Are the Super Eagles of Nigeria good enough to win Afcon 2024?

[Bigpokey24]

[Bigpokey24]

I actually enjoy listening to the point of views of other Africans . this was interesting

[Bigpokey24]

The thing about this AFCON, if the top seeds make round 16, my goodness , we are going to have some serious exciting fixtures

[Enugu II]

Bigpoke,

The guy on the left touches on something about our current players which I have referred to as willing to give a 110% effort. Apparently, even mon-Nigeria notice this and see it. It is that obvious.

It really is nothing to me that you play in big this or that in Europe. Frankly, immaterial to me. What he speaks on is whether that same player is willing to sweat and give his blood to Nigeria on the field. You can see Osimhen do it, you can see Iwobi do it. But how many of these so called big this and that are willing to give that to Nigeria?

[Bigpokey24]

Bigpoke,

The guy on the left touches on something about our current players which I have referred to as willing to give a 110% effort. Apparently, even mon-Nigeria notice this and see it. It is that obvious.

It really is nothing to me that you play in big this or that in Europe. Frankly, immaterial to me. What he speaks on is whether that same player is willing to sweat and give his blood to Nigeria on the field. You can see Osimhen do it, you can see Iwobi do it. But how many of these so called big this and that are willing to give that to Nigeria?

Some state on the forum some players do not give 100% etc. Are you able to call out the players? If you were able to point out Iwobi and our Osimhen , then this shouldn't be tasking. I do know Uzoho isn't good enough

[ohenhen1]

No they are not. Me am going to just watch the tournament without expectations.

[vancity eagle]

In all honesty based on talent to win I would rank as follows.

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Ivory Coast
4. Algeria
5. Nigeria

Nigeria would be the 5th overall most talented team.

Those 4 are definately better than us but I don't see any others better

[Undertaker]

In all honesty based on talent to win I would rank as follows.

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Ivory Coast
4. Algeria
5. Nigeria

Nigeria would be the 5th overall most talented team.

Those 4 are definately better than us but I don't see any others better

I disagreed! Here is my list

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Ivory Coast
4. Egypt
5. Algeria
6. Nigeria

[ohenhen1]

I don't think Morocco will win Afcon or is currently the best team in Africa.

[joao]

Assemblage of talents alone does not equate to success in team sport.
The coach should be able to make individuals complement each other,
and operate with an agenda of team discipline and focus.
Also, we should be realistic about AFCON being a competition and not
an exhibition, with other teams not attending to simply make the numbers.

[Dammy]

There are no clear cut favourites for the 2023 AFCON. Both Senegal, Morocco CIV have been weakened by their key players i.e. Mane, Koulibaly, Mendy, Bonou, Saiss, Fofana, Kessie, Konan etc moving to Saudi Arabia.
I have reviewed the squad lists released so far and there’s no clear cut favourites

[Enugu II]

There are no clear cut favourites for the 2023 AFCON. Both Senegal, Morocco CIV have been weakened by their key players i.e. Mane, Koulibaly, Mendy, Bonou, Saiss, Fofana, Kessie, Konan etc moving to Saudi Arabia.
I have reviewed the squad lists released so far and there’s no clear cut favourites

Bros,

Even if those guys are in Europe, they still will not make any of those teams clear favorites at AFCON.

[vancity eagle]

In all honesty based on talent to win I would rank as follows.

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Ivory Coast
4. Algeria
5. Nigeria

Nigeria would be the 5th overall most talented team.

Those 4 are definately better than us but I don't see any others better

I disagreed! Here is my list

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Ivory Coast
4. Egypt
5. Algeria
6. Nigeria

Well Egypt at least have a quality keeper but I don't think they have more talent than us overall.

[danfo driver]

We do. We have the players and I am supporting the team to the trophy! Nothing less.

The issue we have is coaching/tactics. Remove the moron and I'll be more confident. The squad is good enough to win. No other team has a striker of the caliber that we have. Our third choice striker (Sadiq) will start for most (if not all other) teams.

[Odas]

No they are not. Me am going to just watch the tournament without expectations.

Exactly why I have been scared in general to even visit this Forum these days, not to talk of watching our games. All the same, I will try to watch a few to the extend my heart, or fear can take me

[nzeogwu]

Talent has never won a tournament. It may however win qualifying games. If that was the criteria, Brazil would have won the 1982 World Cup, France would have won the 1986 Mundial and England or Cameron should have won the 199o edition.

Big names and big clubs don’t win either. From my experience and analytics, it comes down to team experience, cohesion, desire and coaching with a bit of luck.

17/25 players in the Eagles squad have been together for three tournaments. Nacho was omitted in 2019.

If by now they do not have exceptional team work, there’s nothing we can do about it.

We have the experience and the team work. I question the coaching. As far as our spine, they are committed and should drive the rest of the team.

Ekong must play over Ajayi not because he is better than Ajayi, Tosin or Ogbu. He is an intricate part of the spine who has hopefully learnt from his experiences and failures (Cairo 19 own goal).

Ndidi and Iwobi must play in the middle. They are warriors and they are committed for each other and for the country.

Osimhen must play up front.

If the goalie is in form and these four players lead by example, Nigeria will win. If they lose, they will be unlucky to do so.

The super favorites are equally good (Maroc, Algeria, Senegal and CIV). but we can win.

The playing surface will be exceptional and the lack of home pressure is a plus.

DO NOT BET AGAINST NIGERIA IN TOURNAMENTS. Excluding the last edition, 1982 and 2008, Nigeria has been in the final four in practically every tournament it has played from 1976-2022….

[Lolly]

There are no clear cut favourites for the 2023 AFCON. Both Senegal, Morocco CIV have been weakened by their key players i.e. Mane, Koulibaly, Mendy, Bonou, Saiss, Fofana, Kessie, Konan etc moving to Saudi Arabia.
I have reviewed the squad lists released so far and there’s no clear cut favourites

Morocco would be difficult to beat. They play as a well oiled unit with a very strong defence.

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

Bigpoke,

The guy on the left touches on something about our current players which I have referred to as willing to give a 110% effort. Apparently, even mon-Nigeria notice this and see it. It is that obvious.

It really is nothing to me that you play in big this or that in Europe. Frankly, immaterial to me. What he speaks on is whether that same player is willing to sweat and give his blood to Nigeria on the field. You can see Osimhen do it, you can see Iwobi do it. But how many of these so called big this and that are willing to give that to Nigeria?

EII,

I don’t think we are in a position to judge what’s in the heart of a player when we’ve never worn the player’s shoes. I’d rather focus on the fact that every professional footballer wants to win something and will do whatever is within their remit to make it happen. There is precious little that can dampen the desire for personal glory. That is a common factor with every footballer who gets to go to the AFCON. The only differentiator is the individual level of skill and we, Nigeria, have got plenty of that so, I’ll take my chances with the group we have


Cheers.

[Damunk]

Bigpoke,

The guy on the left touches on something about our current players which I have referred to as willing to give a 110% effort. Apparently, even mon-Nigeria notice this and see it. It is that obvious.

It really is nothing to me that you play in big this or that in Europe. Frankly, immaterial to me. What he speaks on is whether that same player is willing to sweat and give his blood to Nigeria on the field. You can see Osimhen do it, you can see Iwobi do it. But how many of these so called big this and that are willing to give that to Nigeria?

EII,

I don’t think we are in a position to judge what’s in the heart of a player when we’ve never worn the player’s shoes. I’d rather focus on the fact that every professional footballer wants to win something and will do whatever is within their remit to make it happen. There is precious little that can dampen the desire for personal glory. That is a common factor with every footballer who gets to go to the AFCON. The only differentiator is the individual level of skill and we, Nigeria, have got plenty of that so, I’ll take my chances with the group we have


Cheers.

God bless you for this.
It amuses me how fans and pundits sit in their armchairs and pass judgement on players who they believe are not able or willing to give their all. As far as I am concerned that Bongo guy on the left is talking rubbish about the Super Eagles.

These guys are by nature highly competitive and just want to win. A lot of the time it really doesn’t even matter the stature of game. Even when they go back home during the off-season and play 5-a-side with their old schoolmates, they still want to win the game.

If they are unhappy for some reason (eg coach, contract etc) it’s slightly different. But to assume they don’t have that desire to play and win in a national shirt at a continental competition is a long stretch. Then to go further and say it’s because they are spoilt millionaires or because they are not local borns is incredulous and does not reflect the mindset of an elite athlete.

The fire of an Osimhen vs the icy exterior of an Ajayi is no measure of their desire to win.
As you say, personal glory and bragging rights drive them forward.

[Bigpokey24]

Enugu, I am still waiting on you to call out the players who aren't giving 100% today is the 2nd day of the year , AFCON starts in 11 days.

[Enugu II]

Enugu, I am still waiting on you to call out the players who aren't giving 100% today is the 2nd day of the year , AFCON starts in 11 days.

Well, be prepared to wait a bit more.

I have named those who will give Nigeria 110% effort every game. You try to figure out the rest. Alternatively, you wait and without a prompt you and others will actually list them soon after a loss. That is guaranteed.

[Enugu II]

Bigpoke,

The guy on the left touches on something about our current players which I have referred to as willing to give a 110% effort. Apparently, even mon-Nigeria notice this and see it. It is that obvious.

It really is nothing to me that you play in big this or that in Europe. Frankly, immaterial to me. What he speaks on is whether that same player is willing to sweat and give his blood to Nigeria on the field. You can see Osimhen do it, you can see Iwobi do it. But how many of these so called big this and that are willing to give that to Nigeria?

EII,

I don’t think we are in a position to judge what’s in the heart of a player when we’ve never worn the player’s shoes. I’d rather focus on the fact that every professional footballer wants to win something and will do whatever is within their remit to make it happen. There is precious little that can dampen the desire for personal glory. That is a common factor with every footballer who gets to go to the AFCON. The only differentiator is the individual level of skill and we, Nigeria, have got plenty of that so, I’ll take my chances with the group we have


Cheers.

God bless you for this.
It amuses me how fans and pundits sit in their armchairs and pass judgement on players who they believe are not able or willing to give their all. As far as I am concerned that Bongo guy on the left is talking rubbish about the Super Eagles.

These guys are by nature highly competitive and just want to win. A lot of the time it really doesn’t even matter the stature of game. Even when they go back home during the off-season and play 5-a-side with their old schoolmates, they still want to win the game.

If they are unhappy for some reason (eg coach, contract etc) it’s slightly different. But to assume they don’t have that desire to play and win in a national shirt at a continental competition is a long stretch. Then to go further and say it’s because they are spoilt millionaires or because they are not local borns is incredulous and does not reflect the mindset of an elite athlete.

The fire of an Osimhen vs the icy exterior of an Ajayi is no measure of their desire to win.
As you say, personal glory and bragging rights drive them forward.

Damunk

Remember that these players are not robots. They have personalities and differ from one another. The effort in one game differs from the next. There are those who will play with consistent effort in every game. Others will give effort and vary it unconsciously, depending on who the opponent is. For instance, do you think the SE will not dramatically up its game and effirt if Nigeria is to meet Lesitho again at the same venue in Nigeria? As a matter of fact, take a look at previous such games where Nigeria played a dud game but exploded against same opponent a few weeks after. What exactly do you think is mostly responsible for that difference?

[Bigpokey24]

Enugu, I am still waiting on you to call out the players who aren't giving 100% today is the 2nd day of the year , AFCON starts in 11 days.

Well, be prepared to wait a bit more.

I have named those who will give Nigeria 110% effort every game. You try to figure out the rest. Alternatively, you wait and without a prompt you and others will actually list them soon after a loss. That is guaranteed.

You cannot make a blanket statement and then conclude people should wait. We have too many Nigerians always saying the players do not give any efforts. Call them out( players) and let's see.