Let me say it again, whoever loses the Nigeria vs Croatia game would not advance out of the group. We need to knock this into the heads of our players. We should play that game as if our lives depend on it.


O pari

terzurum5:
SLAVEN BILIC: CROATIA V NIGERIA WILL BE TOUGHEST GAME



Nigeria's head coach, German Gernot Rohr reacts, during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Algeria and Nigeria at Chahid-Hamlaoui stadium in Constantine, Algeria, 10 November 2017.

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Dec 20, 2017. 11:30

Former Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has admitted that the European nation faces a tough group at the 2018 World Cup, especially in their opener against Nigeria.


The Croatians have been pooled in Group D alongside the Super Eagles, Argentina and Iceland.


“It seems to me that it is not sufficiently recognised the weight of our group and especially the negativity of the schedule. We have a difficult group and the worst possible match schedule,” Bilić told Sportske Novosti.


“Nigeria at the start when it is, by tradition, the strongest and most difficult. Argentina have a decisive squad, and it would be better if it was in the third when we might have already settled the placement.


“The Icelanders are the third rival, but they have a mentality that even if they have already crashed out, and perhaps just because of that, playing as if their life depends on that encounter.”


Nigeria and Croatia will meet in their Group D opener at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16.

https://africanfootball.com/news/737989/Slaven-Bilic-Croatia-v-Nigeria-will-be-toughest-game

Joebie:
IF Ujah repeats what he did in the past -- scoring double digits -- then he is good enough if Rohr thinks he is good enough.
However, the player is average IMO. But maybe he could fit Rohr's plans and he could be utilized better than we ever have in the national team.

I get your point. All I'm saying is current in form players should earn our attention here and not past. If he starts doing well again then we can start talking about him.

Enyimba's Ikouwem Udoh has been invited for CHAN.... Ardent Followers of the league should fill us in on this player...

Icon79:
Let me say it again, whoever loses the Nigeria vs Croatia game would not advance out of the group. We need to knock this into the heads of our players. We should play that game as if our lives depend on it.


O pari

Exactly, the winner in the Nigeria vs Croatia game is the team that will go with Argentina to second round.

Same scenario with our 2014 group. The winner in the Nigeria vs Bosnia game sailed through.

terzurum5:
Abdullahi Apologises To Anorthosis Fans Over Home Defeat To Apoel Nicosia

Peter Oriaku

Super Eagles defender, Shehu Abdullahi, has apologised to Anorthosis’ fans following their 3-0 home loss to Apoel Nicosia in the Cypriot top flight on Wednesday, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.


Anorthosis’ unbeaten run in the league ended after l they lost at home to to Apoel Nicosia.


It was Anorthosis’ first league loss after 17 league games this season which saw them drop to second position on 36 points, one point adrift of leaders AEK Larnaca.


Reacting to the disappointing loss, Abdullahi however expressed confidence that they will bounce back from the setback.


“Matchday Result: Anorthosisfc 0-3 APOEL Nicosia. We are disappointed, not the result we wanted. First defeat of the season, we are not happy,” Abdullahi tweeted on his Twitter handle


“Dear Anorthosis fans, we appreciate your support. This is the time to stay United, we’ll bounce back. Lessons learnt!”

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/abdullahi-apologises-anorthosis-fans-home-defeat-apoel-nicosia/amp/

Do they speak English in Cyprus or is it in their own language

Icon79:
Let me say it again, whoever loses the Nigeria vs Croatia game would not advance out of the group. We need to knock this into the heads of our players. We should play that game as if our lives depend on it.


O pari

Please don't put fear and pressure upon the players and we the fans oo

Icon79:
Let me say it again, whoever loses the Nigeria vs Croatia game would not advance out of the group. We need to knock this into the heads of our players. We should play that game as if our lives depend on it.


O pari

Please don't put fear and pressure upon the players and we the fans oo

tbaba1234:
Enyimba's Ikouwem Udoh has been invited for CHAN.... Ardent Followers of the league should fill us in on this player...

He is a left back, kept Chima Akas on the bench for bits of last season. He has pace to burn and can put in some good crosses.

tbaba1234:
Enyimba's Ikouwem Udoh has been invited for CHAN.... Ardent Followers of the league should fill us in on this player...

Arghhhhh......na dt guy,I sabi am die,e dey ball pass iwobi








Me wey no sabi d role wey d guy dey play

forgiveness:


Don't you think the WC could tempt them now?

Honestly, these boys are really good.

I agree with the @bolded. Anyhow, we need Tammy Abraham in our SE.

even if we are that desperate, after the world cup what next? that do a boateng on us?

forgiveness:


[/b]There was a time when Solanke beckoned to play for Nigeria but Nigeria ignored him because he played in Eredivise.[b]


Adarabioyo can be approached now because we can convince him we need a Defender for the WC mundial.

Lookman can be approached now too.

When was this?? Never heard anything about this. In regards to the others, it most likely will be too late to make the switch as they've played for the English youth teams. Unless NFF can get serious and rush things. Time is of the essence. Give these guys till Feb to make a decision.

Joebie:
IF Ujah repeats what he did in the past -- scoring double digits -- then he is good enough if Rohr thinks he is good enough.
However, the player is average IMO. But maybe he could fit Rohr's plans and he could be utilized better than we ever have in the national team.

Too much of a poacher. Relies heavily on service. We already have Nacho for that. Need all rounders at the moment.

Okay good.. I'm not even going to devote time into that..
But just because you "guessed" right in those editions don't mean the system has been devoid of politics.

Jarus:


Witness?

Here were our threads to discuss APOTY 2008. See my comments 9 years ago.


https://www.nairaland.com/183252/african-footballer-year-nominee-wears

https://www.nairaland.com/204239/glo-caf-awards-2008

To dig out for each year just type "african footballer of the year 20** + jarus + nairaland" and see my active participation in each year since 2007 on NL.

Start from 2007 to 2017 ( 11 editions) that we are discussing.

Some of us have been discussing this topic for long.

Internet doesn't forget

BascoVanVeli:


He is a left back, kept Chima Akas on the bench for bits of last season. He has pace to burn and can put in some good crosses.

I know him for his crosses too

I fear too much cook will spoil the broth of the CHAN eagles

edi287:

Too much of a poacher. Relies heavily on service. We already have Nacho for that. Need all rounders at the moment.

Chai!!!!!!!!!!!! Nacho u have suffered

Did UEFA's shortlist and winner all these years always match that of FIFA's?

Jarus:


Both of them are assessing the same players' performance, why would it be different?

Jarus:


Exactly, the winner in the Nigeria vs Croatia game is the team that will go with Argentina to second round.

Same scenario with our 2014 group. The winner in the Nigeria vs Bosnia game sailed through.

If we lose that match we are out.

Odunayaw:
I know him for his crosses too

I fear too much cook will spoil the broth of the CHAN eagles

The problem is that u can never be sure who is at tip top form at this time of the year. Some guys even lose their form and never find it back(Paul Onobi) also if u don't shake the pot u may miss out on a can't miss player like Stephen Odey last year.

Our focus should be discovering players and not winning the CHAN, although we need to finish well though because of FIFA rankings.
We need players for SE, and if we can find a very good defender, let him be invited to compete.

Odunayaw:
I know him for his crosses too

I fear too much cook will spoil the broth of the CHAN eagles

We need to win that match, because we need to be safe before we meet Argentina. Croatia could still make it still.
I won't be surprised if Argentina end up being one of the ones to crash out

Jarus:


Exactly, the winner in the Nigeria vs Croatia game is the team that will go with Argentina to second round.

Same scenario with our 2014 group. The winner in the Nigeria vs Bosnia game sailed through.

NFF Target Jordon Ibe Impressed Against Chelsea - Bournemouth Coach

Published: December 21, 2017

NFF Target Jordon Ibe Impressed Against Chelsea - Bournemouth Coach
Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe was satisfied with the performance of Jordon Ibe in his side's narrow 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the quarterfinal of the League Cup on Wednesday night.

The Cherries were forced to make a substitution as early as the 17th minute when Ibe replaced the injured Jermain Defoe, and they were some positives from the former Liverpool starlet, with the highlight of his performance being the assist he provided for the equalizer scored by Gosling on 90 minutes.

''I think our squad is very well balanced and the players that came in impressed. We know the players that we can rely on and tonight’s performance will lift them and it will lift us,'' Howe told Bournemouth's official website.

''Jordon [Ibe] played more centrally today. It was a bit of a risk as he hasn’t done that much for us, but he showed his ability to find space and cause problems, with his pace a real threat.''

Jordon Ibe, 22, made his 20th appearance of the season against Chelsea, and has clocked up 1,058 minutes in total.

The former England youth international was approached by ex-Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh to play for Nigeria two years ago but his answer was negative as at that time.

Igho Kingsley


http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25906

Tyronne Ebuehi Ranked Among The Top Five Right Backs In Eredivisie

Published: December 21, 2017

Tyronne Ebuehi Ranked Among The Top Five Right Backs In Eredivisie
Super Eagles defender Tyronne Ebuehi has been ranked among the top five right-backs plying their trade in the Dutch Eredivisie by Voetbal Primeur.

With the first half of the season almost concluded, the Dutch football website asked followers of the Eredivisie to pick their Team of the Season so far and Ebuehi has been shortlisted for the right-back position.

Ebuehi, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last week, was nominated alongside another Dutch-born Nigerian player, Kingsley Ehizibue (PEC Zwolle), who is being monitored by the Nigerian Federation, with a view to a call-up to the national team.

Jonas Svensson (AZ), Santiago Arias (PSV) and Denzel Dumfries (sc Heerenveen) were also listed among the top five right backs in the division.

This season, Ebuehi has started all but one of the matches contested by ADO Den Haag in the league, he was not available for selection against FC Groningen on December 2 due to the red card he received the previous weekend.

Ehizibue has been a key player at PEC Zwolle this term, starting all their seventeen matches in the league and clocking up 1,523 minutes.

The two players are represented by ex- Feyenoord star Wessel Weezenberg.


http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25910

forgiveness:


NFF Target Jordon Ibe Impressed Against Chelsea - Bournemouth Coach

Published: December 21, 2017

NFF Target Jordon Ibe Impressed Against Chelsea - Bournemouth Coach
Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe was satisfied with the performance of Jordon Ibe in his side's narrow 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the quarterfinal of the League Cup on Wednesday night.

The Cherries were forced to make a substitution as early as the 17th minute when Ibe replaced the injured Jermain Defoe, and they were some positives from the former Liverpool starlet, with the highlight of his performance being the assist he provided for the equalizer scored by Gosling on 90 minutes.

''I think our squad is very well balanced and the players that came in impressed. We know the players that we can rely on and tonight’s performance will lift them and it will lift us,'' Howe told Bournemouth's official website.

''Jordon [Ibe] played more centrally today. It was a bit of a risk as he hasn’t done that much for us, but he showed his ability to find space and cause problems, with his pace a real threat.''

Jordon Ibe, 22, made his 20th appearance of the season against Chelsea, and has clocked up 1,058 minutes in total.

The former England youth international was approached by ex-Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh to play for Nigeria two years ago but his answer was negative as at that time.

Igho Kingsley


http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25906

this headline is misleading...who is targeting a player...who will never make it play for the 3 Lions...the super eagles is the option he has to launch an international career.....

Odunayaw:
I know him for his crosses too

I fear too much cook will spoil the broth of the CHAN eagles

Too much cook or condiments?
Na salisu b d cook.


I think Jonathan zikiye is the best left back in the league.

Jarus:


Exactly, the winner in the Nigeria vs Croatia game is the team that will go with Argentina to second round.

Same scenario with our 2014 group. The winner in the Nigeria vs Bosnia game sailed through.

Bosnia was not our first game and Argentina is not guaranteed anything either.

BascoVanVeli:


Bosnia was not our first game and Argentina is not guaranteed anything either.

You can say that again bro.

I feel our greatest threat is iceland and anyone who underrates them does so at his/her peril

They play together as a very strong unit with excellent tactical discipline.

Guys

We have a lot at stake in this world cup.

The NFF should work together with the coaching crew of the SE to ensure we get to the semi-final

I don't think it wrong to approach our foreign born Stars to play for us but it shouldn't be a do or die affair

If a player accepts, good but if the player thinks himself too good for our team, let that player be left alone. In fact, no media talk about him.

No one person is greater than the team. What we need now is to get better playing as a team and not some individual Stars with over-bloated egos.

After all, the national team of Iceland have just a few individual Stars but they are excellent together. Now, that's a team.

You can bank on this, once we put up an excellent performance at the tournament and get to the semis, these guys go look for us but them no go see us again. They might not say it out loud, but deep within themselves, they will feel regret.

PS: I don't hate on any of them that rejected us, just stating my opinion

BascoVanVeli:


The problem is that u can never be sure who is at tip top form at this time of the year. Some guys even lose their form and never find it back(Paul Onobi) also if u don't shake the pot u may miss out on a can't miss player like Stephen Odey last year.

Valid point

kentebemoney:

Too much cook or condiments?
Na salisu b d cook.


I think Jonathan zikiye is the best left back in the league.

Na condiments I suppose yarn

I just hope the league gets media coverage. it makes it so much easier to identify these diamonds in the rough on time

Joebie:
Our focus should be discovering players and not winning the CHAN, although we need to finish well though because of FIFA rankings.
We need players for SE, and if we can find a very good defender, let him be invited to compete.

On point

But then, I hope after CHAN(no matter the outcomes) it wouldn't be a lay off.