Mickael2:


so you will ignore the fact that he was bad for more than 70% of the game? Do you think that such comebacks happen everyday? Let's look at it critically, he was poor for like 60-70 mins out of 90, that means he was poor

Hope u remember Atlanta 96,Nigeria vs Brazil.Pls go and watch d match again and tell me Kanu's performance in that match.

kanu had a quiet game in greater part of d match but when it reached certain stage Kanu came alive with two great magical moment and two goals that nailed Brazil.

After d match he was given man of d match coz d two goals were massive and we got it at d needed time.

My man w u say Kanu had a poor game coz he was quiet for like 70 mins of d match.

What make a player is not about running up and down for 90 mins alone but sometimes a magical moment when a player need to lift his team.

Kanu did it against Brazil and Uzoenyi did it against Morocco,d two brought a dead team alive again coz at that moment nobody gives Nigeria any chance again,sorry for comparison.

tbaba1234:


Results are the indicators of a good league...

How has the NPFL fared in Africa in the last few seasons?

Rating English club by Their performance in the champions league, would you say Epl is a poor league or would you say Dr Congo have a better league to Nigeria bearing in mind Tp mazembe performance in recent time.

BascoVanVeli:


How has England fared in Europe in the last few seasons?

Not as badly as Nigeria has in Africa, This year, Leicester is in the last 8

Last year, Man city was in the semi finals.

In 2014, Chelsea was in the Semi finals.

In 2012, Chelsea won it.

zicky:
Rating English club by Their performance in the champions league, would you say Epl is a poor league?

The EPL has suffered in recent years but they have not done that badly,

2014, 2016 Semi finals

2012, won by an English club

2017, Last 8

Mickael2:


so you will ignore the fact that he was bad for more than 70% of the game? Do you think that such comebacks happen everyday? Let's look at it critically, he was poor for like 60-70 mins out of 90, that means he was poor

Ejike scored at the dot of the 90th minute to push it to extra time. The whole team had a shocking first half where Morocco lead 3-0. They came back in the second half and replied all 3 goals and pushed the game to extra time. You don't have to resort to lies to make your point. I will always expose them.
Lying to ourselves won't help anybody.

zicky:
Rating English club by Their performance in the champions league, would you say Epl is a poor league or would you say Dr Congo have a better league to Nigeria bearing in mind Tp mazembe performance in recent time.

It seems people don't have any trust in NPLF again coz most comments have read so far showed that people have lost total respect for Nigeria league.

I started this discussion with Icon4s and he said i should forget it that there is no good home based for Eagles which i try to debate but realising that have not had d opportunity of watching NPFL of recent i need to stop arguing.

On d performance of Nigeria club sides in CAF champions league honestly a lot need to be done though d performance doesn't portray d level of our league coz if we can remember he took Nigeria many years before Enyimba won d elusive champions cup.

Despite not winning d champions cup in those years,d rating of our league did not diminished and we are producing quality players to outside world.

So not performing in d champions league should not be a yardstick to judge our league or our players but truly things must be done to make our club sides a shinning light in d continent.If TP mazembe of DR Congo can be having a great performances then what stop our club sides from doing d same.

tbaba1234:


I think Senegal is a little stronger. That is why it is a good game.

You cannot get away from better players get courted by better clubs. You improve also playing with better players.

In this regard our once English colonisers have really not helped us. English football should be a home to Nigerian players but it is TOTALLY NOT.

The entire French league system is the bedrock that is underpinning Franco phone Africa football development. England is the exact opposite of that with African black players side stepped for Caucasian players who are not as good.

I have no statistics to substantiat my position but from mere observations. I can you assure that Senegal could easily create a first 11, with regular first team quality players from the French league 1, not bench warmers or academy players.

Nigeria would struggle to put together 6 players from the EPL

tbaba1234:


Not as badly as Nigeria has in Africa, This year, Leicester is in the last 8

Last year, Man city was in the semi finals.

In 2014, Chelsea was in the Semi finals.

In 2012, Chelsea won it.

Can u compare England to the other big leagues like Spain and Germany, knowing that English teams are better funded? England flops in Europe short and simple, naming one team out of 7 every year shows they have been doing bad.

Icon4s:


We are the under dogs in this game.
Man for man i dnt think they are much better but for the fact that their team has been more together, even coming fresh from the AFCON. Nigeria has nt played since Nov last year. Infact I predict a tough first 20mins for us.

A draw will nt be a bad result but a win will catapult us both in confidence and in FIFA ranking.

Let's compare
Saido Mane Vs?
Cheikhou Kouyate?
Idrissa Gueye?
Make Diof?
Mohammed Diame?
Papa Cisse?
Henri Soviet?
Demba Ba?
Omar Niasse?
Etc, etc

I am too biased in favour of Senegalese players who have played in the EPLand there are a lot. So I really cannot even give a list of possible options for them. I am sure they will have a whole range of young quality players from French league 1 we probably haven't heard of.

komekn:


Let's compare
Saido Mane Vs?
Cheikhou Kouyate?
Idrissa Gueye?
Make Diof?
Mohammed Diame?
Papa Cisse?
Henri Soviet?
Demba Ba?
Omar Niasse?
Etc, etc

I am too biased in favour of Senegalese players who have played in the EPLand there are a lot. So I really cannot even give a list of possible options for them. I am sure they will have a whole range of young quality players from French league 1 we probably haven't heard of.

Idrissa Gueye sticks out for me, he currently leads the epl in tackles even though he was at the Afcon.

BascoVanVeli:


Can u compare England to the other big leagues like Spain and Germany, knowing that English teams are better funded? England flops in Europe short and simple, naming one team out of 7 every year shows they have been doing bad.

Nigerian teams can't even get to the group phases anymore..You are talking about England that won in 2012 and has reached the semi finals, twice since..

The English league will still be top 4 regardless. Is Nigerian league in the top 15 in Africa? When last did we make the group phases?

tbaba1234:


Nigerian teams can't even get to the group phases anymore..You are talking about England that won in 2012 and has reached the semi finals, twice since..

The English league will still be top 4 regardless. Is Nigerian league in the top 15 in Africa? When last did we make the group phases?

That was Enyimba last season. Our league might not be top 4 but it is tough enough to test and prepare a player. Remember the NPFL allstars went toe to toe with Athletico. Etebo came out of this same league and who says we can't find more like him here.

BascoVanVeli:


That was Enyimba last season. Our league might not be top 4 but it is tough enough to test and prepare a player. Remember the NPFL allstars went toe to toe with Athletico. Etebo came out of this same league and who says we can't find more like him here.

There are far more failures than successes.

Look at our performances

2017- No team in the group stages
2016- Enyimba
2015- No team in the group stages
2014- No team in the group stages
2013- No team in the group stages

In the past 5 years, we have made the group phase once... Biko, that is poor..

tbaba1234:


There are far more failures than successes.

Look at our performances

2017- No team in the group stages
2016- Enyimba
2015- No team in the group stages
2014- No team in the group stages
2013- No team in the group stages

In the past 5 years, we have made the group phase once... Biko, that is poor..

In the past 4 Afcons we have just managed to be in 1.
Does that mean our players are among the worst in Africa?

Since the Ajax team of 1996, Netherlands have yet to make a mark in European club football. Does that mean good players don't come out the Dutch league?

Since Monaco made it to the finals of Champions league in 2004, no French team have made it to the later stages or even past quarter finals in the champions league. Does that mean good players don't come out of ligue 1?

Since the time of Kalusha Bwaya and Stephen Keshi NO Belgian team have made it to the quarter finals of the champions league. Does that mean good players aren't coming out of the Belgian league?

If not for Juventus, Italian football have been shambles lately. Uefa have even reduced their slot for the champions league to 3 teams. Does that mean good players can't be found in Seria A?

Sir, because Nigerian club side aren't doing too well in Caf champions league. That does not mean good players can't be found in the Nigerian league.

bazooka1:

In the past 4 Afcons we have just managed to be in 1.
Does that mean our players are among the worst in Africa?

Since the Ajax team of 1996, Netherlands have yet to make a mark in European club football. Does that mean good players don't come out the Dutch league?

Since Monaco made it to the finals of Champions league in 2004, no French team have made it to the later stages or even past quarter finals in the champions league. Does that mean good players don't come out of ligue 1?

Since the time of Kalusha Bwaya and Stephen Keshi NO Belgian team have made it to the quarter finals of the champions league. Does that mean good players aren't coming out of the Belgian league?

If not for Juventus, Italian football have been shambles lately. Uefa have even reduced their slot for the champions league to 3 teams. Does that mean good players can't be found in Seria A?

Sir, because Nigerian club side aren't doing too well in Caf champions league. That does not mean good players can't be found in the Nigerian league.

No doubt about it, The fact that we have failed to qualify for AFCON is a good indication of the state of our football. Every big team goes through its highs and lows. Nigeria is currently on a low and could potentially be revived by a world cup qualification.

The dutch and belgian leagues are average (by European standards) at the moment and the evidence is their performance in Europe. Nonetheless, these leagues are renowned for churning out young talents. IS THE NIGERIAN LEAGUE RENOWNED FOR CHURNING OUT YOUNG TALENTS? There are far more failures than successes. Our league teams do not even have academies for churning out these young talents. Did you not watch Manu Garba's under 17 team running rings round the biggest teams in our league?

Many top scorers in the Nigerian league have failed to shine when the standard was raised a little bit. It is based on this history that I can not rate a player based on the performance in the Nigerian league. If they perform at a higher level then a proper assessment can be made. Where are Orok Akarandut, Jude Aneke, Sibi Gwar, Victor Namo, Mfon Udoh, Obaje etc?? Apart from Ahmed Musa, most top scorers in the league have failed to show their ability at a higher level.

I have never said there are no talents in the Nigerian league. I have said, let these talents perform at a bigger stage. I can not make a judgement on a player based on the performance on the Nigerian league because the standard is so low.

tbaba1234:


There are far more failures than successes.

Look at our performances

2017- No team in the group stages
2016- Enyimba
2015- No team in the group stages
2014- No team in the group stages
2013- No team in the group stages

In the past 5 years, we have made the group phase once... Biko, that is poor..

Yes but we still invited NPFL players at those times. Lets not forget that there were only 8 teams in the group stage so reaching the group stage is basically like reaching quarter finals. Nigeria has never been a force in club competitions it is funny that u are all of sudden trying to use this as an excuse to put our league down.

U pple should rmb CAFCL is 8teams and UCL is 32

BascoVanVeli:



Yes but we still invited NPFL players at those times. Lets not forget that there were only 8 teams in the group stage so reaching the group stage is basically like reaching quarter finals. Nigeria has never been a force in club competitions it is funny that u are all of sudden trying to use this as an excuse to put our league down.

You're on point. Even when the league had the likes of Okocha, Kanu, Yekini and so on we never did well in the champions league.

As a matter of fact, our league is in a much more better shape now than when Enyimba won it back to back.
Take for instance, there was no TV coverage as we have now. Back then, there was no way you could go away and get a draw in the league with the playing pitches nothing to write home about.
League champions back in 2004 hardly took home up to 1M. While Rangers last season went home with 40M.

People mistake Enyimba winning the champions league as being a reflection of the quality of our league back then. we really need a reality check. People fall for these fallacies when they just sit at home and make analysis especially when they want to attack the NPFL at every opportunity.

tbaba1234:


No doubt about it, The fact that we have failed to qualify for AFCON is a good indication of the state of our football. Every big team goes through its highs and lows. Nigeria is currently on a low and could potentially be revived by a world cup qualification.

The dutch and belgian leagues are average (by European standards) at the moment and the evidence is their performance in Europe. Nonetheless, these leagues are renowned for churning out young talents. IS THE NIGERIAN LEAGUE RENOWNED FOR CHURNING OUT YOUNG TALENTS? There are far more failures than successes. Our league teams do not even have academies for churning out these young talents. Did you not watch Manu Garba's under 17 team running rings round the biggest teams in our league?

Many top scorers in the Nigerian league have failed to shine when the standard was raised a little bit. It is based on this history that I can not rate a player based on the performance in the Nigerian league. If they perform at a higher level then a proper assessment can be made. Where are Orok Akarandut, Jude Aneke, Sibi Gwar, Victor Namo, Mfon Udoh, Obaje etc?? Apart from Ahmed Musa, most top scorers in the league have failed to show their ability at a higher level.

I have never said there are no talents in the Nigerian league. I have said, let these talents perform at a bigger stage. I can not make a judgement on a player based on the performance on the Nigerian league because the standard is so low.

I think people should stop using that Manu U17 team beating NPFL sides as a justification to rubbish npfl. For goodness sake that was a pre season friendly. Even top European sides get smashed in pre seaon friendlies. In the Manu U17 abi U20 case, Manu have had his team in concentration camp for months while the NPFL sides were just getting started and using the friendlies to try out new players they wish to sign for the new season.

You should ask yourself why haven't those academies won the Nigerian FA cup which is an open tournament for every football club and academy registered in the country? When was the last time an amateur side or academy played up to the semi finals of the FA cup? I think the last it happened was in the 90s with a team called Arugo.
How many NPFL titles have Manu won?
Please give me break.

Some pages back I read some people saying scoring in the league is very easy with bad defenders. I asked myself, is it the same Nigerian league I know?
The same league it took almost forever for someone to break Ishaya Jatus record of 20 goals. As a matter of fact, the 20 goal mark have been crossed not more than 2wice if I recall correctly. But just to make an arguement we are being made to believe scoring in the NPFL is very easy.

Do you know why only Musa have managed to break even out of the lot you listed? I will tell you.
Back in 2010 when Musa broke out of the scene. Musa was the busiest Nigerian footballer. He played in almost all the national teams bar U17. He played for the U20s, U23's and super eagles simultaneously. These various exposures with the national teams exposed him to the transfer market before Venlo signed him up. This same expose you vehemently refuse to see the reasons why the Mfm striker shouldn't be invited for a friendly in London.

How come the Dutch league and Belgian leagues are renowned for producing talents but these same talents don't do well in champions league and Europa leagueEuropa league for their home nation teams?

bazooka1:

In the past 4 Afcons we have just managed to be in 1.
Does that mean our players are among the worst in Africa?

Since the Ajax team of 1996, Netherlands have yet to make a mark in European club football. Does that mean good players don't come out the Dutch league?

Since Monaco made it to the finals of Champions league in 2004, no French team have made it to the later stages or even past quarter finals in the champions league. Does that mean good players don't come out of ligue 1?

Since the time of Kalusha Bwaya and Stephen Keshi NO Belgian team have made it to the quarter finals of the champions league. Does that mean good players aren't coming out of the Belgian league?

If not for Juventus, Italian football have been shambles lately. Uefa have even reduced their slot for the champions league to 3 teams. Does that mean good players can't be found in Seria A?

Sir, because Nigerian club side aren't doing too well in Caf champions league. That does not mean good players can't be found in the Nigerian league.

Wow what a post. Top marks to you.

bazooka1:


I think people should stop using that Manu U17 team beating NPFL sides as a justification to rubbish npfl. For goodness sake that was a pre season friendly. Even top European sides get smashed in pre seaon friendlies. In the Manu U17 abi U20 case, Manu have had his team in concentration camp for months while the NPFL sides were just getting started and using the friendlies to try out new players they wish to sign for the new season.

You should ask yourself why haven't those academies won the Nigerian FA cup which is an open tournament for every football club and academy registered in the country? When was the last time an amateur side or academy played up to the semi finals of the FA cup? I think the last it happened was in the 90s with a team called Arugo.
How many NPFL titles have Manu won?
Please give me break.

Some pages back I read some people saying scoring in the league is very easy with bad defenders. I asked myself, is it the same Nigerian league I know?

The same league it took almost forever for someone to break Ishaya Jatus record of 20 goals. As a matter of fact, the 20 goal mark have been crossed not more than 2wice if I recall correctly. But just to make an arguement we are being made to believe scoring in the NPFL is very easy.

Do you know why only Musa have managed to break even out of the lot you listed? I will tell you.
Back in 2012 when Musa broke out of the scene. Musa was the busiest Nigerian footballer. He played in almost all the national teams bar U17. He played for the U20s, U23's and super eagles simultaneously. These various exposures with the national teams exposed him to the transfer market before Venlo signed him up. This same expose you vehemently refuse to see the reasons why the Mfm striker shouldn't be invited for a friendly in London.

How come the Dutch league and Belgian leagues are renowned for producing talents but these same talents don't do well in champions league and Europa leagueEuropa league for their home nation teams?

I read that too @bolded and smiled. It reminded me about the presumptuous statements the clueless Alan Smyth used to make at then Espn soccer net press pass

bazooka1:

You're in point. Even when the league had the likes of Okocha, Kanu, Yekini and so on we never did well in the champions league.

As a matter of fact, our league is in a much more better shape now than when Enyimba won it back to back.
Take for instance, there was no TV coverage as we have now. Back then, there was no way you could go away and get a draw in the league with the playing pitches nothing to write home about.
League champions back in 2004 hardly took home up to 1M. While Rangers last season went home with 40M.

People mistake Enyimba winning the champions league as being a reflection of the quality of our league back then. we really need a reality check. People fall for these fallacies when they just sit at home and make analysis especially when they want to attack the NPFL at every opportunity.

I can bet that most the bashers here have not watched one NPFL match this season. They were just waiting for our clubs to fail in the continent so they could say I told u so.

bazooka1:


I think people should stop using that Manu U17 team beating NPFL sides as a justification to rubbish npfl. For goodness sake that was a pre season friendly. Even top European sides get smashed in pre seaon friendlies. In the Manu U17 abi U20 case, Manu have had his team in concentration camp for months while the NPFL sides were just getting started and using the friendlies to try out new players they wish to sign for the new season.

You should ask yourself why haven't those academies won the Nigerian FA cup which is an open tournament for every football club and academy registered in the country? When was the last time an amateur side or academy played up to the semi finals of the FA cup? I think the last it happened was in the 90s with a team called Arugo.
How many NPFL titles have Manu won?
Please give me break.

Some pages back I read some people saying scoring in the league is very easy with bad defenders. I asked myself, is it the same Nigerian league I know?
The same league it took almost forever for someone to break Ishaya Jatus record of 20 goals. As a matter of fact, the 20 goal mark have been crossed not more than 2wice if I recall correctly. But just to make an arguement we are being made to believe scoring in the NPFL is very easy.

Do you know why only Musa have managed to break even out of the lot you listed? I will tell you.
Back in 2012 when Musa broke out of the scene. Musa was the busiest Nigerian footballer. He played in almost all the national teams bar U17. He played for the U20s, U23's and super eagles simultaneously. These various exposures with the national teams exposed him to the transfer market before Venlo signed him up. This same expose you vehemently refuse to see the reasons why the Mfm striker shouldn't be invited for a friendly in London.

How come the Dutch league and Belgian leagues are renowned for producing talents but these same talents don't do well in champions league and Europa leagueEuropa league for their home nation teams?

Ahmed Musa had already jetted out to VV Venlo before even being invited to the Flying Eagles in 2011. He left Pillars in 2010 after breaking the Nigerian league record. He had to prove himself in a higher league first and at an age grade competition before he was integrated into the Super Eagles. He also played for the U23 while playing for the U20.

Icon4s:


Ahmed Musa had already jetted out to VV Venlo before even being invited to the Flying Eagles in 2011. He left Pillars in 2010 after breaking the Nigerian league record. He had to prove himself in a higher league first and at an age grade competition before he was integrated into the Super Eagles. He also played for the U23 while playing for the U20.

Ahmed Musa while at Kano pillars was already capped at national team level when he broke the league goals record in 2010. He was introduced to the nation team by Lars LagerbackLagerback .
It's not correct to say he got invited to play for the U20s and U23's because he proved himself at Venlo when he was already the talk of the country and was capped back in 2010.

To freshen your mind, Musa's transfer was held up and he only started to play for Venlo in October 2010. The African U20 championship is normally played in January. So it was not about proving anything in a stronger league like you put it.

The reports about Victor Moses being injured were false. Here is the real reason he was taken off.

Antonio Conte reveals tactical tweak that sparked Chelsea win at Stoke

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said he tweaked his side's formation at Stoke because he was not content with just a point.

The Premier League leaders snatched victory three minutes from the end of normal time, having seen a Willian free kick cancelled out by Jonathan Walters' penalty before half-time.

Conte brought on Cesc Fabregas with 20 minutes to go, replacing Victor Moses and altering his 3-4-3 system to a back four to accommodate his substitute in a central role.

The move paid dividends three minutes from time when Gary Cahill lashed in a winner to take the Londoners 13 points clear at the top.

"During the game, when you want to take more risks, when you want to try and take three points and not only one, you try to change," Conte said.

"When you change, for sure there is a greater possibility to score the goal but also to concede a goal. You must know this and then sometimes I prefer to decide to risk it to try to take three points.

"In other situations, I prefer to keep the result."

The result of the change was a fifth straight win in all competitions, meaning Chelsea have dropped points in only three games since September.

Five things learned as Crystal Palace beat Watford: Isaac Success' frustration & Mazzarri's comments


By Hertfordshire Mercury | Posted: March 19, 2017

By Matt Storey


Isaac Success is down the pecking order

Since he returned from injury against Arsenal, Success has come off the bench in every game, but never been handed a start.

His cameo performances were put down to regaining his fitness and finding his form again, which was understandable

Well he has not looked off the pace yet and he certainly did not look out form when he set up Stefano Okaka two-weeks ago against Southampton.

But Daryl Janmaat was handed a start in a wide role, Nordin Amrabat came on before Success was considered, despite not playing for two and a half months, and the Nigerian had to make do with just ten-minutes.

If he was still short of fitness, as Mazzarri claimed, surely he'd have been given an opportunity in one of the U23 games.

It's clear Success has slipped down the pecking order and doesn't look like being handed a start anytime soon, unless injuries hand him the opportunity.

Read more at http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/five-things-learned-as-crystal-palace-beat-watford-isaac-success-frustration-mazzarri-s-comments/story-30213079-detail/story.html#ky6OZkE1Tmm5JcPI.99

bazooka1:


Ahmed Musa while at Kano pillars was already capped at national team level when he broke the league goals record in 2010. He was introduced to the nation team by Lars LagerbackLagerback .
It's not correct to say he got invited to play for the U20s and U23's because he proved himself at Venlo when he was already the talk of the country and was capped back in 2010.

To freshen your mind, Musa's transfer was held up and he only started to play for Venlo in October 2010. The African U20 championship is normally played in January. So it was not about proving anything in a stronger league like you put it.

Musa did not play at the AYC in January of 2011. He featured at the WYC in June /July of 2011 after having a good season first season at Venlo.

ODION IGHALO- My unforgettable moments in English Premier League



Odion Jude Ighalo scored an impressive 39 goals in 100 appearances during his exciting stint with English Premier League side, Watford. The 27-year-old Nigerian international speaks about his unforgettable moments in the EPL as well as his adventure in the Chinese Super League, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

It is no longer news that Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, unexpectedly moved to the Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai F.C. from the English Premier League (EPL) for a reported fee of £27 Million during the January transfer window. The Nigerian joined Watford then campaigning in the Nationwide League on a season-long loan deal from Udinese in 2014 and he spent an amazing three years with the Hornets where he helped the modest side secure promotion as well as scoring 39 goals in 100 appearances.

Born in Lagos where his career took off before moving to Watford’s partner club Udinese in 2008, Ighalo’s first real break came when he moved to Spain with Granada–who also have links with Watford–and he scored 35 goals over two loan spells. He joined Watford initially on loan at the beginning of the season before making the deal permanent thereafter.

But in an exclusive conversation from his base in China, Ighalo has finally shared his best moments in the EPL, saying two events would forever remain indelible in his memory.

“I have a lot of great memories playing in the English Premier League with Watford,” Ighalo told The Nation Sport & Style, “but I will never forget our promotion day to the EPL and the day I scored my first EPL goal.”

Ighalo’s first EPL goal actually came on August 8, 2015 after he came on as a second half substitute for José Manuel Jurado 16 minutes from time and putting the visitors ahead 2–1 in an eventual 2–2 draw away against Everton for the season opener.

He later netted twice in a 2–0 home win over West Ham United on October 31, reaching seven goals for the season and becoming the highest club scorer in the competition after just 11 matches.

Ighalo on December 20, 2015 scored in a Watford victory for the fourth consecutive time, netting a brace in a 3–0 win over Liverpool. His five-goal haul earned him December’s Premier League Player of the Month, while his then manager Quique Sánchez Flores won the equivalent award.

But he suffered some setback at the start of the season and eventually broke a 599-minute personal scoring drought March 13 2016, with a goal in a 2–1 win against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup which got the Hornets into the last four for the first time in nine years. He scored just one league goal at the start of the new season and did not find the net in any of his last 15 games prior to his departure.

His transfer from England to China on the transfer deadline in January came as a rude shock but the well the well-travelled 27-year-old said he was happy leaving England for China

“I am happy going to China because it is a different experience and challenge for me,” he stated.

The 27-year-oldwho has previously played in Norway, Italy, and Spain explained he was ready for the challenges in the Far East where he has twice captained Changchun Yatai in their opening two Chinese Super League matches.
He continued: “Of course, I’m prepared for the challenges in China. Yes, I agree with you that it is adventure but I have an open mind and prepare the same way I did when I was going to all those other countries (Norway, Spain and Italy) without knowing anything about them.”

He said Watford made it easier for him to decide on joining the train to China where the Chinese Super League has now become a Mecca of some sort with many international stars including his compatriots – Brown Ideye, Mikel Obi and Obafemi Martins – in the Super League.

“It was not a difficult decision for me to make (joining Changchun Yatai) particularly when Watford could not make agreement with the other teams (that wanted me) because of the huge amount of money they wanted; it was then I decided it was time to head to Asia,” he revealed.

For those who have been following Ighalo on the social media, he is having the fun of his life in China with frequent up loads of many sceneries from skyscrapers and Chinese cuisines on a daily basis as he settles down in his new environment.

“Changchun Yatai may not be a big club,” admitted Ighalo. “But they want to achieve something great this season; and I’m ready to help my team do better than they did last season.”

As part of his adaptation to the new environment, he has already excused himself from Super Eagles’ upcoming international friendly matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London

“I agreed with the coach (Gernot Rohr) that I need to settle down and play games here (China),” he stated.

There was so much frenzy following Ighalo’s move to China with revelations that he was going to earn a whopping £200,00 per week in wages but the guy who grew up in the Ajegunle ghetto in Lagos said he would never forget his humble beginning hence his love for charitable gestures.

“I would say a lot of my income would go into my charity which I have been doing even before now,” he said. “My orphanage home which is in Lagos is almost ready. I have been doing that before and would do even more now. I would most likely open the orphanage home in November or December.”

The orphanage home aptly called ‘Ighalo Orphanage Home’ is located at Kudeyindu Estate in Ijegun, Lagos and it was almost 90% completed from the photos the former Watford striker shared on his Twitter and Instagram.

Ighalo, in the meantime, has been described as one of the most trusted Nigerian players to deal with by FIFA agent Atta Aneke in a recent interview posted by soccer website, scorenigeria.com.ng.

“I am very proud of Odion Ighalo, who I have worked with since 2007,” he said. “There is also Daniel Chima Chukwu and Chukwuma Akabueze and some agents are surprised because they hear of Nigerian players switching agents every year; If you are honest and transparent, they see that you really care and don’t see them as a way to make money, then I believe they will be loyal.”

Mar 20, 2017 09:17:12



Following his outstanding start to life in Turkish League, the Super Eagles midfielder will be sharing a nickname with the basketball legend



Nigeria's Ogenyi Onazi has been nicknamed 'Black Mamba' by Trabzonspor fans to acknowledge his speed and agility in the heart of the midfield.

Onazi joined Ersun Yanal's side from Lazio in August and has played in almost every league game as they continue their push for an Europa League spot, which just three points behind Fenerbahce.

The Nigeria international who has proved himself to be a perfect fit in the midfield for the Şenol Güneş Stadium outfit will be sharing a name with the deadliest snake in the continent of Africa and a nickname of NBA great, Kobe Bryant

Black Mambas are second longest venomous snake in the world after King Cobra and are believed to be the fastest land snake in the world with speed in excess of 12 miles per hour.

With habitat in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa and extraordinary speed, combined with its fast-striking venom, can the 24-year-old Nigerian make a name for himself as one of the world's best midfielders.

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4110/nigerians-abroad/2017/03/20/33823932/extra-time-ogenyi-gets-kobe-bryants-nickname

Icon4s:


Musa did not play at the AYC in January of 2011. He featured at the WYC in June /July of 2011 after having a god season first season at Venlo.

How about other players like Dike, Uche Nwofor, Gabriel Suswan and about 90% of the team who made the team to the U20 as homebased players? Some others like Edafe Egbedi was not even attached.
Please, get your facts. Musa didn't make that team because he proved himself at Venlo.

My goals will speak to Rohr, says MFM’s Odey
By David Ngobua @Ngobuadavid | Publish Date: Mar 14 2017 1:40AM


Leading goals scorer in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Stephen Odey of MFM FC has said his goals will convince Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr to invite him to the national team.

Although he has already scored eight goals in the 13 weeks old NPFL, the centre forward is one of the stars in the domestic league who have been overlooked by the trainer ahead of this month’s friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

Most Nigerian football fans have queried the list which did not include any local player despite earlier promise by the coach that players who excel in the domestic league would be considered for the senior national team.

Speaking to Daily Trust, the MFM marksman said instead of worrying over invitation to the Super Eagles, he wants to keep scoring goals for his club.

Odey whose goal earned MFM an away point against Enyimba last Saturday, said his goals are another way of ‘speaking’ to the Super Eagles handler.

“Like any other player, I want to play for the Super Eagles. However, I cannot tell the coach to invite me. Anytime he feels I am good enough or he needs my kind of player, I believe he will invite me.

“For now, I want to keep scoring goals. My goals will speak to him about me. I am working hard on my game and I am sure my time in the Super Eagles will come.

“So I am not disturbing myself about Super Eagles for now. God’s time is always the best,” he said.

Odey also attributed the good run of MFM in the league to unity in the team.

He said the club is like one indivisible family and so God is happy with MFM who are strong contenders for the NPFL title.

“There is unity in the team and that is what is working for us. When people are united, they can achieve anything through God,” he said.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/sports/my-goals-will-speak-to-rohr-says-mfm-s-odey/189060.html#drho5CLyO4oXmCe5.99