Nigeria's team will really come of age at the 2022 World Cup

[john12]

Unfortunately, this is not a good measurement to check our future progress. Based on our last 3 World Cup outings, there hasn’t been more than 7 players that progressed to the upcoming World Cup so you cannot guarantee that 2022 will be different.

[Gotti]

4 years is a long time in soccer, only about 6 players from the 2014 WC team are likely on this current team:

2014:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).

Please, nobody should ever post this team list again! It annoys me each time I see it!!!

The pay to play squad

The “paid” enough to match our best WC placements...

[Tbite]

4 years is a long time in soccer, only about 6 players from the 2014 WC team are likely on this current team:

2014:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).

Please, nobody should ever post this team list again! It annoys me each time I see it!!!

The pay to play squad

The “paid” enough to match our best WC placements...

They did not match it.

The 1994 team finished as high as a second round team could possibly finish (9th), while the 2014 team finished as low as a second round team could possibly finish (16th).

1994 remains our best team in the WC! Even when we look at the match-ups.

But I think we can surpass them in 2018.

[Gotti]

4 years is a long time in soccer, only about 6 players from the 2014 WC team are likely on this current team:

2014:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).

I look at this team and my God! How did we end up with this? very very sad.

And exactly what was wrong with the team?

GKs Enyeama and Ejide were definitely miles ahead of the lot we are presently contemplating going to Russia with. In defense, Echiejile (who btw did NOT make it to the 2014 WC following injury against the US) is four years older but seeming ten years slower, and yet could very well be starting/playing in Russia. Joseph Yobo actually had a very good WC in 2014, and we would be well-served if Troost-Ekong can (and if Balogun remains healthy enough to) match Yobo’s 2014 performances. Efe Ambrose went into the 2014 WC with no worse a track record and bags more experience at club and international level than the relatively green Chidozie Awaziem. Meanwhile, Omeruo returns four years older but sadly not necessarily four years better in terms of experience or performances.

Up front, Ahmed Musa looks likely to return to effectively reprise the Shola Ameobi role of 2014 on this 2018 squad - loads of experience and a good locker room spirit. The China-based Ighalo, despite 2 promising performances against Cameroon in the final phase of the qualifiers (after multiple dud showings) does not come into this WC with anything approaching the expectations (justifiably) held of Emmanuel Emenike. And the Osaze Odemwingie of 2014 was more consistent performer (and frankly a better all-around player) than the likes of Daddy Simon and Musa. Meanwhile Victor Moses returns for a WC reprise and, notwithstanding his recent run of indifferent Chelsea performances, should ideally be an upgrade on the 2014 Victor Moses.

The areas in which this team is arguably significantly better would be expected team cohesion, as its corpus have played together over the past eighteen months or thereabouts, albeit this was not always evident in several of the WCQ games. Midfield should also be another area of relative improvement with the now more experienced duo of Ogenyi Onazi (albeit presently playing significantly less games at a weaker league than in 2014) and Mikel (albeit slower, also playing in a significantly weak league, and less likely to play full games) being joined by the indefatigable Ndidi. But most crucially for the current team is the relatively depth of quality, which means that when it is compelled to turn to its bench there would likely not be a significant drop off in performance (if at all) and also affords the coaching staff a degree of tactical flexibility.

Furthermore, Alex Iwobi and Iheanacho each comes with great potential, and we can console ourselves that despite their sometimes pedestrian performances at club level, each almost always performs much better and more consistently for the SE (the odd dud showing notwithstanding), while the return of a healthy (the Good Lord willing) Joel Obi would be a significant shot in the arm for the squad and our WC prospects. Overall, sans the goalkeeping department (where we are frankly reduced to living with hope rather than any reasonable degree of confident certainty), the potential Russia WC squad looks an upgrade but frankly not by miles. Hopefully, the whole will perform greater than the sum of the parts.

[Gotti]

They did not match it.

The 1994 team finished as high as a second round team could possibly finish (9th), while the 2014 team finished as low as a second round team could possibly finish (16th).

1994 remains our best team in the WC! Even when we look at the match-ups.

But I think we can surpass them in 2018.

They did match it!

They got to the same round of 16 - which is what virtually every news report shows...
Only Odd Balls, accountants (sorry Waffi) and sundry bean counters care for all that statistical drivel.

[Tbite]

They did not match it.

The 1994 team finished as high as a second round team could possibly finish (9th), while the 2014 team finished as low as a second round team could possibly finish (16th).

1994 remains our best team in the WC! Even when we look at the match-ups.

But I think we can surpass them in 2018.

They did match it!

They got to the same round of 16 - which is what virtually every news report shows...
Only Odd Balls, accountants (sorry Waffi) and sundry bean counters care for all that statistical drivel.

Everything is equal and everything is unequal, depending on where you draw the line.

We simply choose to draw the lines in different places. That does not make me an oddball, sorry to say.

[Gotti]

Everything is equal and everything is unequal, depending on where you draw the line.

We simply choose to draw the lines in different places. That does not make me an oddball, sorry to say.

The statement was not in the particular...
Not calling you an odd ball any more than an accountant, just a generalized comment.

[chief nfachairman]

4 years is a long time in soccer, only about 6 players from the 2014 WC team are likely on this current team:

2014:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).

I look at this team and my God! How did we end up with this? very very sad.

And exactly what was wrong with the team?

GKs Enyeama and Ejide were definitely miles ahead of the lot we are presently contemplating going to Russia with. In defense, Echiejile (who btw did NOT make it to the 2014 WC following injury against the US) is four years older but seeming ten years slower, and yet could very well be starting/playing in Russia. Joseph Yobo actually had a very good WC in 2014, and we would be well-served if Troost-Ekong can (and if Balogun remains healthy enough to) match Yobo’s 2014 performances. Efe Ambrose went into the 2014 WC with no worse a track record and bags more experience at club and international level than the relatively green Chidozie Awaziem. Meanwhile, Omeruo returns four years older but sadly not necessarily four years better in terms of experience or performances.

Up front, Ahmed Musa looks likely to return to effectively reprise the Shola Ameobi role of 2014 on this 2018 squad - loads of experience and a good locker room spirit. The China-based Ighalo, despite 2 promising performances against Cameroon in the final phase of the qualifiers (after multiple dud showings) does not come into this WC with anything approaching the expectations (justifiably) held of Emmanuel Emenike. And the Osaze Odemwingie of 2014 was more consistent performer (and frankly a better all-around player) than the likes of Daddy Simon and Musa. Meanwhile Victor Moses returns for a WC reprise and, assuming his recent run of indifferent Chelsea performances, should ideally be an upgrade on the 2014 Victor Moses.

The areas in which this team is arguably significantly better would be expected team cohesion, as its corpus have played together over the past eighteen months or thereabouts, albeit this was not always evident in several of the WCQ games. Midfield should also be another area of relative improvement with the now more experienced duo of Ogenyi Onazi (albeit presently playing significantly less games at a weaker league than in 2014) and Mikel (albeit slower, also playing in a significantly weak league, and less likely to play full games) being joined by the indefatigable Ndidi. But most crucially for the current team is the relatively depth of quality, which means that when it is compelled to turn to its bench there would likely not be a significant drop off in performance (if at all) and also affords the coaching staff a degree of tactical flexibility.

Furthermore, Alex Iwobi and Iheanacho each comes with great potential, and we can console ourselves that despite their sometimes pedestrian performances at club level, each almost always performs much better and more consistently for the SE (the odd dud showing notwithstanding), while the return of a healthy (the Good Lord willing) Joel Obi would be a significant shot in the arm for the squad and our WC prospects. Overall, sans the goalkeeping department (where we are frankly reduced to living with hope rather than any reasonable degree of confident certainty), the potential Russia WC squad looks an upgrade but frankly not by miles. Hopefully, the whole will perform greater than the sum of the parts.

It's Don Gotti AGAIN!!

[Damunk]

4 years is a long time in soccer, only about 6 players from the 2014 WC team are likely on this current team:

2014:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).

I look at this team and my God! How did we end up with this? very very sad.

And exactly what was wrong with the team?

GKs Enyeama and Ejide were definitely miles ahead of the lot we are presently contemplating going to Russia with. In defense, Echiejile (who btw did NOT make it to the 2014 WC following injury against the US) is four years older but seeming ten years slower, and yet could very well be starting/playing in Russia. Joseph Yobo actually had a very good WC in 2014, and we would be well-served if Troost-Ekong can (and if Balogun remains healthy enough to) match Yobo’s 2014 performances. Efe Ambrose went into the 2014 WC with no worse a track record and bags more experience at club and international level than the relatively green Chidozie Awaziem. Meanwhile, Omeruo returns four years older but sadly not necessarily four years better in terms of experience or performances.

Up front, Ahmed Musa looks likely to return to effectively reprise the Shola Ameobi role of 2014 on this 2018 squad - loads of experience and a good locker room spirit. The China-based Ighalo, despite 2 promising performances against Cameroon in the final phase of the qualifiers (after multiple dud showings) does not come into this WC with anything approaching the expectations (justifiably) held of Emmanuel Emenike. And the Osaze Odemwingie of 2014 was more consistent performer (and frankly a better all-around player) than the likes of Daddy Simon and Musa. Meanwhile Victor Moses returns for a WC reprise and, assuming his recent run of indifferent Chelsea performances, should ideally be an upgrade on the 2014 Victor Moses.

The areas in which this team is arguably significantly better would be expected team cohesion, as its corpus have played together over the past eighteen months or thereabouts, albeit this was not always evident in several of the WCQ games. Midfield should also be another area of relative improvement with the now more experienced duo of Ogenyi Onazi (albeit presently playing significantly less games at a weaker league than in 2014) and Mikel (albeit slower, also playing in a significantly weak league, and less likely to play full games) being joined by the indefatigable Ndidi. But most crucially for the current team is the relatively depth of quality, which means that when it is compelled to turn to its bench there would likely not be a significant drop off in performance (if at all) and also affords the coaching staff a degree of tactical flexibility.

Furthermore, Alex Iwobi and Iheanacho each comes with great potential, and we can console ourselves that despite their sometimes pedestrian performances at club level, each almost always performs much better and more consistently for the SE (the odd dud showing notwithstanding), while the return of a healthy (the Good Lord willing) Joel Obi would be a significant shot in the arm for the squad and our WC prospects. Overall, sans the goalkeeping department (where we are frankly reduced to living with hope rather than any reasonable degree of confident certainty), the potential Russia WC squad looks an upgrade but frankly not by miles. Hopefully, the whole will perform greater than the sum of the parts.

Brutally frank and sentiment free.
Hmmmm.....