tbaba1234:
^The man city bench was BAD for Kelechi.. He now has to work hard to regain the momentum and confidence he had under pellegrini.

tglobal:


Just to put the records straight...

We were grouped with Burkina Faso, Guinea and Kenya and Amodu was in charge at the start of the qualifiers (the first two matches).

Due to the hangover from the olympics victory, Nigerians expected the team to play in a certain way and resoundingly defeat any opponents we faced (especially in Africa). Such was this confidence in the players abilities that deep down, many felt we didnt need a coach to perform well. With this type of expectation, anything less than an imperious performance will be put down to the coach. This was what Amodu faced:

We beat BF 2 - 0 in the first match in Lagos from two second half goals. The second match was a different story altogether as we needed a header from Akpoborire to draw level against Kenya in Nairobi. The result was greeted with anger by the fans and the blame fell at the feet of Amodu. That was when he famously declared that Nigeria needed a foreign sports minister when Jim Nwobodo decided that the local coaches would not do it.

In came Phillipe Troussier with his own brand of football. He introduced the 3-5-2 system to the Eagles and led them to two uninspiring 2-1 victories (Guinea at home and BF away). The fans and the press blamed his system for the performance and he had to revert to 4-3-3/4-4-2 in the return 3-0 victory against Kenya where we picked our ticket with one match to spare. IT is worthy to note that, in the midst of Nigerian's dissatisfaction at his playing pattern, Clemens Westerhof was at the stands and received a resounding welcome(Troussier accused Kodjo Williams who was a friend of Westerhof of orchestrating this)

We went to Guinea for the final dead rubber match and lost 1- 0. The Guineans dominance over the eagles in that match led to a clamor for his sack and he was relieved of his role shortly afterwards (forget the fact that we have always found it difficult to get the upper hand against Guinea in senior matches, be it CHAN, WAFU or tournament qualifiers)

I have read that Bora had little time to prepare for the word cup, but he had at least 6 months to do that

libero808:
no Jo Bonfrere was the coach when we drew with Kenya.
I think it was 1-1, not 1-0.
It was Trousier who finally took over the team and led us to several victories.
I remember Ohenhen and Oruma playing a part in that win over Kenya.

TheGoodJoe:


Read this excerpt, you will see that Phillipe Troussier was gone before the game against Kenya. It was coach Monday Sinclair that handled the refreshing 3-0 demolition of Kenya in Lagos.

TROUSSIER: He has been under fire despite putting a 100 per cent record
with two wins in as many matches and placing the Eagles within 90 minutes
of a place at the World Cup finals.

The Frenchman is very bitter about undue interferences with training
programmes by the sports ministry. "I don't have anything against Enugu
as camp for Eagles" says Troussier. He prefers Soleni the camping site of
Abidjan-based Asec Mimosas. But later said, he wants the Eagles to train
in Lagos.

Meanwhile, as Troussier stayed back at home in France, the Nigeria
Football Association (NFA) has issued an ultimatum which expired last
Friday for players to report in Enugu or face the music.

SINCLAIR: If Troussier decides to quit (as he has earlier threatened),
Chief coach Monday Sinclair should take charge of the Eagles against the
Harambee Stars of Kenya. Are you panicked? Oh, it should be apprehension,
as according to Monaco striker, Victor Ikpeba:
"Nigerian Europe-based players don't respect local coaches."

EAGLES: The Eagles have outrightly rejected camping in Enugu and decided
to train in Lagos for the match against Kenya. Eagles' captain Uche
Okechukwu said: "We'll stay back in Lagos to train for the Kenyan match
rather than go through the hassles of finding our way to Enugu."
Another blow to the sports establishment?

NFA: The infuriated soccer house went into action Thursday passing a
stern 24 hours ultimatum to Phillipe Troussier. "Return or face the axe."

NFA's mouth-piece, Austin Mgbolu apparently annoyed with 'undue' media
criticisms like:
ominous headlines ... Nwobodo Chases Troussier Away (Champion): Troussier
At Large(Concord); Minister Goes Solo Over Troussier's Successor (Punch);
Sinclair To Lead Eagles ... Ministry, NFA Ignore Troussier (Vanguard),
etc. said the football association accused of indolence have resolved
that the decision to camp in Enugu is final and irrevocable.

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/soc.culture.nigeria/2FWgj0HeWh4

Entering the job halfway through qualifying he led them into four games throughout the campaign as Nigeria successfully qualified, however the Nigeria Football Federation decided to relieve Troussier of his duties and ultimately let highly experienced coach Bora Milutinović lead them into the tournament due to his experience of already managing three different nations in a World Cup at that time

It will be the 50-year-old's second spell as coach of Nigeria after a first stint which saw him guide the Super Eagles to the 1998 World Cup

TheGoodJoe:
Goals of Nigeria vs Kenya which ended 3-0 in favor of Nigeria. You can see the through pass for the final goal by Chris Ohenhen to Wilson Oruma.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40rEa990aG4

tglobal:


Shows nothing about who the coach was...I can even tell you the line up for that game from memory

TheGoodJoe:


I did not post the video for proof of Sinclair. I posted it for people to see a hint of our play in that game. That match was not handled by Troussier. At least this post will give you an idea.

Monday Sinclair on played two games for Nigeria Super Eagles in 1997 when Philippe Troussier was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation

http://nationalpilot.wixsite.com/nationalpilot/single-post/2015/07/13/Who-is-Nigeria%E2%80%99s-best-indigenous-coach-ever

safarigirl:
as in. It will make a mockery of International football. If we have to technically 'buy' players from other countries, they should kuku removfeghe whole idea of player nationality so you won't have to be from a country or linked to it to play for them

We can place bids for Asensio and Moussa Dembele

tglobal:


Lol. no need dragging this. Your links say nothing about when Troussier was sacked or the matches Sinclair coached . I have given you links which state that Troussier qualified us for the mundial and one of them confirmed my earlier submission that he coached us for 4 matches. All your posted links show is that Sinclair coached eagles in some matches, not the specific matches he coached.

There was a 4 nation mini tournament in 1997 involving Nigeria, Cameroon and two other African countries after the WCQ series....those may be the 2 matches your link refers to

That said, since you said Sinclair confirmed to you that he was head coach against Kenya, I cant challenge you on that (Though I suspect he may be talking of his role as assistant).

I remember vividly, Troussier's unhappy interview after qualification, lamenting Westerhof's presence in the stands!

TheGoodJoe:


Iheanacho scored and had an assist. He has that ability but I am talking about developing and then moving on. Does it mean Iheanacho can nit work hard, improve and give Gabriel Jesus a run for his money. There was a time Sane was on the bench. Later he showed remarkable improvement and to some became better than Gabriel Jesus later.

You do not get that kind of improvement at Leicester City. Scoring and assisting is not the same thing as improving.

In the last EPL game of City against Burnley, when the camera caught Mangala warming up, it was hard to recognize him. He has lost so much weight. You can see what Guardiola is doing with him. He wants Mangala very fast. A lot of clubs will play him but the improvement will not be that rapid or stay the same.

I did not say Manchester City is the only club for improvement of Nacho but Leicester City does not have that kind of environment to give Nacho the right challenge to develop.

Also, no one says Nacho should stay on the bench all his life but in his formative years. I wonder why such a point is so difficult to get. Next thing you will type bench all his life. When no one said that.

blueto:
Iheanacho scores!! Every player now doing better for world cup slot. Maybe neologists can help coin a phobia word on Fear of missing the world cup

TheGoodJoe:


Coach Monday Sinclair also coached that four nations mini competition. It was called the LG Cup. Not Troussier.

Gotti:
Coach Monday Sinclair took the Eagles to the 1997 LG Cup in Tunisia, shortly after Phillipe Troussier was fired and before Bora was appointed. Pius Ikedia made his Eagles' debut as a substitute in both matches of the tourney, and the team also included the since-infamous Francis Kumbur.
http://forum.cybereagles.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28234

That is playing Pius Ikedia a year plus before Nigeria 1999.

I am not talking about Assistant manager but head coach/technical Adviser.

Icon4s:


Iheanacho has left City. So he must not move on. We should continue wishing he remained at City to 'develop'.

My own is Iheanacho should be getting enough playing time at Leicester as he could be vital to our WC campaign. Take him back to City to 'develop' if you want. I have said my own.

No need continuing with this argument because it is like going round in circles.

As someone rightly said, arguing Iheanacho's case with you is like looking for the coefficient of x in 2=2.

Loz!!

Case closed.

tglobal:


Great. Thanks for that link.

Remember the link you shared earlier says that Coach Sinclair coached Nigeria for 2 matches in 1997. The two matches Nigeria played in that tournament is what the link refers to, not the WCQs otherwise, the report would have said 4 matches. Please go through our back and forth and see that the links you have posted are consistent with my submission!

TheGoodJoe:


I expect Iheanacho to make the best of his stay at Leicester City. He had lessons at Man City and I hope he stays discipline and focused. No one said he is still at Man City. Just that Man City was a better option. Finito.

Icon4s:


By the way, I have not seen your inputs for reasons why we have failed in our last 5 World cup outings.

Goke7 is collating. We intend publishing it on the NFF and Toyin Ibiyoye's(Super Eagles Media officer) handles. We can also create a separate thread for it here and call on the modes to take it to front page.

Mujtahida:

I am very much like you as I watch football for enjoyment not as an intellectual exercise but goodjoe and Mickael2 pushed(I bet they don't know) to want to develop a more tactical eye. I wanted to understand what pressing meant, double pivot, gengen pressing, regista, libero, false nine etc. This site helped me. You might want to check it out: http://www.thefalse9.com

TheGoodJoe:



Our major problem is unfair selections and not given the right players the opportunity to grow into the team. Our only solution to succeed in the World Cup is to have the right blend of players and with the best tactical set-up.

A good example is how Alloy Agu who is visibly incompetent is the goalkeeper coach in Rohr's technical crew. The men in suits and kaftans in the offices of the NFF know he is incompetent but put him there.

How can we succeed if we do not get it right with our team and coaching crew selections.

This article will give you an insight of how a good player gets dropped despite being good enough. We find an excuse to keep a weaker player and members of the press exonerate the poor choices.

Article coming up.

soetanoreoluwa:


Actually I really miss your update on NPFL.. Even though I do follow it...

Am not new though... Being following as a guest since 2013...after kickoffnigeria and SL10 closed down and someone from Sl10 ..i couldnot remember his name... Brought a suggestion of nairaland... That made me jumped in ... But I didn't register... Just doing ghost reading ..

Until we lost against Egypt... During AFCON qualifier last year... I was so disappointed and battered... First time in my life Nigeria missing out of two consecutive afcon...
Me too dey learn too... Thanks to the elders in the house for updating Indomie generation like us...

Icon4s:


Bros we are making reference to 2014 and beyond.

I know the root of your problem with Alloy Agu.

Just post the reasons for PAST failures.
Thanks.

TheGoodJoe:
I was frustrated out of Super Eagles – Ekong
…Tasks Siasia on tactical discipline
By EMMA NJOKU
Saturday, November 27, 2010



Out-of-favour Super Eagles’ midfielder, Prince Ikpe Ekong, has sensationally revealed that he quit the national team out of frustration after the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.

The born again Christian footballer, who currently plies his trade with Djurgarden FC in the Swedish League, told Saturday Sunsports that he was serially dropped from tournament squads despite proving himself while in camp just because he had no ‘godfather’ to front for him in the national team.
According to him, he had to hold on to God’s assurance that he would put on the green and white national team’s jersey during the Nations Cup in Tunisia in 2004, a promise that actually came to pass irrespective of the stumbling blocks.

“Actually, I personally called it quits with the Super Eagles. The last time I played for the team at the Nations Cup in Tunisia (2004), I played with a lot of pain and frustration, trying to prove myself over and over again,” the Akwa Ibom State-born player began. “I went on trying to watch my left and right to know what was going on, but it shouldn’t be so. I had to go through all that because I had nobody behind me. However, I was able to make the Nations Cup in 2004 and I was very glad.

“Even at that Nations Cup, I was supposed to be a regular player, but I was not given the opportunity until the third place match against Malawi, which we won and brought the bronze back home. After that match, people protested why I was kept on the bench in the previous matches. They argued that I was good enough to make the first team. It was after that Nations Cup that I decided to focus on my club career and forget about the national team.

“I was off and on in the national team. From 1997, when Coach Monday Sinclair was in charge of the team, I proved my ability to be part of the team. I went abroad at a very tender age and was given the opportunity to train with the national team despite the fact that I was not among the invited players. There was a time we went to Zambia, where we played two games and I was adjudged the best player. I was extraordinary and the coach said ‘that boy must go to France ’98 World Cup finals’. But what happened later? I never got a call up letter again. That has been my case.

“In 2002, I came back to the team and Coach Shaibu Amodu said that I was the revelation of the team when we were at the Otta Camp in Ogun State. But I was dropped again from the Nations Cup squad to Mali that year. They took me to Abidjan in Ivory Coast and dropped me there to ensure that fans back home would not make trouble over my exclusion from the Nations Cup squad.

“In 2004, I almost gave up, but God promised me that I would make the Eagles’ squad to the Nations Cup that year. He told me not to give up. So, when I put on that green and white jersey in 2004, I felt that the dream has come true and I said to myself, ‘it’s all over for me’.

Ekong, who has not ruled out a possible return to the national team if only he would be accorded the respect he deserves, said the current Super Eagles lacked tactical discipline. He also commented on Samson Siasia’s appointment as Eagles’ new coach, the quality of players in the team and what the coach must do to actualise the full potentials of the players, among other issues.

Return to Super Eagles
I might come back to the Super Eagles, but I’m not ready to go through the hell I past through before. If I’m called up and I’m sure that I would be well respected, I will honour the invitation.

Siasia’s new appointment
Anyone given a job should always be able to do it perfectly. The ability to do the right thing at the right time is what makes an individual perfect in what he or she does. So, my advice to Siasia is that he must take total charge of the team. If it requires signing an agreement with the football Federation, he should do that.
Taking charge means that he should enforce discipline in the team. The bible says if the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do? It’s all about the foundation. If he can deal with the foundation by doing what is right, every other thing will fall into place.

Would Keshi have been better?
When I played in the Super Eagles at the Nations Cup in 2002 under Coach Amodu, Stephen Keshi was his assistant and he has been a good coach. He was also a professional footballer. Siasia is good too. He was a professional footballer also. But like I said earlier, it’s what you do that makes the difference in you.

Rating current Eagles
At the moment, the Super Eagles team is tactically undisciplined. It baffles me because all the players in the team at the moment are professionals. So, I wonder why they are not tactically disciplined.
Take for instance, when a corner kick is about to be taken, teams are expected to map out which player that marks who. It’s called ‘man marking’. But I wonder why we cannot implement that tactics in the Super Eagles. Is it that the players were not taught or that they were taught but they failed to carry out the instruction? This is what I cannot comprehend because we have the potentials and everything one can think of, but what we lack in the team is tactical discipline.

No reason to fail
Nigeria has exceptional players. With a population of about 150 million people, the country has players that are playing in the best teams in the world. Mikel Obi plays for Chelsea in England, and Chelsea is an exceptional team with exceptional players. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Joseph Yobo, Obafemi Martins, Obinna Nsofor and Osaze Odemwingie are all exceptional players doing well in Europe.

Being an exceptional player, goes with certain qualities. The tag you carry in your club, as a professional, is the same tag you carry when you come to the national team. So, I wonder where the problem is coming from. May be the coaches are not stamping their feet to get the best from those players or perhaps, the players are not motivated well enough to exhibit professionalism.

If player are well motivated, you will see it on the pitch. Motivation in this sense may not be financial; it could be psychological. Football has a lot to do with psychology. You can psyche up players. You can make them to understand why they must not disappoint. Probably, we need an expert in that area.

http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/i-was-frustrated-out-of-super-eagles-%E2%80%93-ekong/

TheGoodJoe:


Why 2014 and beyond, when you are asking for past five World Cups.

kellycute:
Mikeal2.. iheanacho scored oo and give assist too. The moment oga Mikeal see iheanacho goal and assist.. he be like lol.

TheGoodJoe:
Anyone given a job should always be able to do it perfectly. The ability to do the right thing at the right time is what makes an individual perfect in what he or she does. So, my advice to Siasia is that he must take total charge of the team. If it requires signing an agreement with the football Federation, he should do that.

Taking charge means that he should enforce discipline in the team. The bible says if the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do? It’s all about the foundation. If he can deal with the foundation by doing what is right, every other thing will fall into place.

This excerpt from Ekong's Interview summarises what I feel is the true detriment of the Super Eagles. Not only in the World Cups but also in failing to qualify for different tournaments and failing to win AFCON tournaments.

Icon4s:


Thank God a good number of us have been following football for some time.

I know Ikpe Ekong very well even reach his hood in Ajegunle.

All those his talks of proving himself in camp are just his personal opinion.

Ikpe Ekong was an unused substitute midfielder at the 2004 AFCON.

Other midfielders in that squad were JJ Okocha, Garba Lawal and Seyi Olofinjano. Which of this trio was Ikpe better than that he would deserve a starting place? Mind you also Wilson Oruma did not even make the squad.

As I said thank God some of us are here. Tomorrow now someone like John Ogu fit come out with something like this and some people will believe.

But TheGoodJoe is this one of the reasons we failed in the last 5 World Cups?