Nigeria U-23 Team

[Damunk]

The AFCON U23 qualifiers start in a few weeks and the tournament itself also serves as the qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics.
Interestingly, probably 60% of the SE are under 23 and as they seem to be playing fairly regularly for their clubsides, one wonders:
a) Whether they'd be available for the qualifiers at all. Is the tournament FIFA-backed and are the players compelled to honour an invitation, because we know the Olympics proper isn't.
b) Who are the likely players? I seem to recall reading somewhere that Kalu has been nominated captain.

Off the top of my head, these are some of the eligible and top performing players;

Samuel Kalu
Michael Kingsley
Samu Chukwueze
Isaac Success
Kelechi Iheanacho
Henry Onyekuru
Ola Aina
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Francis Uzoho
Victor Osimhen

These eleven are already part of the SE setup to various degrees.
There are many more coming thru that are knocking on the door both at home and abroad.

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

No need to waste time bro. The NFF has already declared that SE players will not be in the u23 team with the exception of Kalu. The new team will be made up of local players and euro based who have NOT played for SE.

[Damunk]

No need to waste time bro. The NFF has already declared that SE players will not be in the u23 team with the exception of Kalu. The new team will be made up of local players and euro based who have NOT played for SE.

Wow.
That's interesting.
But then, maybe local players will use the opportunity to stake a claim.

[Enugu II]

No need to waste time bro. The NFF has already declared that SE players will not be in the u23 team with the exception of Kalu. The new team will be made up of local players and euro based who have NOT played for SE.

My opinion has not changed much on this issue. For me, the U23 is a more advanced developmental squad and I really do not think we should load it up with guys who are starters in the SE.

[Gotti]

The AFCON U23 qualifiers start in a few weeks and the tournament itself also serves as the qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics.
Interestingly, probably 60% of the SE are under 23 and as they seem to be playing fairly regularly for their clubsides, one wonders:
a) Whether they'd be available for the qualifiers at all. Is the tournament FIFA-backed and are the players compelled to honour an invitation, because we know the Olympics proper isn't.
b) Who are the likely players? I seem to recall reading somewhere that Kalu has been nominated captain.

Off the top of my head, these are some of the eligible and top performing players;

Samuel Kalu
Michael Kingsley
Samu Chukwueze
Isaac Success
Kelechi Iheanacho
Henry Onyekuru
Ola Aina
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Francis Uzoho
Victor Osimhen

These eleven are already part of the SE setup to various degrees.
There are many more coming thru that are knocking on the door both at home and abroad.

No!

Furthermore, the early indications from the NFF is that regular SE players will NOT be part of the U23 squad (albeit OwnGoal.com has been speculating that Samuel Kalu will lead the team).

[Gotti]

BTW, if Ndidi ends up playing at the 2020 Olympics (assuming Nigeria qualifies), it would mean (all things being equal) 3 straight years without a substantial summer break - 2018 (WC), 2019 (AFCON) and 2020! I don't think that's necessarily healthy for anyone.

[1naija]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

[Damunk]

The AFCON U23 qualifiers start in a few weeks and the tournament itself also serves as the qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics.
Interestingly, probably 60% of the SE are under 23 and as they seem to be playing fairly regularly for their clubsides, one wonders:
a) Whether they'd be available for the qualifiers at all. Is the tournament FIFA-backed and are the players compelled to honour an invitation, because we know the Olympics proper isn't.
b) Who are the likely players? I seem to recall reading somewhere that Kalu has been nominated captain.

Off the top of my head, these are some of the eligible and top performing players;

Samuel Kalu
Michael Kingsley
Samu Chukwueze
Isaac Success
Kelechi Iheanacho
Henry Onyekuru
Ola Aina
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Francis Uzoho
Victor Osimhen

These eleven are already part of the SE setup to various degrees.
There are many more coming thru that are knocking on the door both at home and abroad.

No!

Furthermore, the early indications from the NFF is that regular SE players will NOT be part of the U23 squad (albeit OwnGoal.com has been speculating that Samuel Kalu will lead the team).

Kongi has already pointed this out.

[Damunk]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

Not sure you have been following Ola's progress closely enough, but he seems to have locked down the RWB spot at Torino and is playing vs Juventus as we speak now.
Torino are sixth in Serie A.
If that isn't progress from the "Chelsea youth team", then I'm not sure what is.

[1naija]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

Not sure you have been following Ola's progress closely enough, but he seems to have locked down the RWB spot at Torino and is playing vs Juventus as we speak now.
Torino are sixth in Serie A.
If that isn't progress from the "Chelsea youth team", then I'm not sure what is.

That is good for him then. But he hasn't improved for Nigeria. Onyekuru is a regular starter and has been so for a while, yet he has failed to impress for Nigeria.

[bret- hart]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

Yet he playz for Torino while your boy George Abbey was a glorified Semi pro player at his peak.

[maceo4]

Abeg they should leave Samuel Kalu alone...

[1naija]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

Yet he playz for Torino while your boy George Abbey was a glorified Semi pro player at his peak.

But held down the right back spot for Nigeria till he retired.

[Dammy]

To be honest, neither Aina or Onyekuru have had a good game for Nigeria despite our expectations.

[bret- hart]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

Yet he playz for Torino while your boy George Abbey was a glorified Semi pro player at his peak.

But held down the right back spot for Nigeria till he retired.

No he was a place holder until Chidi Odiah showed up.

[mystic]

BTW, if Ndidi ends up playing at the 2020 Olympics (assuming Nigeria qualifies), it would mean (all things being equal) 3 straight years without a substantial summer break - 2018 (WC), 2019 (AFCON) and 2020! I don't think that's necessarily healthy for anyone.

Ndidi isn't age eligible for the 2020 Olympics anyway. Neither is Ihenacho, Success, Aina or Iwobi.

[jette1]

BTW, if Ndidi ends up playing at the 2020 Olympics (assuming Nigeria qualifies), it would mean (all things being equal) 3 straight years without a substantial summer break - 2018 (WC), 2019 (AFCON) and 2020! I don't think that's necessarily healthy for anyone.

Ndidi isn't age eligible for the 2020 Olympics anyway. Neither is Ihenacho, Success, Aina or Iwobi.

aren't you allowed one over-aged player any more

[Damunk]

BTW, if Ndidi ends up playing at the 2020 Olympics (assuming Nigeria qualifies), it would mean (all things being equal) 3 straight years without a substantial summer break - 2018 (WC), 2019 (AFCON) and 2020! I don't think that's necessarily healthy for anyone.

Ndidi isn't age eligible for the 2020 Olympics anyway. Neither is Ihenacho, Success, Aina or Iwobi.

aren't you allowed one over-aged player any more

Three.

[Damunk]

BTW, if Ndidi ends up playing at the 2020 Olympics (assuming Nigeria qualifies), it would mean (all things being equal) 3 straight years without a substantial summer break - 2018 (WC), 2019 (AFCON) and 2020! I don't think that's necessarily healthy for anyone.

Ndidi isn't age eligible for the 2020 Olympics anyway. Neither is Ihenacho, Success, Aina or Iwobi.

Jan 1st 1997 would be the cut-off point, apart from the 3 allowed 'over-age' players.

So you are absolutely right. Ndidi would miss out by 2 weeks, both Kelechi and Aina by 3 months, Iwobi by 7 months and Success by a whole year.

I was basing my calculations on the 2019 U23 AFCON, rather than the 2020 Olympics

[Eaglezbeak]

Bournemouth’s Ofoborh would be a good fit the squad!

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

Ola Aina has not improved since his days in Chelsea youth team. We should stop considering him and Onyekuru for Nigeria team until they step up their game. Eze and Kalu came from nowhere and grabbed a spot on the team. Meanwhile those 2 have been given chances after chances.

Not sure you have been following Ola's progress closely enough, but he seems to have locked down the RWB spot at Torino and is playing vs Juventus as we speak now.
Torino are sixth in Serie A.
If that isn't progress from the "Chelsea youth team", then I'm not sure what is.

That is good for him then. But he hasn't improved for Nigeria. Onyekuru is a regular starter and has been so for a while, yet he has failed to impress for Nigeria.

The problem is that you haven’t grown mentally or intellectually all these years. You keep using the same juvenile logic in your arguments. How many total minutes has Onyekuru played for Nigeria? You have no basis to evaluate him in any meaningful way yet you presume to reach such sweeping conclusions about him


Cheers.

[john12]

Tony abegi leave that grammar for bully. How many games does onyekuru needs to prove that he is capable of displacing experienced players? Do you think super eagles is some local team that a player has the luxury of underperforming at multiple games and still being recalled? No, we don’t. Whenever you get to an already made establishment and you get a shot, you must capitalize on your chances and make the best out of it instead of using excuses excuses and more excuses. The likes of Samuel Kalu, obagoal, Musa all made an instant impression at SE and if onyekuru intends on being recalled, he needs to do the same. He has gotten many chances and hasn’t capitalized on it while some like “nwakaeme” only got 1 chance and wasn’t recalled again.

[mystic]

Bournemouth’s Ofoborh would be a good fit the squad!

Oforboh trained with the Flying Eagles earlier in the year and is in line to be at the U20 World Cup if we qualify (not sure if he will be released for the African Championship, otherwise he'd be in the mix for that as well).