junnyjake:
I'm amazed at the fitness level of Ekong and Ndidi.

Ekong played every second in the qualifying campaign, without showing signs of fatigue even though he has to play full games for his club.

Ndidi has Been ever present for Leicester City in the premier league since his move there last January. Only Ekong played more mins in the qualifying campaign.

Do you know Ekong also played every minute during the Olympic games last year?
I saw Ndidi's best against Argentina. The way he wins balls is a gift. Just now he received a pass from Iheanacho. He lost the ball and in a flash he recovered it and passed it back to Iheanacho for the second goal. And he worked tirelessly. He was amazing.

MetalJigsaw:
Argentina 2-4 Nigeria: Mikel’s Killer Form, Akpeyi’s Howler and 8 Other Things We learnt From Super Eagles Victory
3 November 15, 2017 6:59 pm
By Kayode Ogundare:
Not many people, pundits included, gave the Super Eagles a fighting chance in this game against the almighty ‘Argentina’ even without their talismanic captain Lionel Messi.
It was supposed to be a fight between the biblical David and Goliath, with the star-studded South Americans cast in the mould of the giant.
However, after 90 minutes, the boys from Nigeria won emphatically to announce that the trip to Russia 2018 World Cup will not be for sight-seeing.
Here are 10 takeaways from a reporter’s viewpoint….
1. Gernot Rohr’s 3-5-2 system is a radical departure from our 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formations of the past. It will take a while to get the hang of it. Probably explains why the team struggled early on, especially at the back. Even Mikel admitted they found the system strange .
2. Daniel Akpeyi conceded two goals. I don’t have a problem with that. Even the best goalkeepers do. But his performance generally, composure and elementary errors are unforgivable at this level. Will take a miracle to see him on that flight to the World Cup.
3. Kelechi Iheanacho’s free-kick goal, almost at the end of the first half, was the catalyst that drew the Super Eagles back from the brink. Apart from the beauty of the goal, it brought hope and confidence that another goal was possible. It was sublime. Also the first time in a long while that the Super Eagles would be scoring directly from a set-piece. Very vital.
4. Mikel Obi has shown, once again, why we are blessed to have him playing in this form for Nigeria at this moment. He has learnt, with age, to conserve his energy and gets better at game management with each match. Nigerians can only pray he takes this form back to Russia for the World Cup. My MVP on the night.
5. The strength of this Super Eagles team is in the quality of players on the bench. We saw that again yesterday when Gernot Rohr’s six changes came on and showed that they were as good as the starting 11. Gernot Rohr will have selection headaches naming his final 23 for the World Cup due to competition but that’s a headache any coach would want to have.
6. I’ve always maintained that the current Super Eagles team is Africa’s most attack-minded side. You can only outscore them, you cannot stop them from scoring. Under Rohr, they have failed to score only once in 11 games so the best way to beat the Eagles is to make sure that if they score 8, you score 9. Simple.
7. We should give credit to the NFF for the success of the team now. If we held them responsible for the team’s failure in the past, it stands to reason that we should also compliment them. I’m aware of the arrangements they make for each game and preparations for the World Cup. They have also reportedly sorted
World Cup bonus issues with the team in order to forestall the embarrasing incidents of the past. Kudos.
8. Iheanacho scored one and assisted two goals but I’m still not convinced he’s a number 9. I know the team is still evolving and Rohr is frantically working to find the best position for everybody but it is crystal clear that Iheanacho will thrive in a supporting role. Regardless of the formation, I think playing him in the hole behind the main striker will bring out the best in him. My opinion.
9. Two goals and a very energetic performance from Alexander Iwobi confirmed my belief, which I’ve stated openly, that this boy is the future of Nigerian football. A year ago, I said he will be Nigeria’s best player in the next three years but he’s already approaching that threshold now. Javier Mascherano will have nightmares thinking about that sumptous nutmeg through his legs for the fourth goal. Pure class.
10. Finally, we should not get carried away in the euphoria of that result. The Eagles are a team in transition and would get better with each passing game but we are NOT the finished article yet. We need to do this on a much more consistent bases in other to truly count as a credible threat in world football. Fortunately, Rorh and the players all know this and they are keeping their feet on the ground and not getting carried away by the result.

Always post the source.

Joebie:
Even Musa is ahead of Kayode in Rohr's SE. Experienced for his age. And has played at the highest level and showed, in the Argentina friendly, why Rohr keeps inviting him. Musa is also versatile. In fact can also play as a CF. Kayode will need a full half (45 mins), to have a chance of making a case. He will need to show (in the Eagles shirt) that he has a lot to offer as a CF and a false 9.

Definitely

Mujtahida:

Do you know Ekong also played every minute during the Olympic games last year?
I saw Ndidi's best against Argentina. The way he wins balls is a gift. Just now he received a long pass from Awaziem. He lost the ball and in a flash he recovered it and passed it to Iheanacho. And he worked tirelessly. He was amazing.

I even forgot about the Olympics. His youthfulness is a major plus. The more he plays, he improves even more.


He and Ndidi's fitness level is something else, I wish for Mikel And Balogun to have same too.

Joebie:
All these boys that are fighting hard to make the train, may they continue to fight hard at the world cup proper.

That's one thing oooo. In fact I've been thinking:I hope some of this FB will honour invites when it's not convenient cos some might just want to hop on our WC train. After the WC they hop off. They must be committed beyond the WC. If not they should not be part of the team. We don't need opportunists.

Will Afcon even mean anything to them?

Kog45:
My man we have seen players that got one cap and they are forgotten despite their performance.

Richard Owubokiri got a cap with a goal but no call again,Aluko scored a brace that saved us from South Africa at home,no call again.

If Nwakaeme don't get call again no big deal and if he get another one he should thank his star and utilize it.

We are all shouting Idowu and Ebuhei cos of 45 mins performance meaning any player must grabbed the little time available for him to showcase.

I can tell you if Alhassan Muzzam get a call and perform meaning Etebo is out,the same thing Agu if Nwakili perform beyond reasonable doubt.

True @the bolded.

Mujtahida:
We have weathered one group of death. Abeg they should spare us.

easy group for us IMO

jotey:

easy group for us IMO

Lawd? Argentina, England and Denmark is an easy group? OK why do you think so?

edi287:

What is Sone Aluko's main position??

Oga, you claimed Aluko was not good enough hence the limited time in the EPL but I have dispelled that false misleading assertion by showing a credible source wich verified that injuries played a bigger part in his inability to performance in the EPL.

Now, you're up with another pranks despite the obvious fact stirring you at ya face.

If you don't know, then me use this avenue to inform you that Hull city played Sone Aluko behind the strike mostly in their formation. Meaning, he played as d SS or CF in most cases.Thank me later.

Mujtahida:

Lawd? Argentina, England and Denmark is an easy group? OK why do you think so?

we have scores to settle with those 3 countries

England dn too steal our players
Argentina dn too beat us for group stage
Denmark knocked us out during 98 wc

meanwhile we always perform when the stakes are high

I don't see Argentina or England beating us @ all

On that pitch? Same way we treated others on that pitch should he be treated.

Kog45:
No am not ruling Nwakaeme out,he can still get another chance but he had more than 45 mins against Algeria, almost clocking 70 mins if am right.

ENGLAND: Premier League 2

---

Manchester UnitedU23 1-0 Manchester CityU23 (HALF-TIME)
Tosin Kehinde and Tosin Adarabioyo in action for United and City respectively.

Ayotomiwa Dele-Bashiru in City's bench

This Sanchez of Tottenham is a very good ball playing Centre back

Mujtahida:
Always post the source.

Noted. Culled from Complete sports.com

Home Eagles To Begin CHAN Camping In December
November 18, 2017 12:44 pm



By Adeboye Amosu:
The home-based Super Eagles will begin preparations for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in the first week of December, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

The championship is billed for Morocco from 12 January to 4 February, 2018.

The Super Eagles have been placed in Group C of the competition that is meant for players plying their trade in their country’s domestic league along with Rwanda, 2014 champions Libya and Equatorial Guinea.

The annual Nigeria Professional Football League pre-season competition has been expanded to six teams to allow the team participate and get in shape for the CHAN.

The Super Six will kick off in Kano from December 11 with NPFL champions Plateau United, MFM FC, Enyimba, Akwa United and Kano Pillars also expected to participate in the competition.

“The coach (Salisu Yusuf) is contemplating having the team in camp in the first week of December ahead of the super six competition,” spokesman of the team, Toyin Ibitoye, informed Completesportsnigeria.com.

“You know all the clubs are currently preparing for the new season and it will be difficult to get the team in camp earlier than that.

“It is good that we are participating in the Super Six as it will help the technical crew assess the players and put them in proper shape for the competition.”

Nigeria failed to progress beyond the group stage at the last edition of the competition in Rwanda in 2016.

--CSN

Humility017:


please stop talking what you don't know...
even Scotland rarely call up players from their league for the national...team.
most of their players are mainly from the English championship just to tell you...how they lowly rate their league...and you now expects England to go after aluko all because he plays for rangers....


and for that taiwo and celestine....sometimes i just don't understand you....what made you say that?

because it is glaring to all who knows football that celestine is quite ahead of taiwo....
notwithstanding taiwo did well too.....

I hear you.

Which people that knows football will or have ever agreed Cele is quite ahead of Taiwo?

Sometimes, you people think footballers are rated in ya village, ba?

Who did d rating talk say Cele pass Taiwo for football?

How may CAF awards Cele don win pass Taiwo?
How many individual awards Cele don win for Club?

Even with Nigera at under age, what distinguished Cele amonghis pairs?

Has Cele ever in his life time been acknowledged the Best LB in a league or best LB in Africa?


How many times has Celestine Babayaro won best 11 in a tournament?

One even shamlessly elevated Udeze over above Taiwo. Smh

Maybe that only happened in his village. Pls, that person should wake up and come out from the shalanga he is comfortably living in as an ignoramus because we are now in the era of globalization.

Now, when Cele have attained all the above, pls comeback and contend with Taye

Mind you, he didn't get those recognitions from Oluwole, they are confirmed.

I like the way you pay attention to some little details. In the past Balogun's black boots used too turn me away but he wore red and a couple of some others wore red against Argentina. My favorite boot colors on Naija's kit are red and lemon green.

Mujtahida:

If you want to see the beauty of the Jersey check it out on Iwobi and Troost Ekong. I hope that Nike will take their measurements and make bespoke Jersies for each member of the team so that it would fit them. And if the team wants to light things up some bit majority of them should wear red boots as they did against Argentina. It added more aesthetics to their kit up.

ChrisKels:
This Sanchez of Tottenham is a very good ball playing Centre back

I know, right? I wonder who has attributes remotely close to that in the SE backline...?


... First timer by the way, been following for a while now.. I must say, am impressed with this thread.

Felix Uduokhai and Victor Osimhen on Wolfsburg's bench versus Freiburg

Kevin Akpoguma starts for Hoffenheim

Leon Balogun is unlisted.
Rohr got it right with the latest FB chase

Listed as a German.

Joebie:
Felix Uduokhai and Victor Osimhen on Wolfsburg's bench versus Freiburg

Yea, still a Nigerian

somehow:
Listed as a German.

Joebie:
Leon Balogun is unlisted.
Rohr got it right with the latest FB chase

What is FB?

Ok

Joebie:
Yea, still a Nigerian

junnyjake:
With our performance in Russia, we can tell how realistic our chances of adding another Afcon trophy to our cabinet will be.

the next AFCON belong to us if we maintain this form

foreign-born

forgiveness:


What is FB?

forgiveness:


Oga, you claimed Aluko was not good enough hence the limited time in the EPL but I have dispelled that false misleading assertion by showing a credible source wich verified that injuries played a bigger part in his inability to performance in the EPL.

Now, you're up with another pranks despite the obvious fact stirring you at ya face.

If you don't know, then me use this avenue to inform you that Hull city played Sone Aluko behind the strike mostly in their formation. Meaning, he played as d SS or CF in most cases.Thank me later.

Are you mistaken me for someone else?? I said the excuse that Jelavic and Long were the main reason Hull "moved on" from Aluko can't be true because they are both strikers while Aluko mostly plays as a AM or on the wings.
Aluko RARELY plays as a CF - FACT!
Aluko would not get into SE 11 as a CF - FACT!
That's the point I'm making.

edi287:

Are you mistaken me for someone else?? I said the excuse that Jelavic and Long were the main reason Hull "moved on" from Aluko can't be true because they are both strikers while Aluko mostly plays as a AM or on the wings.
Aluko RARELY plays as a CF - FACT!
Aluko would not get into SE 11 as a CF - FACT!
That's the point I'm making.

Which wing did Aluko played in 2012/2013 season? You no know but you wan argue.

What was the formation Hull city used that season and the season before?

So, you know more than Hull city, ba?

The possibility of Aluko or any championship player for that matter getting a look in by Rohr is quite slim. Generally, the league is seen for what it is -- second tier.

edi287:

Are you mistaken me for someone else?? I said the excuse that Jelavic and Long were the main reason Hull "moved on" from Aluko can't be true because they are both strikers while Aluko mostly plays as a AM or on the wings.
Aluko RARELY plays as a CF - FACT!
Aluko would not get into SE 11 as a CF - FACT!
That's the point I'm making.

Joebie:
foreign-born

Ok, thanks. But has that got to do with Leon Balogun?

Tammy Abraham, how market?