football actions will resume from day one of 2019 but who were the African stars who did us proud in the just ended year in European leagues and for their national teams.
All Nigeria Soccer's Izuchukwu Okosi presents the African Team of the Year.
GOAL : Andre Onana
There were few African goalkeepers who caught the attention in 2018 like Mounir El Kajoui of Numancia and Morocco but Onana edges it here due to his great form for Ajax who are second in the Dutch Eredevisie behind PSV.
Kajoui and his national team were eliminated in the group stages of the World Cup and his Spanish club aren't just in the same class yet as Ajax.
In the calendar year 2018, Onana was in goal in 39 games for club and country and conceded 23 times in that period for Cameroon and Ajax.
DEFENCE : Benatia, Koulibaly, Wague
We go to the defence where African players stood out in their positions.
We have opted for a three man defence that consists of the trio of Medhi Benatia (Morocco), Kalilou Koulibaly (Senegal) and Moussa Wague (Senegal).
Benatia is the captain of the Moroccan national side and led them to the 2018 World Cup where they crashed out of the group stages like other African representatives.
But the Atlas Lions who lost Iran, Portugal and drew with Spain did the continent proud with their brand of attacking football, Benatia's experience and leadership was influential in the team's efforts in Russia.
Koulibaly who recently had racial issues at Napoli is a solid rock for club and country.
Wague became the youngest African goal scorer at the World Cup and his performance forced Barcelona to pay Belgian side KAS Eupen €3million for his services.
MIDFIELD : Ziyech, Ndidi, Mane, Partey, Musa
There are five players in our midfield, consisting of two wingbacks, two holding midfielders and an attacking midfielder.
Morocco's Hakim Ziyech, one of his country's best players at Russia 2018 and great asset to Eredivisie giants Ajax occupies the right side where he cuts infield with his left foot to devastating effect beating off 'competition' from Nigeria's Alex Iwobi while another Super Eagle Ahmed Musa who scored the national team's two goals in a 2-0 win over Iceland takes up the position at the opposing end.
Musa's second goal in that World Cup Group D game was a contender for goal of the tournament.
Nigeria's Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester) and Ghana's Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid) man the holding midfield roles while Senegal and Liverpool's Sadio Mane gets the attacking midfield role.
ATTACK : Salah, Aubameyang
The duo of Mohamed Salah and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who have been nominated for the African Footballer of the Year award with Sadio Mane to be announced on January 8 occupies our forward lines.
Salah is tied with Harry Kane in the English Premier League scorers' chart with 13 goals and Aubameyang is on top of that section with 14 goals after New Year day's 4-1 thumping of Fulham.h
Izuchukwu Okosi

komekn:


The issue is context and what context you are making your comparison based deduction upon.

Very good players in the top leagues and top teams, that's not true.

But localise matters and then it becomes a different situation. Are we the best in Africa I would not say that but very good players in the African context a big resounding YES.

profiling a player as being world class, excellent, very good, good or average is contextual... I agree with you.. It's also based on personal opinion..

Now I am of the opinion that there are very few world class players , as there are also quite a few excellent players..

But now there are very good players , which I believe the Nigerian players being termed average fall under, and this opinion is formed based on their talent, and the teams they play for..

So now oga MI. Without emotive bias and an attitude of negativity, on which contextual ground would you say that Wilfred ndidi, Alex iwobi, kelechi iheanacho, Samuel chukweze, Isaac success, Samuel kalu etal are not very good players?

football actions will resume from day one of 2019 but who were the African stars who did us proud in the just ended year in European leagues and for their national teams.
All Nigeria Soccer's Izuchukwu Okosi presents the African Team of the Year.
GOAL : Andre Onana
There were few African goalkeepers who caught the attention in 2018 like Mounir El Kajoui of Numancia and Morocco but Onana edges it here due to his great form for Ajax who are second in the Dutch Eredevisie behind PSV.
Kajoui and his national team were eliminated in the group stages of the World Cup and his Spanish club aren't just in the same class yet as Ajax.
In the calendar year 2018, Onana was in goal in 39 games for club and country and conceded 23 times in that period for Cameroon and Ajax.
DEFENCE : Benatia, Koulibaly, Wague
We go to the defence where African players stood out in their positions.
We have opted for a three man defence that consists of the trio of Medhi Benatia (Morocco), Kalilou Koulibaly (Senegal) and Moussa Wague (Senegal).
Benatia is the captain of the Moroccan national side and led them to the 2018 World Cup where they crashed out of the group stages like other African representatives.
But the Atlas Lions who lost Iran, Portugal and drew with Spain did the continent proud with their brand of attacking football, Benatia's experience and leadership was influential in the team's efforts in Russia.
Koulibaly who recently had racial issues at Napoli is a solid rock for club and country.
Wague became the youngest African goal scorer at the World Cup and his performance forced Barcelona to pay Belgian side KAS Eupen €3million for his services.
MIDFIELD : Ziyech, Ndidi, Mane, Partey, Musa
There are five players in our midfield, consisting of two wingbacks, two holding midfielders and an attacking midfielder.
Morocco's Hakim Ziyech, one of his country's best players at Russia 2018 and great asset to Eredivisie giants Ajax occupies the right side where he cuts infield with his left foot to devastating effect beating off 'competition' from Nigeria's Alex Iwobi while another Super Eagle Ahmed Musa who scored the national team's two goals in a 2-0 win over Iceland takes up the position at the opposing end.
Musa's second goal in that World Cup Group D game was a contender for goal of the tournament.
Nigeria's Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester) and Ghana's Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid) man the holding midfield roles while Senegal and Liverpool's Sadio Mane gets the attacking midfield role.
ATTACK : Salah, Aubameyang
The duo of Mohamed Salah and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who have been nominated for the African Footballer of the Year award with Sadio Mane to be announced on January 8 occupies our forward lines.
Salah is tied with Harry Kane in the English Premier League scorers' chart with 13 goals and Aubameyang is on top of that section with 14 goals after New Year day's 4-1 thumping of Fulham.
Izuchukwu Okosi

andrew444:


Di Maria plays in the midfield as you have said ,but on a normal day di Maria is also a winger,they have to accommodate mbappe in his position

Even if di Maria is their winger onyekuru can't bench him ,I have not even talk of Julian draxler .

Had Onyekuru signed for PSG, I'm not sure they'd have also gone for Mbape.

All naija players are average... wtf. FYI,as an arsenal fan,I won't mind Ekong,Omeruo or Awaziem in our defence...Ndidi in our midfield to complement Torrera....kalu or Onyekuru to give some width.
we should stop downgrading our players pls.

Mickael2:


Di Maria stopped playing as a winger before Madrid won LA Decima so as at now he is considered a midfielder. However like you have rightly said even if he starts playing as a winger nobody that is eligible to play for Nigeria will keep him on the bench, not to talk of Onyekuru or Chukwueze no offence to his fanboys in here

Which position did he play at Manchester United?

mostob:
All naija players are average... wtf. FYI,as an arsenal fan,I won't mind Ekong,Omeruo or Awaziem in our defence...Ndidi in our midfield to complement Torrera....kalu or Onyekuru to give some width.
we should stop downgrading our players pls.

Almost all Arsenal players are average trust me

andrew444:


Almost all Arsenal players are average trust me

average players make a good team. Croatia us an example.

mostob:
average players make a good team. Croatia us an example.

So d likes of rakitic,modric,perisic,mandzukic,etc b average players,dis team paraded d best midfielders @ d world cup,na because of our unrealistic target and hype made us think we could defeated Croatia b4 d worldcup started ,na when world cup start,our eye clear

Bleacher's Report African Team of the Year

Princezibk:
You get big problem ah swear...I wonder how you will feel if your talent or hardwork is being tarnished this way or called average when you know it’s otherwise... you and your gangs will just sit comfortably and begin to type trash about people’s work and talent

elyte89:


So d likes of rakitic,modric,perisic,mandzukic,etc b average players,dis team paraded d best midfielders @ d world cup,na because of our unrealistic target and hype made us think we could defeated Croatia b4 d worldcup started ,na when world cup start,our eye clear

Abeg, no mind am. How are those aforementioned players average in any way.

The bolded statement was the point I maid ealier about expecting too much from our present crop of players. It's not just unfounded criticisms but the truth. These guys don't even know how to string basic passes together. We saw this before the WC but some of us said Rohr was just testing formations (some even said mind games) and that we would see the real SE come World cup. The first game against croatia opened my eyes. We saw the same SE we saw in the friendly matches. No improvement at all. The memories are still there....

Let us not expect too much from them

elyte89:


So d likes of rakitic,modric,perisic,mandzukic,etc b average players,dis team paraded d best midfielders @ d world cup,na because of our unrealistic target and hype made us think we could defeated Croatia b4 d worldcup started ,na when world cup start,our eye clear

you are right bro....is there any other world class in their squad apart from the one mentioned

mostob:
you are right bro....is there any other world class in their squad apart from the one mentioned

Odas re just above average, and dey av a very good GK,I can't remember his name now,d keeper is good

darkelf:


Abeg, no mind am. How are those aforementioned players average in any way.

The bolded statement was the point I maid ealier about expecting too much from our present crop of players. It's not just unfounded criticisms but the truth. These guys don't even know how to string basic passes together. We saw this before the WC but some of us said Rohr was just testing formations (some even said mind games) and that we would see the real SE come World cup. The first game against croatia opened my eyes. We saw the same SE we saw in the friendly matches. No improvement at all. The memories are still there....

Let us not expect too much from them

Oga.. nobody is talking about WC here . Follow the talk before you talk

elyte89:



Odas re just above average, and dey av a very good GK,I can't remember his name now,d keeper is good

OK..subasic

elyte89:


So d likes of rakitic,modric,perisic,mandzukic,etc b average players,dis team paraded d best midfielders @ d world cup,na because of our unrealistic target and hype made us think we could defeated Croatia b4 d worldcup started ,na when world cup start,our eye clear

With all those players, Croatia did not overrun us at the world cup. In fact, if not for silly mistakes, that was a duĺl 0:0 game.

We are just underrating our players.

mostob:
average players make a good team. Croatia us an example.

Rakitic Modric lovren corluka ba ?

darkelf:


Abeg, no mind am. How are those aforementioned players average in any way.

The bolded statement was the point I maid ealier about expecting too much from our present crop of players. It's not just unfounded criticisms but the truth. These guys don't even know how to string basic passes together. We saw this before the WC but some of us said Rohr was just testing formations (some even said mind games) and that we would see the real SE come World cup. The first game against croatia opened my eyes. We saw the same SE we saw in the friendly matches. No improvement at all. The memories are still there....

Let us not expect too much from them

Was Sweden, Russia & Japan not average? How many from these teams can bench the boys in SE

Princezibk:
Am sure you are always average at everything you have been doing , nonsense

,we don pass dis stage bro,we no longer attack personality again,we attack d message not d messenger

charlesemeka85:
Bulgarian league

Okay. Thank you for the information. I thought it was in the Senegalese league.

elyte89:



because I support eagles mean I shld lie to myself

Deep down in u...u knw dis,but base on patriotism, u guys shy away from d truth at times and hype what is not


Even when we had good players or let me say in d last 6years..none of our players have made top first 40 ballon d'or contender,down to CAF SELECTION,aside Mikel obi making it to d.top three of recent,when last av any of our players made it to d top three,let alone of winning it

So aw do u justify d position dt our players are not average best?

Your continuous tagging of Nigerian players as average and below average simply means you don't support them.. How can u support the super eagles when it's players don't even look good to u?
Do u even really support the super eagles? You think I have forgotten your posts on the team prior to the world cup especially your criticism on Musa?
We have always had good players over the years... a lot of them just don't live up to their potentials.. doesn't mean that they are totally useless.. A few years ago,Iheanacho was easily rated among the best goalscorers in Europe.. today he is struggling, that's life for u...

A true fan support his team and its players through thick and thin and not rubbish them all the time..

darkelf:


If he goes to PSG, he will be loaned out to teams like wolves or Burnley. He wouldn't smell first team football in a long time except extreme tragedy befalls one of their stars.

The dude is bang average

Apart from the last sentence, this comment is the hard bitter truth.

komekn:


The issue is context and what context you are making your comparison based deduction upon.

Very good players in the top leagues and top teams, that's not true.

But localise matters and then it becomes a different situation. Are we the best in Africa I would not say that but very good players in the African context a big resounding YES.

we have Ndidi,Kalu,Aina,Omeruo, Ekong and Chukwueze and Iwobi playing for top clubs in Europe top 5 leagues and they are starters.
They aren't world class,but by world standard,they aren't below average either...

komekn:


There seems to be a never ending contention about the topic of world class, top class, average, etc.

So what's above average and what is average ❓

IMO, they are very fluid terms and difficult to put a definitive parameter upon. Particularly if it is taken in and out of context.

For example Ogu may be considered as an above average player. However, take him out of Isreal where he is above average and to a more competitive league and he becomes well below average. Considering Isreali league is rated 27th in Europe.

Odion Ighalo in his last stint in the EPL had lost form quite badly. Meanwhile as soon he gets to China he becomes a Tiger.

So the matter get as he be.

If we take your beloved Josh Maja out of the league one,then what does he become?
What of Sone Aluko? Tammy Abraham??

mostob:
average players make a good team. Croatia us an example.

Are you seriously kidding me?.

So Modric of Real Madrid, Lovren of Liverpool, Perisic, Kovacic of Madrid, Mandzukic of Juventus, Rakitic of Barcelona and co are average players?.

Honestly, for this football blasphemy you just spouted, you deserve to be tied to a rock-filled giant football and cast into the middle of the River Niger.

Danielnino00:


Your continuous tagging of Nigerian players as average and below average simply means you don't support them.. How can u support the super eagles when it's players don't even look good to u?
Do u even really support the super eagles? You think I have forgotten your posts on the team prior to the world cup especially your criticism on Musa?
We have always had good players over the years... a lot of them just don't live up to their potentials.. doesn't mean that they are totally useless.. A few years ago,Iheanacho was easily rated among the best goalscorers in Europe.. today he is struggling, that's life for u...

A true fan support his team and its players through thick and thin and not rubbish them all the time..

Chief on musa issue,yes I criticized musa openly based on his performance over d years for eagles, wc was far below average

However, none of us could stick out our neck for dt musa would be our best player @d worldcup,his performance surprised everybody including me,

So I tink am still on d right track for calling out musa as not too good player b4 d worldcup, sir chriskel and some oda moniker too shared into my sentiment,but he surprised us.we all had our hopes on nacho,moses et all prior to d world cup,but dey all turn out to be flops

Having said dt,chairman,am true supporter of eagles,Infact it seems am d only one still following eagles progress bumper to bumper with updates on dis thread here in my area,nobody wan here eagles matter for my side ,however,cin d obvious truth and sugarcoating it,its what I don't do,

At least someone just released a first 11 African best,we could only manage a player among d first 11,dis shows deres dearth of top talent in Nigeria football,don't let us deceive oursef and let say d truth

During d era of okocha,KANU and co,I could remember whenever dis best 1st 11 is released, at least Nigerian players will take like four positions,if not 5 sef out of 11

Aw many of our players play for top clubs?aside iwobi,moses now na fan/coaching staff,no longer a player in Chelsea

elyte89:



Chief on musa issue,yes I criticized musa openly based on his performance over d years for eagles, wc was far below average

However, none of us could stick out our neck for dt musa would be our best player @d worldcup,his performance surprised everybody including me,

So I tink am still on d right track for calling out musa as not too good player b4 d worldcup, sir chriskel and some oda moniker too shared into my sentiment,but he surprised us.we all had our hopes on nacho,moses et all prior to d world cup,but dey all turn out to be flops

Having said dt,chairman,am true supporter of eagles,Infact it seems am d only one still following eagles progress bumper to bumper with updates on dis thread here in my area,nobody wan here eagles matter for my side ,however,cin d obvious truth and sugarcoating it,its what I don't do,

At least someone just released a first 11 African best,we could only manage a player among d first 11,dis shows deres dearth of top talent in Nigeria football,don't let us deceive oursef and let say d truth

During d era of okocha,KANU and co,I could remember whenever dis best 1st 11 is released, at least Nigerian players will take like four positions,if not 5 sef out of 11

Aw many of our players play for top clubs?aside iwobi,moses now na fan/coaching staff,no longer a player in Chelsea

So u finally admit that u made an error of judgment on Musa. . You branded him a flop and accused him of using the federal character to get into the national team, only to be proved wrong in the end and you think those players you are currently dissing won't also prove you wrong?

When did playing for a top club become an indication of being world class?? Ciro Immobile is easily one of the best strikers in Europe... he shone in the SerieA before joining a top class Dortmund team where he failed before returning to an average Lazio team where he is currently among the top scorers in Europe? Is he world class?
Was Salah world class at Roma before Liverpool signed him? Was Mane world class at Southampton before Liverpool signed him?
No player can carry the tag of world class or average player forever.. Current performance are what matter most...
When we won the AFCON in 2013,how many of our players where playing for top teams? in fact during our best era in the 90s,how many of our players where playing for world class teams?

Chelsea accept £18m bid from Wolves for Tammy Abraham

All the Nigerian players are not average. We have a few who are above average. Onyekuru is being underrated here. Kalu is also quite good and also Chukwueze has shown promise. These are not average players. Iwobi has not reached his full potentials.

tbaba1234:
Chelsea accept £18m bid from Wolves for Tammy Abraham

Nice one for him. I think Tammy is a good striker,he will end up in a top team.

elyte89:


So d likes of rakitic,modric,perisic,mandzukic,etc b average players,dis team paraded d best midfielders @ d world cup,na because of our unrealistic target and hype made us think we could defeated Croatia b4 d worldcup started ,na when world cup start,our eye clear

We didn't concede any goal from open play.Croatia's 2 goals came due to our inability to defend corner kicks.