Critical Analysis Of Recent U23 call ups - "The Hit & Miss"

[Sunset]

Critical Analysis Of Recently Released Nigeria U23 List By Imama Amapakabo – The Hit & Miss
https://owngoalnigeria.com/2019/02/18/c ... -hit-miss/
February 18, 201901638



Coach of the U23 team of Nigeria Imama Amapakabo released a list of 33 players for camping ahead of the upcoming Africa U23 Cup of Nations Qualifiers against Libya.

A look at the list showed he called up four goalkeepers, nine defenders, ten midfielders and ten forwards. Owngoalnigeria.com take a look at the players who merit a place in the list and those who should have been considered in the squad.

Goalkeepers : If there’s one area where no one can should fault the coach is in the department of goalkeepers. Maybe his background as a goalkeeper during his playing days helped him in selecting arguably the best four ‎goalkeepers under the age of 23 in the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) ….. Verdict – Hit

Defenders : The call ups look decent from afar but followers of the NPFL will fault the non-inclusion of Kano Pillars defender Sunday Chinedu who has scored three goals from his role as central defender.

Austin Ugochukwu who hardly plays at Pillars where Chinedu is king was listed and Enugu Rangers Chidera Eze was listed as a defender although since joining Rangers last season he has played as a forward.


Imama also listed three left full backs in Chiwendu Ali, Ebube Duru and Udochukwu Anumudu which means Oghene Elijah who can play in any role in the back four with ease as seen in his display for Plateau United missed out….Verdict – Miss

Midfielders: The one name missing from the list has to be Kano Pillars Auwalu Ali Mallam bar his non inclusion, the others on the list truly deserve their spot although Abba Umar who plays ahead of William Ukeme who was called up from Wikki Tourist should have made the list…… Verdict – Hit

Forwards : One will argue that the the trio of Victor Mbaoma of Remo Stars, Samson Obi of Abia Warriors and ‎Sunusi Ibrahim of Nasarawa United should have made the list. Particularly when a player like Solomon Nsude who is yet to play a game for FC Ifeanyi Ubah is included….. Verdict –Miss

THE INVITED PLAYERS

Goalkeepers: Amos Benjamin (Bayelsa United); Makanjuola Adewale (Ekiti United); Anozie Chinedu (FC IfeanyiUbah); Stanley Nwabili (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: John Lazarus (Lobi Stars); Chidera Eze (Rangers International); Anumudu Udochukwu (Lobi Stars); Austin Ugochukwu (Kano Pillars); Chinedu Ajana (Katsina United); Kehinde Adeyemi (Sunshine Stars); Ndah Olisah (Remo Stars); Chinwendu Ali (Yobe Stars); Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars); Isah Ndala (Nasarawa United); William Ukeme (Wikki Tourists); Olatunji Matthew (Enyimba FC); Seth Mayi (Plateau United); Yusuf Maigoro (Kano Pillars); Iwuala Anayo (Kada City); Cletus Emotan (Rivers United); Chigozie Obasi (Sunshine Stars); Chukwudi Agor (ASJ, Owerri)

Forwards: Etiboy Akpan (Akwa United); Anas Mohammed (Shooting Stars); Chijoke Alaekwe (FC IfeanyiUbah); Shamman Tanze (Kano Pillars); Agboola Joshua (Katsina United); Wari Williams (Nasarawa United); Ebuka Okeke (Lamray United); Tolu Ojo (Remo Stars); Wasiu Alalade (Enyimba FC); Solomon Nsude (FC IfeanyiUbah)

[Eaglezbeak]

Sorry,how many members of this squad played in the recently concluded U20 Afrcon Tournament

[bushboy]

This list means nothing, at the end of the day, this competition will be for the likes of Oshimen, Chukwueze, Nwakali, Dennis, Eze, Matthew, and other foreign based talent. The best talents we have at this age are NO LONGER in Nigeria.

[Eaglezbeak]

This list means nothing, at the end of the day, this competition will be for the likes of Oshimen, Chukwueze, Nwakali, Dennis, Eze, Matthew, and other foreign based talent. The best talents we have at this age are NO LONGER in Nigeria.

Fair enough but I’m not sure when if ever you’re going to see Eze represent Nigeria at an age graded tournament as he prepresents England at that level.

[metalalloy]

This list means nothing, at the end of the day, this competition will be for the likes of Oshimen, Chukwueze, Nwakali, Dennis, Eze, Matthew, and other foreign based talent. The best talents we have at this age are NO LONGER in Nigeria.

and how many of them will be made available for qualifiers?

[Eaglezbeak]

This list means nothing, at the end of the day, this competition will be for the likes of Oshimen, Chukwueze, Nwakali, Dennis, Eze, Matthew, and other foreign based talent. The best talents we have at this age are NO LONGER in Nigeria.

and how many of them will be made available for qualifiers?

Probably non unless they play in the Middle East or Bulgaria,Albania or Cyprus!

[mystic]

This list means nothing, at the end of the day, this competition will be for the likes of Oshimen, Chukwueze, Nwakali, Dennis, Eze, Matthew, and other foreign based talent. The best talents we have at this age are NO LONGER in Nigeria.

None of the folks you mentioned will smell the Nigeria Jersey at the Olympics if we don't qualify. We also had a handful of legit domestic based talents come through the team last time around (Etebo, Azubuike, Ajayi, Daniel, Sincere, Usman) and if the team is properly managed I expect more of the same. So it's quite foolhardy to be so dismissive of this list. This list can only be meaningless if the coaches have done a poor job of player selection.

[Sunset]

Sorry,how many members of this squad played in the recently concluded U20 Afrcon Tournament

None of them as they still have to prepare for the World Cup coming up in May. Their (U20's) Top goalscorer in qualifiers Wasiu Alalade is one that was dropped for an unexplained reason but part of this squad.

Interestingly though we have the Likes of John Lazarus, and Anumudu Udochukwu who were members of the 2015 U17 World cup winners and & 2017 U20's. As well as another U17 World Cup Winner in Chigozie Obasi, they all play in the NPFL.

[Sunset]

[metalalloy]

well done sunset. Good to see you posting again.

[mystic]

Sorry,how many members of this squad played in the recently concluded U20 Afrcon Tournament

None of them as they still have to prepare for the World Cup coming up in May. Their (U20's) Top goalscorer in qualifiers Wasiu Alalade is one that was dropped for an unexplained reason but part of this squad.

Interestingly though we have the Likes of John Lazarus, and Anumudu Udochukwu who were members of the 2015 U17 World cup winners and & 2017 U20's. As well as another U17 World Cup Winner in Chigozie Obasi, they all play in the NPFL.

I expect Ikouwem Udo and Valentine Ozornwafor to be promoted to the U23 team after the U20 World Cup. One or two others could follow them if their performance at the Junior World Cup warrants it.

[bully12]

Is Chidera Eze playing in Nigeria now? So he in did not make it in Europe? Too bad .

[mystic]

Is Chidera Eze playing in Nigeria now? So he in did not make it in Europe? Too bad .

Different player with the same name.

[oyek]

Sorry,how many members of this squad played in the recently concluded U20 Afrcon Tournament

None of them as they still have to prepare for the World Cup coming up in May. Their (U20's) Top goalscorer in qualifiers Wasiu Alalade is one that was dropped for an unexplained reason but part of this squad.

Interestingly though we have the Likes of John Lazarus, and Anumudu Udochukwu who were members of the 2015 U17 World cup winners and & 2017 U20's. As well as another U17 World Cup Winner in Chigozie Obasi, they all play in the NPFL.

Add Amos Benjamin (GK) and Anas Mohammed to the list of former U17s.

[olu]

Good to see several of the former U-17 players playing in the NPFL. Not everyone will make it to Europe.

Sorry,how many members of this squad played in the recently concluded U20 Afrcon Tournament

None of them as they still have to prepare for the World Cup coming up in May. Their (U20's) Top goalscorer in qualifiers Wasiu Alalade is one that was dropped for an unexplained reason but part of this squad.

Interestingly though we have the Likes of John Lazarus, and Anumudu Udochukwu who were members of the 2015 U17 World cup winners and & 2017 U20's. As well as another U17 World Cup Winner in Chigozie Obasi, they all play in the NPFL.

Add Amos Benjamin (GK) and Anas Mohammed to the list of former U17s.

[oyek]

Good to see several of the former U-17 players playing in the NPFL. Not everyone will make it to Europe.

Sorry,how many members of this squad played in the recently concluded U20 Afrcon Tournament

None of them as they still have to prepare for the World Cup coming up in May. Their (U20's) Top goalscorer in qualifiers Wasiu Alalade is one that was dropped for an unexplained reason but part of this squad.

Interestingly though we have the Likes of John Lazarus, and Anumudu Udochukwu who were members of the 2015 U17 World cup winners and & 2017 U20's. As well as another U17 World Cup Winner in Chigozie Obasi, they all play in the NPFL.

Add Amos Benjamin (GK) and Anas Mohammed to the list of former U17s.

Kpom! NFF needs to urgently develop the local leagues.

[1naija]

Still Amazes me how coaches from the North can unearth quality players from the North when they coach these teams, but coaches from the south can't see them? The only part of the country where there is consensus that there is not a single quality player is the SW. We need not look any farther than 3SC to see this.