otezu5:

cc: tbaba1234

Whats your take on Troost-Ekong?
Any hope for him to play in the Europa league this season?

tbaba1234:


Troost Ekong played very well in his first few matches in Belgium but Gent's coach is very unpredictable. Even with strong performances and clean sheets, he still found himself on the bench. Troost-Ekong will still play in the league, the gent coach always changes his starting 11.

otezu5:

From all indications, it seems it should have been better if he had stayed back in Norway as subscribed by Sir enomakos.

It is better to see regular playing time in Norway than sit on the bench in Belgium.
My take.

tbaba1234:


Belgiun is a better league than Norway. He will still play games in Belgium.

forgiveness:



Hehehehe!

What about these ones?

http://independentnig.com/nff-to-convince-evertons-ademola-lookman-to-play-for-super-eagles/

http://breaking.com.ng/nigeria/ademola-lookman-evertons-new-boy-to-play-for-the-super-eagles-nff/


Even those articles didn't quote Ademola-lookman saying 'I don't want to play for Nigeria' or 'I am not thinking about Nigeria' etc.


Bros, he has not declared he is not playing for Nigeria hence the need to add him on my list.

BascoVanVeli:
By Colin Udoh


Kelechi Iheanacho at a career crossroads at Manchester City




Only 20 years of age, Kelechi Iheanacho needs to find a place where he can be assured of regular game time.

Kelechi Iheanacho has returned to the crossroads of his Manchester City career. Just before the beginning of the season, the Nigeria international turned down the chance to participate at the Olympic Games in order to focus on impressing new manager Pep Guardiola and secure his precarious place in the City first team.

That decision proved to be a good one, as it not only allowed him to meet the boss ahead of the new season, but also to receive the reassurances he needed.

A rosy beginning led to three goals in seven appearances, including the winner in the Manchester derby last September when he started in the absence of Sergio Aguero. There were to be no further goals for another nine games, until his final strike in a 3-0 win over Hull City on Boxing Day.

Since then, Iheanacho has barely been on the pitch, and the arrival of Gabriel Jesus meant the Nigerian's opportunities were even more severely restricted. The Brazilian joined during the January transfer window, and his explosive start of three goals in four games meant Iheanacho was not even listed on the match day 18 for those games!

A broken metatarsal appears to have ruled the South American out for the rest of the season, which means the young Super Eagle gets another chance to stake his claim for first team security, if only as a plan B.

But with regular, first team football being the reason he shunned Nigeria's participation at the Olympic Games, and being a key component of Gernot Rohr's Super Eagles offense, occasional action will not cut it for Iheanacho. Neither will being a backup plan to two strikers.

Nigeria resume World Cup qualifying in August with two potentially bruising games against recently crowned African champions Cameroon. To remain an integral and effective part of that offensive line, Iheanacho needs games. And if Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will not offer him that, then he needs to look elsewhere during the summer.

A close associate of the player told ESPNFC that the 20-year-old is weighing his options

"Obviously, he wants to play football regularly. He will probably get games between now and the end of the season, but when the summer window opens, we will have to look at what is available out there from a football point of view."

A move away from the Etihad in the summer, according to the associate, is a very strong possibility for the young Nigerian

"Enquiries have come in already and Manchester City know this," Iheanacho's associate said. "The boy wants to play and if he gets the opportunity elsewhere, whether on loan or permanently, as long as he gets a chance to play every week, we will give it very serious consideration."


Kelechi Iheanacho has not played much of late and with the arrival of Gabriel Jesus his days at Man City may be numbered.

It is in the both the player's interest and that of Nigeria for him to do so, with his City career seemingly heading towards stagnation with Jesus and Aguero ahead in the striker hierarchy. But even if he moves, Iheanacho must understand that irrespective of where he ends up, his game time will be in direct proportion to his productivity.

For all of the hype surrounding Gabriel, the Brazilian arrived and hit it off instantly when he was thrown in at the deep end.

That is what Iheanacho needs to do. Scoring the occasional goal will not do. An instinctive player and scorer, the youngster needs to work on his movement, his decision-making, his confidence, but more importantly, his first touch.

Much of those skills come from regular game time, others from training field work. However it comes, Nigeria needs Kelechi to be on top of his game by August.

On the return flight back from the opening day victory against Zambia, Iheanacho with Arsenal's Alex Iwobi sitting beside him, said he was determined to make it to, and play at the World Cup in Russia.

It's a lofty and commendable dream, but it requires hard graft and ruthless, career saving decisions. And for him, now is the time to make the first of such calls.



Colin Udoh is a Nigeria football correspondent for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @ColinUdoh.

tbaba1234:


Troost Ekong played very well in his first few matches in Belgium but Gent's coach is very unpredictable. Even with strong performances and clean sheets, he still found himself on the bench. Troost-Ekong will still play in the league, the gent coach always changes his starting 11.

Kog45:
I don't think he played well.I remember him scoring an own goal and for him to have been left out,then he need to buckle up.

There is need for us to lay more emphasis on Super Eagles players especially d regulars ones and how they are faring in their respective clubs coz it w give us an insight to their performances but we always talk on Iheanacho progress,forgetting that we still have some super regular players finding it difficult to break into their team but funny enough smaller team.

There should not be sentiment in analyzing our players coz it w not bring thorough picture of what is happening to their development.

In respect to Ekong case,d coach was not biased in his judgment and we must face it.Do u know d meaning of excluding a player from European competition,it means d player is not up to d tasks.

Pls go and watch Ekong critically,then u w notice that he still has a long way to go when it comes to CB.Pls watch Algeria match again and u w understand what am saying,he need to raise his game.

Truly he had a good Olympics outing which really boost his profile and pave way for him in d national team but i can tell u if Rohr discovered a player in d mould of Leon then Ekong position w be seriously threatened.

Remember we had series of discussions here especially with thegoodjoe on Iheanacho being frozen out of d team by Pep,initially i thought Gabriel wasn't better but to be candid d guy is better and suit Pep's philosophy.

Aldo Mikel under Conte,i thought Conte was unfair to Mikel but when i looked at Chelsea and Conte philosophy,i realised no way for Mikel,not only him but player like Fabregas,Oscar,Terry,Ivanovic coz his formation or philosophy is for all round player who move around d pitch and covered a lot of ground,this paved way for players like Pedro,Moses,Luiz,Matic.

There is need for us to be fair to this coaches coz they have their styles and if u cannot fit in,then u have to raise your game or go elsewhere for first team playing.

Troost should raise his game especially on his footwork,interception,reading of d game and his confidence,though his physical presence is a plus,good at aerial and also have d power but generally he needs to braise up coz as a Super Centre back and finding it difficult to break into a team like Gents is not idea but let say a bigger teams like Manchester city or Chelsea is understandable.

tbaba1234:


Which own goal? That was a friendly game.

In the league, he has been very good. I watched the games.

Kog45:
Yes friendly game but is part of it coz friendly match is to build up a team.

Nigeria is playing Senegal in a friendly and some players w use it to make a statement and enter d main team against Cameroon.

Am not condemning Ekong as a player but as a Super Eagle CB he must raise up his game which w be good for him and d country coz playing regularly is very essential.He had a nice outing in Olympics coz he had a remarkable playing time with his Norwegian club.

tbaba1234:


Belgiun is a better league than Norway. He will still play games in Belgium.

otezu5:
AF Nigeria 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Africa Belgium
Hugo Broos ready to dump Cameroon for South Africa - Agent



Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon celebrates a victory with Hugo Broos


The Belgian Hugo Broos has indicated interest to be the new coach of South Africa and so dump Cameroon, who he led to win a fifth AFCON earlier this month in Gabon, his agent has revealed.


Broos stunned the formbooks when he led a make-shift Indomitable Lions to beat record winner Egypt in the championship game of AFCON 2017.


His agent Gino Laureyssen of Ligi Star Management has revealed Broos’ resume has been submitted to SAFA.


“I asked him [Broos] if he wants to be a candidate for SAFA because they are looking for a head coach,” Laureyssen told KickOff. “So this week we have sent his CV to the CEO of SAFA, but until now we didn’t get any answer, which I think is a little [unusual].


“He’s very interested in working with a young group and I think the South African national team hasn’t done well in recent years, and if you see how he did with Cameroon, with not only stars but players who want to fight and work hard, I think that [his interest] is a good sign.”


Laureyssen said Broos is content with his achievement of lifting the continental crown with Cameroon and would prefer a new challenge elsewhere.


“Look, if he has won the African Cup of Nations and is a hero in that country, I think he’s very smart [to know] that it can only go backwards [from here on out],” he added.


“I mean, he has reached the maximum possible with that team, in that tournament, so I think now the challenge is to look for a new project where he can see what he can do – if he can maybe go to the [2018] World Cup or the next Nations Cup.


“Nothing is decided yet but if he says he wants a new challenge it means a lot and to be honest, personally, the living conditions in South Africa is maybe a little better than in Cameroon."


Cameroon are second in a World Cup qualifying group with leaders Nigeria, Zambia and Algeria.

africanfootball.com/news/688275/Hugo-Broos-ready-to-dump-Cameroon-for-South-Africa-Agent

tbaba1234:


I think, he is probably the second best CB we have at the moment. I do not think his bench time is anything to worry about for now because Gent's coach is notorious with his rotation.

Icon79:
I hope he gets the job. That would make our qualification easier....much easier.

First of all, any coach who can transform that Cameroun team into an AFCON winning team within a space of a few months is definitely a technically astute coach. And I wouldn't wanna face him.

Secondly, if Cameroun would start hiring a new coach a few months before they face us, that would give up a big competitive edge.


O pari

Icon79:
I hope he gets the job. That would make our qualification easier....much easier.

First of all, any coach who can transform that Cameroun team into an AFCON winning team within a space of a few months is definitely a technically astute coach. And I wouldn't wanna face him.

Secondly, if Cameroun would start hiring a new coach a few months before they face us, that would give up a big competitive edge.


O pari

Mujtahida:

So you think that having carried the Lions to the peak, Cameroun would allow Hugo Broos to go? No indication is given in the report as to any issue between the football federation of cameroun and Broos. Moreover would cameroun want to jeopardise for all time their shaky grip on the world cup qualifiers by letting Broos go when he has proved that he can perform magic? I doubt it.

Kog45:
Yes agreed but playing time is important

tbaba1234:


I think, he is probably the second best CB we have at the moment. I do not think his bench time is anything to worry about for now because Gent's coach is notorious with his rotation.

tbaba1234:
An associate of Iheanacho has said "enquiries have come in already" for Kelechi and that he could leave "on loan or permanently." [ESPN]

zicky:
Joe should hear that from you, time spent on the training ground, that's what's important. .

zicky:
Joe should hear that from you, time spent on the training ground, that's what's important. .

komekn:


This is troubling to me very troubling.

We cannot escape from the fact that top teams want top quality defenders and to a large degree the team you play for can reflect the quality you are as a player.

We can see the Quality of Iwobi, KC, Moses, and Mikel again reflected in the quality teams they have played for or are playing for presently.

None of our CB's are playing in a top league, none of them are in top teams.

The cold hard truth is that we do not have a quality top class CB , this is a PROBLEM if we really want to have aspirations to compete at a higher level.

zicky:
Joe should hear that from you, time spent on the training ground, that's what's important. .