Nigeria midfielder Ramon Azeez was on target as Granada recorded a 2-0 home win against Barcelona in their Spanish LaLiga clash on Sunday night, reports Completesports.com.
Azeez opened scoring for the home team in the second minute.
Alvaro Vadillo netted the second goal for Granada from the spot in the 66th minute.
Azeez has now scored two goals in four league appearances for Granada this season.
Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong remain on the bench for 90 minutes as Udinese suffered a 1-0 home loss to Brescia in their Serie A clash at the Dacia Arena, Udine.
Troost-Ekong missed Udinese’ s away loss to Inter Milan last weekend due to injury and returned to training this week.
The centre-back was however not deemed fit enough for a starting berth in the game.
In Germany, Jamilu Collins was in action for 90 minutes in SC Paderborn’s 2-1 away defeat to Hertha Berlin.
Paderborn are still without a win in the Bundesliga this season, with just one point from five games.
In France, Henry Onyekuru featured for 15 minutes in Monaco’s 0-0 away draw at Reims.
Onyekuru replaced Gelson Martins in 75th minute.
The former Galatasaray striker is yet to open his goal account for Monaco.
By Adeboye Amosu
31 Comments
A great performance from Azeez.! He has really improved tremendously. He has the highest rating against one of the best teams in the world. A real super eagles material anyday. If the list of invited players for SE next match is based on consistency, current form and performance, Azeez is a sure bet. I look forward to the list against Brazil.
@Larry,I agree with you.However,Azeez only un doing is playing in division 2 for almost 2 seasons otherwise he’s a fantastic player anytime.Fine tackler and good passer of the ball and very compact.If anyone should return to the Eagles it should be Azeez.
Nigeria a country where any player that scores should be invited.. Anyway azzez looks to me as a super eagles material.. Playing in LA liga alone is not an easy feat not to talk of playing in first 11.
For the next list I don’t want to see players not making squad list in their clueless being invited.. And these are for players like iheancho, balogun and Co.
Plz for crying out loud special treatment for any player is never the best going forward… You can’t see a bench warmer making the Brazilian squad, then tell me how players not making squad list can be used to beat almighy Brazil..
@Ololo, I agree with you a hundred cent! especially where you said “Nigeria, a country where any player that scores should be invited”
This is my issue with some fans here! Go for consistency, good performance, sure starting berth before you jump here and start lamenting Invite This! Invite That! Ramon Azeez, if should be invited for me will be a Yes now not because he scored against Barça today but because he has been a regular player in Granada and I personally booked and watch the match tonight to see how well he has improved and he never dissapointed. Am not judging cuz he scored but his overall play was brilliant! Kept Arturo Vidal busy all through the game and was also in the build up that led to Vidal’s hand ball in the 18 yard box that led to the second goal. So my country people, Judge not on a goal scored but on overall performance and consistency of the player.
The recent annoying one on here again now is that of JUNIOR AJAYI! We haven’t heard about this guy scoring all this while o then Gbam! he scored a brace in the Super cup only and some yeye fans have started Invite him! Invite him! campaign…C’mon it’s kinda crazy na
#Soar Super Eagles
Chairmanfemi you made me laugh.. Some yeye fans indeed.. I wonder if some even think.. The league you play in is a major determinate. What has somebody playing in Egyptians league got to do with super eagles when someone like okereke painting Belgium with goals has not gotten his chance.
Even the olayinka guy for me shouldnt be invited just yet, I don’t think the league he plays in is that solid but if he continues to bang the goals in champion league then he must be invited.
Nigeria has so much talented players already and only the best should be called upon.
I can’t wait to see a player like azubike given a chance..
Rohn is doing a good job, and the world seem to notice what he is doing with the team..
For our game against Brazil it would not be funny at all, one area I feel we are weak is at the right back position and I can’t even lay hold of any player that can compliment aino in that postition
Do you want to tell me Etebo and Iwobi are presently better than Ramon AZEEZ? A player that have scored 2 goals in 4 matches in LA liga? we need AZEEZ against Brazil.
Iwobi is better than Azeez
Paul Onuachu scored for Genk. He did same last week, unfortunately no Nigerian sports media reported both goals or is he no longer a Nigerian?
The signs were there earlier in the season that Azeez has the potentials to prove his worth in the Spanish La Liga.
When some of us clamoured for his ‘consideration for shortlisting leading to potential invitation to the national team (after a rigorous selection process), certain people criticised us.
What those people (like Chairmanfemi) did not realise was that we have been tracking, monitoring, analysing and observing Azeez for the past 2 years in La Liga 2 where he played with distinction consistently for 2 solid seasons.
It is no coincidence : hard work, persistence and perseverance is what has got Azeez playing top flight football today and (as we can all see), he is reaping the reward of his hard work.
I was not surprised in the slightest about Azeez’ performance yesterday: I have seen enough in previous seasons to know that he is still capable of more.
NATIONAL TEAM INVITATION
It snacks of shallow mindedness whenever fans shoot down other fans who clamour for players doing well to be “considered” for national team invitation.
I don’t work in the FA, so I can’t clamour for any player to be “invited” to the national team.
“Consideration” and “invitation”, though used interchangeable at times in this context are in indeed mutually exclusive.
I – as a Super Eagles stakeholder – can clamour for as many players as I like (10, 20,50) to be considered for shortlisting. At the end of the day, the more candidates available for shortlisting, the higher the probability of ending up with quality players making the final cut.
It is up to The NFF to make the decision to invite players.
Ramon Azeez, I think, deserves to be shortlisted for consideration. Whether he gets invited or not will depend on many factors (not just the goal he scored or his recent form).
Rohr might come to the ultimate conclusion that the players he has already, buy into his philosophy and methods and he is unsure whether this will be the case with Azeez.
I am well within my rights to suggest names to the NFF, they are well within their rights to reject these names.
Absolutely! @ deo
I sure think Azeez deserves a call up by now. Another player who also deserves a call up is Abdul Ajagun. Both players have been playing regularly for their club sides over the last three seasons. For Azeez to make it back into La Liga is a testament to his qualities. I believe Azeez can give Etebo a real competition. He was better than Onazi when Onazi was in the SuperEagles first 11 so I think this might be his time to stake a claim in the SuperEagles midfield. A player playing regularly in the La Liga deserves a SuperEagles call up any day any time.
Until football fans understand the meaning of quality, they will forever clamour every player to be invited. This Azeez,I was a fan of his when he was in d U-17. He Was by mile one of our best then, a player that packed ferocious shots both legs. I boldly say, he is not that same player any more. Seems like he played his best football back then in the U-17. I watched him play yesterday n saw a player struggling to impress. Quality doesn’t struggle to impress but quality is effortlessly giving out at every demand. That quality I didn’t see yesterday. Anyway,I will be happy for Rohr again, if only to prove a point like he did with Sumo wrestler Esiti, give Azeez a call. Also I have never been a fan personally of junior Ajayi but however haven been following him for more than three years now, he seem to have been consistent with his performances, not just about his goals but his general play. No surprise Rohr invited him at some point. And anyone writing off players from African League or even our local league, is only showing to everyone here he is a novice in football matters. My only problem with our local league footballers is, after one good performance they jump into Europe not even minding how low such leagues are. And that can’t help the national team stabilize, if such players get invited. Otherwise there are absolutely talented players in Nigeria and every where else. Two of the four or five Nigeria players(Amunike n Yekini) that won best Africa footballer once played in African Leagues. Africa sports of cote devour n zamalek of Egypt.
I agree with you @Glory. However, 2 goals in La Liga from a DM position is not a bad return at all. Azeez has never really been a flashy player since his U17 days. Very tidy in his approach. Covers every blade of grass for his team following Messi everywhere. I don’t know what else is quality if a player is playing regularly in the best league in the world.
Critically looking at the present SuperEagles our Attack is fantastic and we seems to be getting stabilized in defense as we now have good defenders playing in La Liga (Awaziem, Omeruo) and Serie A (Aina, Ekong) but to be honest our midfield remains thin. We saw how our midfield collapsed when Iwobi was replaced. Azeez can be a viable option in that midfield. He has played at the WorldCup therefore, his experience might be valuable.
It’s up to the gaffer to invite whoever can help the team and I’m sure he invites players on merit. Based on current form and merit Azeez deserves a call up to the SuperEagles.
@ Alphillygreat, I honestly do agree with you regarding Azeez being invited. He was that kind of midfielder that covers every blade of grass for sure and packed good shots reason I have always followed him all the way through Almeria n now Granada. But I must confess I ain’t seeing the Azeez that won me over. I LL be happy he proves me wrong if invited. Now talking about midfielders to compliment the ones we have already and possibly give these a run for their money, we have Azubuike, this is the missing link at the moment, that No 10 at the last u-20, can’t remember his name now. Eze of QPR, Ejaria, I understand some of them need FIFA clearance. A lot is happening underground regarding that.
Glory, nice one. Look at what Celestine Babayaro has to say about Zubby. We don talk tire for this forum. It is left for Rohr to make his decision.
https://owngoalnigeria.com/2019/09/12/hes-above-u23-level-babayaro-want-rohr-to-hand-super-eagles-chance-to-azubuike-okechukwu/
Also, I want to shout it out again. I am ready to use loudspeaker to shout from the rooftop if required. CAN ROHR PLEASE EXTEND INVITATION TO BUKAYO SAKA? I have been watching this boy for a while. His performances against Eintracht Frankfurt in the champions’ league and today against Aston Villa in the premier league can not be ignored. Although he was subbed out because Naitland Miles got a red card, his every touch was PURE CLASS. Make we no SIDDON LOOK and lose this boy to England! SIDDON LOOK na dog name ooooooo!
Just like @Deo said, every fan has the right to suggest name for consideration. But left for the coach to pick the best available per time.
As for Junior Ajayi, like him or hate him, he is already or Rohr’s raider,he played in the friendly match against Serbia before the world cup. Made the world cup provisional list but fell out due to injury. Also made the Afcon standby list but didn’t go to Afcon. And you have not heard of him. He has been among the top performers in Egyptian league and African Champions league and you think it is the brace he scored that is the reason some ‘yeye’ fans are praising him. If he didn’t have quality, Rohr will not be shortlisting him.
Someone says we should not invite from Africa which is funny. Like i always say i thank God, Rohr does not think like that. He picked someone from China and the person won the highest goals scorer in both in the qualifiers and Afcon proper.
I may not be their fans but people have the right to suggest names they feel have the quality to compete with the already established ones.
Every fan has their view and all should be respected but if you ask me we don’t need players playing in Africa especially when we have better options playing in better leagues of the world..
Players in China shouldn’t also be invited except for special reasons like the case with Mikel and igahlo.
When rohn came in we was building and there were Veterans playing in China now we have a foundation and certain standard should be in place.
Ololo, there is always that temptation to respond to views like the one you expressed above in a manner that could escalate into an ugly arguments or worst still, exchange of some unsavory words.
So, in the spirit of respect, I respect your point, more so your right to express them.
But, to say we should ban players playing in Africa from playing in our national team is an unbelievable statement to make.
Are they not footballers? Are they not professionals? Are they not fellow Nigerians? What have they done to deserve such open discrimination?
Goodness gratuitous! That’s outrageous!
So you are telling me that just because Cyprus is in Europe (where Uzoho is based), it has a far better league than Egypt, Tunisia, or Algeria?
Why is it that it us Africans who bring down our own! Then someone will accusing others of racism!
THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM IS OPEN TO INVITATION FOR ALL NIGERIAN FOOTBALLERS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE THEY PLAY THEIR FOOTBALL!!
We don’t discriminate ; if you are good enough in the eyes of the coach, you deserve invitation to the national team like any other Nigeria.
What da hell!!!!!!
Even great teams like Brazil invite players that plays in China,Renato Augusto,Paulinho to name a few.
Argentina as well,with Lavezzi.
Not forgetting Belgium with both Yannick Carasco,Axel Witsel playing at the Chinese league when they won bronze at the last world cup.
So the point that we shouldn’t invite players unless they play in Europe is baseless.
There are quality players everywhere,but due to different reasons;players find themselves in a different place at a time, whether or not they are better than where they are or not.
But no matter where a player plays,quality always shows. And we shouldn’t be too ‘arrogant’ to lose such quality in our national team just because he doesn’t play in Europe!
As long as you are Nigerian,and you are good enough.why not?
“THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM IS OPEN TO INVITATION FOR ALL NIGERIAN FOOTBALLERS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE THEY PLAY THEIR FOOTBALL”
Irrespective of where they play doesn’t include the NPFL. News alert: CHAN EAGLES JUST GOT WALLOPED BY TOGO 4:1.
Again, irrespective of where they play doesn’t include our local league.
What da hell is mallam shehu dikko still doing on the nff board…
He has failed and should resign…
He’s got no moral,legal or vital stand on which he’s to remain on that board seeing the league he manages has been in shambles since 3 1/2 years
Goals conceeded by serial SE invitee, Ezenwa. Last time in Ghana, he ‘chopped’ 4 goals too. Yet, curiously, he keeps getting an SE invite. I have a strong feeling Ezenwa has a powerful godfather in Nigeria. He’s not even the best in the NPFLA, he just tries to put up a bold face and theatrics. How come no club even in Africa has called him for trials despite all the free exposures he gets in the SE shirt (courtesy his powerful godfather)? It’s time to ditch this guy. Let’s have Uzoho, Okoye and probably Maduka or another hand that merits it this time around going forward. Take note, Mr Rohr and put your feet down!
Thibaut Cortouis too shipped in 3 goals a few days ago….he too must have a powerful godfather.
Dr Drey, great goalkeepers like Courtoios, Kepa, Lloris, DeGea’s etc do occasional conceed 2 goals or more, but there’s no denying their quality or the fact they’re CLEARLY the best in their club or country. Is Ezenwa CLEARLY the best in the NPFL? Is he CLEARLY one of the 3 best Nigerian goalkeepers (as SE lists kind of suggests)? These are the 2 key questions.
For me I think if Esiti can be invited then Azeez must be given a chance too. I want players that can really compete with Ndidi and Iwobi and possibly benches them at times.
Ouch!
Hi Chris,
Well, our local league is in a deplorable state and the infrastructures are quite decrepit.
So, what do we except? Miracles?
Go to Sudan, yes Sudan, go and see how they are trying to run a decent league.
The 4:1 defeat to Togo is not a reflection on the home based Super Eagles players; no no no! All fingers point to the organisers of the local league.
But,is it the league or is that just a reflection of the management of Nigerian economy.
Well done to the home based players for at least giving it a go. They gave their best, but it was only good enough to expose how pitiful the league they play their football is.
Until we have a decent, functional league, expect more of such results.
@Deo, I’m in same view with you in the state of our dear league. You forgot to mention that these players signed an agreement of bondages to be paid peanuts (and the peanuts? not paid as at when due).
@Deo, the National team Jerseys should be worn by only footballers who reverence it’s not about club football but country representation… we die here! That’s the slang of the naija spirit.
Subtract the league from each player home or abroad, what you have left is love for the game and country.
Love for the game tells you its 90mins of 11 vs 11…we die here… Love for the game tells you not to lose a match with 4 goals…you craze?
What da hell is mallam she shehu dikko still doing on the nff board…
He has failed and should resign…
He’s got no moral,legal or vital stand on which he’s to remain on that board seeing the league he manages has been in shambles since 31/2 years
When national teams do well, we hail our coaches. Therefore, the coach should bear the blame for the loss. After all, other coaches had qualified for similar chan tournament and reached the finals in some cases. The current set of coaches has never won away from home in recent matches, that alone tells a lot about the bench.
@Larry, the only 2 times I will blame a coach for loss are when tactics is wrong and when players are wrongly picked or positioned.
Anything beyond these, the players are totally at fault.
@Chris, when was the last time our League played a full season? 2016/17 season. When was the last time our players played a competitive match? 3 months ago (the league is already 2 months late to start)
@Lel. The keeper in goal today was Afelokhai, not Ezenwa