I know Russia is not special. And I understand your point but sadly it cannot happen. Not with this CAF. Check my reply to Sir Chrisooblog and see why.

Look, as it stands, if we don't wanna see those North Africans as you say messing up our chances as a continent, then we must be ready to take our game level even further too when they up their own game and then beat them blue, black and green! That way, we get to see more of Black Africa. After all, what gives any team the right to go to the mundial if you cannot beat your fellow Africans from the North in the qualifiers naa?

Icon79:
Nerdie, that's the problem! These North Africans tend to up their game when they meet African oppositions, but they always get intimidated when they get to the world stage. I mean, you know as well as I do that Ghana would've gotten a result against Uruguay and would've, most likely, beaten Russia. There's nothing special about Russia. Watch them collapse against Uruguay in the next game.


O pari

Good point - especially at the highlighted.


O pari

TheSuperNerd:
I know Russia is not special. And I understand your point but sadly it cannot happen. Not with this CAF. Check my reply to Sir Chrisooblog and see why.

Look, as it stands, if we don't wanna see those North Africans as you say messing up our chances as a continent, then we must be ready to take our game level even further too when they up their own game and then beat them blue, black and green! That way, we get to see more of Black Africa. After all, what gives any team the right to go to the mundial if you cannot beat your fellow Africans from the North in the qualifiers naa?

Icon4s:
Mujtahida, how effective has Musa been on the wings in the last 3-4 years for the Super Eagles.

Sir,3-4 years ago,pls add Omeruo,Echiejile,Onazi inclusive Musa save for Mikel and Moses who had good WC qualifiers.

BascoVanVeli:


Nigeria and Mauritania. They played against professionals, they were not playing plumbers.

How Marvellous Basco said this as his answer (pic description)....

Basco: Well... Nigeria and Mauritania naa. They played against professionals, they were not playing plumbers.

bro allow me to list sub-saharan african team's achievements

Nigeria - 2nd round three times 1994, 1998, 2014

Ghana - 2nd round once 2006 quarters once 2010

Cameroon - quarters once 1990

Senegal - quarters once 2002 (will most likely do well this year)


north african teams world cup achievements

Algeria - 2nd round 2014

Morocco - 2nd round way back in 1986

so bros no comparison

wayodude:


hahaha big talk! Remember the best African performance in the last World Cup was from Algeria.

When last did Cameroun get even 1 point at a World Cup? The most embarrassing results from an African team in recent World Cups are Camerouns. What has Ivory Coast achieved in World Cups even with their golden generation? beating North Korea in 2010 and Serbia & Montenegro in 2006? no that one be result? lol

Ghana has had ONE good world cup (2010), same for Cameroun (1990), same for Senegal (2002).

All African teams have it all to prove because right now there are considered nobodies in World football.

Icon79:
Nerdie, that's the problem! These North Africans tend to up their game when they meet African oppositions, but they always get intimidated when they get to the world stage. I mean, you know as well as I do that Ghana would've gotten a result against Uruguay and would've, most likely, beaten Russia. There's nothing special about Russia. Watch them collapse against Uruguay in the next game.


O pari

They do well on the African soil because they are typically more organized and more motivated.

While teams from West Africa would have fired their coaches after a previous tournament, they will stay for months without a Substantive coach and then employ a local caretaker coach until when qualifiers are barely weeks away.

But meanwhile the North Africans would have put their houses in order early enough and kick start preparations.

They usually start the qualifiers flying while we from West Africa would have gotten one or two bad results first before struggling to come back and by then the damage would have been done already.

Icon4s:


Na the serious oppositions dem be that? Na him go come make you prefer dem to the squad that played in the WC?

No make me laugh abeg

A team that has lost twice going on three? BTW I was not debating just stating my opinion so u can state ur own if u want it is a free world.

Kog45:
Sir,3-4 years ago,pls add Omeruo,Echiejile,Onazi inclusive Musa save for Mikel and Moses who had good WC qualifiers.

The comparison is between Musa's effectiveness as a winger compared to Iwobi's effectiveness in that same position.

Just like Nigeria, sometimes Cameroun tend to self destruct (just like in Brazil 2014).

As per the Egypt or Morocco's group, let me tell you that this Portugal team isn't that great. I don't see them making it past the round of 16. Morocco would've beaten them if they had taken their chances and/or didn't gift Cristiano Ronaldo a FREE header. Morocco clearly outplayed them today. As regards to Iran, even Stephen Keshi's team with all the problems they encountered were still able to outplay Iran in 2014. Iran was lucky to escape with goalless draw in that game. Go watch the game again on youtube. So I can't see how either Ghana or Cameroun would have much problems getting a result against them. Even Morocco clearly outplayed them but then shoot themselves on the foot with a last minute own goal.

Trust me, you'll see how weak these teams (Iran, Russia, Portugal) are when/if they get to the round of 16.


O pari

andrew444:


Abeg comot cameroun there,cameroun has not get past the group stage since 1998

Cameroun will never survive morocco or Egypt group

You think a group that has Portugal or Spain is easy ?

Icon4s:


So where do these 4 players you mentioned traditionally play for Super Eagles?

Moses plays best from 11 and 8 and momentarily drifts to 7 but was permanent on the right side during the last game.
Iwobi does best in the 8 role with chance to roam into the 18 yard box or into midfield to help play.
Etebo does better as 11 or attacking midfielder not 4.
Mikel plays 10 from where he can throw long passes, joins attack or doubles 4 when the ream is under attack and not best in the 8 position because his play style is not fast enough to be effective as main 8 role.
And everyone knows Tyrone is better than Shehu as overlapping LWB to help the attackers.

Am tempted to say Rohr sold that match given the number of errors as martialed above in that one match, but i won't.

BascoVanVeli:


A team that has lost twice going on three? BTW I was not debating just stating my opinion so u can state ur own if u want it is a free world.

Yes, as if the loses were against the Nigerian CHAN team and Mauritania. You go soon prefer Osas Okoro over Ebuehi.

KPOM!

Baba, icon, you hit the nail squarely on the head right there! That's why, I hope that Nigeria can retain Gernot Rohr after this world cup regardless of how we do. Let's give him another chance to continue his project and see how he performs at the AFCON next year. it doesn't serve us well to hire and fire coaches after every single tournament.


O pari

Icon4s:


They do well on the African soil because they are typically more organized and more motivated.

While teams from West Africa would have fired their coaches after a previous tournament, they will stay for months without a Substantive coach and then employ a local caretaker coach until when qualifiers are barely weeks away.

But meanwhile the North Africans would have put their houses in order early enough and kick start preparations.

They usually start the qualifiers flying while we from West Africa would have gotten one or two bad results first before struggling to come back and by then the damage would have been done already.

Icon79:
Just like Nigeria, sometimes Cameroun tend to self destruct (just like in Brazil 2014).

As per the Egypt or Morocco's group, let me tell you that this Portugal team isn't that great. I don't see them making it past the round of 16. Morocco would've beaten them if they had taken their chances and/or didn't gift Cristiano Ronaldo a FREE header. Morocco clearly outplayed them today. As regards to Iran, even Stephen Keshi's team with all the problems they encountered were still able to outplay Iran in 2014. Iran was lucky to escape with goalless draw in that game. Go watch the game again on youtube. So I can't see how either Ghana or Cameroun would have much problems getting a result against them. Even Morocco clearly outplayed them but then shoot themselves on the foot with a last minute own goal.

Trust me, you'll see how weak these teams (Iran, Russia, Portugal) are when/if they get to the round of 16.


O pari

Make I agree with you but just comot cameroun for those teams you mention

princfred:

Moses plays best from 11 and 8 and momentarily drifts to 7 but was permanent on the right side during the last game.
Iwobi does best in the 8 role with chance to roam into the 18 yard box or into midfield to help play.
Etebo does better as 11 or attacking midfielder not 4.
Mikel plays 10 from where joins attack attack or doubles 4 so he can throw long passes not best in tge 8 position because his play style is not fast enough to be effective as main 8 role.
And everyone knows Tyrone is better than Shehu to overlapping LWB to help the attackers.

Am tempted to say Rohr sold that match given the number of errors as martialed above in that one match, but i won't.

Sir, the roles those 4 players played against Croatia are the typical roles they have been playing for the Super Eagles since the coming of Rohr.

And you forgot to describe how Etebo was played out of position.

Nna, you and I knew this but those who run out football are clueless. If you follow me on twitter, if you'd have noticed how much I pledged with the NFF to retain Samson Siasia, despite losing to Egypt, after he took over from Oliseh; but Amaju and his crew were hell-bent on hiring a foreign coach!

There's no question in my mind that given the same support they have given Rohr, Samson Siasia would've done even better than Rohr.


O pari

Joebie:
We’ve been on the same page all this while. First we need to have a positive identity. And that should be our driving force in everything we do as a people. Our own na copy copy.

Modified
Copy copy will only give u mixed results. No sustainable direction for excellence.

Icon4s:


So where do these 4 players you mentioned traditionally play for Super Eagles?

I tire o.The major issue is Rohr who took players out and telling them indirectly that you are not better than the Croatia team.

Rohr just need to raise the morales of our boys and should stopped underdog tagging.Naija teams don't normally give respect to any opposition when it comes to football but Rohr is a weakling.

Even with Iwobi as AM,Ebuehi replacing Shehu,Iheanacho starting, Mikel fallen deep with Etebo ahead,Omeruo coming into the party,i don't see us beating Iceland with Rohr's defeatism attitude.

Talking about AFCON now is a digression. Everyone wants to win it all no doubt, talking about the best of both worlds. But when U look at your screen now , you don’t see continental stats but WC stats. All this while Egypt was missing out on the WC they were nothing in global football. They would rather have loved to see Salah and co get to even the second round than win another AFCON. Competition get grade. And you can hardly win it both. I don’t even know what you are arguing about. Many countries will trade a continental crown for having the best shot at the WC stage. But who will not want to win both? Your performance at the global stage carries more weight than what you did in your locality.

The Ivory Coast U17 Team 2013 class got nothing on the world conquering Golden Eaglets of the same year. Also consider 2015. Who had the bragging rights in both occasions? Nigeria of course.

African Champions is a just a title. At the World Cup, other countries will rate you based on what you do there.

TheSuperNerd:
Funnily even France were both World and European Champions between 1998 and 2000. They knew they had the respect of the world after conquering at France 98 but like every great team, they also knew they needed the respect of the Continent called Europe. This is why they took Euro 2000 very very seriously. They didn't drag themselves about and played with nothing to die for just because they were already World champions.... Noooo... They still fought and showed the continent that their success on the world stage was no flux at all.

Spain did same thing. Germany did same thing. Even Brazil did.

The best of both worlds (conquering in your continent and doing well/decently enough on the world stage) is what truly crowns the BEST.

One cannot be Champions without being referred to as The Best. The Best in football are known by their titles also. That is the way it is in soccer. So it is not about what our personal preferences are of wanting A WC SF above an AFCON or vice versa. After all, why can't we have both?

I totally agree with you. I don't see CAF doing anything even if they want to, because these countries belong in the same federation with us and that's how it would remain. The only option to prevent from wasting our slots is to stop them by beating them in the qualifiers. Hopefully, the expansion of world cup teams starting in 2022 world cup would help us achieve that aim ... provided that CAF doesn't pack strong West African teams into one or two groups sha.


O pari

TheSuperNerd:
Then it is our west African's brothers duties to beat these guys themselves and indeed show that they belong at the World cup. We cannot wait until CAF does something. In fact, CAF will never do such and we both know it.
At U-17 level, look at what CAF even did. They just reduced Africa's chances of having strong reps at the FIFA U-17 WC going forward (they zoned the qualifiers to enable other regions gain better chances of being represented at the CAF U-17 Afcon when in it's former format, West Africa always produces Africa's strongest going to the U-17 mundial). Is that the CAF that will do what O pari master, Icon79 is suggesting? Mehn I don't think so.

When Nigeria missed out on the Afcon because of Egypt, I accepted it because we just fell short even though we had our problems. Egypt were better and they still went on to reach the Afcon final.

If you wanna be at the world cup, then our brothers too must flex same muscles these North Africans flex and humble them big time. Finito.

In the spirit of African Brother-hood, let's go support Saudi Arabia to beat Uruguay for Egypt.

Icon4s:


Sir, the roles those 4 players played against Croatia are the typical roles they have been playing for the Super Eagles since the coming of Rohr.

And you forgot to describe how Etebo was played out of position.

Assuming thats true, how well did it work all the while during the friendlies? Wasn't that enough for him to know the players werent operating at their best?

Their game was very one-sided and predictable too -always to Moses on the right. Both Idowu ad Shehu never overlapping. Who wins a game like that?

chrisooblog:
bro allow me to list sub-saharan african team's achievements

Nigeria - 2nd round three times 1994, 1998, 2014

Ghana - 2nd round once 2006 quarters once 2010

Cameroon - quarters once 1990

Senegal - quarters once 2002 (will most likely do well this year)


north african teams world cup achievements

Algeria - 2nd round 2014

Morocco - 2nd round way back in 1986

so bros no comparison

okay you win. but none of them dey try, they should all do more.

Kog45:
I tire o.The major issue is Rohr who took players out and telling them indirectly that you are not better than the Croatia team.

Rohr just need to raise the morales of our boys and should stopped underdog tagging.Naija teams don't normally give respect to any opposition when it comes to football but Rohr is a weakling.

Even with Iwobi as AM,Ebuehi replacing Shehu,Iheanacho starting, Mikel fallen deep with Etebo ahead,Omeruo coming into the party,i don't see us beating Iceland with Rohr's defeatism attitude.

Morale is another thing. Placing the players in their right/best positions is equally important.

Egypt won the AFCON back to back thrice... So why won't they get tired of Afcon success and want to take it further on the world stage?
Have Nigeria won the AFCON back to back? No matter how you wanna dribble past it, the best of both worlds is what truly crowns one the Best.

Look ehn, all this one is still story. A decent WC performance does not make a team Africa's best. Full stop. Algeria is a case study. Ghana is a case study. Senegal is a case study. What respect did they command on the African continent after doing well at the mundial and coming home to flunk at the Afcon?

What is Senegal's reputation on the African continent? Have they won an Afcon Title? Senegal's best achievement is WC QF and AFCON Final (once). Nigeria is far more revered than Senegal in international football even though we haven't reached the WC QF stage yet.

A decent/good performance is not how we know Africa's Best/finest. That is just it. IT IS JUST NEVER ENOUGH. Those that go farthest at the WC from Africa are the fortunate ones. Luck, Fortune all combined with a team's level of efforts determines this on the world stage. Some teams take the easy path, some the hard path. Fortune plays a role. I suppose South Korea were Asia's best for what they did in Korea/Japan 2002 abi... Why didn't they conquer in Asia in 2000, 2004 and even 2007? Japan is even still far more rated internationally than Korea republic (South Korea).

Joebie:
Talking about AFCON now is a digression. Everyone wants to win it all no doubt, talking about the best of both worlds. But when U look at your screen now , you don’t see continental stats but WC stats. All this while Egypt was missing out on the WC they were nothing in global football. They would rather have loved to see Salah and co get to even the second round than win another AFCON. Competition get grade. And you can hardly win it both. I don’t even know what you are arguing about. Many countries will trade a continental crown for having the best shot at the WC stage. But who will not want to win both? Your performance at the global stage carries more weight than what you did in your locality.

The Ivory Coast U17 Team 2013 class got nothing on the world conquering Golden Eaglets of the same year. Also consider 2015. Who had the bragging rights in both occasions? Nigeria of course.

African Champions is a just a title. At the World Cup, other countries will rate you based on what you do there.

Icon4s:


Yes, as if the loses were against the Nigerian CHAN team and Mauritania. You go soon prefer Osas Okoro over Ebuehi.

No but they lost none the less. Seems u are looking for an argument or something but I could care less TBH. If u like say I prefer Gabriel over Iheanacho that one na your business.

@bolded, the real question is how has it helped Africa all these years? If it’s not working, modify it.

Icon4s:


So what happens to the one in 2 years AFCON and it's qualifiers.

South America that does something similar to what you just explained above play their COPA America once in 4 years and they dont play qualifiers for it.

Icon4s:


Iwobi is not played as a winger but as LAM or RAM.

Iwobi aside being played from the left or Right offers a lot from the middle.

He bringa a lot to the team and so should not be on the bench.

he is most effective, again i repeat the word 'effective' playing from the middle. he can drift right or left but let him play centrally.

AIG07:
Our group is the most tricky, no team is guaranteed to progress.

A win for Croatia will send them through. Leaving Argentina with one point. Going into their last group match.
A draw for both sides will put one of Croatia.'s foot in the next round. Leaving Argentina with two points.

A win for Argentina will see them top the group with 4points irrespective of Goal difference closely followed by Croatia with three. That is if we don't loose to Iceland.

So the best result is that we win our own matches.

Any which way, our destiny is still in our hands. We need to go out there and get the job done. Irrespective of the result of other group fixture. We should go out there to win the remaining two matches and that alone will guarantee us a place in the second round.

I think a win for Argentina is better( preferably 2goal margin at least). It will open up the group + It will in a way reduce d intensity wit which Argentina will approach d final game

Okay I see where we differ. You are focused on the recognition on the continent. I’m focused on recognition at the global stage. Among us Africans expect is to be sentimental because our country’s pride is in question.

Outside Africa, “African champions” is just a title. You will be rated by what you give at the global stage.

Modified
Nigeria has 6 World Cup appearances compared to Senegal’s 2. We are not more respected because of our 3 AFCON titles.

TheSuperNerd:
Egypt won the AFCON back to back thrice... So why won't they get tired of Afcon success and want to take it further on the world stage?
Have Nigeria won the AFCON back to back? No matter how you wanna dribble past it, the best of both worlds is what truly crowns one the Best.

Look ehn, all this one is still story. A decent WC performance does not make a team Africa's best. Full stop. Algeria is a case study. Ghana is a case study. Senegal is a case study. What respect did they command on the African continent after doing well at the mundial and coming home to flunk at the Afcon?

What is Senegal's reputation on the African continent? Have they won an Afcon Title? Senegal's best achievement is WC QF and AFCON Final (once). Nigeria is far more revered than Senegal in international football even though we haven't reached the WC QF stage yet.

A decent/good performance is not how we know Africa's Best finest. That is just it. Those that go farthest at the WC from Africa are the fortunate ones. Luck, Fortune all combined with a team's level of efforts determines this on the world stage. Some teams take the easy path, some the hard path. Fortune plays a role.

Icon4s:
Mujtahida, how effective has Musa been on the wings in the last 3-4 years for the Super Eagles.

i didnt mention Musa. but even at that playing iwobi in the middle because Musa is not effective is cheating ourselves. maximise iwobi where he is most effective. we can manage with Musa on the wings

MetalJigsaw:
Nigeria Rated Third Worst Team After First Round Of Matches
June 20, 2018 12:20 pm

Following the lethargic 2-0 loss to Croatia in their opening game of the 2018 World Cup, the Super Eagles have been adjudged as the 29th best of the 32 teams participating at the World Cup after the first round of games.

British newspaper Daily Telegraph, in an appraisal of all the teams, rated Nigeria has only better than Saudi Arabia which lost the opening game of the competition 5-0 to host country Russia and debutants Panama who lost 3-0 to Belgium.

Of Nigeria’s listless performance, the paper wrote thusly: ” A horrible performance from a group of players who didn’t seem to grasp quite how important their opening game at the World Cup was. Whether the manager’s fault or those in green shirts, there was no urgency, no great surge to try and rescue a point, an isolated striker and full-backs who weren’t allowed to get forward. Nigeria should be so much better than this.”

Spain and Portugal, who played out an enthralling 3-3 draw came in first and second while Mexico, which defeated reigning champions Germany were rated third.

Brazil, who were held by Switzerland and England, late 2-1 winner over Tunisia round up the top five in the ratings.

Nigeria will play her second game on Friday against Iceland at the Volgograd Arena.
Only an outright win can keep the Super Eagles hopes of staying in the competition alive.


https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nigeria-rated-third-worst-team-after-first-round-of-matches/

international disgrace

African Champion is not just a title. It is a symbol of being Africa's best because that champion beat the best to get there. They conquered at HOME.

South Korea for all they did in 2002 are still not reverred in the same league with Japan in international soccer. Japan trumps South Korea. They have had decent WC outings but have dominated their continents with Four titles. Iran have three titles. South Korea have the best WC showing for Asia but Japan trumps them because the balances of their performances on the continental and world stage is better compared to Korea.

This is why England is still not taken seriously in International football. They have a world title... They have been world champions once. But they are not rated among the Best Teams or biggest Guns in World football. Going into any major tournament be it Euros or Worlds, England is considered dark horses. And part of this is because they have never translated their WC win in 1966 into a European dominance within the European Continent.

This is why the best of both worlds is key. That is how you know the Best.

Joebie:
Okay I see where we differ. You are focused on the recognition on the continent. I’m focused on recognition at the global stage. Among us Africans expect is to be sentimental because our country’s pride is in question.

Outside Africa, “African champions” is just a title. You will be rated by what you give at the global stage.

Icon4s:
Morocco the first team crash out.

Egypt is the first country out. this highlights the importance of winning your first match. i really fear for nigeria