Felix (Jos,Nigeria) - Tuesday February 09 2010 - 12:42

@Riley(Jhb)
I think a mongrel best describes you. Concern yourself with either Brazilian or American football. Did you take note of the recent FIFA rankings? Nigeria progressed upwards as a result of her 3rd place in the AFCON. Brazil is not at the top as she mostly was,should they hang themselves simply because they are not playing that well nowadays. Just mind your bussiness. Next time please let us know who you really are,mr half Brazilian and half American. You may impress some people by your declared concoction. We in Nigeria are least impressed.

Riley (JHB) - Tuesday February 02 2010 - 19:02

@ Bayo and Chimpanzee, whatever you names are. Both of you with your low IQs cannot even focus on a simple game of football and are busy trying to deflect how poor your team is by making this conversation about me. It just goes to show how low both your self esteems are and how pathetic your team is that instead of discussing your football team which is supposed to be the topic, you want to talk about me.

ikenna (dakar) - Tuesday February 02 2010 - 17:31

SHEHATA: I’M READY FOR EAGLES JOB, BUT…Pharaohs Coach Confirms Offer, Seeks Release From Egypt FA For Nigeria Assignment,Nigeria have offered Hassan Shehata the chance to lead the Super Eagles at this year’s World Cup, the Egypt coach said after guiding the Pharaohs to an unprecedented third consecutive Nations Cup title.

ik (dakar) - Tuesday February 02 2010 - 17:28

SHEHATA: I’M READY FOR EAGLES JOB, BUT…Pharaohs Coach Confirms Offer, Seeks Release From Egypt FA For Nigeria Assignment, Nigeria have offered Hassan Shehata the chance to lead the Super Eagles at this year’s World Cup, the Egypt coach said after guiding the Pharaohs to an unprecedented third consecutive Nations Cup title.

ik (senegal) - Tuesday February 02 2010 - 14:04

Ever since the Super Eagles lost to Ghana on Thursday, there have been series of allegations here that the players worked against the interest of their fatherland by 'messing' themselves with Angolan girls, even under the nose of their coaches and top FA officials, who were in the same camp with them.

"This is not a hidden matter. Right from Benguela to Lubango, this problem had been on ground. It got to a stage when the NFF had to summon some of the players to find out why they (players) decided to pay for different rooms for their PAs (Personal Assistants) in the same hotel we are staying. But rather than stop or look for another means of relating with their PAs outside the hotel camp, the players continued in their ways and the prize is what we have paid," an official of the team told The Guardian yesterday.

According to the official, majority of the players used their PAs as cover to commit evil in the camp. He said: "What these boys normally do is to hire a separate room for their PAs and use the rooms as meeting point with women. The PAs or brothers of these players will organize women in the room and phone them to come over. One of the players was seen with two women in his room last night. Is that a normal thing to do at a time when millions of Nigerians back home are lamenting over our defeat by Ghana?

"I agree the players are adults, but for God's sake, they should know that things of that nature have its psychological effect on teams, especially when we are out for an assignment. I won't say all the players are involved, but a greater number of them are guilty.

"What baffles me is the fact even the NFF President (Sani Lulu) and all the coaches are aware of this mess and they kept quit. The Chief Security Officer of the team (ASP) Gideon Akinsola is only busy driving innocent Nigerians away from speaking with the players or having photographs with them. Now we have crashed out and everybody is feeling so sad. The players should bury their heads in shame," the official stated.

Signs that the Eagles were not their usual selves started manifesting in their first match against the Pharaohs of Egypt in Benguela, when the Nigerians managed to hold the Egyptians for only 30 minutes and thereafter, struggled in the remaining part of the game, squandering a 1-0 lead to crash 1-3.

The Eagles went on to struggle in other three matches played against Benin, Mozambique and Zambia, before crashing 0-1 to Ghana in the semifinal on Thursday at the November 11 Stadium in Luanda.

Apart from the players, some people are of the view that officials of the NFF and the coaching crew of the Super Eagles should be blamed for the team's poor performance in the Nations Cup.

To such people, the Lulu-led board of the NFF failed in its primary responsibility of good team coordination. "Before we crucify the players, we must ask ourselves some fundamental questions, especially the leadership quality of Sani Lulu and his board members.

"It is not just enough to take a team out for a competition, pay the players allowances and pocket estacodes. The likes of Lulu, Ogunjobi, James Peters and others stayed in the same hotel with the players from Benguela to Lubango and Luanda, yet the players could not be called to order.

"Where on earth do you see players being allowed to take their Personal Assistants to team's camp, not to talk of paying for different rooms for them? In an ideal situation, Coach Amodu and the entire FA members should be made to pay for their improper coordination of the team in this competition," the official stated.

Malisa (Lilongwe) - Tuesday February 02 2010 - 12:09

Indeed you need to make some changes, but what kills you is the type of soccer you play. For a long time, you give false hopes to your soccerfans on the outcome of games. You play individual, slow, and flowerly soccer type only to be pulled by your opponents soccer during games. U used to be a heavyweight but those who are coming in are not sustaining the status. Look, you have a big country, rich of talent but you cant assemble the likes of Okocha, Babangida, Sunday Olisey, Udese. You must have a problem in selecting players to national team or else the catchment area is too big for the selectors. Though Kanu is old but he played better than the new guys in the team. I can recall he provided green passes to strikers during the Algeria game but you had no strikers to connect on time. By the way, where is Utaka, Julius. Spare me Odemwinge the guy is good enough for the World Cup Team. Should you reshuffle, dont leave out Kanu. World Cup is completely different from Afcon, due to many factors including refs, cultures, experience, and logics. You will be surprised to see Ivory coast doing more than you saw in Angola. Combine experience with new talent.

Alexander Makwangwala (Lilongwe, Malawi) - Tuesday February 02 2010 - 11:35

players like Kanu must not be forced to retire. Did you watch the third place game. Do you know that Kanu played a very big role in containing Algerians. When subsitituted it was clear that Kanu was indeed in control of the midfield. You must blame those who were losing balls and missing chances unnecessarily. You still need Kanu, blend experience with new talent you will make it. Your coach is seeing something still important in Kanu. Unless you know soccer and coaching you must shut up on Kanu.

Bayo (Lagos) - Monday February 01 2010 - 22:20

There is one guy
His name is Riley
He is Brazilian
No He is half American
He is Brazilian-American
Just like the bat of old
Neither a bird or a rat.
Like I said earlier mind your own business. The article is about Nigeria not Zambia, Brazil, USA or your hapless Banana Banana. Bugger off you Brazilian/American wanabe.

toni iheanacho (jos) - Monday February 01 2010 - 18:52

I agree with you in to-to that the present team of the super eagles needs be totally overhauled for better result. Some tired players like Kanu Nwankwo should quite sincerely be left off the team.

Again, if Amodu or who ever will be in charge of the team should be man enough to instill discipline into the team. Not discipline off the field of play but discipline inside the field of play.

For instance, the offence that caused one of players a red card you will agree with me was uncalled for.

This is my first time of seeing negetive football. A situation where super eagles player were delighted in passing their ball back wards and were never interested in making efforts to shoot on target. Knowing fully well that in football, if you do not sattempt shoot at your oponent's goal post, you will never score a goal.

There are a lot of comments to be made about this spineless super eagles, but let me stop here.

I am just not happy at all with their performance. Immagine Ghana beating us again and again. What a shame to all team members and their coach.

Chimezie (Lagos) - Monday February 01 2010 - 18:26

This @Riley (Gauteng) does not deserve the attention you guys are giving him. We are not even sure of his composition. He doesn't care about S/A where he lives, he is not Zambian but is concerned, he claims Brazil and America. Can't you all see that the man is confused?????? ###%@###?????? dumb and clueless.

Every meaningful people desirous of progress critic themselves, identify the challenge and plan to improve for tomorrow. Thats what Nigerians do when the hit their team and do not cover it unnecessarily. Anyway please lets no waste time suffering fools who have no bearing or nomenclature.

Riley (JHB) - Monday February 01 2010 - 14:51

@ Felix (Jos,Njgeria)

you really are a twat. only a loser takes comfort in finishing in a position no one fighting for top spot cares about. A loser like you is busy trying to find solace in not being number one. I don't blame you, you are probably just a mediocre at best and failure at worst in person.

Tiago Marques (LUANDa) - Monday February 01 2010 - 11:46

hello ma africans, wazap.
gyus i just we all to think what happende with togo is coincidence, or just accident. now i dont now the answer, but i went back on my mind, and remember that the only one terrorist Angola had (jonas savimbe), used to be supporter of the togolese government, and the togolese gorvernment used to support savimbe as well. many of the big guys of the so feared UNITA studied, and lived in Togo. the president of togo was Jonas savimbe personal friend. now why the togo president was friend of a terrorist like savime, why he allowed the staf of savimbe to live in togo. were they partners.
any way we in Angola condened the attack, and are very sorry for those who died, and whoever attacked should try to solve his personal essue not by using weapons.
the tornment finished, some are happy, some not, some are trying to blame the referee, some are blaming Angola(if violence only happen in Angola), but at the end at least Angola and Egipt are celebrating, they won the trophy we won some more infrastruture.
OLA ANGOLA

Felix (Jos,Njgeria) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 23:08

@Riley(Jhb)
you surely are very naive or just pure dumb. Ask Caf the grading of the teams in the just concluded tournament and will be better educated. 16 countries went to Angola to win laurels. They ended up Egypt1, Ghana2,Nigeria3. These are the quantifiable parameters,period. Of course you are entitled to your ideosyncracies that are not quantifiable. Did i hear well, that you are a cross breed, or are like a bat, not quite a bird nor mammal as was initially thought in the olden days?. Your not being South African nor Zambian is irrelevant.

opc (Portugal) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 23:04

@Riley (Gauteng) , what a hell is your problem with Nigerians criticising their team? I could see in you some elements of inferiority complex. Man, leave eagles alone. Yes they are average and no one is disputing that. But that has nothing to do with your team that could not qualify for AFCON. Unleash your anger elsewhere. Where are you above average teams?

opc (Portugal) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 22:56

@kobby (GH), you mean local Ghana players are not professionals? If they are not, what are they? I refuse to believe that players based at home are inferior or cannot be called professionals just because they are not playing in Europe. The Egyptian team that has dominated African soccer, how many of them play in Europe? Do you now say they are not professionals? For all I care, players should be treated the same whether they play in Heaven or in Hell! The problem with Nigerian team is lack of technical input from the bench and that of formidable game plan. Moreso, the coach has never impressed me, he is as good as my ass. We need the likes of Samson Siasia to coach eagles, and wait and see what becomes of Nigerian soccer!

ikenna (Dakar) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 22:47

I think Ghanaians should accept defeat if they cant win this Egypt who is not complete then they do not merit the cup, i know they will blame the referee, a bad work man always complain, Nigeria played well against Ghana and loose, today Ghana played well and loose that is football, just as Nigeria cry when they loose the same thing come to Ghana, if you can play well and do not score then you are not the best, and so the best win, Angola AFCON 2010 is good, without event their will be no history, long live Africa, long live Nigeria, long live Angola, congratulation to Egypt.

Tiago Marques (Luanda-Angola) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 21:45

ANGOLA IS, FOR ITS OWN WILL, THE FIRM TRENCH FOR THE REVOLUTION IN AFRICA.
LA PATRIA O LA MUERTE(mother land or death).
AVANTE(forwaqrd, keep figthing)

Agostinho Neto, first Angolan president

Tiago Gustavo de Assunção (luanda) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 20:55

Hello guys,
if you say good or bad things about Angola, it just mean you are thinking about us,it just means we exist.
thank you for staying with us, for having us at your tv, at your mind, at your attention.
we all believe the Equatorial Ginne will do much better(they have to, after all they have a lot of experience for all past competion in the different countries).

Okey (Lagos) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 19:13

My bro Collins, please we should be wary of all this funny white coaches seeking for quick ways to the top.I cannot imagine that Zambian coach nursing the idea of coaching Nigeria.He should be told in clear terms that he does not measure up.Same as the Angolan guy.Lets strenghten the technical crew with Keshi or Siasia abeg.Those guys should be told to come in and coach one of our clubsides at least thier current wages will be matched.

Okey (Lagos) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 19:05

@Riley (JHB)
Your being half Brazilian and Amercan has obviously not helped you cos you really dont understand football.We are not in Zambia's class and will always win them.It is your sports stations and commentators that give you guys false hope.I am yet to see any southern african team that can win Nigeria even when we are playing at 30% of capacity.

9jagunner (PH, Nigeria) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 18:00

Nobody goes for a major tournament without a creative midfielder......except Amodu. Your 4-3-3 was a virtual one. In reality, it was a 4-3-2-1. We played with 3 defensive midfielders, 2 wingers and 1 point man. Please do not expect goals from around the park when you go that way. Osaze was honest enough to comment after the game that what they played was a defensive 4-5-1. Nigerians are the only ones still claiming that Mikel is a creative midfielder, I don't think he still has any creativity after being properly tutored in the defensive role by Mourinho. Unfortunately for Mikel, we still have better DM players in Ayinla and Keita, and he should be a back up for those two until he ups his game.
Kanu is a support striker. He's never had enough energy for th creative midfield role. Having said that, I would like to submit that he was our best option for the role. Such is the mess that Amodu put us in.
We have the 2nd and 3rd/4th best teams in Africa, and were totally outplayed by an Egyptian team built from teams that our boys dispatched in the Champion's league. Who are the creative midfielders for Kano Pillars and Heartland? Where is Rabiu Ibrahim and whoever played that role in beijing 2008?
We used 19 of the 20 outfield players we had in our run to the Semis and produced average football at best. Our problem started long before our plane touched down in Angola. hard decisions need to be taken, Stars need to be dropped, but I fear Amodu does not have the "Liver" (as we say in Naija) required for that task

PENSHD IBIMINJI DAREGO (PORTHARCOURT/NIGERIA) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 17:33

Dear Collins, I deeply share yours'. However I strongly disagree on the 4-3-3 formation adopted for the Ghana match. Before the match I had blogged CA 2 days earlier and you please check with him and predicted Nigeria would win 2 nil.But this was based on the fact that I suggested that the team should start with 2 top and 2 support strikers.please read it up at CA's blog. Look it is simply for all who have an idea about football to see,the Ghana team are not skillful and compensate this by a defensive play.All their matches have taken this shape.I as coach of the Ghana team would do same.Know your weakness, you adopt formation that would not expose it.If the Nigerian Team had had 4 strikers from start,the Ghana bench would have told virtually all to sit back to contain the rampaging Eagles.Big worry for them

4-3-3 is good for highly mobile teams that have attackers track back for defensive roles.Depending on our opponents we can adopt the 4-4-2 or the 4-3-2-1. the 4-3-3 sits well on skillful teams,highly mobile and good ball jugglers. The key would have been to adopt the style of westerhof. Overwhelm them from the wings

I had complained about the off the ball runs of the team earlier. well all that is in the past.Let Amodu remain but let him work his ass off immediately after the AFCON to get a team.I am not saying eagles will win the WC but we shall be at least pleased they played well.

Keep shooting. Collins., do you know who we need the most right now?Samuel Okwaraji.He will solve all the problems.Mikel is too selfish for this role. he flashes good play once in awhile but in the main,he is a poor distributor of the ball.He holds the ball for too long.

See u

iceQueen (Ancona,Italy) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 16:41

Hi Guys,

Did anybody notice something missing from the CAN in Angola?

Where is that Egyptian fan (a New York city taxi driver,I understand), who wears a red Fez hat and plays the BANJO. He has been a permanent fixture at the CAN, even the world cup since...FOREVER.

Nobody has said anything about him missing from this year's CAN. Has he become one of the casualties of the world wide economic recession? If so CAF and FIFA need to help him get to South Africa. The CAN or WC is incomplete without him.

He is a LEGEND of African football and MUST not miss the so called AFRICAN World Cup!

Riley (JHB) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 15:44

@ Felix (Jos Nigeria)
I could care less about RSA as I am half Brasilian half, American. In any case it doesn't change the fact that Zambia was still by far the better side than Nigeria, but we don't hear Zambians crying like little babies on blogs. And by the way you said it yourself Nigeria finished third, which makes them losers not winners. Average players average squad.

iceQueen (Ancona) - Sunday January 31 2010 - 15:39

Hello Collin,

CHANGES…that is precisely what the ANC offers to African teams on a WC year…

You get to see where changes need to be made and some of these changes end up fooling their WC opponents who must have taken notes watching them at the ANC...

I do agree that it's time to change things in the Super Eagles in terms of the playing personnel. Amodu did it in 2001 when he introduced Eric Ejiofor,Justice Christopher, Ishola Shuaibu, Austin Ejide, Duke Udi etc and the regulars stepped up. He also made Yobo and Yakubu who were on the fringes more permanent fixtures. It's a shame he wasn't given the chance to try things out in Japan. I am sure he can do the same again this year.

I however disagree on the issue of playing formation. I know tactics is not just about formation, but how you set your team up determines how they respond. Nigerian players respond better when they are set-up with wide midfield players and a support striker playing close to the main striker.

Amodu has been a 4-3-3 man, which worked wonders for him in the league and during his second tenure as SE coach, but I don't think the current playing staff in the SE is suited for that kind of formation. When you play 4-3-3, you must be ready to run and run and put pressure on the ball. Can you imagine the SE doing that in the tropical African Sun and not tire out before the end of the game?

Again when you play that formation, you do not need to have defensive or attacking midfielders, but just plain box-to-box, all round midfielders. Bar Femi Ajilore, no Eagle can be described as box-to-box at the moment. Lukman is not mature enough in my opinion to play for the Eagles.

Every team on earth has a tradition, ours is to be given the freedom the space to play. South Americans for example like the ball played to their feet, as they run triangles around you, but Nigerian player grow up learning to play the ball into space for wingers or forwards to give chase, using their strength, skill and speed. But once we have three guys running into each other in the middle, there will be very little room for that to happen. As a result the two wide forwards end up falling too deep in order to receive the ball. Henry and Messi do not play as deep as Osaze and Obinna or IK Uche play in the Eagles.

We all saw how the SE responded once they changed formation at the CAN. I think it's time for a switch and hopefully changes in personnel will unearth players who are capable of playing the "Nigerian way".