Mujtahida:

Art - that's the thing that is missing. Welcome to the age of machine football. My love for the World Cup remains.

*laughing* football don turn to money now. If u no score na bench straight. Very soon goals/assists targets will be set for defenders which they must meet. Hahaha... It's all about STAT now!

jihday:
lol, what's special in THIS Zambian squad? do they now have Ronaldo Messi and kroos?

I wonder o, as if we haven't produced great generations of U20 teams in time past.

I no de wear face cap oh..
be like say you mistake the follower for the leader lol.

AIG07:
why I no go mention you first... Na you be the gang leaders-others still de learn d trade. I respect that your eagle eyes you de always use look under that face-cap. A bi I lie? *laughing*

jihday:
lol, what's special in THIS Zambian squad? do they now have Ronaldo Messi and kroos?

no they don't. But they did the impossible against Algeria. So they deserve some respect.

AIG07:
to be real with ourselves presently, we'll struggle against any side without Balogun, Mikel, and Moses. Reason been that.:
1. We hardly create chances in the absence of Mikel and/or V. Moses and this render our attack impotent anytime de don't play. Go check our previous outings without these two.

2. Our defence struggles in the absence of Leon and commits unnecessary errors.

The truth of the matter is that 'we ain't there yet' (in Chief Icon4s voice). I now see reason with Sir Icon4s on Iheanacho's abysmal performances as a lone striker-it was simply due to the absence of our orchestrators...

I hope Rohr will fix this before the World cup proper.

Cc: Sirs Mickael2, Tbaba, etc

Your observations on the lapses of the team in the absence of the trio is right but it doesn't mean we don't stand a chance against them. Two things have have colored your judgement regarding our chances without the guys you mentioned: our loss to South Africa and Zambia's resurgence upon defeating a fracked up Algerian side.
Toe to toe we match if not better them in every dept save goal keeping.

AIG07:
no they don't. But they did the impossible against Algeria. So they deserve some respect.

They weren't that good against Algeria even in Lusaka.

"U know who" still dey join dey make mat

Echiejile: Super Eagles Will Bag Another Massive Win In Uyo Against Zambia
October 3, 2017 4:18 pm



By Johnny Edward in Uyo:
Sivasspor defender, Elderson Echiejile has expressed his optimism that the Super Eagles will beat Zambia in this
weekend’s 2018 World Cup qualifier, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Echiejile is poised for another starting berth on Saturday for the three time African Champions. He says that Nigeria players are in top spirit ahead of the crucial game.
“I am so excited and happy to be part of the squad for the Zambia cracker and I’m confident we will pick another massive victory,” Echiejile told Completesportsnigeria.com here in Uyo.
“Everyone’s dream is to see us fly Nigeria’s flag at the World Cup in Russia next year. With hard work, determination and with the support of Nigerians, we will beat Zambia to qualify.”
Echiejile adds: “I spoke with my teammates. They are all in high spirit and willing to give their all whenever called upon. We are mentally and physically fit as we move closer to the match day.”

--CompleteSportsNigeria

AIG07:
no they don't. But they did the impossible against Algeria. So they deserve some respect.

Algeria you say? bros that Algeria lost out at the group stage at the last afcon, they've used 3 coaches during these qualifiers wey never finish. I can bet that Tahiti will give Algeria a good game if they play now.

AIG07:
*laughing* football don turn to money now. If u no score na bench straight. Very soon goals/assists targets will be set for defenders which they must meet. Hahaha... It's all about STAT now!

Na so ooo. The generation that entered their manhood in the late 70's through to the 90's had too much poetry in them- in music they gave us the best , in the movies the best, in football the best, in boxing the best ( AJ has brought in some little of the umphh that fizzled out after the Tyson and Lewis, Evander era). I just console myself by telling myself that I've heard the best and watched the best.

Let them continue with their static stats.

Look like Vicmo ain't coming for this match.

tbaba1234:


I thought Ekong had a better game than Omeruo on the day.

If we scored first against SA, we would have gone ahead to win that game. We were dominant in the first half without creating much.

The team suffered from a lack of leadership.

Pls go and watch d match again that stupid mistake by Omeruo ruined his performance that day.

jihday:
lol, what's special in THIS Zambian squad? do they now have Ronaldo Messi and kroos?

Nothing ooo. I think that their hype is eating at some of us cos of their defeat of a demoralised Algerian team.

Kog45:
Pls go and watch d match again that stupid mistake by Omeruo ruined his performance that day.

Omeruo didn't do badly but like you said that slip crashed all his good works. Thank God for Ikeme that day.

Balogun is a very important player in the rear. If we had just Balogun of those we missed against SA, we won't have lost that match. That outlines his importance. I posted snapshots here earlier on our player selections for that Egypt double header and the Cameroon friendly. For the Cameroon friendly, we had Balogun pairing with Ambrose at CB. And we went on to beat Cameroon 3-0. Cameroon started with about 60% of the same team we met a month ago. Even Vincent Abubakar started.

For the Egypt double header, Ambrose and Oboabona were our CB pairings. Amuzie benched Echiejile in both encounters. Against SA, it was Ekong and Awaziem at CB. What's common about all the formations we used in the games we performed poorly? Answer: the absence of Balogun. Another observation, Balogun-Ambrose partnership is probably as good as Balogun-Ekong partnership.

At the same time, let's not forget that our defense set-up have come a long way. This is what have been helping us more than the individual abilities of the players -- with the exception of Balogun. We will have to rely on our wingers and DM once again to cover for our deficiencies at the rear. And with Balogun present, we won't have much to worry about.

AIG07:
to be real with ourselves presently, we'll struggle against any side without Balogun, Mikel, and Moses. Reason been that.:
1. We hardly create chances in the absence of Mikel and/or V. Moses and this render our attack impotent anytime de don't play. Go check our previous outings without these two.

2. Our defence struggles in the absence of Leon and commits unnecessary errors.

The truth of the matter is that 'we ain't there yet' (in Chief Icon4s voice). I now see reason with Sir Icon4s on Iheanacho's abysmal performances as a lone striker-it was simply due to the absence of our orchestrators...

I hope Rohr will fix this before the World cup proper.

Cc: Sirs Mickael2, Tbaba, etc

FIFA has sanctioned Nigeria 30,000 US dollars for crowd invasion into the pitch in the Uyo during the match against the Cameroon team.

old news

solonnachi:
FIFA has sanctioned Nigeria 30,000 US dollars for crowd invasion into the pitch in the Uyo during the match against the Cameroon team.

Is VICMO not coming for dis game

EXCLUSIVE: Zambia Captain Mweene Sits Out As 18 Chipolopolo Stars Train Tuesday Morning In Accra
October 3, 2017 4:40 pm


By Kayode Ogundare in Accra:

First-choice goalkeeper and captain of the Zambian national team Kennedy Mweene may have sparked injury worries after joining up with his colleagues at their Ghana training camp on Monday night but missed Tuesday’s morning session as 18 other players sweated under the watchful eyes of coach Wedson Nyirenda at the Lizzy Sports Centre in East Legon, Accra.

Mweene, late arrival on Monday night alogside Turkey-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu joined camp to bring the total number of foriegn-based players to six while three others – Russia-based Patson Daka, Enoch Mwepu (FC Liefering) and Edward Chilufya from Sweden – are still expected to join up.

While others where on the pitch, with the two other goalkeepers Toaster Nsabata and Allan Chibue being drilled, Mweene was alone with a backroom staff jogging lightly on the sidelines.

--CompleteSportsNigeria

Joebie:
Balogun is a very important player in the rear. If we had just Balogun of those we missed against SA, we won't have lost that match. That outlines his importance. I posted snapshots here earlier on our player selections for that Egypt double header and the Cameroon friendly. For the Cameroon friendly, we had Balogun pairing with Ambrose at CB. And we went on to beat Cameroon 3-0. Cameroon started with about 60% of the same team we met a month ago. Even Vincent Abubakar started.

For the Egypt double header, Ambrose and Oboabona were our CB pairings. Amuzie benched Echiejile in both encounters. Against SA, it was Ekong and Awaziem at CB. What's common about all the formations we used in the games we performed poorly? Answer: the absence of Balogun. Another observation, Balogun-Ambrose partnership is probably as good as Balogun-Ekong partnership.

At the same time, let's not forget that our defense set-up have come a long way. This is what have been helping us more than the individual abilities of the players -- with the exception of Balogun. We will have to rely on our wingers and DM once again to cover for our deficiencies at the rear. And with Balogun present, we won't have much to worry about.

Hmmmm Jobie, you are on point,meaning any injury to Balogun we are in soup.

How i wish Rohr read this beautiful analysis.

Moses got injured while warming up in the plane

do4luv14:
Is VICMO not coming for dis game

edi287:

Yep. CB and LB is an issue. Uche Agbo isn't that bad. Dude can be too reckless at times sha

Agbo is very prone to making very rash challenges in this regard he could be a liability. We don't need him getting a red card and leaving the team a man down.

do4luv14:
Is VICMO not coming for dis game

Let's find his replacement. No time

Joebie:
Moses got injured while warming up in the plane

can't really blame him shaaa..maybe nff might be owing him again..

But he shouldn't forget that no player is bigger than the team. .

Am really glad the way rohr is man managing the players...No rift so far..
Kudos to the German shepherd

Victor Moses, Ola Aina & Alex Iwobi Absent As Super Eagles Train For One Hour
Published: October 03, 2017



Twenty players, including two named on the standby list, trained with the Super Eagles as they began their preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday evening, allnigeriasoccer.com understands.

The players that didn't participate in the training session are Chelsea duo Victor Moses and Ola Aina, Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi, Porto loanee Chidozie Awaziem and Gent star Moses Simon.

In the workout which was open to the fans and media, Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr first briefed the players before they started stretching and working with the ball, then they played two practice games.

In the first practice game, Rohr divided the players into two teams of four each and after ten minutes four new players will be introduced for each team, while the players on the sidelines were passively involved in the game.

There were eight players on each side in the second practice game, the pitch was made wider with a goalkeeper on each team.

Training started at 1716 hours and lasted for approximately one hour.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

--AllNigeriaSoccer

lol.. is he the only one missing? There is no cause for alarm.

krattoss:
can't really blame him shaaa..maybe nff might be owing him again..

But he shouldn't forget that no player is bigger than the team. .

Am really glad the way rohr is man managing the players...No rift so far..
Kudos to the German shepherd

Joebie:
Moses got injured while warming up in the plane

wich kind joke be dis nah, ah no like am oooo

Yes.. if na world cup. dem go don already plot how to injure am. African coaches are not wickedly smart like that

Kog45:
Hmmmm Jobie, you are on point,meaning any injury to Balogun we are in soup.

How i wish Rohr read this beautiful analysis.

Mujtahida:

Your observations on the lapses of the team in the absence of the trio is right but it doesn't mean we don't stand a chance against them. Two things have have colored your judgement regarding our chances without the guys you mentioned: our loss to South Africa and Zambia's resurgence upon defeating a fracked up Algerian side.
Toe to toe we match if not better them in every dept save goal keeping.

No. It's been a while have been observing this it preceds the camping in france. We often lack idea going forward in the absence of the duo. We tend to sit back and defend more or report to hoof balls without them. That's was one of the reason we struggled against a lowly rated Corsica(that's if they are ranked by Fifa), senegal in those friendlies
. If you've noticed Rohr no longer sub the duo earlier as was the order of the day before. That's why v. Moses is often left behind to initiates attack.

Joebie:
"U know who" still dey join dey make mat

Echiejile: Super Eagles Will Bag Another Massive Win In Uyo Against Zambia
October 3, 2017 4:18 pm



By Johnny Edward in Uyo:
Sivasspor defender, Elderson Echiejile has expressed his optimism that the Super Eagles will beat Zambia in this
weekend’s 2018 World Cup qualifier, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Echiejile is poised for another starting berth on Saturday for the three time African Champions. He says that Nigeria players are in top spirit ahead of the crucial game.
“I am so excited and happy to be part of the squad for the Zambia cracker and I’m confident we will pick another massive victory,” Echiejile told Completesportsnigeria.com here in Uyo.
“Everyone’s dream is to see us fly Nigeria’s flag at the World Cup in Russia next year. With hard work, determination and with the support of Nigerians, we will beat Zambia to qualify.”
Echiejile adds: “I spoke with my teammates. They are all in high spirit and willing to give their all whenever called upon. We are mentally and physically fit as we move closer to the match day.”

--CompleteSportsNigeria

From my perspective Echiejile is the WEAKEST LINK.

Without a bona-fide left back a makeshift Aina will be better than Echiejile.

If we all can see it, then definitely the Zambians can. That gap needs to be plugged.

First choice striker is Ighalo no contest for now.

The legendary Mikel put in a first class performances against Cameroon considering that he was not really match fit. That's simply amazing. However, he may not last the 90 minutes, I would then replace him with Iwobi who is the next best thing to a playmaker we have in the mold of Mikel.

I would like to see another striker come in, not sure who is most, in-form. Because at the moment KC is not firing on all cylinders and his confidence is not on a high.

solonnachi:
FIFA has sanctioned Nigeria 30,000 US dollars for crowd invasion into the pitch in the Uyo during the match against the Cameroon team.

They will fine us again after Saturday's game.

jihday:
Algeria you say? bros that Algeria lost out at the group stage at the last afcon, they've used 3 coaches during these qualifiers wey never finish. I can bet that Tahiti will give Algeria a good game if they play now.

Sir, you and I know that our darling super eagles couldn't even make it to the group stage.
I am in no way hyping the Zambians. But defeating Algeria home and away is no joke. Especially at their backyard. Their recent poor outings have made you forget who they are and what they are capable of doing anytime anyday.

Joebie:
Balogun is a very important player in the rear. If we had just Balogun of those we missed against SA, we won't have lost that match. That outlines his importance. I posted snapshots here earlier on our player selections for that Egypt double header and the Cameroon friendly. For the Cameroon friendly, we had Balogun pairing with Ambrose at CB. And we went on to beat Cameroon 3-0. Cameroon started with about 60% of the same team we met a month ago. Even Vincent Abubakar started.

For the Egypt double header, Ambrose and Oboabona were our CB pairings. Amuzie benched Echiejile in both encounters. Against SA, it was Ekong and Awaziem at CB. What's common about all the formations we used in the games we performed poorly? Answer: the absence of Balogun. Another observation, Balogun-Ambrose partnership is probably as good as Balogun-Ekong partnership.

At the same time, let's not forget that our defense set-up have come a long way. This is what have been helping us more than the individual abilities of the players -- with the exception of Balogun. We will have to rely on our wingers and DM once again to cover for our deficiencies at the rear. And with Balogun present, we won't have much to worry about.

spot on!