Football
Physicality Could Be Key As Nigeria Look To Make Impact In Russia
It may have only been a friendly game but Nigeria’s 4-2 win over Argentina on November 15 gave us a clue as to the way the team may approach next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia. With the Super Eagles keen to give a good account of themselves at FIFA’s showpiece event, there is one key area where they could enjoy an advantage over some of their more illustrious rivals.
Let’s get physical
Following the game at the Krasnodar Stadium, their strength was identified by Argentine defender Javier Mascherano, who declared: “They are a very strong team and were physically superior.” The Barcelona man was one of the players picked out for a poor display, which saw the South Americans throw away a two-goal lead. The defeat even prompted former Albiceleste Coach Diego Maradona to express his desire to return to the helm.
But it wasn’t just Mascherano who felt the force of the Nigerian physicality, Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria also admitted: ”We were physically overpowered by a very strong opponent.”Of course, the absence of Lionel Messi and the half-time withdrawal of Sergio Aguero will not have helped the Argentinean’s cause but they still would have expected to prevail given the overall strength of the respective squads.
Reversal of fortune
While the game raised some serious question marks for Argentina, who will be hoping to emulate their achievements of 2014 when they went all the way to the final only to be defeated by Germany, it also offered a glimmer of hope for the African nation who are currently 150/1 with to lift the trophy with most bookmakers.
Nigeria were beaten 1-0 by Argentina when the teams met in the opening group stage match of the 2010 tournament in South Africa. That defeat was the catalyst for a disastrous campaign which saw Lars Lagerback’s men pick up just a single point. They also lost to Argentina (2-3) in the group stages of the 2014 tournament but still progressed to the knockout phase where they eventually fell 2-0 to France.
In 2011, the Africans recorded their first ever win against the team in blue and white, romping to a 4-1 friendly win in Abuja. That was followed just three months later by a 3-1 defeat in a non-competitive match in Dhaka.
With two wins in the last four meetings between the two, there are positive signs for Gernat Rohr’s men. However, they won’t be satisfied until they can translate those performances to the elite competitive arena.
A game of two halves
Whether the German Coach will stick with the more physical approach in Russia remains to be seen. He sent his players out in a 3-5-2 formation in the first half against Argentina but was able to switch the system when it was clear it was not working. This flexible approach paid off in the second half with the Super Eagles dominating proceedings.
Being able to chop and change systems might be useful but, against elite opposition, Nigeria could come unstuck if they try to go toe-to-toe. This is where the physical aspect of their play could be key. Of course, much will depend on who they are drawn against in their group next summer but their strength on the ball, in aerial duels, and in set pieces could help them to frustrate their rivals.
Captain Jon Obi Mikel is once again expected to be the driving force of the team. The Tianjin TEDA midfielder recently revealed what really happened 10 years ago when he apparently signed for both Chelsea and Manchester United, prompting a year-long legal dispute. Of course, that saga highlighted the role that agents play in such dealings, as covered by Betway Insider in this interview with former super-agent Jon Smith.
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| IMAGE SOURCE: Alex Iwobi via Twitter |
Player to watch
Of course, Nigeria are not all about strength. Their squad contains several players who can offer the kind of flair and skill that can change a game. Of those, Alex Iwobi will perhaps be the one to watch in 2018. Still aged just 21, the Arsenal man has already made 14 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring four goals in the process. When fit, he is now a regular in Gunners’ starting XI, with 68 appearances notched up in all competitions since 2015. In fact, it was Iwobi’s goal that booked his country’s place in next year’s tournament.
That goal meant that the Super Eagles could field an experimental line-up in their final qualification match against Algeria. A game that also saw them don their new 2018 World Cup kit manufactured by Nike for the very first time. Iwobi played 81 minutes of that game as the teams played out a 1-1 draw.
Sourced From: SoccerNet NG: Football News and Articles
The 26-year-old becomes only the second player to score 30 league goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season and the first Nigerian to reach that mark after he scored in Genk’s 3-2 win at Antwerp
Paul Onuachu continues to break new grounds in what has been a remarkable season after he scored his 30th league goal to help Genk to a 3-2 win over Royal Antwerp in the opening game of the Jupiler League Championship playoff round.
After coronavirus ended the Belgian top-flight abruptly last season, the championship round resumed again this season, with Antwerp playing host to Genk.
Theo Bongonda put Genk ahead in the 20th minute following a ball from Junya Ito, but goals from Maxime Le Marchand and Koji Miyoshi in the space of four minutes turned the tie around for Antwerp.
However, Onuachu restored parity for The Smurfs in the 71st minute for his 30th league goal of the season. By reaching this milestone, the former Midtjylland striker becomes the first Nigerian to reach 30 league goals in a single season in Europe.
Also, he is just the second player after Robert Lewandowski to score 30 or more goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season.
But the Nigerian international is still 11 short of the record for most goals in a single Belgian top-flight season, set by Arthur Ceuleers and Jules Van Craen in the 1942-1943 season.
Nonetheless, Onuachu is well on course to become the third Nigerian player to finish as the top scorer in the Belgian top-flight after Tosin Dosunmu and Joseph Akpala.
Meanwhile, Bongonda, who provided the assist for Onuachu’s goal, combined once again with Ito to fire home the winner for Genk two minutes from time.
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The Super Falcons star was the hero in the first leg, and was again brilliant in the return leg, even though La Blaugranes lost
Asisat Oshoala was once again on target, but Barcelona lost 2-1 in the return leg of their Uefa Women’s Champions League quarterfinal clash.
However, Barcelona still progressed to the semifinals 4-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-0 in Rome.
Oshoala was the hero in the first leg, scoring once and winning a penalty. The Nigerian international picked up from where she left off as she scored Barcelona’s equaliser in the 59th minute after Janine Beckie had given City the lead.
The former Liverpool star finished off a cut back from Mariona Caldentey to draw Lluis Cortes ladies level. The 26-year-old now has 13 goals for Barcelona this season, including four in the champions league.
Although Samantha Mewis restored City’s lead from the penalty spot, it was the Spanish champions that progressed 4-2 on aggregate.
Barcelona will now face either Lyon or Paris in the semifinals next month.
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The former Enyimba striker got the crucial opener in the first half for the Promise Keepers in their NPFL clash with southern rivals Rivers United
Akwa United secured a commanding 3-0 victory over high-flying Rivers United thanks to goals from Nigerian international Mfon Udoh, Charles Atshimene, and Morice Chukwu.
The visitors, still smarting from their CAF Confederations Cup aggregate loss to Enyimba last week, were the more enterprising team in the opening stages of the encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
But the tide changed in favour of the home side when 2014 Nigeria Premier League top scorer Udoh found the back of the net five minutes before the break.
And Kennedy Boboye’s men bagged all the three points at stake with second-half goals from Atshimene and Chukwu.
Afonja Warriors Back At The Top
It was a comfortable afternoon for Kwara United as the Afonja Warriors defeated Warri Wolves 2-0 to return to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League table.
With league leaders Kano Pillars losing 3-2 in a thrilling clash at Dakkada earlier in the day, Kwara United knew any manner of win would be enough to take them back to the prime position.
And a brilliant victory they carved out thanks to a goal in each half from Jude Steven and Michael Ohanu.
NPFL Results
Dakkada 3 – 2 Kano Pillars
Akwa United 3 – 0 Rivers United
Jigawa Golden Stars 0 – 0 Enyimba
Ifeanyi Uba 0 – 0 Plateau United
Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Katsina United
Sunshine Stars 0 – 0 Adamawa United
Enugu Rangers 2 – 0 Heartland
Kwara United 2 – 0 Warri Wolves
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The on-loan Club Brugge striker got his Germany adventure to a bright start as he led his new club to a convincing home victory on Sunday
Super Eagles attacker Emmanuel Dennis began a new chapter in his career on a promising note as he helped Cologne to a delightful 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld in a game-week 19 Bundesliga clash at the RheinEnergie Stadion.
Cologne boss Markus Gisdol handed the Nigerian forward his first start, just days after moving in from Belgium, and the tactician was rewarded with a fine attacking display that has become a rare sight in the Billy Goats’ games this term.
A Marius Wolfe double in the opening half-hour and an Elvis Rexhbecaj effort shortly after the hour mark was all Cologne needed to secure all the three points at stake.
It was the first time the Billy Goats would score three times in the Bundesliga this term.
Dennis was replaced in the 82nd minute by Jan Thielmann, ten minutes after Cordova got the visitors’ consolation goal.
The 23-year-old will hope his performances in the coming days impress his German bosses before the expiration of his loan spell later in June.
In Spain, Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala was back to her deadly best as she found her target twice to inspire Barcelona to an exciting 4-1 home victory over ten-woman Real Madrid.
The visitors had goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez sent off in the 72nd minute, by which time Oshoala and co. had done all the damage inside the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
Oshoala ensured Barcelona went into the break with a three-goal lead, profiting off a Christine Hansen pass in the 37th minute after Alexia Putella and Jenni Hermoso had scored for the hosts.
The reigning African Women Player of the Year then added a fourth goal – her 13th strike of another prolific league campaign – in the 70th minute.
Rodriguez then received her marching orders shortly after before Olga Carmona struck from the penalty spot to give Real Madrid something to cheer about on a sad day.
Oshoala is now two goals short of catching up with the league top scorer, Levante’s Esther Gonzalez.
Sourced From: Soccernet.ng
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