TheSuperNerd:
Viola.... I knew wikipedia could be wrong.... loll


Fifa.com records Yobo as a forward...
and that was my first U-20 world cup as a seven year old... I remembered ikedia moments against Ireland and aghohowa... Sam okoye... awwwwwwwwn... yobo in jersey no 14 but couldn't tell what role was playing then as he always ventured forward on the right... #littleboymemories


http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/archive/nigeria1999/teams/team=1888282/index.html

tbaba1234:


Yolo was certainly not a right back in Nigeria 99... He was used as a number 9.. He was usually introduced late in games.

TheGoodJoe:


Okunowo actually, there was a tournament called the Meridian Cup that Nigeria played at that time. We beat Spain in that tourney that paraded some promising Barcelona starlets. One of the best players of that competition was Okunowo and Barcelona snapped him. At that time, he had more rep than Xavi. When he arrived Barca at that time, Xavi came to introduce himself to Gbenga Okunowo that he played against him in Meridian Cup.

Okunowo was good but injury robbed him of his spotlight.

TheGoodJoe:


Yobo played right back and not attack. Which space would Yobo see to play attack in that team. Dombraye and Melkam were strikers and they were on the bench. At that time, Haruna Babangida was rated higher than Ronaldinho. He was the star coming to Nigeria '99. We had too many top quality players for Yobo to even get picked as a striker.

We still had Hashimu Garba.

TheGoodJoe:


Melkam was the nine introduced late in games and he wore the nine. Ganiyu Shittu could also play forward. There was no place for Yobo upfront.

TheGoodJoe:


Did I say Yobo did not start as a striker? I said in Nigeria '99, he was a right back. I am not browsing this. I can tell you Eddie Dombraye was left footed and was one of those who took penalties against Robbie Keane and Damien Doff's Ireland. He placed a low trick penalty and beat the keeper. He carried a bald cut.

Shittu scored the winner in the penalty and danced with his hands open. Hashimu Garba scored in the quarter finals against Seydou Keita's Mali. He scored from a cross from Ikedia down the right flank. Hashimu headed the ball and was running to celebrate when the keeper tipped the ball. It came back to Garba and he buried it.

I even did not mention Abubakar Musa who was playing for Eagle Cement of Port Harcourt. He was the captain of the team in the AYC and we lost the final to Ghana. Then there was a shuffle in the team and a brilliant forward, Emmanuel Aniele (I believe Icon4s knows him) lost his place.

I can tell you against Costa Rica, Aghahowa scored the first goal and the commentator said Nigeria just found a star. Haruna Babangida was through on goal towards the end and decided to show boat with a turn and a defender nicked the ball off him.

Melkam came in as a sub in some games. So, it is not Internet things. Rabiu Afolabi was the captain and in defence. Eneh had dada hair as right back. Obinna Okpala, a relation of Coach Sylvanus Okpala was a talented left back but hardly played because of negative reports of him getting a place into the squad through his uncle.

Dominic Oruma was a keeper and Wilson Oruma's younger brother. Looked a lot like Oruma and wore Wilson's Lens jerseys during training. Please, this is not browsing.

Yobo was not a striker in flying Eagles 1999 as you said. Finish.

goldfish80:

Wikipedia is not the right place to source for information most times. Funny enough they listed Libregets as Flying Eagles coach in 99 which is wrong, Disu was the manager in charge of that team. While Libregets was the manager of the super eagles for a few months. The man was a car crash.
Erroneously they listed Yobo as a DF. If not for some of us who followed the team, we would have gone with the flow that Yobo played as a defender in that tourney.

TheGoodJoe:


Rohr can not call everyone. If his apparatus in Germany makes him feel we can gain from Bazee, I think he should go ahead. You might like what These other players offer but Rohr might see something in Bazee he prefers.

goldfish80:

If you can recall all these I wonder why it skipped you that Yobo was a striker in the 99 team. I recall seeing the baby-faced Yobo for the first time against Paraguay or so in the group stages. He made a cameo as a striker. Even in his testimonial game in Ph,the commentators mentioned that he started as a striker for the Flying Eagles when he was moved up front and scored a goal in the second half of the game.

goldfish80:

If you can recall all these I wonder why it skipped you that Yobo was a striker in the 99 team. I recall seeing the baby-faced Yobo for the first time against Paraguay or so in the group stages. He made a cameo as a striker. Even in his testimonial game in Ph,the commentators mentioned that he started as a striker for the Flying Eagles when he was moved up front and scored a goal in the second half of the game.

komekn:


Coaches, Managers and pundits agree to disagree it's not a problem. I accept Rohr is in charge, he is doing an excellent job. However, I do not have to agree with all of his decisions.

I am unapologetically and undeniably English Nigerian players biased but not by sentiment or prejudice. But from experiential knowledge and understanding, I could add empathy as well.

I know about and I am involved in the English football system. I know a whole lot of players and watch a huge amount of games Live including U23's and down.

Statistics are indicative and not necessarily absolutes, I make comparison from facts, figures and from what I know. It may be hard cold and clinical but it's the way the truth is sometimes.

In a previous post I made an objective comparison of Onyedinma and Bazee giving my rational not just sentimental assumption. To give the reasoning behind. my preference.

tbaba1234:


He missed the ball completely.

If you claim, he touched it.. It does not make Akpeyi's case better because there was a defender there to clear properly.

After a corner , Players revert to zonal marking.. The players were covering their zones but there was no man in the post.

BascoVanVeli:


U really didn't see him punching that ball? There was no man in the post because he clashed with his player going for the ball, these things happen in football we don't have to make a big deal about it.

tbaba1234:


He did not touch it, in my opinion.. If he did, it was still atrocious goalkeeping.

Yes, it happens in football (even the best keepers make errors) but it was a clear goalkeeping error.

SharpJoe:
cc: goldfish80 and tbaba1234

Standard Liège » Squad 1997/1998


http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/standard-liege/1998/2/

You can see Standard Liège listed Yobo as a defender and Rabiu Afolabi, the other Nigerian defender in the team was also in Nigeria 99. He was the one who got the captain band from Abubakar Musa after we lost the AYC finals to Ghana by a goal.

BascoVanVeli:


If he did not touch it then who did? The ball changed direction and his fist clealy went for the ball.

whizola:

ISAAC SUCCESS: NIGERIA'S ALL-ACTION POWERHOUSE PERFORMER.
TAGGED: SUPER EAGLES, IWOBI, IH...
0 LIKES
Nigeria 1-1 Senegal: Isaac Success proves he can definitely live up to his name, but not all the Super Eagles’ starlets did themselves justice.
The Super Eagles pose for a photo before kick-off.
On a frightfully cold Thursday evening, two African heavyweights came to blows. What was on a paper a bizarrely organised friendly — the match taking place in front of 2,013 people at Barnet’s home stadium, The Hive — turned out to be an entertaining match with plenty of Scouted-approved talent on show… even if I did spill coffee over my nice jumper.
. @ScoutedFtbl @_PhilCosta In all the excitement I've spilt coffee down my nice jumper. Nigeria playing a risky game at the back. Ndidi looking great.
9:42 PM - 23 Mar 2017
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
After a Google Maps mishap and a complete misjudgement of the number of fans that would make the same last-minute decision as I did, I was unable to get in the ground ahead of kick-off and soak up the friendly atmosphere. But, after paying a respectable £10 for my place in the South terrace I was finally able to enjoy the game and divert my attention away from the bitterly cold weather.
My focus now was solely on Nigeria.
The Super Eagles are in the process of ushering in a new generation of talent — something that our very own
Phil Costa has written about before — and much of it was on show with six U23 players named in the starting XI.
. @ScoutedFtbl U23 players in starting XI:
Ndidi (20)
Iwobi (20)
Iheanacho (20)
Simon (21)
Omeruo (23)
Troost-Ekong (23)
8:46 PM - 23 Mar 2017
2 1
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
Premier League stars Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho were the big attractions, for Nigerian fans at least, and were pitted against a strong Senegalese side whose star performer on the night was Everton’s midfield dynamo, Idrissa Gueye.
Arsenal's Alex Iwobi (20) in action for Nigeria against Senegal.
The Lions of Teranga troubled Nigeria in the first half with high pressing and solid defending. The aforementioned Premier League duo were playing closely together but failed to create any chances of note, neither for each other or their teammates. A tame first half performance was punctuated by wasteful crossing in attack and unconvincing defending at the back.
The start of the second half saw Fenerbahce goal-machine and bicycle-kick extraordinaire, Moussa Sow, give Senegal the lead. Unfortunately, his effort was untypically ordinary, firing the ball home after Nigeria failed to clear Idrissa Gueye’s cross from the right.
Moussa Sow puts Senegal ahead in the early stages of the second half.
The Super Eagles wrestled back control soon after, however, and managed to reassert themselves in the game. Despite Sadio Mané entering the fray to a rapturous applause from both sets of fans, 20-year-old Wilfred Ndidi was looking the most likely to lead a Super Eagles’ comeback, building on a solid first-half display with another combative and assertive midfield performance.
For all Ndidi's work, however, Nigeria were still struggling in attack, and it was Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi in particular that fell short of the high standards he has established for himself. The 20-year-old has come under increasing amounts of criticism of late and would have loved to put on a show; if not to dispel the doubts of others, then to at least expel any that might be developing in his own mind. The minutes and faith both Arsene Wenger and the Nigerian national team have pumped into him is a clear sign of his ability and, even more so, his potential. Perhaps for Alex Iwobi a few games out of the spotlight is the best way to arrest is ‘poor’ run of form.
Etebo and Success replace Iwobi and Simon. The Arsenal man didn't have the best of games, misplacing too many passes.
10:27 PM - 23 Mar 2017
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
But whilst one Premier League star may have disappointed the expectant travelling supporters, the man who replaced him did not. Watford’s Isaac Success, sporting the number 8 on the evening, trotted onto the pitch with the nonchalant swagger that has characterised his brief playing career.
On the night, however, it was his powerful physique that was on show.
Rather than hiding behind his usual baggy shorts and an oversized top, Success was practically bursting out of his Nigerian kit – his tree-trunk thighs screaming to be set free from his tight shorts á la The Incredible Hulk. He even played like Bruce Banner’s angry alter ago: he was, in every sense, a Green Machine.
It's official; Isaac Success (21) has the biggest thighs in football.
Swatting away Senegalese defenders like flies, the Watford winger at first seemed to join Kelechi Iheanacho upfront before moving out towards the right and wreaking havoc. Faced with Kalidou Koulibaly more often than not, Success was able to breeze past the opposing left full-back and torment the giant Napoli defender with his mesmerising step-overs and sheer physicality.
Success' introduction, his pace and direct approach, lifted Nigeria and in the end, it was in fact the Man City starlet who made the decisive breakthrough.
Racing onto a hopeful through ball from deep in midfield, Kelechi Iheanacho's electric pace ensured it was his toe rather than the goalkeeper’s glove that made first contact with the ball, resulting in a fairly routine penalty to be given. With a stutter, he then cooly dispatched the penalty, drawing his side level in the process. Just like that, despite a quiet game overall, in a two-minute spell Kelechi Iheanacho displayed all the attributes that make him such a highly-rated young striker and why we love him to bits at Scouted: pace, composure, and clinical finishing.
Kelechi Iheanacho (20) celebrates after equalising from the spot — his fifth goal in six games for the Super Eagles.
It may have been Iheanacho's name that rang around the stadium, but it was no doubt Isaac Success that shone the brightest for Nigeria on Thursday evening. His brutish strength proved too much to handle and by creating chances and applying pressure, the Super Eagles were eventually able to punish an increasingly nervous-looking Senegal side.
Watford fans will now be hoping that the former Granada man can translate his excellent display into concrete playing time at Vicarage Road. A perceived lack of match fitness has plagued his time in England so far, and perhaps even for good reason. Such a muscular, explosive player will always exert much more stress on his body and recovering from an injury, of which he has already suffered a few, takes frustratingly longer than usual. Ten-minute bursts will hopefully soon become thirty-minute cameos and in time Success may even be unleashed from the start.
His physicality, style of play and demeanour all carry a sense of volatility and inconsistency but when they combine and marry together in harmony, like they did on Thursday night, Isaac Success becomes an entirely different animal: an unstoppable freight train who can just as easily bamboozle his opponent with a piece of deft trickery as he can trample all over them without breaking stride.
IHEANACHO! He wins the penalty and then nonchalantly tucks it home. The stutter will divide opinion.
10:49 PM - 23 Mar 2017
20 16
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
All in all, it was a night of conflicting performances from the young Nigerians, especially from their strong Premier League contingent. But where some may have disappointed, others delighted and it was the performance of brick-s**t house, Isaac Success, that helped the Super Eagles extend their unbeaten run to six games and fans at The Hive buzzing...
(I had to do it.)
By Jake Entwistle.

(@JakeEntwistle )
http://sfhandbook.com/new-blog/2017/3/24/isaac-success-nigerias-all-action-powerhouse-performer#

komekn:


One question what about the Nigerian right back who played for Barcelona at that time his name was Okonowo if im right. Till tomorrow I am perplexed how did he get into Barca.

whizola:

ISAAC SUCCESS: NIGERIA'S ALL-ACTION POWERHOUSE PERFORMER.
TAGGED: SUPER EAGLES, IWOBI, IH...
0 LIKES
Nigeria 1-1 Senegal: Isaac Success proves he can definitely live up to his name, but not all the Super Eagles’ starlets did themselves justice.
The Super Eagles pose for a photo before kick-off.
On a frightfully cold Thursday evening, two African heavyweights came to blows. What was on a paper a bizarrely organised friendly — the match taking place in front of 2,013 people at Barnet’s home stadium, The Hive — turned out to be an entertaining match with plenty of Scouted-approved talent on show… even if I did spill coffee over my nice jumper.
. @ScoutedFtbl @_PhilCosta In all the excitement I've spilt coffee down my nice jumper. Nigeria playing a risky game at the back. Ndidi looking great.
9:42 PM - 23 Mar 2017
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
After a Google Maps mishap and a complete misjudgement of the number of fans that would make the same last-minute decision as I did, I was unable to get in the ground ahead of kick-off and soak up the friendly atmosphere. But, after paying a respectable £10 for my place in the South terrace I was finally able to enjoy the game and divert my attention away from the bitterly cold weather.
My focus now was solely on Nigeria.
The Super Eagles are in the process of ushering in a new generation of talent — something that our very own
Phil Costa has written about before — and much of it was on show with six U23 players named in the starting XI.
. @ScoutedFtbl U23 players in starting XI:
Ndidi (20)
Iwobi (20)
Iheanacho (20)
Simon (21)
Omeruo (23)
Troost-Ekong (23)
8:46 PM - 23 Mar 2017
2 1
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
Premier League stars Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho were the big attractions, for Nigerian fans at least, and were pitted against a strong Senegalese side whose star performer on the night was Everton’s midfield dynamo, Idrissa Gueye.
Arsenal's Alex Iwobi (20) in action for Nigeria against Senegal.
The Lions of Teranga troubled Nigeria in the first half with high pressing and solid defending. The aforementioned Premier League duo were playing closely together but failed to create any chances of note, neither for each other or their teammates. A tame first half performance was punctuated by wasteful crossing in attack and unconvincing defending at the back.
The start of the second half saw Fenerbahce goal-machine and bicycle-kick extraordinaire, Moussa Sow, give Senegal the lead. Unfortunately, his effort was untypically ordinary, firing the ball home after Nigeria failed to clear Idrissa Gueye’s cross from the right.
Moussa Sow puts Senegal ahead in the early stages of the second half.
The Super Eagles wrestled back control soon after, however, and managed to reassert themselves in the game. Despite Sadio Mané entering the fray to a rapturous applause from both sets of fans, 20-year-old Wilfred Ndidi was looking the most likely to lead a Super Eagles’ comeback, building on a solid first-half display with another combative and assertive midfield performance.
For all Ndidi's work, however, Nigeria were still struggling in attack, and it was Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi in particular that fell short of the high standards he has established for himself. The 20-year-old has come under increasing amounts of criticism of late and would have loved to put on a show; if not to dispel the doubts of others, then to at least expel any that might be developing in his own mind. The minutes and faith both Arsene Wenger and the Nigerian national team have pumped into him is a clear sign of his ability and, even more so, his potential. Perhaps for Alex Iwobi a few games out of the spotlight is the best way to arrest is ‘poor’ run of form.
Etebo and Success replace Iwobi and Simon. The Arsenal man didn't have the best of games, misplacing too many passes.
10:27 PM - 23 Mar 2017
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
But whilst one Premier League star may have disappointed the expectant travelling supporters, the man who replaced him did not. Watford’s Isaac Success, sporting the number 8 on the evening, trotted onto the pitch with the nonchalant swagger that has characterised his brief playing career.
On the night, however, it was his powerful physique that was on show.
Rather than hiding behind his usual baggy shorts and an oversized top, Success was practically bursting out of his Nigerian kit – his tree-trunk thighs screaming to be set free from his tight shorts á la The Incredible Hulk. He even played like Bruce Banner’s angry alter ago: he was, in every sense, a Green Machine.
It's official; Isaac Success (21) has the biggest thighs in football.
Swatting away Senegalese defenders like flies, the Watford winger at first seemed to join Kelechi Iheanacho upfront before moving out towards the right and wreaking havoc. Faced with Kalidou Koulibaly more often than not, Success was able to breeze past the opposing left full-back and torment the giant Napoli defender with his mesmerising step-overs and sheer physicality.
Success' introduction, his pace and direct approach, lifted Nigeria and in the end, it was in fact the Man City starlet who made the decisive breakthrough.
Racing onto a hopeful through ball from deep in midfield, Kelechi Iheanacho's electric pace ensured it was his toe rather than the goalkeeper’s glove that made first contact with the ball, resulting in a fairly routine penalty to be given. With a stutter, he then cooly dispatched the penalty, drawing his side level in the process. Just like that, despite a quiet game overall, in a two-minute spell Kelechi Iheanacho displayed all the attributes that make him such a highly-rated young striker and why we love him to bits at Scouted: pace, composure, and clinical finishing.
Kelechi Iheanacho (20) celebrates after equalising from the spot — his fifth goal in six games for the Super Eagles.
It may have been Iheanacho's name that rang around the stadium, but it was no doubt Isaac Success that shone the brightest for Nigeria on Thursday evening. His brutish strength proved too much to handle and by creating chances and applying pressure, the Super Eagles were eventually able to punish an increasingly nervous-looking Senegal side.
Watford fans will now be hoping that the former Granada man can translate his excellent display into concrete playing time at Vicarage Road. A perceived lack of match fitness has plagued his time in England so far, and perhaps even for good reason. Such a muscular, explosive player will always exert much more stress on his body and recovering from an injury, of which he has already suffered a few, takes frustratingly longer than usual. Ten-minute bursts will hopefully soon become thirty-minute cameos and in time Success may even be unleashed from the start.
His physicality, style of play and demeanour all carry a sense of volatility and inconsistency but when they combine and marry together in harmony, like they did on Thursday night, Isaac Success becomes an entirely different animal: an unstoppable freight train who can just as easily bamboozle his opponent with a piece of deft trickery as he can trample all over them without breaking stride.
IHEANACHO! He wins the penalty and then nonchalantly tucks it home. The stutter will divide opinion.
10:49 PM - 23 Mar 2017
20 16
Jake Entwistle
@JakeEntwistle
All in all, it was a night of conflicting performances from the young Nigerians, especially from their strong Premier League contingent. But where some may have disappointed, others delighted and it was the performance of brick-s**t house, Isaac Success, that helped the Super Eagles extend their unbeaten run to six games and fans at The Hive buzzing...
(I had to do it.)
By Jake Entwistle.

(@JakeEntwistle )
http://sfhandbook.com/new-blog/2017/3/24/isaac-success-nigerias-all-action-powerhouse-performer#

Humility017:


I really think...Success should be deployed as a CF and Kelechi as SS or AM.... this combo I believe will throw in goals.. still remember their partnership during UAE Under 17 world cup 2013...

BascoVanVeli:


As a fan of our local league I am very excited by this development. Normally after tournaments players stay idle waiting for a cub overseas but these boys already have clubs. The next step is them breaking into their club sides. They can join a growing crop of young players in the NPFL.

Icon4s:


Young players metamorphose.

These players have a career path. There is a career progression. Coaches typically tie-into the career path or progression of these players. It helps the player progress better.

Ndidi started off as defender and is today a DM.
Iheanacho started as an AM/WF and today a striker, Ahmed Musa started as a striker and today a winger/ss. Observe that coaches have followed along the new career paths of these players.

It helps the players adopt more quickly as d national team most often have barely 2-3days to bond and blend.

Success is now a WF so why should Rohr play him a CF. Iheanacho is the best striker we currently have.

Icon4s:


Young players metamorphose.

These players have a career path. There is a career progression. Coaches typically tie-into the career path or progression of these players. It helps the player progress better.

Ndidi started off as defender and is today a DM.
Iheanacho started as an AM/WF and today a striker, Ahmed Musa started as a striker and today a winger/ss. Observe that coaches have followed along the new career paths of these players.

It helps the players adopt more quickly as d national team most often have barely 2-3days to bond and blend.

Success is now a WF so why should Rohr play him a CF. Iheanacho is the best striker we currently have.

Icon79:
http://www.thenff.com/2017/03/nff-we-had-nothing-to-do-with-livestreaming-hiccup/


Home / Super Eagles / NFF: We had nothing to do with livestreaming hiccup
NFF: We had nothing to do with livestreaming hiccup

By The NFF
Updated: March 24, 2017

* Nigeria, Senegal match organizers upload match for viewing

The Nigeria Football Federation has dissociated itself from the failure of a plan to have Thursday’s international friendly between the Super Eagles and Teranga Lions of Senegal in London streamed live to interested Nigerians.

NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire explained on Friday that the task of having the game put up on livestream, as well as other details like TV production and stadium readiness, was entirely that of the organizers – Eurodata Sport.

“The livestreaming of the match had nothing to do with the NFF. Our clear responsibility was to present a team, by the name Super Eagles of Nigeria, while other tasks were squarely on the plate of the Match Agent. Our Official FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport had an agreement with some firm in Nigeria to livestream the match, through receiving signals from the production team at the stadium, but a technical hitch that arose late in the day conspired to make that impossible.
MR. ADEMOLA OLAJIRE NEW

Ademola Olajire, NFF's Director of Communications

“Mr. Jairo Pachon himself has explained that the hitch was brought to his notice at about 8pm on Thursday, just as the match was kicking off. There was definitely no attempt by the NFF or its Match Agent to scam anyone.”

On Thursday, Jairo Pachon told thenff.com that efforts were at an advanced stage to upload the full match for people to watch for free.

“We have perfected the plan to upload onto a link and then make it public, where people can go and enjoy the full match. What happened was unfortunate but it was a technical issue that nobody could rectify at the time.

“We have the highest regard for fans of Nigerian football worldwide and will never take them for granted. The company concerned will refund in full the monies paid by people who wanted to watch the match on livestream.”

Both teams played out a 1-1 draw under seven degree Celsius weather at The Hive – home ground of League 2 clubs, Barnet FC and London Bees. 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quarter finalists Senegal went ahead in the 54th minute through Moussa Sow but Kelechi Iheanacho clawed the Eagles back from the penalty spot nine minutes from time.

The Super Eagles will take on the Etalons of Burkina Faso at the same venue and time on Monday, in their second friendly game.

goldfish80:

How many goals did we concede when Yobo held sway in the run up to the Afcon gold medal?
At the top of my head I recall we only conceded one goal (a penalty gift from the ref) in the group stage against Zambia.
How exactly did we get better when Yobo was replaced?