Nigeria vs Mali(0-2) FT

[Lolly]

We need to find a substitute for Iwobi. We can’t continue to depend on him alone for creativity.
Smart opponents will figure him out and cut off his game

You noticed. He runs too deep and then looks up and there is no one close to him asking for the ball.

So a smart coach would just assign a player to man mark Iwobi and force him back.

[aruako1]

It is a good game for Nigeria despite the score line. Some players were tested. The coach now has to ring in the changes. I hope we are healthy. Need Osimhen and Boniface back in the team.

It was a piss poor game.

[Schillachi]

Why is it that when we give this foolish local coaches a chance, they also sabotage themselves? Is it a curse?

[Dammy]

BTW, who failed to cut out that pass that led to Mali’s 2nd goal?

[Lolly]

BTW, who failed to cut out that pass that led to Mali’s 2nd goal?

Omeruo I think.

[ohenhen1]

We need to find a substitute for Iwobi. We can’t continue to depend on him alone for creativity.
Smart opponents will figure him out and cut off his game

Why did they not test a replacement for Iwobi in the two friendly games?

[Tobi17]

Ifeanyi Matthew
Ibrahim Olawoyin
Nwakali

These guys must be called up now, thank God we've seen how good Onyedika is...Iwobi seriously needs HELP, we never got to see Dele-Bashiru...friendly was somewhat a waste of time tbh, Finidi surely isn't getting the Eagles job, nice guy but definitely not the man for the job.

[Schillachi]

Finidi George did well for his first two games. With short notice and not picking the team. He beat Ghana and his team played well against Mali. The NFF should keep him and allow him to make the changes he wants to make. No white man is going to save Nigeria.

You are a clown. If he started the right personnel and beat Mali, you won't need to be writing this rubbish to defend him...

Unless I hear that Lookman, Yusuf and Sadiq were injured, he should take his sorry #$% back to Enyimba..

[ohenhen1]

It is a good game for Nigeria despite the score line. Some players were tested. The coach now has to ring in the changes. I hope we are healthy. Need Osimhen and Boniface back in the team.

It was a piss poor game.

I disagree it is a good game for a friendly. Friendlies are designed to test players. Winning is not the priority. You should judge a coach when they play competitive matches.

[tolahs]

TBH, a total mismatch -in the 1st half they controlled territory & possession. In the 2nd half, we huffed & puffed a bit but they ran the show - i can't recall the no. of times they'd to pass back to the defenders or GK due to pressure - they forced us to do that most of the time - more effective pressing & superior passing game.

[ohenhen1]

Finidi George did well for his first two games. With short notice and not picking the team. He beat Ghana and his team played well against Mali. The NFF should keep him and allow him to make the changes he wants to make. No white man is going to save Nigeria.

You are a clown. If he started the right personnel and beat Mali, you won't need to be writing this rubbish to defend him...

You are judging a coach based on a friendly. Finidi didn't even select the players. You are a clown just like the NFF. They will hire another journey man failed mercenary coach. White man will not save Nigeria.

[iworo]

This is one of my major issues with local coaches. What was the point of playing senior fringe players throughout a friendly game without giving promising newcomers a chance to showcase their abilities? What point was coach Finidi trying to prove??

[aruako1]

It is a good game for Nigeria despite the score line. Some players were tested. The coach now has to ring in the changes. I hope we are healthy. Need Osimhen and Boniface back in the team.

It was a piss poor game.

I disagree it is a good game for a friendly. Friendlies are designed to test players. Winning is not the priority. You should judge a coach when they play competitive matches.

Nothing gained from this game. An underwhelming, rudderless performance. I struggled to stay awake

[Schillachi]

Finidi George did well for his first two games. With short notice and not picking the team. He beat Ghana and his team played well against Mali. The NFF should keep him and allow him to make the changes he wants to make. No white man is going to save Nigeria.

You are a clown. If he started the right personnel and beat Mali, you won't need to be writing this rubbish to defend him...

You are judging a coach based on a friendly. Finidi didn't even select the players. You are a clown just like the NFF. They will hire another journey man failed mercenary coach. White man will not save Nigeria.

Mumu.. did Finidi not select the starting line-up? I've never seen this sort of self sabotage before

[tolahs]

Ifeanyi Matthew
Ibrahim Olawoyin
Nwakali

These guys must be called up now, thank God we've seen how good Onyedika is...Iwobi seriously needs HELP, we never got to see Dele-Bashiru...friendly was somewhat a waste of time tbh, Finidi surely isn't getting the Eagles job, nice guy but definitely not the man for the job.

Regardless of who coaches this team, we're seriously lacking in quality players. I'll like to know how many of our guys play in the top 10 teams in leagues like -Serie A, La Liga,Bundesliga & the EPL; The skills deficit is tough to hide. Goodluck to 9ja sha!!!

[Lolly]

This is one of my major issues with local coaches. What was the point of playing senior fringe players throughout a friendly game without giving promising newcomers a chance to showcase their abilities? What point was coach Finidi trying to prove??

It's not a local coach thing. You are either a good coach with tactical knowhow or you are not. I hope we are wrong but Finidi really messed up today. His starting formation was a shocker and that set the tone for what was to become one of our worst displays in years. It's not even the result, we just looked toothless and amateurish going forward.

[icee]

I have always said: Hire the best coach that Nigeria can afford vs. Local coach. If the best coach that Nigeria can afford is local, then i'm happy. That said, this is on Finidi not on local coaches. If we look objectively at Finidi's resume as a coach, nothing screams "impact". I do not know what impact he has had at Enyimba. Years ago, Enyimba competed at the CAF level. The reason Finidi was brought in is to take us back to the days ENyimba was strong on the continent. I did not see impact. For that reason, I had my suspicions. Today, the score line is not the most important, I was trying to assess the changes he will make, how he responds. - didn't see it. We went from a team that plays from the wings and whips in crosses at Afcon, creating chances to very few chances created. The dearth of chances for me is the MAJOR indicator not the score line.

[Lolly]

Finidi, why? This is painful. Did he intentionally rule himself out? There can't be any other reason for not making any attempt to change things with subs. Why? This is just too painful. I hope they won't bring back Salisu to come and coach against SA?

[Schillachi]

Finidi, why? This is painful. Did he intentionally rule himself out? There can't be any other reason for not making any attempt to change things with subs. Why? This is just too painful. I hope they won't bring back Salisu to come and coach against SA?

Honestly, this thing pain me no be small. Foolish clown. NFF should do whatever they want to do. At this point, I'm supporting the South African guy..

[Dammy]

It was painful and Mali really wanted it win the game. The SE scalp is a big one, friendly or not and Mali started wasting time from around the 55th minute! Their goalkeeper even received a yellow card for time wasting

[Dammy]

What was the point of inviting Sadiq if he was not going to play?
The exclusion of Moffi is baffling

[Lolly]

What was the point of inviting Sadiq if he was not going to play?
The exclusion of Moffi is baffling

Too many strange decisions.

Why did he start with such a defensive formation? He didn't need to use the Peseinro template. This was a friendly, not a must not lose game. I just tire.

[ohenhen1]

It is a good game for Nigeria despite the score line. Some players were tested. The coach now has to ring in the changes. I hope we are healthy. Need Osimhen and Boniface back in the team.

It was a piss poor game.

I disagree it is a good game for a friendly. Friendlies are designed to test players. Winning is not the priority. You should judge a coach when they play competitive matches.

Nothing gained from this game. An underwhelming, rudderless performance. I struggled to stay awake

I learned a lot from the game.
1. Nigeria lack defensive depth.
2. Ndidi is no longer strictly a DM. Needs to be paired with a traditional DM. Allow Ndidi to be a box to box midfielder. Iwobi plays too deep.
3. Dessers is not better than Moffi.
4. We need to work on transitioning from defense to offense.
5. The team can pass the ball when they stick to it.
6. Finidi is a good coach.