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Showing posts from 2014

Tactics is Key!

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Finally the Word Cup has started, a breathe of relief for us all. Loads of goals, yellow cards,  a lot of fouls, a few surprises from different teams and I bet it - we have not seen anything yet, time will unveil everything to us. This  goes to confirm the good old popular saying that football is not mathematics. I will be looking at an area which has always been a topic of discussion among African football fans and journalists.  The issue of local coaches versus the foreign expatriates or to put it in the popular African term " Technical Adviser ". I am not opening up a debate of who is better than the other -  after all Yeo Martial of Ivory Coast won the 1992 edition of the African Cup of Nations hosted by Senegal against foreign coaches and Stephen Keshi of Nigeria did the same over a year ago in South African.  The issue of success is not in question; but that our African coaches do not pay attention to some details that matter when preparing for games. When preparin

The Super Eagles So Far.....

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The final list to Brazil is now out so we are all aware of  the players that are representing us in this years' World Cup . Never have there been so much anxiety with regards to the release of the final cut. Quite a number of journalists kept vigils in other to get the breaking news. Before the official release, there have been different versions flying around the various social media outlets. I can tell there was a list with my name on it as well (Joke).  Within the last few days, a particular person who I follow on twitter gave clues at different times of those likely to make the final list. Amidst all the doubt and suspense, the person proved too right when the list eventually came out. The final squad was announced after the training session, as stated by the chief coach Stephen Keshi, it was a tough call to come up with the final shortlist. However, making hard decisions come with the role Stephen Keshi has been entrusted with. Stephen Keshi pointing toward Braz

Super Eagles Provisional List For The World Cup - Part 2

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Hello everyone, I believe we are all rearing to go now. Believe it or not the World Cup is getting closer, it seems just like yesterday when Spain created history 4 years ago. That is why we have to do or carry out our personal plans within a reasonable time frame. A verse I like in the bible clearly illustrates this and I quote "Teach us to number our days".  Anyway back to the real issue, every team's list have been submitted to meet FIFA's deadline of the 16th of May 2014 .This week, I will continue with the breakdown of the Nigerian National Provisional Team List. Last week we looked at the Goalkeepers and Defenders. We will look at the Midfield Department now. John Mikel Obi (Chelsea)England The most high profiled  Nigerian player in the entire squad. He has always  been in the limelight since his controversial move to Chelsea. A very good central midfield, with good vision and crisp passes. Mikel has endured a torrid time among the Nigerian football fa

Super Eagles Provisional List for the World Cup - Part 1

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Hello everyone,I have not posted for while but I am back now with a bang. After the twist and turn witnessed in the tops leagues in Europe, attention would now shift  turned to World Cup,which is one of the biggest Sporting event in the World.All the national teams are expected to submit there provisional list by the 16th of May,2014 - some teams have already put their provisional list forward - the 2 other teams in Nigeria's group have put their provisional list together i.e Iran and Bosnia & Herzegovina.  In fact Brazil has made the boldest move by name their 23 squad to the World Cup which they will be host in less than a month time.But back to what concern me and majority of Nigerians, the Super Eagles Manager Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has named 30 provisional squad which would be trimmed down to the final 23 to be submitted to FIFA by 2nd of June 2014. As usual, there were several deliberations between Keshi's  technical crew and the Technical Committee of the Nigeria