Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has assured fans they will give them a win when they face Sierra Leone in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday, reports Completesports.com.
Aribo is back in the squad after missing the side’s last two games against Algeria and Tunisa.
Also Read: Sierra Leone Coach Keister Unveils 23-man Squad For Double-Header Vs Nigeria
The Super Eagles will host Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Friday with the reverse fixture billed for the Siaka Stevens Stadium, Freetown four days later.
Aribo with Complete Sports’ Adeboye Amosu
Gernot Rohr’s charges top Group L with six points after recording wins in their first two games against neighbours Benin Republic and Crocodiles of Lesotho.
Aribo insists they are not ready to let go of their advantage in the group and will go all out for a win against the Leone Stars.
”We want to win this game for our fans. It’s so unfortunate that they won’t be in the stadium to support us,” Aribo told Completesports.com.
“Our target is to qualify for the next AFCON and we want to do that as fast as possible.”
By Adeboye Amosu, in Benin City
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COMMENTS
Killer Squad
Okoye
Aina. Ekong. Balogun. Zanusi
Etebo. Ariball
Chukwueze Iwobinho Musa
Oshimhengoal
Three points for the account, after the Friday match.
This squad na killer ….
Na lie, remove Alahaji and put Ejuke in there. Now you are talking. Even push Iwobi out in Malams position and you bring iheanachogoal. Na better pepper soup wit goat meat be dat o.
Chief Ugo. You know say you be my person. Please, leave this Musa matter. As a well meaning Nigerian, let’s respect the coaching crew’s invitation and wish the team well.
To say na you be Musa, will you decline the invitation? My person, rest that matter. Enjoy the football.
Peace.
Stop that mumu racist talk my friend In SE the is no tribalism
Okay bros I have heard you, but come o calling someone Alahaji or Malam is not Racist.
Neither am I a tribalist because, I am equally as hard on Iheanacho, Onuachu and Iwobi when they are Misguiding. One Love to all my Naija brothers we are all one. Now Let us give Sierra Leone a good Hiding. Peace
@Ugo, goat meat pepper soup and Cold Guiness mixed with palm wine . Nna the sweetness of this combination can only be compared to the starting line up I listed above. Musa experience and killer instinct is the real goat meat pepper soup. Ejuke and Nacho can come in later on in the second half to add to the Seira Loeninan’s problem. After plenty of goals in the first half to start with.
@Tancosports o boy you sabi better tin o chai!. only your first line Lol. as you come put pammy dere na kolo mental be dat o!
Aribo na baller. He will do well against Sierra Leone.
I would’ve preferred Ebuei to Aina for the RB position base on current form. Both players are part of their various clubs first eleven and that’s a great news for the SE technical crew and we the fans alike, but for me Ebuei should get the nod ahead of his compatriot from the Fulham FC. The rest of the players pre-listed by you is Okay by me and I’m rooting for them to start ahead of other players who are also in the SE camp.
lolz!!!!
which one is iwobinho now?! that guy is little iniesta. his performance in the friendly against tunisia won my heart totally. he created 3 chances in the first half alone. what he needs is consistency.
and if it osimhengoal what will be iheanacho called? lolz
my version of killer squad –
okoye
akpoguma – balogun – awaziem
ebuehi – ariball – etebo – iwobinho – aina
Iheanacho – osimhen
3-5-2
funny part is ndidi is yet to return. how would he break into the squad will be determined by the performance of the partnership of ariball and etebo.
Oga, you dey whine me ni.
I don’t care how well ariball and etebo blends. Ndidi must start, he works tirelessly, etebo back to the bench when he returns..
Oga, you dey whine me ni.
I don’t care how well ariball and etebo blends. Ndidi must start, he works tirelessly, etebo back to the bench when he returns..
Make Una rush Go see IG account of @NGSupereagles, una go see wettin dey. Osibobo don begin dey do wok for dere o. Chai!! na pity wey I dey Pity Sierra Leone ebere m ne me ha! Chai!! Super Eagles Carry go! Super Eagles Carry Go!
https://www.instagram.com/ng_supereagles/?hl=en
@Ugo thanks for the link. But who’s that man at the background asking the video guy of names every player? The video guy had to tell to stop asking him questions that’s he’s on live. It shows that the man doesn’t know anything about football but what’s he even doing at the stadium in the first place.
I was also surprised to see that especially when we were told they would be training behind closed doors, even the camera keeps shaking sef lol. it is still good to see our boys training hard and jelling well. Lets hope they transfer the same intensity to the game.
Nice one @Ugo, the boyz are really looking hungry from the clips bro.
@Proudly Naija no be small thing
Just watching Spain vs Netherlands, very interest game. These are 2 teams playing the high pressing game. Watching this game helps to show not only how to press high up the pitch but also how to beat the high press. Our caching crew can learn a thing or 2 from watching this game, so in the event we meet Algeria or any other team that plays the high press we know how to beat it. Though it requires bravery, energy and above all ball players. You guys should see serious man marking and closing down of players. Presently 1:1, each team canceling each other out. Meanwhile France losing to Finland 2:0 in Paris.
I dey watch am. Upset fit happen for Africa too. Make we no take Sierra Leone likely o.
@Igbekun Abo, u are right upsets do happen, but remember Finland is a footballing nation, they even beat Italy a couple years ago. Finland are no minnows, countries in Europe that are considered minnows in my view are the likes of Gibraltar, Andorra, Azerbaijan, etc. SE should be aiming for max points (6 pts) from both encounters against Sierra Leone even tho dem not come sell moimoi, yes na our right to wife dem lol.
If we want to win competitions, we need to be good at playing and coping with the HIGH PRESS system. We need to master the system, and also know how to cope with opponents who are good at it. Algeria have been beating us of late because of this system. They rush us in numbers when we have the ball, and in the event of a turnover, they launch a quick counter attack. They are especially aggressive when our defenders have the ball, and are trying to play the ball out. They will rush in, and if they sense that a defender is not comfortable on the ball, they will target that defender, collect the ball from him, and yawa don gas be dat.
To play the high press, our players need to be very fit, and possess high stamina levels. We need to work on this. The typical Nigeria performance is we play very well in brief spurts, then we relax, especially after scoring. Big mistake! That has never worked against elite opponents, and will not work in the future. To beat the best in the world, you have to mount pressure on them, and sustain the pressure. You have to be smart about it, focused and ruthless when opportunities come your way. An average team with fit, high stamina players, but good tactics, is always a dangerous team. We have players that are individually gifted. Increasing their fitness and stamina levels and fine tuning tactics will make the team much more competitive.
Translated into Nigerian English, this system (high press) is the GRA-GRA System. It’s a high energy system that demands optimal fitness. Algeria has mastered it, and is fast becoming almost invincible in Africa.
The earlier Rohr and his assistants closely examine this evolving soccer tactic with a view to adopting it, the better the outcome of our results.
@Pompei cool keg of fresh palmwine for you there! Very true. That’s what Argentina always beat us with. Madagascar did it to us at last Afcon too… High press has no answer from a team that likes to play smooth and allow their opponents also to play hoping that they will carry the day by superior quality. High press is a system that bullies any team that plays gentleman football like Super Eagles… In modern day soccer you press your opponent high and in bursts so that they can never get into their rhythm and execute their style… This is what is paramount for Rohr to now imbibe and blend the Super Eagles with. Without modification to blended high press system by Super Eagles we will never do anything worthwhile in the foreseeable future… Period.
@pompei, I’m very impressed with your analysis. The current team of Nigeria doesn’t have this game plan.
You can now understand that I do not hate Oga Rohr. I’m sorry, this our current team may not win against well organized teams.
Oga pompei, this is why Super Eagles struggled to win and to played good football against Algeria, Argentina, Brazil and other top teams we have played against also, against the small teams that tactically sound we played against before now.
If we asked Algerian team to give us another
opportunity to play against them, I don’t think we can beat them. You don’t have to be super good to win a game but as long as you have a game plan that suits your team, that is what is really matter.
Mr. pompei, we have players that can do this for us but we don’t have coaches that can do what you just said.
Uncle pompei, the only solution to this is NFF.
NFF need to hire someone that can beefs up the coaching crew. Aguavon fits in that position since Amunike and Siasia not available but NFF are playing politics game and now they gave Aguavon another role to act on. Hmm. That is our NFF for us all.
Ask me why Super Eagles is not having what you said in the team then I will tell you.
You see gentleman, to win something meaningful with the gaffers of the current Super Eagles, we have to be prayerful and do the fasting all year long.
However, we should appreciate what we have now which is Oga Rohr and we should give him support.
The man have tried his very best for Nigeria and this is the right time to compliments his efforts.
Bro pompei, don’t you think that if we put Mr. Rohr, Mr Aguavon and bro Yobo together plus Enyeama and Ikeme no doubt, the future of the Super Eagles is very bright because, Yobo is going to be the head coach then and both Enyeama, Ikeme and Oga Yobo can win us anything if they properly managed.
Nonetheless, the combinations of Oga Rohr, Aguavon and Yobo will surely helping the team when it is matter most.
For instance, many of our players are new to African football. My pikin Aribo struggled in one of the games he played for Nigeria and Oga noticed that and he submitted him in that match.
So, by having two experienced ex players with Mr Rohr, no doubt we are in a good direction to win something so spectacular.
Algeria will keep beating us because they are technically and tactically sound than that of our team. They are not superior to us but they are very disciplined and dedicated than that of our team.
My friend pompei, in terms of players, I can boldly say yes we have players but in terms of coaching crew hmmm, we are getting there.
Our players should never relents. They should keep improving themselves. By now, we don’t have freekicks specialists, corner kicks specialists and penalty specialists. Oga Rohr should be very concerned about this.
We don’t have a complete team yet but we can still win something meaningful with this our team. Remember late Keshi team, they did not have those types of players but they won us an Afcon trophy.
We are the fans of the Super Eagles no matter what.
As it is now, no need to segregate Oga Rohr fans from we patriotic Nigerians. We are Nigerians. Let’s work together for the betterment of our country. Let’s stop running around the bush and we should call a spade a spade that way, Oga Rohr and NFF will give us the best.
We should remain humble and stay focus. we don’t have a complete team yet. Having players doesn’t mean we have a complete team. That is all I can say for now. We are not there yet. With our prayers and support, they will surely get there. That is all I can say for now.
Once more, thank you @pompei for your analysis. You nailed it so well. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Please guys, go and watch Ghana vs Qatar friendly match on YouTube and compare their team work and dedications to the Nigerian team.
They played their hearts out and they were rootless and never tired for the entire durations of the match.
Game plan and team work is key to success for any team to be successful.
I’m really impressed with the way Ghanaian team approaches the match.
Don’t tell me that Qatar is not a football nation o. Based on the last friendlies Nigeria and Ghana played last month and their oppositions, I’m afraid and we were not rootless and Super Eagles played below their potentials.
If you say Afcon qualifier against Leone star is different to the friendlies they played last month and we missed our key players well, I hear you and same thing happens to Algeria too.
As I said above, this is the time to come together to support the coaches and the entire team. I hope Eagles improve before Friday so that they can play good football. It is well. God bless Nigeria!!!
@Omo9ja, hope you are not hypertensive? Why don’t you advise us to go and Watch Mali vs Ghana that they lost by 3 goals to Nil? Why …vs Qatar? By now u should have known that Eguavoen has signed a 3m contract for his new role. U get wahala o.
I just pray you won’t kill your self before 2022.
@pompei and Jimmyball, wonderful reasoning right there. to press high and mentain the pressure for a long period requires high level of technics from defenders and midfielders, I commented sometime ago that the Brazilian deffenders are more skillfull and technical than our own midfielders so as the argentines too, due to their confidence with the ball. our forwards must also be very conservative with the ball to retain every possible possession, consequently frustrating the opponents.. it’s not really about fitness bcos almost every players in that professional level are fit, infact they slim fit pass Michael Jackson’s pens. The truth remains you must ball pass me to be able to dictate me. we have seen rohr pressed high against less skillfull teams like Ukraine, Iceland and that same Algeria in his first two encounters with them. based on onazi Mikel obi vmoses Etebo our midfield then was superior to theirs in terms of quality and form. but against England which are technically superior to us the pressure cos quarrel for our players lol.
mind you if you press too high against a technically superior teams them go finish you with countless counter attacks in less than first half they fit give you 5 0 e go be like film for your eye. we saw that against Croatia, Denmark and Netherlands where by our players complete multiple dribblings and Our opponents completes multiple goals. even morinho can press high against any other teams, but when it comes to Barca or bayern the guy have to press low bcos the technical superiority of ur opponents must be respected nomatter how you feel about it. Brazil also suffered in the hands of Germany based on highpressing thins, and Belgium also bit them on thesame idea. it will be like fury vs wilder, if you press without the right quality of control and passes, in the reality a good coach have to pack the bus in the front of his goals when it’s obvious that the opponents is technically superior, it’s not about the coach it’s about the calibre of players in his disposal, if they are far better than their opponents you can even play them half field, but if their superior you have to soke pressure and attack when the chance comes. but if it’s a balanced situation like our game against cameroun, Southafrica and Algeria the risk is what taking and if it backfired it will be considered as a bad day.
hopefully with the inclusion of skillfull players like ejiara, lookman, akinola, Josh unomah. Rohr can begin to take more risks against the biggys by pressing high and dictating games for them too.
‘This is the reason why Nigeria struggle to win and play good football against organised teams like Algeria, Argentina,Brazil and other organised teams.Well Omogja,don’t think you ever sit down with a sane and open mind to watch the recent Eagles play,where you watch you try to look for faults and holes to say nonses.The Finland that is currently beating France in Paris were wallopped by the current se.Did you see our friendlies with Ukrain,Brazil where we came out with a draw after playing some of the finest football?Am sorry your analysis will make a bit of sense if you can be less hurtty and open minded coupled with gathering of facts.Look and ensure you see before you say.
Haven said that,it is imperative to say a word or 2 to those who think the Algerian National team are super.A very good side who play with purpose and finnes, will run you aground if you loose your guard.But,the question you should ask is are they building compare to the se?The answer is no.That team has been together for a very long time.The buck of the Algerian team has been together for over 8years and still kept the buck of the team the se under Rohr humiliated enroute to the world 2018.
Of the 25players of the main team 21 of them are well over 25 with buck of them well over 30 years old.The team has reached its pick so that if they don’t qualify for the world cup this time it will be difficult for them again.The only future I see in that team are Mahdi Zerkane,Adam ounas, Ismael Bennacer and Mohammed Reda who are all bellow 25years old.The truth be told the se on the other hand is on the ascedancing.The same se that played the World cup and the nations cup is not the same with the one that played Ukrain and Brazil to a stand still, there is huge improvement and you can see a steady growth. On The other hand the Algerian team has reached its peak.
98%of that Algerian team will become irrelevant in 3years or so.While the se will begin to enjoy the benefit of solid rebuilding the Algerians will be in recession.
A critical look at the team shows the future, because the average age is just 24 years old and from the look of things it will keep improving with the pool of young and energetic players we have right now.
Rohr should be left alone to do his job and rebuilding.I have not said Rohr is perfect but that he should be criticised objectively.
Well said @ Emmanuel. I can close my eyes and name 7-8 players of the current Algerian set up who featured at the 2014 world cup dragging eventual champions Germany all the way to the dying minutes of extra time….from Rais Mboli to Aissa Mandi, Adlene guediora, Mahrez, Slimani, Feghouli, Brahimi, Ghoulam, Bentaleb and so on. Incidentally these guys are also mostly foreign borns groomed in France, Netherlands, Spain etc. So in terms of quality and experience, these guys are up there, coupled with their cohesiveness stimulated by the long period a good chunk of them has been together. So I agree 100% with you that we are just witnessing a team at its peak, compared to our own SE, we have just Omeruo and Musa as the only surviving members of our 2014 WC squad both of whom are being clamored for to be kicked out of the team already. Though not to take anything away from the great job Belmadi has done on the team, forging them into a really intimidating side, but hey we all see that the difference between both teams on both occasions have been those details between experience and individual quality. This Eagles team will peak soon to….about 13 (this includes 3 goalkeepers – Uzoho, Akpeyi and Ezenwa)) of the current team were at the 2018WC and have also added 2019 AFCON to their international experience……and hey when they eventually do, whoever is coaching the team by then would not stop thanking his stars for holding the right job at the right time.
Collins ID, you are right about the danger of incorrectly using the high press. If it is not properly applied, that is indeed a recipe for disaster. An example of a team that will absolutely destroy you if you incorrectly use the high press is Belgium. Their rapid counter attacking and ruthless finishing will see you buried in goals before you know what is happening.
So, the correct way to implement the high press is to maintain defensive discipline, while instructing the forwards, wingers and the attacking midfielder(s) to do the gra-gra upfront, harrassing your opponent’s defenders when they want to play the ball out, and also harrassing the midfielders, not giving them time on the ball.
The back four and the DM remain in their positions, ready to snuff out any counter attacks. Again, Algeria have perfected this system. We will benefit if we study the way the Algerians do this. They crushed a strong Colombia side 3 nil playing this system. And they have beaten Nigeria and Senegal (2 strong sides difficult to beat) twice consecutively with this system.
With the individual quality of the players we possess, if we perfect the high press like Algeria has, the SE will a nightmare for most opponents.