linked:
After winning the 2015 U23 Caf Africa Cup of Nations title in style, coach Samson Siasia is hopeful of strengthening his squad with the addition of Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, Alex Iwobi and Aminu Umar ahead of the Olympic Games in August.

Goal can exclusively reveal that the quartet is included in the final list of players that would play for Nigeria in Rio.

Siasia, who has been on holidays in the United States of America, has kept mute about his plans and programmes for the Olympics leaving.

The coach, however, broke his silence when he spoke about his programme with the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday.

A very close confidant of the coach who spoke on condition of anonymity told Goal on Wednesday that Siasia has been thinking of ways to boost the team’s front line that has given him much headache since the 2015 All African Games.





The former Super Eagles coach is not expected to do a total overhaul of the team, but he is eager to inject quality players to make it a very solid and result-oriented one capable of withstanding threats from European and South American opponents that they would face.

“The chief coach has been working all this time he has been in the United States because he told me that time is not on the team’s side again,” the source told Goal.

“What is paramount in his mind is injection of quality and talented players to beef up the team and make it stronger than the one that won the Africa U23 Cup of Nations. He has a limited number of players he is looking at and the search light is on the three departments of the team, attack, midfield and defense, but most importantly the attack and the defense line.

“As I speak with you he has already spoken with Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, Alex Iwobi and Aminu Umar to be members of the team. He said with a number of grade A friendlies, these attackers and the other defenders and midfielders that he hopes to introduce to the team would not only fortify it but make it very ready for the battle to conquer the world at the Olympics in Brazil.

‘The chief coach has wonderful plans to surprise the world this time around and he said that both the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation have vowed to help him out this time around not like what happened in Senegal during the Africa Championship.”

Siasia, winner of Olympic silver medal as coach in 2008, hopes to go one better this year by bringing home Nigeria’s second gold in the Olympic Games football event.

safarigirl:
Anyway Osimhen (not Solanke or Umar) won CAF Youth Player so I'm hoping he's at Rio....so many forwards, sheesh! Aubameyang no go enjoy that CAF APOTY the way Yaya enjoyed it.

Ehen, Etebo winning Most Promising Talent still puts Kelechi as the youngest to win it in over a decade (not Solanke)....


All I know is, I'm going to enjoy Rio 2016...assuming exams aren't on and I get to watch it

Icon4s:


What forgiveness and Bascovanveli fail to acknowledge is that there are several Nigerian teenagers doing so well presently both in Europe and in Nigeria.
No big deal in Sadiq Umar scoring 2 goals for AS Roma. Several other youngsters have done more. Why single out Sadiq Umar for praise shouting. I am happy for him as a fellow Nigerian bt i still believe he is nt ripe for the Super Eagles.

Badosqi:
This post is related to our under 23 team(chicharito is not a Nigerian na oooo), but it is a response to those that think playing time is overrated, those that think 3-5mins cameo plus running after yaya,silva,De bryune, sterling, Aguero in training will suddenly turn you to a better player.

We all know the kind of player hernandez is but Man U almost finished the guy's career, suddenly became a bench warmer for Mexico. Now bossing it real gud in Bundesliga, He plays week in week out and the goals keep on rising.





[b]Hernandez Reveals Why He Struggled At Man Utd
Javier Hernandez Reveals Why He Struggled At Manchester United
by David Kappel
Jan 07, 2016 08:00 PM

Javier Hernandez has been in superb form since leaving Manchester United, and has now revealed why he struggled at his former club.



The Mexican has scored 19 goals and assisted a further two strikes in 25 games since joining Bayer Leverkusen.

The 27-year-old is in contention for the signing of the season and explained the reason behind his improved form.

"What I was missing in the last two or three years, it was like I was playing sometimes and then returning to the bench," he told theOrlando Sentinel.
"But now that I am playing most of the game or almost all of my games here in my club, that's what I need.
"Because people sometimes think the confidence is with goals, but I don't think like that. I think confidence is to play day by day, to get rhythm."

Hernandez spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, but looked destined to play a role in manager Louis van Gaal's plans at Old Trafford in this campaign.
However, after missing a penalty in a Champions League qualifier against Brugge, the Dutchman decided to sell the striker.



This decision has somewhat come back to haunt the United boss as Hernandez has scored 17 goals in his past 16 games for Leverkusen, while the Red Devils have netted only 13 times during the same period.[/b]

BascoVanVeli:

No he should keep fetching them water and ironing their clothes i am sure he will be a star like that lol.

safarigirl:
hard to fathom. Pep likes young, fast players. he plays 19-year old Coman in Bayern regularly as a first teamer despite him being on loan from Juventus, not much difference between Kelechi and Coman.

Players like Toure, DiMichelis, Bony, Fernandinho are the players that may be dropped, not even Kelechi, Kelechi fits into Guardiola's style

Icon4s:

Is he even better than Isaac Success and Imoh Ezekiel?

BascoVanVeli:


Lets not start from scratch with the same arguement. If he can keep his place in Roma's starting 11 he must be called for our next friendly.

enomakos:
did't you think there are better player than him that deserve that chance?
Is it a crime for him to starts with the u-20

mijestic:

Still waiting for the GoodJoe to come explain what happened with Hernandez. That was the perfect response to those who think playing time is not important to the performance of a footballer. Even outside the football world, it is a known fact that one gets better in what he does frequently. Iheanacho staying at city will not help his development. He has a lot to prove after learning from the best, playing alongside the best players at city. His recent interviews will tell you the boy is eager to do just this. A student cannot keep learning forever. He's got to be pragmatic and creative with knowledge. What's the use of knowledge when it cannot be applied?

BascoVanVeli:

No he should keep fetching them water and ironing their clothes i am sure he will be a star like that lol.

Badosqi:
lol bench warmer star... Iheanacho needs quality game time.

joseph1013:


I would personally be ashamed to say this. You sit down in your room with 10mb free data (maybe) mocking a 19-year old boy you could probably father if you grew up in the north. The boy does not know that you exist. He wines and dines with some of the biggest stars in World Football today.

The joke is actually on you, no offence.

safarigirl:
After all is said and done, na small children full this thread. the goodjoe, please don't engage them in their tomfoolery.

Imagine one fellow coming here to mock a 19-year old playing behind men in their twenties and thirties who have been in the game at least 4 years before him.


The way some people talk, you can tell they have underdeveloped brains. Let him keep washing and ironing their clothes, he's a kid, if he's not washing and ironing his elder's clothes, when he becomes an elder, his younger ones won't wash and iron his


Someone who is meant for greatness will be great while mediocres mock his sacrifices to get there

BascoVanVeli:


I didn't know we were here only for praise and worship, nothing he said should warrant such a response. Iheanacho might not know he exists but u do and that is not the way to treat a fellow naija fan. We are all one here no matter our difference in opinion

BascoVanVeli:


I just laugh when u guys try to gang up on other people's opinion, it's like u expect to beat it out of them with ur keyboards. Let me not stop u beat away.

joseph1013:


[b]You are mixing things up. There is something called a discussion/debate/argument and there is outright mockery.

He mocked him as 'bench warmer star'. Which reasonable person does that? You think say na beans to be in a top 4 team in Europe as a foreigner who is not just an AFRICAN but also a TEENAGER? Banish the thoughts. Anyone remembers what Pellegrini said? Kompany, somebody?

I'm all for arguments. I can do it all day if it catches me when I am less busy, or when I am just in the mood to type away.

I agree with Joe that Kelechi is not too big to stay on the bench and learn in his first season like this. He would be registered for the Champion's league this January so what's the hurry? Let him play out this season. Pelle is going, Guardiola is coming. If the magician thinks he is worth a shot, fantastic. If he thinks he should go on loan and prove himself, that's great too. But this season, he is doing well as a youngster just coming from an Academy in Africa.

The guy with the 'mockery' statement should tell us his achievements in life thus far and let's dissect.[/b]

safarigirl:
I no even get your time, in Olamide's words "I no mention anybody name"....but dog sabi answer whistle

BascoVanVeli:


Yea u didnt call my name but u used what i said in ur little rant of surport.

safarigirl:
and you took the bait like a toddler.

Like I said, you're not on my to-do list today so you and your friend can return to mocking a kid if it makes you feel better about your limited achievements.

Have a nice day

BascoVanVeli:



Be honest u don't think anybody is ripe or there yet, the only player u have given ur outright approval to is Junior Ajayi so don't drop all these other names like u didn't say the same "not there yet" about them.

tbaba1234:
I think Iheanacho should go on loan. In spite of his goal/game ratio. I do not think pellegrini trusts him enough. Game time helps to improve players. Iheanacho needs a run of games.

Right now, Isaac Success and Ndidi look like the most developed players. They are playing regularly. Isaac Success is already a vital player for granada even though they play him from the wings.

Sadiq Umar is a kid with potential as well. Looks like a finisher with some slick touches but I will keep him at U20 for now along with Osimhen.

Alampasu was man of the match on his debut in a cup game. It remains to be seen if he can push for a regular place. It is not easy for young keepers to break through.

Onazi, Omeruo are still eligible for under 23. Sissie can put together a very strong side for the Olympics with Ighalo playing as overage.

mijestic:
Please guys let's take things easy with one another. We do not actually have to pick of fence at every statement made on a public forum like this. A little humor is allowed to lighten up things a bit as far as the words used aren't to extreme. Let's just share our own opinions and let others do. Please be tolerant of one another ladies and gentlemen.

Icon4s:


Thanks and well spoken bro.

On the Iheanacho issue, those that have been following this thread since months back know how i engaged on a hot debate with almost every1 here on the Iheanacho argument. I am usually conservative when rating young players. I knew that Iheanacho is talented and holds lots of promises bt chosed to watch him for a couple of weeks before really knowing where to place him.

While several peeps here have reduced his rating and some ridiculing him I even rate him higher now and i believe he deserves more playing time considering his performances on the few chances he had to play.
It baffles me that some1 like Bascovanveli that so much spoke lofty things of Iheanacho alongside Safarigirl and others is now on d other side of the divide.

Lets nt forget the root of the argument. Kelechi Iheanacho is good enough for the Olympics if selected forget that he mostly starts from d bench at City.

Icon4s:


Lol! Junior Ajayi ke? I never rated him good enough to "effortlessly break into the Arsenal, Manunited or Liverpool first 11". I never rated him to b "better than every player in the Super Eagles". I never rated him to be in the class of Messi and Ronaldo and better than Victor Moses.

I only said he was more suited as the CF of the U23 team than Taiwo Awoniyi.

I rate Success and Ezekiel above Ajayi anyday.
IMHO the young strikers that are currently close to a Super Eagles call up are Isaac Success and Imoh Ezekiel. Though they are still work in progress bt I feel they are ready for senior team action. Bt remember Odion Ighalo is in a blazing form now so the younger strikers have to step up to b able to displace Ighalo as d main striker, though teams usually have 2-3 strikers.

I still maintain that most peeps often overrate most of these our young players. Bc Sadiq Umar has scored 2 goals for AS Roma he is now better than Dzeko? No bro. I dnt agree.

BascoVanVeli:


He is the only player i ever noticed u give a thumbs up to, this same Ighalo u say is in a blazing form is the one u said wasnt there yet.
I never said Sadiq was better than anybody. Dzeko had gone over 1000 minutes with only 3 goals while in 2 games(1 sub 1 start) he has scored twice, what would u do if u were the coach? For now he will be their starting CF and i am impressed.