mank1234:
I just want to watch Uzoho, Joel and Ebuehi.

What of Idowu... that guy is the best for the LB/LWB position

The likely 4-2-3-1 formation may look like Nacho being the one in the center (AMC)..... with Iwobi to the left (AML) and Moses to the right (AMR)

Now, what if it is Iwobi as the AMC, Nacho to the right as the AMR cutting into his left foot and interchanging with Iwobi at will, then with Moses to the left as the AML... in that triumvirate attacking midfield combo behind Ighalo?

Time will tell....

solonnachi:


Thank God. We are on a NEPA day off today & will be on tomorrow around 9pm. Perfect timing!!!

. I would have asked if you stayed in IKD but the '9pm' just gave it away. Actually that's the time they would seize the light around here

TheSuperNerd:
The likely 4-2-3-1 formation may look like Nacho being the one in the center (AMC)..... with Iwobi to the left (AML) and Moses to the right (AMR)

Now, what if it is Iwobi as the AMC, Nacho to the right as the AMR cutting into his left foot and interchanging with Iwobi at will, then with Moses to the left as the AML... in that triumvirate attacking midfield combo behind Ighalo?

Time will tell....

iheanacho played that attacking central midfield position for that u17 that we won..it is just that he was scoring goals from there

safarigirl:
lakesidepapa senior you for this thread, he comes and goes, but he has been here for years.

Oh! Really?.... Didn't know that





But that still doesn't give him the right to quarrel and fight

Poland vs. Nigeria: Where the game will be won and lost
By Seye Omidiora, Correspondent




Will the Super Eagles show just how battle-ready they are for the World Cup when they face the White and Reds?

The essence of organizing pre-World Cup friendlies isn’t just limited to trying out players to see who fits in and who doesn’t. It sees national team managers test their wits against not too dissimilar sides to those against whom they will lock horns at the competition.

When Poland and Nigeria clash at the Muncipal Stadium, Wroclaw, Adam Nawalka and Gernot Rohr will appraise their side’s performances to have a certain level of understanding of the sort of threat Senegal and Croatia possess – the respective countries they are to face in Russia.

How then do both sides match up to one another? Nawalka shouldn't struggle with his goalkeeping pick for the encounter. In Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny, the Pole has two safe pair of hands he can call on, which in turn gives him a selection headache, not a consequence of dearth in quality, but being spoiled for choice.

Contrast this with Rohr, who, clearly still has doubts over who’s going to be between the sticks in Russia. Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Uzoho are the frontrunners to stake their claim as the Super Eagles' number one. Ezenwa held the fort for the last few games in the World Cup qualifiers and, having been the goalie at the CHAN, is the favourite.



Uzoho, though, is knocking on the door, and the fact that Rohr recently sent ONE of the team’s goalkeeper trainers, Enrico Pionetti to team up with young shot-stopper in Spain clearly shows the German tactician rates the youngster highly and certainly thinks he has what it takes to be between the sticks irrespective of his relative inexperience.

However, it’s not like Enyimba stopper Ezenwa isn’t also wet around the ears on the international scene as well. Compared to the the Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper though, he’s got more experience than the 19-year old who’s got only 45 minutes of action for the West Africans (in the 4-2 win over Argentina in November) and it’ll be interesting to see who gets Rohr’s vote in goal.

Both managers’ defensive selection is one thing that should catch the eye.

In their last friendlies (against Mexico and Argentina respectively) both teams played three at the back and even though it proved unsuccessful (Poland lost 1-0, while Nigeria struggled and trailed 2-1, only to reverse it for a 4-2 win after switching back to four in defence), Nawalka and Rohr haven’t ruled out the possibility of seeing the tactic in the pre-World Cup friendlies.



So it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Eagles and Super Eagles line-up with three in central defence in Friday's friendly.

For Nigeria, especially, trying to curtail the threat of the European nation’s talisman Robert Lewandowski might see them plump for a three-man defence to offer more solidity (probably at the expense of a bit of creative freedom). The Bayern Munich forward scored 16 of Poland’s 28 goals in qualifying and the Leon Balogun-led defence will need to cut the supply to the prolific forward, although, that will be easier said than done.

On the flip side, placing all the attention on the hitman would be suicidal as well, as it’ll leave Kamil Grosicki and Jakub Blaszczykowski, either side of the attacker, open to do their damage.

Both widemen, especially the former, are unstoppable whenever they go through the gears and they can hurt the Nigeria side with their skill and direct running. Both players had three assists each in qualifying, which shows they’ve got an end product to back all that industry.



The Polish defence will certainly be kept honest too, due to the three-time African champions also possessing players in the attacking areas that can hurt them.

The White and Reds' backline won’t be comfortable playing against Odion Ighalo’s strength, Victor Moses’ power and Alex Iwobi’s flamboyance, not to mention Kelechi Iheanacho’s predatory instincts in the box. A certain weakness of the Pole side in qualifying was their tendency to make hard work of crosses into the box, in open play and from set-pieces, and it’s one aspect that could be exploited by Rohr’s side.

The absence of Oghenekaro Etebo and, in particular, Mikel John Obi will weaken Nigeria significantly in the midfield battle. The former’s tireless display and the latter’s calming influence will definitely have an effect on how the Africans play. Granted, Etebo was unlikely to start, but Mikel’s absence will likely see Rohr change how his side approach the game.



It doesn’t get any easier for Rohr’s side with Piotr Zielinski’s creativity another aspect that can hurt the West Africans as well.
The Napoli man provided four assists in qualifying, and his passing and creativity could break the lines of the Nigeria midfield.

It’ll be up to the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Ogenyi Onazi to stop the passes between the lines with their ability to sense threatening situations and snuff out the danger.
Ultimately, it’s a battle between the sixth-placed European nation and the 52nd-placed Africans.

Poland may be the favourites, but having seen off Argentina last time around, the Super Eagles will certainly relish the chance of claiming another scalp. With Lewandowski and co. in the way, though, it could be a long night for Rohr and his players.


Source: http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/poland-vs-nigeria-where-the-game-will-be-won-and-lost/365x6tlok7qk1xqibiq2h9f95


Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 84 days 4 hours 26 mins to go

solonnachi:


Thank God. We are on a NEPA day off today & will be on tomorrow around 9pm. Perfect timing!!!

NEPA would still take it when the game is about to begin, then bring it at half time( for you to see scores) and then take it again just before the second half. They would finally bring it after the match.
This happens all the time whether day off or day on, especially if Nigeria is playing well.

How can the Super Eagles cage Robert Lewandowski?
By Solace Chukwu, Correspondent



A meeting with one of the world's most fearsome strikers will define proceedings in Wroclaw on Friday


While some of the qualifying results were certainly eye-catching, it is easy enough to agree that Nigeria's participation at the World Cup this summer was built on defensive organization: two goals conceded from open play in six games paints a picture of parsimony.

That solidity will now be put to more stringent testing, starting on Friday when the Super Eagles face fellow World Cup hopefuls Poland.
The Poles are ranked sixth in the world, and came through their qualifying group by besting Denmark and Romania, among others.

Under manager Adam Nawalka, they have proven quite prolific: they found the back of the net 28 times over the course of qualifying, and boast, in Robert Lewandowski, one of the very best strikers in world football.

The 29-year-old is the captain and centre piece of Poland; a frightening mix of physical prowess and unnervingly quick feet. You have only to look at the numbers to see this: of the total of 28, the Bayern man chipped in with 16 to effectively haul his team up the hill.



If it seems there is a dependency at work here, that's because there sort of is.
Lewandowski scored in nine of the 10 qualifying matches. The only game he failed to score in was Poland's only loss—a 4-0 hammering at the hands of the Danes.

That, though, can be considered a little chicken and egg. Good teams necessarily lean on their most talented players, but sometimes certain players simply dominate teams by sheer force of personality. Bayern Munich, for all their riches, have failed to win in four of the eight games in which their talismanic striker failed to score.

This is, of course, so eminently relevant as a test for a centre-back pairing, in William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun, that has largely looked assured.




They have not faced a striker quite like Lewandowski, one so capable of being effectively in many different ways.

Of course, one might baulk at the focus on him, but international football does lend itself to precisely this sort of approach.

With limited time spent together developing an understanding, especially outside of major tournaments, most national teams are a lot more reliant on the individual qualities of their stars, particularly in attack.

It makes the strategy simple, and perhaps explains why Lionel Messi continues to search for a World Cup winners' medal: stop the star man (read:Lewandowski), stop the entire team.




That, though, is easier said than done.

At 6' 1", he offers an obvious aerial threat (although both Troost-Ekong and Balogun have a height advantage), but then his movement on the shoulder of the defensive line is so crisp and sharp that the obvious ploy against big strikers – pushing up in a higher block – simply will not suffice.
There is also the fact that he is one of the best penalty-box predators in world football, which adds a further layer of complexity.



Few strikers in the world are as good at sorting their feet out in a crowded penalty area and working space for a strike.
Considering the manner in which the Super Eagles defend, it would make for a fascinating watch: a deep block against one of the best at finding space in exactly that condition, whether with a sudden dart to the near post, or by peeling off his marker to the far post.
Also, seeing as much of his work depends on deliveries from out wide, there will be a huge responsibility on the full-backs to contribute to the effort by denying the wingers room in the final third.

Despite handling the threat of Sergio Aguero back in November, keeping Lewandowski quiet on Friday will prove an even bigger ask.


Source: http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/how-can-the-super-eagles-cage-robert-lewandowski/uxgbjockpkuj1x9zhc6wxl8jf


Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 84 days 4 hours 10mins to go

asha80:


ebuehi no partake?

Did not play at the weekend so he might not yet be 100%

You people can analyse for African...

I don read tire.

Enjoying it though.
God bless you guys.
This is far richer than complete sports

asha80:
iheanacho played that attacking central midfield position for that u17 that we won..it is just that he was scoring goals from there

Iheanacho played from the right, yahaya from the left

Alfa, Nwakali and Idowu played in the midfield.

soetanoreoluwa:


There will be a training session today though. He might partake and also being long Elderson play trying to see his fitness leVel.

Ebuehi is most likely not 100% if he trained alone.. He missed the weekend game so it is unsurprising.

AllforJesus7:


I can't believe this. School fees less than N25,000? Wow.

Research has shown that in Nigeria a university cannot be run if each student do not part with atleast N1 million naira in fees. What you see around in federal and state universities and call cheap fees is actually a massively subsidized fee system. The government pays the millions for you and leaves you to pay less than N25,000.

Yet all you do is to complain about this and that, the school is poor, the infrastructure is terrible etc. Truth is IF we want to revive our educational system, it begins with lesser subsidy (in the hands of a faithful government). Meaning students may have to pay more.

A little lesson here safarigirl. You appear too fixated on the woes of the Government and complain about how your school is bad and this and that. Atleast today you will be grateful you pay peanuts for education and the 'yeye' government pays the rest of the millions for you.

i complained of the workers, not the government.

I attended a secondary school with 250k school fees, if my mother was alive, I would not even be in a government school, so, abeg, I am not in a laughing mood.

Because I am unfortunate enough to be motherless and now having to face a corrupt system where I need to know someone to get a hostel I already paid for, doesn't mean I should just suck it up

Corruption is corruption

LieDetector:
Happy seeing @congo4ka viewing the thread

He's the craziest of all crazies on this thread

TheSuperNerd:
How Super Eagles Line Up In 4-2-3-1 Formation During Training Session, Idowu Picked Ahead Of Echiejile




Owngoalnigeria.com has obtained details of how the Super Eagles of Nigeria lined up in their evening training session yesterday which was supervised by coach Gernot Rohr.

The team had a practice game with coach Rohr separating the players into two teams for a practice game which ended 3-1 in favour of the team that looks likely to start (Team lineup A).

Ikechukwu Ezenwa had his first session with the team, and he was in goal for the team many believe is the B team while Francis Odinaka Uzoho manned goal for the A team.

The shock inclusion in the A team was Brian Idowu who started as left back for the team that had lost of the likely starters. His selection ahead of Elderson Echiejile and Ola Aina was the only major change in the team A.


Line Up Team A:

Francis Odinaka Uzoho ( GK)

Shehu Abdullahi

Brian Idowu

Leon Balogun

William Troost-Ekong

Wilfred Ndidi

Ogenyi Onazi ( Joel Obi)

Kelechi Iheanacho

Alex Iwobi

Victor Moses

Odion Ighalo





Line Up Team B:

Ikechukwu Ezenwa ( GK)

Ola Aina

Elderson Echiejile

Chidozie Awaziem

Kenneth Omeruo

Uche Agbo

Joel Obi ( Eddy Onazi)

Moses Simon

Ahmed Musa

John Ogu




**Shedrack Obi


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2018/03/22/how-super-eagles-line-up-in-4-2-3-1-formation-during-training-session-idowu-picked-ahead-of-echiejile/


Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 84 days 5 hours 7 mins to go

no ebuahi
and that onazi and obi change who is thinking what i am thinking...

maidaboi:
they are all taller than messi who is my G.O.A.T
so i don't care about there height

I just wanted to clarify the wrong information. I also do not care about their height.

gbosaa:



Joel Obi isn’t taller than Aina. I don’t know about the others but he’d have to wear Goth shoes to level with Aina.

I already admitted.

maidaboi:
no ebuahi and that onazi and obi change who is thinking what i am thinking...

the team B list is not complete sef I can count 10 players instead of 11

safarigirl:
i complained of the workers, not the government.

I attended a secondary school with 250k school fees, if my mother was alive, I would not even be in a government school, so, abeg, I am not in a laughing mood.

Because I am unfortunate enough to be motherless and now having to face a corrupt system where I need to know someone to get a hostel I already paid for, doesn't mean I should just suck it up

Corruption is corruption

I'm so sorry about your mum. May God give you the strength to excel and cross the hurdles. It is well.

femianski:

the team B list is not complete sef
I can count 10 players instead of 11

Maybe it is an omission..

MetalJigsaw:
Omo den plenty o

Yes ooooooo. But Aina is taller than Joel.

daveP:
I see no reason why we shouldn't win the next u20 WYC. Our hands are full than ever before.

Let us hope the coach will do his job without thinking of..... You know what I mean.

somehow:
Nice one.. Joel's all smiles.

Was watching Shehu live yesterday when Musa called the wife.

The wife started saying.. "no go give person Belle for Poland o".. Musa went quiet. I thought heard him wrongly. The call was on speaker phone. I guess that embarrassed him because the call went off few seconds later.

Women and insecurity.

He never see something.

...

gustav25:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgnUnUHNNyk

Need I say more ?

Hahahahahah! Messi the conductor. Spanish sweet for hear ooooooo.

Anyway, I just like C Ronaldo pass.

MetalJigsaw:
That's really bad. Talking as if she can do Nada if Musa does

Humility017:

that lady is like one wit character issues...
she shouldn't forget...she is the second wife...
the dude had to go through divorce prior marrying her....definitely musa can still marry as many as he can manage...moreover Islam laws permit 4 wives.

daveP:
she no try if she said that o. Haba na.

I actually thought i heard wrongly, that was what i heard. Shehu just kept straight face and Agbo was there too dancing.

I think they are 3 in their room.
Shehu
Musa
Agbo or maybe he just came to visit.

forgiveness:



Let us hope the coach will do his job without thinking of..... You know what I mean.

lol. No Nuhu Ribadu can stop that act, except the mentality of the coach. And if he isn't into it, those fat bellied assistants that they are on bench iwhile a match goes on, they might pull such kind of strings.

Messi surely plays around in the dressing room.

gustav25:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgnUnUHNNyk

Need I say more ?

MetalJigsaw:
What of Idowu... that guy is the best for the LB/LWB position

I know he's good. My focus will however be on those 3 cos everyone have been talking about them. I want to see how good they'll be on GWG

Now this is a typical Nigerian village girl with swag.

No time forming, 25k for one jersey when bills full ground?

safarigirl:
bros, £50 is at least 25,000 naira, shey you know? Even my school fees is not that expensive

If you get that kain money, help a girl out or kuku allow us to buy our fake things in unity

I hope we are ready to digest the probability that arises when some of our darling players don't live up to expectations tomorrow?

Uzoho is young and u like that very well. it would make him garner wealthy experience like Donarumma of Italy who looked very amateurish Vs Arsenal in the Europa cup in terms of decision making and discretion.

Italy wouldn't mind such cos they know that before they get back on their feet again as a superpower in football, the guy would have entered the "the realm of the Buffon"



Same for Uzoho and Alampasu, the "realm of the Vincent"

somehow:






I actually thought i heard wrongly, that was what i heard. Shehu just kept straight face and Agbo was there too dancing.

I think they are 3 in their room.
Shehu
Musa
Agbo or maybe he just came to visit.

She need a secretary or p.a on public relations. that's disrespectful even if he was a younger brother to her. phew.