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Following the Super Eagles’ 3-1 win against the Pirates of Seychelles in a 2019 AFCON qualifying match at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Friday, Completesports.com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU highlights seven key things learnt from the encounter.
1. Collins Won Many Hearts Again
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Jamilu Collins was first called up to the Super Eagles for the game against Seychelles last year.
Collins who plays for German Bundesliga 2 side, SC Paderborn was an unknown figure and many never regarded him as a player worthy of wearing the green and white colour of Nigeria.
But game after game, the Kaduna- born defender has continued to show he could actually make the left-back position his own. Collins put up a fine performance against Seychelles on Friday.
He made wonderful runs upfront and delivered an inch perfect cross for Henry Onyekuru to score the Super Eagles second goal. The defender also contributed to the third goal scored by substitute Moses Simon.
2. Uzoho Yet To Show Readiness To Be Eagles Number One Goalie
Despite a promising debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly game against Argentina in a pre-World Cup friendly in 2017, Francis Uzoho is still yet to convince many he is the ideal replacement for Carl Ikeme.
He committed a terrible howler for Seychelles’ only goal of the game and has already got a lot of sticks for that.
The young goalkeeper will surely be put under scrutiny in the months leading to the AFCON finals in Egypt.
3. Iwobi Needs To Step Up And Be More Consistent
Alex Iwobi remain one of the most talented players in the current Super Eagles side, but he needs to show more consistency. That has also been his bane at the club level where he has struggled to win over most Arsenal fans after breaking into the first team setup.
Deployed in the number 10 role against Seychelles, Iwobi struggled to affect the game positively and was a shadow of himself before his substitution in the second half.
4. Gernot Rohr Showed His Ruthless Side Again
After axing the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Bryan Idowu from the list of invited players for the game due to their inactivity at club level, Rohr went further by dropping Leon Balogun who has made just eight league appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League for Kenneth Omeruo in the starting line-up against Seychelles.
Omeruo who has enjoyed a fine season with Spanish side Leganes where he is on loan from Chelsea proved the gaffer’s right with a superb performance.
5. Super Eagles’ Huge Talent Depth
Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr will surely have a big headache picking his final AFCON squad especially in the offensive area. With Samuel Kalu not available for selection due to injury and Samuel Chukwueze excused to play for the U-23 team, the duo of Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon stepped up to show their readiness to stake claim for a starting role in the team.
Onyekuru scored his debut goal for the Super Eagles with a brilliant header, while Simon who came in as a late substitute for the injured Odion Ighalo also netted a sublime goal.
6. Ndidi Proved He Can Be The Keyman In Super Eagles’ Midfield
The Leicester City man put up arguably his best performance in the green and white colour of Nigeria against Seychelles. He directed proceedings in the middle of the park and was Nigeria’s top performer in the game.
7. Super Eagles struggled On Keshi Stadium Pitch Again
Rohr has complained about the playing surface and size and of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, and his players struggled on the pitch once again on Friday. It remainsbto be seen if they will still play more games there after Tuesday’s friendly against Egypt.
19 Comments
You guys failed to include G.Rohr failure to read the game and change tactics.
We played tru d middle bulk of d game and it wasn’t working.
Our coach failed to respond the same way he did in the World Cup and we crashed out. (I don’t want to believe that he is not tactically sound at this stage and his time as d SE coach.
G.Rohr has had sometime to improve himself and d team for over 6months. That game I saw yesterday was boring, dead AF. No patten no tactics…. geez.
Finally, can NFF tell us why we are playing on that terrible pitch.
Didn’t Delta state know for over a year that a game of such magnitude was coming to their state and prepare? Or is this choice politically motivated.
True talk my brother. When I talk they will say I have started again but everything I said is now happening.
Rohr has failed and he needs to be replaced without a minute to spare.
You can deceive someone of the people some of the time but you cannot deceive all of the people all of the time.
My people open your eyes. A coach that keeps inviting Uzoho knowing fully well that he was investigated for fraud, does that not smell of magomago?
What has Brian Idowu done wrong? How can he leave one of the best left back on the planet for Collins? Idowu plays in division one, Collins plays in division two, do the maths.
Where is Joel Obi? Why Ighalo all the time? Why not try Okpotu?
Too many questions not answered. My brothers open your eyes. How can Nigeria win the cup of nations?
If we lose against Egypt, just forget it.
My people, we need to petition the NFF now to avert catastrophe.
I have spoken my own o.
Happy weekend my people.
Ire o.
Lol. I don’t know, but you’re sounding so much like Omo9ja. Okpotu kee!!?? On what grounds, biko? So if you drew up a pecking order of Nigeria’s potential number 9s, Okpotu will come up in your top 5? Ahead of Odey, Osimhen, Onuachu or even Symy and Lokosa?
Okpotu for Ighalo??????…. Lol!!!!! My belle o, see people wey sabi with their “expert” analysis. Anyway shaa, no be me buy data for you. Can u just imagine??? Lol
Okpotu Lohun Lohun. @oakfield lol! My belle oo! My head oo. LMAO!! Some people too Sabi balllu.
Peterside idah is omo naija
Rohr isn’t going anywhere for sure. Uzoho remain the best goalkeeper for Nigeria for now. Bryan Idowu has gone missing in the Russian snow. Not playing for his Club as he has declined and reduced to warming the Bench for others. Nigerians loves Collins and he has sealed his place in this Nigeria’s team regardless where and which Club position is in Germany. Collins is a Nigerian just like you and me. Wait until you see Ajayi who currently play in the 2nd division in England. What matter is not the division a player is in, but the regularity and the quality the player brings to the Nigeria National Team.
Direct your energy to making sure that NFF stops playing in Asaba village stadium that is even smaller then Igbinedion High School playing field, Benin City. Uyo Stadium is reputable Internationally and every effort should be made to seeing that becomes the permanent Home playing field for Nigeria.
Mr Peterside Uda,are u for real!!!!Am absolutely taken abake by ur analysis.Am sorry go back to your analysis book u must have typed the wrong words.
He is the fake renowned Peterside Idaho. The wise man wouldnnot have spoken the way he did. Bryan Idowu better than Collins! Not in this age.
Omo9ja you are a coward. Why hide behind a false name. A super eagles legend for that matter.
Peterside Idah is the legend. Me I am Peterside Udah (master of maximum enjoyment).
Do not mistake me with Omo9ja. Please o.
We might share similar views but that is where the similarities stop, trust me.
Happy New week my people.
Ire o.
1. Collins deserved his place and justified it by making two goals (two assists), if not for ndidi’s performance in the middle of the park, Collins will have been “man of the match”. He’s a natural left back and an ever present in his club side, unlike Idowu.
2. If we get a good result against Egypt, we might even overtake Morocco and be third in Africa in the FIFA rankings. Contrast 2016 when Rohr took over, I think we were 14th in Africa and unable to qualify for AFCON 2015 and 2017 consecutively. We climbed above countries like the two Congos, Mali, Ghana, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Algeria, etc. That is not failure, that is success.
3. We are unbeaten in Africa since 2017. There are no minnows in world football. Yes, we were expected to beat Seychelles, and we did. Contrast, with Morocco unable to beat Malawi or Kazakhstan (117th in the world) beating Scotland the same weekend. Seychelles was a potential banana skin, but we found a way past them.
4. Calling for Joel Obi, that’s a joke right? When did he last play? Did you know he has been invited since December? And ahead of Azubuike who is in the Turkish premier league’s best team of February? Same league Joel will play in?
5. The only point I agree with Francis Uzoho has not played since January. If he is not playing for his club side, then he has no business in the national team. We have a goal keeping crises. Ezenwa and Akpeyi are “adequate” as opposed to good. The under 23 keeper was an embarrassment before he was sent off.
We cannot look abroad for the answer, Alampasu is not playing, Osigwe is not regular, Nwolokor is not regular.
We need to look local: Olufemi Kayode Lobi Stars (NPFL and CAF Champions League), Chinedu Anozie FC IfeanyiUbah (8 clean sheets in 11 games) are the top two local keepers.
For the juniors Maduka Okoye of Fortuna Dusseldorf II wants to play for Nigeria. World cup under 20 he can be looked at to compete with Oremade and he can also fill in with the under 23s.
Failing that, we need to scour the academies for a keeper.
We have progressed since Rohr took over, come on leaps and bounds, qualified for the last two tournament with a game to spare and we will continue to progress.
As for Asaba, the sports Ministry needs to over haul the “new stadium”, make the playing surface the best in the country and to mirror the playing surfaces in Egypt if we are to compete favourably
Collins has sealed the left back spot bar any unforeseen circumstances. Naturally he’s the best fit for that role in the SuperEagles. We do have other options for that role Aina and Ebuehi if fit can play at left back but they’re both not naturally left footed. For me the SuperEagles Left back spot is safe with Jamilu Collins. Also Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon have also sealed their places in the squad. I don’t see anything stopping those two from going to Egypt. Infact they’re knocking on a starting spot at the AFCON if they can keep this form.
As for progress, SuperEagles are progressing massively under Rohr and the result is there for all to see. Obviously, we may not win the AFCON, but I’m absolutely certain that the SuperEagles will not disappoint by giving us a great AFCON.
BigD & Ayphillyedreat: You too made my Sunday morning great. You guys are no nonsense folks l would love to hang out with any day. Many thanks and have a beautiful Sunday.
correction !!!!! Ayphillydegreat
“Uzoho Yet To Show Readiness To Be Eagles Number One Goalie”.
That is my major fear. May God help him (Uzoho) to up his game or grant Mr. Rohr the courage to get a replacement ASAP.
I enjoyed watching Collins play. He did us well. Hope to see him soar higher in future games.
You need to open your eyes if you will call Idowu one of the best left back in the world and even mentioned obi who has nothing to offer in the team again. Please did I hear you mention okpotu. Okpo what? Rohr may have his faults reading games and making changes when necessary but on his player invitation he hasn’t done badly but I think we can get a better goalkeeper.
I am very disappointed with what I am reading here now. How could you guys be calling Peterside Udah omo9ja.
I can see that we have something in common to be honest but must you guys have to called my name for everything that happening on this forum?
Omo9ja is omo9ja while Peterside Udah is Peterside Udah.
However, for me Collins and Udoh has sealed the left back position permanently because they are the best we have for now.
Udah was using indirect words here but only the wise ones would comprehends him.
Hmmmm, only God can help omo9ja from you guys. Omo9ja is igba, omo9ja is awo and omo9ja is ikoko baba ishasun. Kilodeeeee?
“Kel”
Lol. I don’t know, but you’re sounding so much like Omo9ja. Okpotu kee!!?? On what grounds, biko? So if you drew up a pecking order of Nigeria’s potential number 9s, Okpotu will come up in your top 5? Ahead of Odey, Osimhen, Onuachu or even Symy and Lokosa?
“Jones”
Omo9ja you are a coward. Why hide behind a false name. A super eagles legend for that matter
“Olupotan”
He is the fake renowned Peterside Idaho. The wise man wouldnnot have spoken the way he did. Bryan Idowu better than Collins! Not in this age.
“jaja elemelu”
Peterside idah is omo naija
Thank God Mr. Peterside Idah himself have spoken
“Peterside Idah” is the legend. Me I am Peterside Udah (master of maximum enjoyment).
Do not mistake me with Omo9ja. Please o.
We might share similar views but that is where the similarities stop, trust me.
Happy New week my people.
Ire o.
Now that we all seen the truth. In reality you guys have damaged my name.
In the court of law, you guys will be asked to pay me huge amounts of money but as you all known that omo9ja is a simply, gentle, humble and easy going person, I am expecting public apology from you people.
The hands you guys used to wrote these comments, I am expecting you guys to use the same hands to apologize to me omo9ja.
I don’t have enemies but friends. If because I’m telling the people in charge of our football to have fear of God in mind and its unsettling you people. God will forgive you because i know you guys doesn’t have the interest of our nation in your hearts. You guys were more than this but God will forgive you all.
I remain humble. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!