in the Eagles' first two games, but he was left on the bench in the game against Guinea.


The coach also persevered with players like Paul Onobi and skipper Chima Akas when it was obvious there were better options on the bench".

Also I don't know why he preferred Prince Aggreh ahead of Eze dubed the Nigerian Hazard? When it obvious that Prince was highly ineffectual.

BlackAlbino6:
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Wenger: “Clever” Iwobi Should Play For England, Not Nigeria
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By Izuchukwu Okosi:
Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi should be playing for England’s Three Lions and not the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said.


Iwobi was in action for Arsenal on Saturday in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Burnley and Wenger was impressed with the 19-year-old’s performance and believes he is a talent that got away from England’s grasps.


Iwobi pledged his future to Nigeria and has been capped twice by Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh after representing England at U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels.


“I think he’s one England have missed because he plays for Nigeria now,” Wenger told the Guardian. “He should play for England. I don’t think he has played in a competitive game for Nigeria.”


Wenger then revealed he deliberately stopped Iwobi from representing Nigeria last year at the U-23 level.


He added: “I remember I turned him down for an U-23 tournament. But then Nigeria called him up for the first team to force him to go.


“I think he has shown everybody that he is a good football player, again. I find him personally very interesting.”


Wenger went on to praise the youngster, who was brilliant against Burnley on Saturday.
It was Iwobi’s third start and eighth appearance for the club – all of them this season – and Wenger gave a glowing assessment of his game.


“His decision-making is spot on and his awareness is very interesting,” Wenger added. “He’s a boy who, two years ago, not many would have said: ‘This will be.’ He develops very well. He’s very clever. I like the timing and the quality of his decision-making.


He always turns where you want him to turn and he plays the ball where you want him to play the ball. He’s very interesting.”
www.completesportsnigeria.com/wenger-clever-iwobi-should-play-for-england-not-nigeria/
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krattoss:
I can't wait to see musa in epl...

abeg he should kukuma sign for any English club before the transfer closes

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Manchester City register Iheanacho for Champions League
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Manchester City Striker Kelechi Iheanacho


Nigeria youth prodigy Kelechi Iheanacho has been rewarded with a place in the UEFA Champions League squad by Manchester City following his impressive performances for the EPL club.


Iheanacho, who netted a treble weekend in a cup game against Aston Villa at the Villa Park, has replaced recuperating Samir Nasri in a 25-man squad submitted by Manuel Pellegrini.


"Yes, he (Iheanacho) will be in the squad,” said Pellegrini on Kelechi's inclusion in the Champions League squad.


“I have decided that. I told Samir Nasri I will take him out from the Champions League list because he needs two more months to be fit.


“We need Kelechi, because with Wilfried Bony injured, we cannot afford any risks if Kun [Sergio Aguero] is injured.


“So, we need Kelechi in the squad.


“It was not a difficult decision, but it's always difficult to tell a player he will not continue in the selections.


“But I think Samir understood. He has already been injured for three months and he understands."


Nasri has been out of action with a hamstring injury for three months.

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Abiola Dauda joins Oshaniwa at Scottish club Hearts
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[img]http://africanfootball.com//bp_images/2016/02/^1ACCC0917C4905147C4295D12B760F902676B344E80AF029D9^pimgpsh_fullsize_distr.jpg[/img]
Striker Abiola Dauda has joined fellow Nigerian Juwon Oshaniwa at Scottish club Hearts on transfer deadline day.


Dauda, 27, moves to Scotland from Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem on loan until the end of the season.


Hearts, who returned to the Scottish top league this season, are third on the table with 41 points from 23 matches.


They are 14 points adrift of champions and league leaders Celtic.

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Why CSKA stopped Ahmed Musa from EPL move
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Ahmed Musa in action for CSK

Top Russian club CSKA Moscow refused to sell Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa this winter transfer window despite interest from EPL clubs Manchester United and league leaders Leicester City because they still need him.


It was reported Leicester had several bids turned down by the Russian army club.


It has now been gathered that CSKA want to keep him to help them shine in major competitions at least till the end of the season.


"Ahmed Musa was not be sold by CSKA this winter because they want to do well in the competitions they are in. He is a very important player for them, may be they will allow him move when the season ends," a source disclosed.


Ahmed Musa's contract with CSKA Moscow runs till 2019.


By Olusola Alao