Ibime:


Guy Rufai was dead in 1998 WC. He was too old but they had to bring him back because Shorunmu got injured and Abiodun Baruwa disgraced himself in a 5-1 friendly defeat to Serbia prior to the tournament. That's why the guy stood leaden footed for that cheap Hierro freekick vs Spain. Even the Raul rebound, the guy fùck up.

Even watching 94 World Cup back, that guy dived like snail for that Baggio goal.

If not for Abacha getting us suspended from 1996 and 98, Ike Shorunmu would have a good claim, but Enyeama is head and shoulders above both

It's not everybody that played in 1994 that must make all time 11. I was surprised to see PDPGuy adding that useless Eguavoen to Super Eagles 11. Eguavoen that threw away the game against Italy. Even go watch the Argentina game, the foolish Eguavoen was sleeping, taking a break while Maradona took quick free kick pass to Cannigia right where Eguavoen was standing, and Cannigia scored.

Even the Zola red card, Eguavoen stüpidly fouled him in the area after sleeping again, but was lucky the ref didn't blow for penalty, causing Zola to kick him. For the actual penalty, Eguavoen was sleeping again, as they lifted ball over his head. He didn't move, then rushed the attacker last minute. I think Adepoju had already covered the attacker but the foolish Eguavoen barrelled into the back of him regardless, not checking that his teammate had already blocked the attacker.

Roland17:


Nooo na!!!! The free kick took a wicked deflection at the edge of that wall and that affected Rufai’s timing. As for the Raul goal, we allowed Hierro pick us apart from the middle. I would blame the midfielders especially the Headmaster for not pressing Hierro and then Mobi for allowing Raul slip under him. I will admit he was poor against Denmark especially that shot he fumbled for a rebound.
You are absolutely right about Mobi and Eguavoen because I never rated either. Eguavoen was all talk no grit, a very vulnerable Mobi in real life is so erratic and annoying. Imagine the dwarf always wants to play midfield or attacker whenever he returned to play at Township School, adjacent to the Stadium (Dan Anyiam)! The guy shakara no be here oh..I thought we were undone by our lack of a quality striker during France 98 and we were punished against Denmark. Ikpeba did not impress me as the main striker.

Ibime:


That's because you like dribblers. Who be Etim Esin? He has never travelled to a senior men's tournament for Nigeria.

Oruma was a more archetypal European style central midfielder who was fantastic in possession footie, and robust in midfield but injuries and Okocha blocked his progress.

Ibime:


Good points, but Rufai parried that shot back into Rauls path. That was an error. He was also very slow off his line and slow with his dives.

If like me, you grew up watching Alloy Agu man the sticks in Senegal 92, then you are told Rufai who was the greatest keeper ever has made peace with Westerhoff, you will be looking at Rufai as a God after winning Tunis94 and the World Cup run.

However when you go back and watch some of those goals he conceded, and look at their individual careers, you must say that Shorunmu and Enyeama are way ahead.

Same way we were told Chidi Nwanu has made peace with Westerhoff and is one of the greatest defenders. Thankfully he performed well and didn't stick around after 1994 to disprove that sentiment.

airmark:


Etim Esin was a player that village people ensured that he never succeeded despite his bundle of talent. He didn't make the world cup because of a false rape allegation. His career was nailed into the coffin, by an attack by robbers that shot him in the thigh.

Etim played some matches for Eagles in the qualifiers and was better as a midfielder than Okocha and Oruma combined. Okocha only went to Usa 94, because Esin was banned. He was sitting on the bench for Etim in Eagles before then.

afrodoc2:

Just so painful that nobody is mentioning Hazard’s name despite spending 7yrs in the league.

Ibime:


These are folklore and praise-singing we only read on pages of newspapers. We never saw him in any senior men's tournament to judge.

I'm Nigeria then, you believe only half of what you hear. That's how we were told Rufai is the greatest goalkeeper and Nwanu is the greatest defender. Our senior neighbour then always tells us that Okwaraji was the greatest, and if Fashanu and John Salako join Super Eagles, we would win World Cup.

Ibime:


These are folklore and praise-singing we only read on pages of newspapers. We never saw him in any senior men's tournament to judge. Adepoju who went to WYC 1989 had been established in Super Eagles since 1990, while Etim Esin who came to prominence in 1987 WYC still had not found his feet in the senior team by 1994.

In Nigeria then, you believe only half of what you hear. That's how we were told Rufai is the greatest goalkeeper and Nwanu is the greatest defender. Our senior neighbour then always tells us that Okwaraji was the greatest, and if Fashanu and John Salako join Super Eagles, we would win World Cup.

airmark:




Bro, i swear i watched him when he played for Nigeria then, though few games, and he was exceptional. He used to tie headband in matches.

In fact in our primary school then, i remember we used to say ' Emi Etim Esin' (I am Etim Esin), after dribbling multiple players successfully.

However he didn't play for long at all. But regarding quality, he was a better midfielder than Okocha and Oruma. He did well in Senegal 92 bronze-winning team. He was hugely unlucky.

airmark:




Bro, i swear i watched him when he played for Nigeria then, though few games, and he was exceptional. He used to tie headband in matches.

In fact in our primary school then, i remember we used to say ' Emi Etim Esin' (I am Etim Esin), after dribbling multiple players successfully.

However he didn't play for long at all. But regarding quality, he was a better midfielder than Okocha and Oruma. He did well in Senegal 92 bronze-winning team. He was hugely unlucky.

raumdeuter:


Etim Esim no even deserve any mention, its like rating Stanley Okoro based on under aged competition

Esin didn't even cut it in Europe nor local league. Everything is based on what he could have done not what he did.

Nigeria always had shitty keepers which always meant Rufai to the rescue.

Before Tunisia 94 we had Ngodigha, Alloy Agu, Agbonavbare, Willy Okpara but Rufai went to the world cup

After that Rufai dissappeared Dosu, Baruwa Shorunmu, Okpara all tried and fell on badluck only for us to go back to Rufai Dodo Mayana

Ibime:


Etim Esin never made Senegal 1992 squad. Where did you watch that one?

I hope you know Etim Esin would have been turning 28 years old in 1994.

Newspapers just hyped him up in our psyche as a cautionary tale of talent gone astray that made us believe he was a great lost talent, and that had an effect of making him look greater than he was.

The truth is he was already 27 in 1994 and had not achieved anything in Senior men's Eagles. They just remembered him from WYC 1987 no different from Chrisantus, Rabiu Ibrahim and co who shine at that level and do not transition to men's team.

Adepoju and Amokachi who came on youth football scene in 1989 were already playing for Senior Eagles by 1990, (Amokachi was promoted straightaway) while newspapers made you believe a 27 year old Etim Esin would be the next big thing in 1994, when he has been around since WYC 1987 without making any senior impact.

Ibime:


Etim Esin never made Senegal 1992 squad. Where did you watch that one?

I hope you know Etim Esin would have been turning 28 years old in 1994.

Newspapers just hyped him up in our psyche as a cautionary tale of talent gone astray that made us believe he was a great lost talent, and that had an effect of making him look greater than he was.

The truth is he was already 27 in 1994 and had not achieved anything in Senior men's Eagles. They just remembered him from WYC 1987 no different from Chrisantus, Rabiu Ibrahim and co who shine at that level and do not transition to men's team.

Adepoju and Amokachi who came on youth football scene in 1989 were already playing for Senior Eagles by 1990, (Amokachi was promoted straightaway) while newspapers made you believe a 27 year old Etim Esin would be the next big thing in 1994, when he has been around since WYC 1987 without making any senior impact.

airmark:


Who told you this? He was the hottest midfielder in Nigerian league before he went to europe. Where do you think they gave him the nickname enfant terrible?

raumdeuter:


Etim Esim no even deserve any mention, its like rating Stanley Okoro based on under aged competition

Esin didn't even cut it in Europe nor local league. Everything is based on what he could have done not what he did.

Nigeria always had shitty keepers which always meant Rufai to the rescue.

Before Tunisia 94 we had Ngodigha, Alloy Agu, Agbonavbare, Willy Okpara but Rufai went to the world cup

After that Rufai dissappeared Dosu, Baruwa Shorunmu, Okpara all tried and fell on badluck only for us to go back to Rufai Dodo Mayana

raumdeuter:


He played some league games pre Chile 87 when he got shot in his 505 saloon car, Everyone hyped him and ensured he was patched up for Chile 87 which he was underwhelming. The only thing I remember him for was hitting the post vs Brazil in Chile 87, vs Italy he was anonymous. Adeolu Adekola and John ene Okon looked better than Etim who was obviously unfit

How much damage could an under 21 do in Nigerian league

After that he went to Europe

raumdeuter:


Etim only played a few qualifiers and wasn't very remarkable most times it was always about what he could have been much like Haruna Babangida

airmark:


I wanted to say nations cup qualifiers.

I watched him and he was a great midfielder. This is not what i read in newspapers.

Ibime:


From qualifiers, you may think Wilfred Agbonavbare is our greatest ever keeper.

Who can forget his outstanding performance away in the draw in Algiers that ensured we qualified for World Cup. The guy made a save diving backwards like he is doing backflip.

Forget all those qualifiers against Kenya or Burundi, whatever. You may be seeing some dribbles that shak you as a primary school kid but if you watch it now as an adult, you'll probably say he is playing nonsense. All I know is Etim Esin never made Algeria 90 squad, never made Senegal 92 squad, is it USA 94 squad that he will make? When his juniors like Oliha, Elahor, Adepoju have already passed him and have been playing for Eagles since like 1990.

Ibime:


Before Etim makes USA94 squad, they will call Friday Ekpo or Friday Elahor who was junior to him but already more established in Senior Eagles. Thomson Oliha was even his junior but well established and used to make squad.

Infact they may even call JayJay senior brother Emmanuel Okocha back before considering Etim Esin. That one was also his junior but more established in Senior football.

PDPGuy:
My all time Super eagles 11:

——————-—-Enyeama——————-

—-Eguavoen—U. Okechukwu—West—Iroha——

——————-——-Oliseh————————-

———Finidi———Okocha———-Amuneke—-

————————-Kanu———————-

————————-Yekini———————

Ibime:



Mine with changes in bold


——————-—-Enyeama——————-

—-Yobo—U. Okechukwu—Chidi Nwanu—Iroha——

——————-——-Oliseh————————-

———Finidi———Okocha———-Amuneke—-

————————-Amokachi———————-

————————-Yekini———————

humilitypays:
The simple and saddest truth of this all is; black race cannot do this without a white race leading that nation.



The problem of Nigeria and other West, East and Central Africa has to do with the black race syndrome.


Nigeria need like 10 million white population positioned in top leadership, judiciary, security and other decision making positions to change Nigeria for good.


No Nigerian born black President or Governor or Senator or Minister can change Nigeria. No political party of black origin can change Nigeria.

Nigeria's problem is not Buhari, it is not Goodluck, it is not OBJ, it is not APC, it is not PDP, it is a collective black man genetic problem from origin

Black Americans are suffering same and if not for white man's leadership, black Americans would have destroyed America, France, etc.



Check other South America countries with blacks as dominant race, I am talking about Jamaica, Haiti, etc, they are worst than Nigeria, but their neighboring white nations are all doing fine, why Do they also have PDP and APC there

Dear Nigerians stop blaming Buhari, Buhari is not your problem, all Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria not just Buhari alone.

iamoyindamola:
Make I sit they learn Nigeria old footballers, these names are so strange to me.

raumdeuter:


Go and watch our elimination game in USA 94 vs Italy and 98 vs Denmark, na those crucial moments Okocha remember to start doing rainbow flick over Albertini Bennarivo Maldini, Thomas Helveg etc

Even Japan Korea world cup na Aghahowa score our only goal, na Okocha dey remove jersey to jubilate to show the "I love you Nkechi under vest"

Ibime:


And can you imagine, Eguavoen physically attacked Westerhoff in the dressing room after that Italy game, shouting that Westehoff had sold the game. . . even after he had just cost Nigeria the game. I remember reading that story in Complete Sport then, which is why Jo Bonfreres interview yesterday did not come as a surprise.