Blueelf:


He could've saved the first goal

Still not convinced

Our defence looked in total disarray at time

It's obvious we are lacking a commanding CB. Please Ekong should just go to Stanbic IBTC pension managers and collect his pension. HE is done

How do you expect him to save it? To be out of position? He did what his best. I wasn't expecting him to save it. It's only you that's trying to blame him. Chief culprit was Ekong followed by Awaziem for that first goal. Awaziem even covered a lot for Ekong that first half.

Blueelf:


He could've saved the first goal

Still not convinced

Our defence looked in total disarray at time

It's obvious we are lacking a commanding CB. Please Ekong should just go to Stanbic IBTC pension managers and collect his pension. HE is done

Nah for the first goal, cut Uzoho some slack, he was quick to react, there were two strikers in front any of which could have gotten to the ball, you should ask why the defenders were sleeping.

Blueelf:


He could've saved the first goal

Still not convinced

Our defence looked in total disarray at time

It's obvious we are lacking a commanding CB. Please Ekong should just go to Stanbic IBTC pension managers and collect his pension. HE is done

that first goal shouldn't have stand


the ball touched the player hand

andrewbaba44:
Akpoguma needs to be given a chance

also valentine ozonwafor

Bunch of averageee eh
They’ve started hyping them to the highest level.
When they collect another wotorwortor tone go change.
A team that cannot string one-on two passes like this is the first time they’re playing together?
Keep deceiving unaselves.

Parrot69:
Bunch of averageee eh
They’ve started hyping them to the highest level.
When they collect another wotorwortor tone go change.
A team that cannot string one-on two passes like this is the first time they’re playing together?
Keep deceiving unaselves.

who be dis?

Blueelf:


He could've saved the first goal

Still not convinced

Our defence looked in total disarray at time

It's obvious we are lacking a commanding CB. Please Ekong should just go to Stanbic IBTC pension managers and collect his pension. HE is done

It was a rebound that took d ball into d net.
Ekong!!! I think he holds d records for own goals in SE shirt .

ChrisKels:

That was a nice one from Calvin Ughelumba. I think we have a got a good young player in him despite his obvious shortcomings. However, we need to extend this grace to Osaze Urhogide too, he is another great up and coming bull of a centre back.

If we get him its game over for Ekong

Amedino99:
We should calm down Sha. Even rohr plays fantastic in friendlies.

Subzero047:


If we get him its game over for Ekong

Osaze is ours already. Also there is another young Spanish born 9ja cb at elche in laliga

He should be monitored as wel this coming season for a possible call if he performs well in laliga

comodo:

It was a rebound that took d ball into d net.
Ekong!!! I think he holds d records for own goals in SE shirt .

I guess yobo played for ghana

COOL10:
To those low grade nitwits who call themselves journalists who have always been of the opinion that foreign born players lack the zeal and commitment whenever they play for Nigeria: Just take a look at Dessers' performance today. Helping with the midfield, holding up play, excellent runs from deep, linking up with his wingers.


I don't want to call Iwobi a foreign born as he was born in Nigeria but he's still more or less an 'oyibo', yet he played his heart out. Iwobi played like he was on drugs .

Dedication has no boundaries. It's not by race neither is it by colour of skin. You could say it's the 'New Coach effect' but I highly doubt that.

I'm also speaking to those at the glass house : If you feel you or your 'special players' are more Nigerian than these boys because they look different and act different, you should really be ashamed of your racist condescending selves.

I don talk my own.

Aribo is the Nigerian player that have played most games this season with well over 50 games, he could have easily opted out of both friendly games like a certain ‘home born player’ called Osimhen. While I’m not criticizing Osimhen and others who wanted to rest but none of the foreign born players have ever given us a reason to question their dedication to the team

Blueelf:


He could've saved the first goal

Still not convinced

Our defence looked in total disarray at time

It's obvious we are lacking a commanding CB. Please Ekong should just go to Stanbic IBTC pension managers and collect his pension. HE is done

huh! Uzoho should have saved that? I’m certain you didn’t watch the game

andrewbaba44:
Akpoguma needs to be given a chance

I think he will, the 3 centre backs didn’t impress. We need real quality there

BascoVanVeli:
Match highlights


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHLXE9uv_OI

Thank you Basco.

I think we played well.
That number 17 na baller...he is raw but the talent is there. Maybe with some tutoring, he will be THERE soon.
And Iwobi...I've never doubted him. Maybe if he was available against Ghana, we'd be preparing for world cup now.
I was shocked Bassey had such crossing ability in his locker yet he didn't attempt any in the match against Ghana especially when there were two tall strikers in Osimehn and Sadiq on he pitch.

Innocent Bonke should just getat abeg...
All those muscles yet you can't complete 90 minutes...
I think it is high time we start looking for new CBs and DM. We can't depend on Ekong and Bonke ....

We need new wingers too...I don't know what is wrong with Simon. Ejuke? Olayinka?

jihday:
huh! Uzoho should have saved that? I’m certain you didn’t watch the game

You don't know that guy? No worry yourself jare

mostob:
Innocent Bonke should just getat abeg...
All those muscles yet you can't complete 90 minutes...
I think it is high time we start looking for new CBs and DM. We can't depend on Ekong and Bonke ....

We need new wingers too...I don't know what is wrong with Simon. Ejuke? Olayinka?

We have new wingers. Lookman, Dennis

Odunayaw:
We have new wingers. Lookman, Dennis

Oh...thanks for reminding me
I forgot about those two totally

mostob:
Oh...thanks for reminding me
I forgot about those two totally

Lookman with his FB being Aina, Chukwueze with his FB being Bassey

Loads of crossed and cutbacks. Everywhere don good be that

labas370:


Thanks for noticing that. There are somethings SE players are not supposed to do as internationals. The way most of those homebase played is exactly the same way national teams of Tahiti, Bangladesh, fuji play. Just a flash. one good play, mess it up with below average decision.

I watched the first half of this game. And I can say 95% of the foreign based players played exactly how you described.

Odunayaw:
Lookman with his FB being Aina, Chukwueze with his FB being Bassey

Loads of crossed and cutbacks. Everywhere don good be that

Then Iwobi and Aribo flanking Ndidi as double 8s. Iwobi as a DLP, Aribo playing closer to the box...
Osimehn leading the line too
Seriously, naija team ain't bad. Our problem is coaching

The team is still a work in progress.
The only thing positive I saw in my opinion were the crosses which I had always been advocating for. Not surprised that the goal came from a cross. That said, the defending was not really good and we need to work on our passes. The home based player that was in attack needs to work on his final decision making.

drDoom3:
Takeaways:

Dessers is good. He should get more chances.

In that team today, only Aribo, Iwobi, Ajayi, Bassey, Awaziem, Dessers and Uzoho should be playing matches for Nigeria. The rest are not good enough to even get invited if we are looking to build a world beating team.

Simon's decision making is so abysmal, I don't know how a player that loses the ball with every two touches should be playing international football for Nigeria.

Ekong, business as usual.

Bassey is a baller on the ball. Off it there is a lot to be improved, especially with positioning. You can already see the TAA traits in his crossing and dribbling. Also, he is not as fast as he thinks he is, if he didn't learn that against Ghana he sure did today. Pace will not cover for poor positioning, and I hope he realizes that.

Moffi has a long long way to go. I was surprised not to see Awoniyi invited, he would have done much better.

The home based showed why they were home based. The Faisal guy (no. 7) tried though, although it is nigh impossible to play worse than what Bonke displayed today.

Peseiro has Rohr genes. Defend as long as you are not losing. We could have done much more if we started the first half the way we started the second half.

Awaziem was horrible, maybe he wasn't fully fit as he was caught out of position numerous times in the game

Blueelf:


He could've saved the first goal

Still not convinced

Our defence looked in total disarray at time

It's obvious we are lacking a commanding CB. Please Ekong should just go to Stanbic IBTC pension managers and collect his pension. HE is done

You must be kidding right? None of the goals conceded were his fault. He made a good save before the ball rebounded off the Mexican player

andrewbaba44:
Akpoguma needs to be given a chance

There is a reason Ekong is a bench warmer at Watford

Tinneh:

I guess yobo played for ghana

mostob:
Innocent Bonke should just getat abeg...
All those muscles yet you can't complete 90 minutes...
I think it is high time we start looking for new CBs and DM. We can't depend on Ekong and Bonke ....

We need new wingers too...I don't know what is wrong with Simon. Ejuke? Olayinka?

I think we hv good DMs in ndidi,bonke,Onyeka and upcoming onyedika. Also I believe with time Lesley ugochukwu will rescind his decision and play for us

The cb position is my biggest worry and it’s high time the likes trio of omeruo,ekong and balogun are allowed to concentrate on their club careers

Celtic’s osaze,ozonwafor, elche’s new boy,akpoguma and ndah should be given more chance to stake a claim in the cb positions. Bassey already na untouchable and also it won’t be bad approaching torunarigha again

mostob:
Innocent Bonke should just getat abeg...
All those muscles yet you can't complete 90 minutes...
I think it is high time we start looking for new CBs and DM. We can't depend on Ekong and Bonke ....

We need new wingers too...I don't know what is wrong with Simon. Ejuke? Olayinka?

Bonke is okay

We have never depended on bonke ,bonke was never a starter ,he is a good squad player ,so I don’t get where the depend is coming from

Tinneh:

I guess yobo played for ghana

I can count on my fingers, 2 own goals for Ekong already. So how many did yobo score in 100 caps.

BascoVanVeli:
Match highlights


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHLXE9uv_OI

Thank you for the clips...it would be stupid for anyone to blame Uzoho for that goal....Dessers that goal a plus for him....Ekong needs to work on his awareness cos he keeps on making the same mistake.Good game for Nigeria.