African Football Discussion Thread {Male & Female} Current Topic: 👉 WAFCON

[Donneski]

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Erick Chelle has drawn his player list and a notable absentee is Kelechi Iheanacho. I think it’s reasonable as his form has dipped and he has struggled for playing time.

I think it is very important for the new coach to select players that are based on merits and not based on name or old glory because the games that are upcoming are very important games and games that we cannot afford to lose. If Victor Osimhen is not fit for the game, the coach should drop him. It should be essential for the new coach to build a team that can function with or without any particular player.

Talking about players, I wish that New Manchester United player Dorgu was playing for Nigeria instead of the Danish national team.

Omitting Kelechi Iheanacho from the Super Eagles list for the upcoming games I don't think was a bad decision by the new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. The Imo State born attacker have struggled to shine this season both for clubs and country and considering the fact that the Super Eagles needs to win the two FIFA World Cup qualifying games in March, players that should be called up have to merit their place so it's a good call.

[letteredhub]

Omitting Kelechi Iheanacho from the Super Eagles list for the upcoming games I don't think was a bad decision by the new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. The Imo State born attacker have struggled to shine this season both for clubs and country and considering the fact that the Super Eagles needs to win the two FIFA World Cup qualifying games in March, players that should be called up have to merit their place so it's a good call.

Whatever the outcome we get at the end of the day we'll have Eric Chelle responsible for it, it's makes it imperative that the coach makes every necessary decision he believes could give him the results we want. And it's true, Iheanacho hasn't really made some attractive performances this season in all competitions so I don't see why dropping him for some player that could beat fit in the position is raising much dust from some fans.  We just have to win two crucial game to qualify for the WC and for that certain hard decisions needs to taken. All what we want is that Nigeria qualifies.

[SatoPrincess]

Mo Salah winning the AFCON with his premier league performance and also a wonderful champions league performance should give him an edge for the ballon d'or assuming others don't have a wonderful season.

If we don't start pushing Mo Salah's name more for the Ballon d'Or, the media will not mind pushing another Liverpool candidate for the award. Gakpo and Diaz could come up.

Cody Gakpo and Diaz have been important players for Liverpool this season but in terms of comparison you cannot compare the impact and contribution of Mo salah to Gakpo and Diaz. Salah has been outstanding and holds some margin gap from Gakpo and Diaz. If Liverpool win the league and champions league then I expect to see him as a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.

[Princess Leah]

Mo Salah winning the AFCON with his premier league performance and also a wonderful champions league performance should give him an edge for the ballon d'or assuming others don't have a wonderful season.

If we don't start pushing Mo Salah's name more for the Ballon d'Or, the media will not mind pushing another Liverpool candidate for the award. Gakpo and Diaz could come up.

Cody Gakpo and Diaz have been important players for Liverpool this season but in terms of comparison you cannot compare the impact and contribution of Mo salah to Gakpo and Diaz. Salah has been outstanding and holds some margin gap from Gakpo and Diaz. If Liverpool win the league and champions league then I expect to see him as a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.

Yeah that's true, I know Liverpool as a club's current performance is based on every team member's collective effort but that of Salah is outstanding and no other player comes close to him in the squad he's contributed a lot to Liverpool I guess that's why they didn't allow him leave last summer, despite the huge offer from the Saudi League, anyways they're going to understand and feel his impact if he probably leaves the club this summer.

 Let's watch out for what happens when Salah leaves, then we'll know whether Gakpo and Diaz can carry the weight of the squad like Salah does, if I were Arne Slot I'll persuade Salah to stay for one more season with an option to extend cause it would be quite tough replacing a player like Salah and if they don't find a Suitable player before he departs Liverpool, it could become a problem for them.

[Spaceman1000$]

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Erick Chelle has drawn his player list and a notable absentee is Kelechi Iheanacho. I think it’s reasonable as his form has dipped and he has struggled for playing time.

I think it is very important for the new coach to select players that are based on merits and not based on name or old glory because the games that are upcoming are very important games and games that we cannot afford to lose. If Victor Osimhen is not fit for the game, the coach should drop him. It should be essential for the new coach to build a team that can function with or without any particular player.

Talking about players, I wish that New Manchester United player Dorgu was playing for Nigeria instead of the Danish national team.

Omitting Kelechi Iheanacho from the Super Eagles list for the upcoming games I don't think was a bad decision by the new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. The Imo State born attacker have struggled to shine this season both for clubs and country and considering the fact that the Super Eagles needs to win the two FIFA World Cup qualifying games in March, players that should be called up have to merit their place so it's a good call.

Not calling kelechi iheanacho to camp in the up coming games of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers is a welcome development no doubt, but my problem is that, does the Super eagles have merited players?, we only have just few outstanding players who even struggle to make impact whenever they play for the national team. As it's stands now, whatever list Eric Chelle comes out with, I won't even blame him, Super Eagles just have a good number of average European base players which is what Eric Chelle is going to use.

[Coyster]

Super Eagles just have a good number of average European base players which is what Eric Chelle is going to use.

In comparison with most of the teams we face in the African continent, we have a very talented and quality squad, i an not saying other teams in Africa do not have talented players, many of which are playing in Europe, but Nigeria is right up there and head and shoulders above so many countries, the reason why our current position is shocking. Prolly if you compare us with world class countries in Europe and South America, then i can agree with you.

[Cossyblack]

Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher made a very annoying statement discrediting the AFCON as not a major tournament.

If the Euro's and Copa America are regarded as major tournaments, the AFCON should as well. The tournament has produced and featured world-class players that went on to become legends in the European clubs they played in. Not just Salah as an example, but we have the likes of Samuel Eto, Didier Drogba, Sadio Mane, JJ Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Osimhen, etc.

There's some truth in what he said but the way he said it that's what I have issues with. Him talking down on the AFCON was the problem for me but the truth is if we have a player that achieved the same thing an African player achieved but he wins the AFCON while the other player wins the Euros, the vote will always go for the player with the Euro because we African don't value our own tournaments.



You'll see players rejecting to represent their country because they want to stay fit for the games in Europe or you'll see them not give their best when it comes to AFCON but play out their blood in the premier league or other league. We first have to value our own before others give us our accolades. But though nothing is stopping Mo Salah from winning the Balon d'or if he wins the premier league, champions league even without doing well in the AFCON.

Jamie Carragher is a terrible pundit, his statements stem from a place of ignorance and indicates racial bias. I don’t listen to his football analysis anymore. How can the AFCON not be a major tournament but the rest of the world is suppose to accept that the Euros and Copa America is a huge tournament but when it comes to an African tournament, the story changes. To hell with Jamie Carragher and his explanations.

I am African, I was born in Africa and I live in Africa

We have to accept that African sports are not developing to the same level as European and Latin American sports because there is a lot of corruption. AFCON is not at the same level as EURO. Here in my country, I have never seen many people in bars watching AFCON games. They only watch my country's games and then leave.

But when there are Euro games, there are TVs everywhere in my country and lots of people are watching. Hotels and restaurants create special packages in which people pay and have VIP access to watch Euro games, with good food and wine. But they don't do that for AFCON.

Unfortunately, we have corrupt and incompetent leaders. While the Europeans, despite having some corruption, are competent, the Euro has good marketing, has high-quality national teams. All Euro games are good to watch. As an African, I can't watch the AFCON games because I fall asleep, I rarely watch the games of my country's national team. But in the past, when Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt had good national teams, I watched the AFCON games. Today, our national teams are a disaster in the World Cup.

Africa pattern of playing football is boring and sometimes not interesting to watch. No doubt Africas especially Nigeria has good and experience players playing in various clubs in Euro and other parts of the world,you will see them on form,scoring goals for their clubs but immediately they are invited to play for their home country,
Some of the players will not even honor the invitation and the ones that accepted to play for their home country will start playing football like inexperienced players, like amateurs and even to score become a problems.
I don't know why it's now a traditional that whenever our Nigeria players are invited to play for their country, they will start playing boring football.Most Nigerians prefer subscribing to European football, watching European matches that are interesting and fun than watching our boring Africa footballs.

[SatoPrincess]

The AFCON might not be as prestigious as the Euros or Copa America but It also hold high regard despite the challenges we face in the continent. I strongly believe and have faith in African Football, we are growing and getting better by the day and it can only happen when we begin to love and cherish our own and give out support fully to our continent’s football.

[Fiatless]

The AFCON might not be as prestigious as the Euros or Copa America but It also hold high regard despite the challenges we face in the continent. I strongly believe and have faith in African Football, we are growing and getting better by the day and it can only happen when we begin to love and cherish our own and give out support fully to our continent’s football.

We all believe that all African competitions will keep improving until it gets to Western standards. But it will take lots of commitment for the African Leagues, African Champions League and African Cup of Nations to keep increasing their standards. It will mean that CAF will purge itself of corruption, more sponsors are attracted and players and officials are well trained and paid. My suggestion is that the AFCON should be a four-year event rather than a two-year time frame. Having the competition after every four years might increase the value of the event.

[Coyster]

It will mean that CAF will purge itself of corruption,

Can we take a break from the whole "CAF is corrupt" and "NFF is corrupt" talk. It would surprise you to know that even FIFA has been accused of serious corruption, and isn't it evident in how they ship the world cup to the highest bidder. Countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia are not really footballing nations, but because of the unlimited funds they have, they win world cup bids and host the tournament, doesn't that tell us something.

[Justbillywitt]

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Erick Chelle has drawn his player list and a notable absentee is Kelechi Iheanacho. I think it’s reasonable as his form has dipped and he has struggled for playing time.

I think it is very important for the new coach to select players that are based on merits and not based on name or old glory because the games that are upcoming are very important games and games that we cannot afford to lose. If Victor Osimhen is not fit for the game, the coach should drop him. It should be essential for the new coach to build a team that can function with or without any particular player.

Talking about players, I wish that New Manchester United player Dorgu was playing for Nigeria instead of the Danish national team.

Don't you know that their are kind of players that your opponent will see in your team and they will be terrified. Victor Osimhen is a big name in African football and his hard work in the team cannot go unnoticed. Even if he's unfit at present when the coach is naming his squad, but they are confident that he will be fit before the match day, he should include him in the team. Do you think that Nigerian fans will be happy when they check the list and don't see the name of Victor Osimhen there. Knowing fully well that he will be fit before the first match or the second match. As a couch their are certain players you don't neglect, because they have have good connection with the fans. Even if you won't play him add his name there, so you will have the support of the fans. No coach will build any team in this present super eagles without Victor Osimhen. Maybe the coach don't want to last in that job.

[Docnaster]

It will mean that CAF will purge itself of corruption,

Can we take a break from the whole "CAF is corrupt" and "NFF is corrupt" talk. It would surprise you to know that even FIFA has been accused of serious corruption, and isn't it evident in how they ship the world cup to the highest bidder. Countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia are not really footballing nations, but because of the unlimited funds they have, they win world cup bids and host the tournament, doesn't that tell us something.

Your statement sounds like you support the corruption in football. The fact that you think FIFA as the world governing body is doing the same thing and getting away with it so CAF should also be exonerated if they decide to follow suit tells how want corrupt processes to continue to thrive in global football. That's not what we want at the moment which is why we should continue to kick against it. We want a footballing world were everything is won on merit and not by being the highest bidder so we don't end up losing the excitement in football to business and selfish men in administrative positions.

[Fiatless]

It will mean that CAF will purge itself of corruption,

Can we take a break from the whole "CAF is corrupt" and "NFF is corrupt" talk. It would surprise you to know that even FIFA has been accused of serious corruption, and isn't it evident in how they ship the world cup to the highest bidder. Countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia are not really footballing nations, but because of the unlimited funds they have, they win world cup bids and host the tournament, doesn't that tell us something.

If you know the level of corruption that is in CAF and NFF you will agree that we will keep shouting it until it becomes minimal. UEFA and FIFA are corrupt, but the officials will not divert funds allocated for the building of infrastructure or financing other key projects. Their financial scandals are usually associated with bribery. In Africa, an individual can pocket funds budgeted to finance the local league.

The reason why Qatar and Saudi Arabia are winning World Cup bids is that most football nations are not interested in hosting the competition. Many nations are trying to recover from the effects of COVID-19 and have funds to spend on a competition that will bring little financial gains. These Gulf nations are attention seeker who wants to buy global acceptance through hosting competitions.

[Rockstarguy]

I am African, I was born in Africa and I live in Africa

We have to accept that African sports are not developing to the same level as European and Latin American sports because there is a lot of corruption. AFCON is not at the same level as EURO. Here in my country, I have never seen many people in bars watching AFCON games. They only watch my country's games and then leave.

But when there are Euro games, there are TVs everywhere in my country and lots of people are watching. Hotels and restaurants create special packages in which people pay and have VIP access to watch Euro games, with good food and wine. But they don't do that for AFCON.

Africa can get to this level when they are ready to make the world know good football can come from Africa and when they are ready to invest seriously in football to the standard of what we have in Europe and other developed countries. If you watch AFCON games and other Africa games you would see is always boring and everything looks analog. Here in Africa we think football is all about just having players and coaches,  and when we get these it is enough.
We are lacking behind because we are not spending money in football and this why we are not enjoying our football.

[DiMarxist]

I am African, I was born in Africa and I live in Africa

We have to accept that African sports are not developing to the same level as European and Latin American sports because there is a lot of corruption. AFCON is not at the same level as EURO. Here in my country, I have never seen many people in bars watching AFCON games. They only watch my country's games and then leave.

But when there are Euro games, there are TVs everywhere in my country and lots of people are watching. Hotels and restaurants create special packages in which people pay and have VIP access to watch Euro games, with good food and wine. But they don't do that for AFCON.

Unfortunately, we have corrupt and incompetent leaders. While the Europeans, despite having some corruption, are competent, the Euro has good marketing, has high-quality national teams. All Euro games are good to watch. As an African, I can't watch the AFCON games because I fall asleep, I rarely watch the games of my country's national team. But in the past, when Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt had good national teams, I watched the AFCON games. Today, our national teams are a disaster in the World Cup.

Slow death  you are too much. When I read this your comment, I really like it. And African teams will not develop to the standard level. The leaders in Africa do no not like sports so they are not interested to develop the National Teams. It is the standard of the National Teams would make the individual businessmen tti develop interest to buy players to form their own clubs. There is no standard stadium in Africa and when there is a country Leagues are going on, the fields are very local which has no displaying of ads. And other features around the field. In the whole West Africa Region, it is only Nigeria which has one stadium, so CAF fixed most the matches in the AFCONQ to be played in Nigeria.
Since the fields are not developed, and when Local clubs playing matches, there is no where to watched them except South Africa Primer League, because they have the DSTV satellite network so they shows their matches. So foe that 99% of Africans watch the Europeans, And other advanced countries matches and abandoning their country Leagues.

[GiftedMAN]

I am African, I was born in Africa and I live in Africa

We have to accept that African sports are not developing to the same level as European and Latin American sports because there is a lot of corruption. AFCON is not at the same level as EURO. Here in my country, I have never seen many people in bars watching AFCON games. They only watch my country's games and then leave.

But when there are Euro games, there are TVs everywhere in my country and lots of people are watching. Hotels and restaurants create special packages in which people pay and have VIP access to watch Euro games, with good food and wine. But they don't do that for AFCON.

Africa can get to this level when they are ready to make the world know good football can come from Africa and when they are ready to invest seriously in football to the standard of what we have in Europe and other developed countries. If you watch AFCON games and other Africa games you would see is always boring and everything looks analog. Here in Africa we think football is all about just having players and coaches,  and when we get these it is enough.
We are lacking behind because we are not spending money in football and this why we are not enjoying our football.

A lot needs to be done in our African football but that being said I think the African football needs a whole lot of sponsorship and reinfastructure into the system without that nothing will be achieved and we will keep seeing a lot of errors in our games. Africa has produced notable numbers in the history of football but if you look at the legends in Africa most  of them do not have the ambition of becoming a coach just like we have seen the whites do that tells you how the mentality of not upgrading themselves have affected the players after retiring from international football.

Spending money alone will not solve the problem of African football we need the people with technical know how to head the affairs of African football and the CAF president should set a standard to all the African teams but local league's you will see an improvement in our games. The rate of poor coverage in the African Cup Of Nation is the reason why people talk down on the African football but I believe things will get better if the right people are given the opportunity to work.

[Agbamoni]

Omitting Kelechi Iheanacho from the Super Eagles list for the upcoming games I don't think was a bad decision by the new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. The Imo State born attacker have struggled to shine this season both for clubs and country and considering the fact that the Super Eagles needs to win the two FIFA World Cup qualifying games in March, players that should be called up have to merit their place so it's a good call.

Whatever the outcome we get at the end of the day we'll have Eric Chelle responsible for it, it's makes it imperative that the coach makes every necessary decision he believes could give him the results we want. And it's true, Iheanacho hasn't really made some attractive performances this season in all competitions so I don't see why dropping him for some player that could beat fit in the position is raising much dust from some fans.  We just have to win two crucial game to qualify for the WC and for that certain hard decisions needs to taken. All what we want is that Nigeria qualifies.

Before making such decision he is ready to take responsible for it. At the same time every decisions he made has a good reason for it. With or without Iheanacho the super eagles will play and win the games they are capable of wining. I also agree with you on the performance of Iheanacho. He still need sometime to go on a personal training so that he can improve.

Just so you know, every football fan on the internet will always spill how they feel when there favorite player in a team is dropped on the bench or not feature in an upcoming match. That is what is happening now.

[Ndabagi01]

Whatever the outcome we get at the end of the day we'll have Eric Chelle responsible for it, it's makes it imperative that the coach makes every necessary decision he believes could give him the results we want. And it's true, Iheanacho hasn't really made some attractive performances this season in all competitions so I don't see why dropping him for some player that could beat fit in the position is raising much dust from some fans.  We just have to win two crucial game to qualify for the WC and for that certain hard decisions needs to taken. All what we want is that Nigeria qualifies.

Te decision of the coach is not what most of us should debate on, he is the person in the rightful position to make the best selection to represent Nigeria in the WC qualifying matches. Just one mistake can make it all go wrong and miss the qualification for the World Cup. Super Eagles can’t afford to miss the World Cup for two consecutive times, it will only make our rating lower in the world rating of soccer. If a player is used and didn’t performed well, fans will still criticise his choice of not picking another player they feel he’s more fit for the game. In all, the decision lies on the coach and what he does is for the country and also for him to keep his job, he won’t make the wrong selection knowing well the repercussions of it.

[Rruchi man]

If Victor Osimhen is not fit for the game, the coach should drop him. It should be essential for the new coach to build a team that can function with or without any particular player.

Don't you know that their are kind of players that your opponent will see in your team and they will be terrified. Victor Osimhen is a big name in African football and his hard work in the team cannot go unnoticed. Even if he's unfit at present when the coach is naming his squad, but they are confident that he will be fit before the match day, he should include him in the team.

He can be in the team, on the bench, but should not be forced to play, and the emphasis is on if he is not fit. An Osimhen who is not fit and cannot score goals is the same as an Osimhen on the bench.

[Zigabel]

Omitting Kelechi Iheanacho from the Super Eagles list for the upcoming games I don't think was a bad decision by the new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. The Imo State born attacker have struggled to shine this season both for clubs and country and considering the fact that the Super Eagles needs to win the two FIFA World Cup qualifying games in March, players that should be called up have to merit their place so it's a good call.

This ommission is a striking one, such that will bring attention to this new coach because everyone would want to see how muhe can achieve without one of the well known players of the Super Eagles even if we ehavee seen that recently hw hasn't been his best, looking at this, I begin to nurse some curiosity into what exactly could this man have and is wanting to achieve with all of this.  Let's hope chelle gets us a ticket to the world cup.