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.

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.

SharpJoe:
Nigeria. It hurts. When I think of the talents we have produced and how behind we are in World Football, it is so sad. When I think of a player like Haruna Babangida who was announced as the best young player coming to Nigeria 99. When I think of how magical Ikedia was. I hope someone, someday makes a versus clip of Ikedia vs Ireland in Nigeria 99. Let people see talent. Abubakar Musa, Aniele who was brilliant. Later came Ajagun who won the Shell Cup and then came the brilliant Osunwa. Blessing Kaku, Emma Issah, Ogbeche, Okunowo, Sunday Ibeji and many more.

We so mismanaged that Golden generation of top quality players. I hope we get it right this time.

bigblangston:
Ajibade omolade, John Aranka, Endurance Idahor (my senior in Julius Berger fc), David Anumunu , Yaro yaroand also David Tyvkase et al. those were the guys I thought will break into the super eagles but sad to say, they weren't eagles material

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...

Icon4s:
To join TheGoodJoe, Goldfish80 and Tbaba1234 in the Yobo discussion.

We all know that Yobo started off as a striker bt then he was at the Michelin team based in Port Harcourt.

In 1998 he moved to standard liege of Belgium. He was in their youth team where they remoulded him into a defender.

In Nigeria '99 Yobo was a defender. I recall how he being a striker thing came about. Some press men hu knew him in PH or hu heard he was a striker in that PH club listed him as a striker but he really was a defender in that tourney.

And i hope u guys are not confusing Joseph with his elder brother, Albert Yobo who played for the Eaglets in 1995.

If i can recall vividly well, Nigeria went with 3 strikers: Julius Aghahowa, Eddy Dumbraye and Danny Shittu.

Gabriel Melkam was an Attacking Midfielder, Haruna Babangida was a winger, Hamishu Garba was a Wings Forward/ AM. Gbenga Okunowo who was captain of the 1997 Flying was a midfielder. Barca converted him to a RB.

Goldfish80 our first game was against Costa Rica and not Paraguay. Julius Aghahowa opened scoring for Nigeria at the national stadium in Surulere. Costa Rica equalised while we were in search of an insurance second goal. It ended 1-1. Tunde Disu was sacked after the 3rd game against Paraguay and Thijs Libregts who was then Super Eagles coach was made to continue with the team.

I am not just quoting from wikipedia, i am giving you from my own memory. Also i was already a sports writer as at that time.

Icon4s:
To join TheGoodJoe, Goldfish80 and Tbaba1234 in the Yobo discussion.

We all know that Yobo started off as a striker bt then he was at the Michelin team based in Port Harcourt.

In 1998 he moved to standard liege of Belgium. He was in their youth team where they remoulded him into a defender.

In Nigeria '99 Yobo was a defender. I recall how he being a striker thing came about. Some press men hu knew him in PH or hu heard he was a striker in that PH club listed him as a striker but he really was a defender in that tourney.

And i hope u guys are not confusing Joseph with his elder brother, Albert Yobo who played for the Eaglets in 1995.

If i can recall vividly well, Nigeria went with 3 strikers: Julius Aghahowa, Eddy Dumbraye and Danny Shittu.

Gabriel Melkam was an Attacking Midfielder, Haruna Babangida was a winger, Hamishu Garba was a Wings Forward/ AM. Gbenga Okunowo who was captain of the 1997 Flying was a midfielder. Barca converted him to a RB.

Goldfish80 our first game was against Costa Rica and not Paraguay. Julius Aghahowa opened scoring for Nigeria at the national stadium in Surulere. Costa Rica equalised while we were in search of an insurance second goal. It ended 1-1. Tunde Disu was sacked after the 3rd game against Paraguay and Thijs Libregts who was then Super Eagles coach was made to continue with the team.

I am not just quoting from wikipedia, i am giving you from my own memory. Also i was already a sports writer as at that time.

SharpJoe:


I think it has to do with more of us mismanaging these players and without a growth plan for them. We need to do more like an earlier suggested friendly ties for our U17, U20 and U23 teams during international breaks. We have to keep engaging and growing the players.

SharpJoe:



It is very obvious you did not watch Nigeria 99. Your Libregets post exposed it. Tunde Disu got fired and Libregets coached the team in the Second Round and Quarter finals. I even watched his first training session and the Quarter final game was at Enugu.

Forlan and Ronaldinho played at the same time with us. Uruguay eliminated Brazil. I repeat, the competition was too stiff for Yobo to play attack. Eddie Dombraye who was a sharp striker was on the bench. There were other players who could play upfront before Yobo.

How can Yobo get a cameo role before Dombraye. Melkam could, play upfront Shittu could play upfront.

bigblangston:
so on point...
about the Nigeria 99 thingy... Thijits libregts, the worst coach to ever coached Nigeria took the reins after Tunde disu was sacked in the competition and yobo played as a defender. I can still see him in my subconscious playing in Lagos

goldfish80:


I watched live not in TV the Nigeria vs Mali quater finals in Enugu. I was still to gain access to the jam packed Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium when fans screamed Goal! Those of us outside started jubilanting,we thought Nigeria scored only to gain access into the stadium and saw a different thing in the score board.
Ikedia was the only Nigerian player who came to the party. He was so good that one Hausa man sitting in front of me wrote on a white handkerchief "I love Ikedia" we all cheered.

One player who who had a very bad game was Musa. We were all screaming to the bench "change Musa put Shittu". The Malians were just too good on the day. Diarra and Seydou Keita. We just couldn't handle Seydou Keita on the day. There was visible panick whenever Keita was in the ball. Lots of locals nicknamed him Ogbete because of a market in Enugu called Kenyatta,it was like a funny way they could connect to him.

After the tournament, Ikenna Eneh bought a blue Mercedes-Benz flat boot. We stayed in the same neighborhood at the time. When he fought with his elder brother Ziko, he used to run to my house and hide.
I followed Nigeria 99 bumper to bumper. Ikenna Eneh's mother used to come to our house to watch her son on TV.

I repeat, Yobo did not smell the pitch as a right back in 99.

Icon4s:
To join TheGoodJoe, Goldfish80 and Tbaba1234 in the Yobo discussion.

We all know that Yobo started off as a striker bt then he was at the Michelin team based in Port Harcourt.

In 1998 he moved to standard liege of Belgium. He was in their youth team where they remoulded him into a defender.

In Nigeria '99 Yobo was a defender. I recall how he being a striker thing came about. Some press men hu knew him in PH or hu heard he was a striker in that PH club listed him as a striker but he really was a defender in that tourney.

And i hope u guys are not confusing Joseph with his elder brother, Albert Yobo who played for the Eaglets in 1995.

If i can recall vividly well, Nigeria went with 3 strikers: Julius Aghahowa, Eddy Dumbraye and Danny Shittu.

Gabriel Melkam was an Attacking Midfielder, Haruna Babangida was a winger, Hamishu Garba was a Wings Forward/ AM. Gbenga Okunowo who was captain of the 1997 Flying was a midfielder. Barca converted him to a RB.

Goldfish80 our first game was against Costa Rica and not Paraguay. Julius Aghahowa opened scoring for Nigeria at the national stadium in Surulere. Costa Rica equalised while we were in search of an insurance second goal. It ended 1-1. Tunde Disu was sacked after the 3rd game against Paraguay and Thijs Libregts who was then Super Eagles coach was made to continue with the team.

I am not just quoting from wikipedia, i am giving you from my own memory. Also i was already a sports writer as at that time.

goldfish80:


I watched live not in TV the Nigeria vs Mali quater finals in Enugu. I was still to gain access to the jam packed Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium when fans screamed Goal! Those of us outside started jubilanting,we thought Nigeria scored only to gain access into the stadium and saw a different thing in the score board.
Ikedia was the only Nigerian player who came to the party. He was so good that one Hausa man sitting in front of me wrote on a white handkerchief "I love Ikedia" we all cheered.

One player who who had a very bad game was Musa. We were all screaming to the bench "change Musa put Shittu". The Malians were just too good on the day. Diarra and Seydou Keita. We just couldn't handle Seydou Keita on the day. There was visible panick whenever Keita was in the ball. Lots of locals nicknamed him Ogbete because of a market in Enugu called Kenyatta,it was like a funny way they could connect to him.

After the tournament, Ikenna Eneh bought a blue Mercedes-Benz flat boot. We stayed in the same neighborhood at the time. When he fought with his elder brother Ziko, he used to run to my house and hide.
I followed Nigeria 99 bumper to bumper. Ikenna Eneh's mother used to come to our house to watch her son on TV.

I repeat, Yobo did not smell the pitch as a right back in 99.

SharpJoe:


The facts is very clear and people has confirmed he was not a striker. We never changed our central defensive pair with Rabiu Afolabi and the other tall, lanky Igbo Guy. Eneh always played at the left back role and Obinna Okpala replaced him once at the right back role. So if Yobo a Standard Liège defender played a cameo role in the WYC, what role did he play because he could not smell the forward role.

goldfish80:

How come Fifa listed him as a striker? FIFA for all their incompetence and and corruption do not make such typos.

goldfish80:

How come Fifa listed him as a striker? FIFA for all their incompetence and and corruption do not make such typos.

SharpJoe:


Either way, nice trip down memory lane. I visited Enugu not long after that game against Mali and I even got information from some footballers that the young ball boy who delighted the crowd with a brilliant ball control on the touch line and return the ball with a bicycle kick was Chinedu Obasi.

Also interesting thinking back on Ganiyu Shittu yesterday, I remembered how skillful he was and had a similar style to Abubakar Musa. It is a long time back. You could easily have missed the memory of Libregts.

Two players you missed from the Malian side were Bagayoko and Mahammadu Dissa.

Mickael2:


He is the best striker we have in our camp right now, not the best striker we have. I disagree

SharpJoe:


Just as Icon4s pointed out, I do not need FIFA website to tell me about Nigeria 99. Yobo in 1998 was already playing as a defender for Standard Liège. That FIFA site list is wrong and the Wikipedia site correct.

Yobo was not a striker in the team and there was no way he would smell that role with players like Shittu, Melkam, Musa, Ikedia, Aghahowa, Hashimu Garba, Dombraye and Haruna Babangida in the squad.

SharpJoe:


Either way, nice trip down memory lane. I visited Enugu not long after that game against Mali and I even got information from some footballers that the young ball boy who delighted the crowd with a brilliant ball control on the touch line and return the ball with a bicycle kick was Chinedu Obasi.

Also interesting thinking back on Ganiyu Shittu yesterday, I remembered how skillful he was and had a similar style to Abubakar Musa. It is a long time back. You could easily have missed the memory of Libregts.

Two players you missed from the Malian side were Bagayoko and Mahammadu Dissa.

SharpJoe:


Impressive. You were a sports writer at that time. No wonder you writing flows with ease.

With respect to Haruna Babangida, in the game against Costa Rica, he played an attacking role. He was a winger who could play as a forward role. Well, I was a bit young and did not know too much on the attacking roles of our players. However, that was a nice attacking team.

That Costa Rica game hurt, with Gen. Abdulsalami in the stadium. We were all over the Costa Ricans looking for a second goal when they scored us towards the end of the game.

goldfish80:


I don't need FifA site to remind me about Nigeria 99. For argument sake, I cited FifA.
Could be the technical bench tried experimenting playing Yobo further up the pitch since he pretty much started his career there and our attack refused to click with Eddy Dombraye, Aghahowa, Ikedia and Yaro Yaro playing like strangers.
I saw Yobo with my korokoro eyes playing as a striker.

Icon4s:


Sports writing/reporting was my first career.

I was still an undergraduate then though.

Then we wrote more for the fun and fame. U know, ur friends reading ur column and hailing and respecting u. I wrote for Complete football. A one time monthly football magazine in the 90s

I am into something else now.

bigblangston:
Really, so it was Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke that did that? I pulled that stunt immediately I went to school so as to be included in the principal cup. I remembered I lost consciousness when I tried that bicycle kick due to the fact that I landed on the back of my head.

goldfish80:


I don't need FifA site to remind me about Nigeria 99. For argument sake, I cited FifA.
Could be the technical bench tried experimenting playing Yobo further up the pitch since he pretty much started his career there and our attack refused to click with Eddy Dombraye, Aghahowa, Ikedia and Yaro Yaro playing like strangers.
I saw Yobo with my korokoro eyes playing as a striker.

SharpJoe:


I knew complete football then and we always looked forward to their last edition before World Cups and World Youth Championships where they profiled players. Much respect. That is remarkable.

TheSuperNerd:

I don't know what you mean by fake but Iwobi struggled against Senegal... even though he had a one or two flashes of brilliance.

Simon too was not so impactful (even though he made a few runs and dribbles).

Kayode did good within the limited time he featured. He wasn't poor naa... did I report him as poor? no naa.... apart from his missed sitter (Iheanacho even missed more chances), He did great in attack with limited time.


And thanks ooooo..... "Market" well.... market is fine....

SharpJoe:


He did not. Icon4s explained to you that Yobo was converted to a defender when he left for Belgium. We would not drop Aniele to experiment with a defender as a striker. It is too illogical.

Icon4s:


At Nigeria '99 Yobo was a defender. I cant recall exactly Wether RB or CB.

The thing is Yobo moved forward a lot especially when there was a set piece to be taken. Yobo i think is about one of our defenders that scored the most goals.

I think there were times in that tourney when Yobo, bc of his striker abilities, would drift forward to support the strikers. As i said earlier especially during set piece taking.

So goldfish80 may have thought on such occasions that Yobo was a striker.

Icon4s:


Abeg who is that our best striker? You know we are still shopping for more striking options.

SharpJoe:


Impressive. You were a sports writer at that time. No wonder you writing flows with ease.

With respect to Haruna Babangida, in the game against Costa Rica, he played an attacking role. He was a winger who could play as a forward role. Well, I was a bit young and did not know too much on the attacking roles of our players. However, that was a nice attacking team.

That Costa Rica game hurt, with Gen. Abdulsalami in the stadium. We were all over the Costa Ricans looking for a second goal when they scored us towards the end of the game.