African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 FIFA WorldCup 2026.

[Nightwatchmare]

Messi had the most assists for the Argentine team, so what do you mean exactly by saying that you wouldn't say he carried the Argentina team? Did you not see the number of times in the World Cup where Argentina looked out and Messi was able to create a chance or score an important goal that kept Argentina in the competition to the end? He could not do so for Argentina against Spain in the finals, hence why they lost.

The standard in your head is Luka Modric; please explain how and why.

Argentina heavily depend on Lionel Messi to win their games in this world cup, and no-one that did not notice this from the first game of Argentina in the world to their quarter finals game should have been able to know that Lionel Messi carried the Argentina team in their game against England because any Argentina player that holds ball always want to pass to Lionel Messi, without Lionel Messi Argentina would not have beaten England. What happened to Argentina against Spain in the final make me understand that building a team around one person is not good because once that person fails to perform well it will be hard for the team to play well and win their game, just like it happened to Argentina.

[IceLincoln]

The last time the super eagles Won the AFCON and qualified for the WC we had about 10-20% of home based players in the team and some also in starting lineup- it was an home based player that scored the goal that won us the 2013 AFCON trophy.

You need players who are hungry and have everything to lose not some players who are already playing in Europe who are more committed to their club than the national team. We don't give chance to those people and that's one of our problems.

This is also one very aspect to their poor performances over this year, because we've seen that most of this European based players have their clubs in mind more than they do for the country, but this was based on the treatment being given to players in the past, because when I was growing up as a big super eagles fans, there was scenario in AFCON cup where the super eagles players was not treated well after they risk everything playing for the country especially when they sustained injuries and in the end these management team will leave them treating themselves or be treated by their various clubs, this the major reason why you see this European based players not really put in their best of effort when they come to play for national team.

This is normal or will I say common for our Super Eagles, they don’t give their best for the team at all times. Maybe you’re correct it’s due to how they’re treated or paid but this is a national duty that should be done with pride that among so many footballers you’re the one representing your Nation. Mbappe once said that playing for the National team shouldn’t even deserve pay, and you see it in the way he plays for the National team, he’s his best when he puts on France Jersey. And look at Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Argentina, once they’re wearing that Argentina jersey they’re incredible and Martinez plays all minutes as compared to their club side performance, and so many other players who are like that but in our case our boys do the opposite most of the time.

[Wiwo]

Messi had the most assists for the Argentine team, so what do you mean exactly by saying that you wouldn't say he carried the Argentina team? Did you not see the number of times in the World Cup where Argentina looked out and Messi was able to create a chance or score an important goal that kept Argentina in the competition to the end? He could not do so for Argentina against Spain in the finals, hence why they lost.

The standard in your head is Luka Modric; please explain how and why.

Argentina heavily depend on Lionel Messi to win their games in this world cup, and no-one that did not notice this from the first game of Argentina in the world to their quarter finals game should have been able to know that Lionel Messi carried the Argentina team in their game against England because any Argentina player that holds ball always want to pass to Lionel Messi, without Lionel Messi Argentina would not have beaten England. What happened to Argentina against Spain in the final make me understand that building a team around one person is not good because once that person fails to perform well it will be hard for the team to play well and win their game, just like it happened to Argentina.

Argentina team performance is not center around lions Messi alone infact right from the start pf the world cup,  Emiliano Martínez have been noticed to be the hero of matches because of the number crucial saves he made in the overall games in the world cup and it finals.

Football is a game of team work and not a one man show, so just because Messi is featured in the match, all the other 10 remaining players become ineffective on the pitch all the player's made their collective contributions and if they lose it means that the opposition team have higher chances a executed them tactically.

[DiMarxist]

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This is normal or will I say common for our Super Eagles, they don’t give their best for the team at all times. Maybe you’re correct it’s due to how they’re treated or paid but this is a national duty that should be done with pride that among so many footballers you’re the one representing your Nation. Mbappe once said that playing for the National team shouldn’t even deserve pay, and you see it in the way he plays for the National team, he’s his best when he puts on France Jersey. And look at Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Argentina, once they’re wearing that Argentina jersey they’re incredible and Martinez plays all minutes as compared to their club side performance, and so many other players who are like that but in our case our boys do the opposite most of the time.

One of the things that is a problem to the Nigerian national team is lack of commitment from the part of players especially from the foreign based players. There is this ego that the foreign based players tends to show especially at the beginning of qualifications. I don't believe that the players are not giving their best due to lack of proper welfare from the NFF. The national team of a nation should be seen as a thing of joy that should be treated as pride when ever a player is called upon to represent the national team.

[Tonimez]

The last time the super eagles Won the AFCON and qualified for the WC we had about 10-20% of home based players in the team and some also in starting lineup- it was an home based player that scored the goal that won us the 2013 AFCON trophy.

You need players who are hungry and have everything to lose not some players who are already playing in Europe who are more committed to their club than the national team. We don't give chance to those people and that's one of our problems.

This is also one very aspect to their poor performances over this year, because we've seen that most of this European based players have their clubs in mind more than they do for the country, but this was based on the treatment being given to players in the past, because when I was growing up as a big super eagles fans, there was scenario in AFCON cup where the super eagles players was not treated well after they risk everything playing for the country especially when they sustained injuries and in the end these management team will leave them treating themselves or be treated by their various clubs, this the major reason why you see this European based players not really put in their best of effort when they come to play for national team.

This is normal or will I say common for our Super Eagles, they don’t give their best for the team at all times. Maybe you’re correct it’s due to how they’re treated or paid but this is a national duty that should be done with pride that among so many footballers you’re the one representing your Nation. Mbappe once said that playing for the National team shouldn’t even deserve pay, and you see it in the way he plays for the National team, he’s his best when he puts on France Jersey. And look at Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Argentina, once they’re wearing that Argentina jersey they’re incredible and Martinez plays all minutes as compared to their club side performance, and so many other players who are like that but in our case our boys do the opposite most of the time.

You see, you raised a good point here. The players we have currently in the super eagles, most of them are people who joined football out of the nations frustration and all they think about is the money involved. Even though they understand that they're lucky to be among the chosen, some of them don't play with passion always. When you watch the super eagles play, you sometimes wonder what some of them think about their appearance for the team. But players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are still exceptional probably because they have seen life in the wider world and has also made a good money outside the country.

The days of Kanu Nwankwo and co saw more passion than we're seeing now, even the Mikel Obi led team that won the African cup of Nations in 2013 was a passionate one.

I won't also blame these people because remembering many failed promises made to most of our past heroes of the game like Samuel Okwaraji and Stephen Keshi, you will see that they just play for the money since they understand that the government doesn't also care much about anybody., but this is not supposed to be because they're representing the national flag on the global stage.

[Oluwa-btc]

Our Nigerian brother Raphael Onyedika who plays for the Belgium 🇧🇪 side Club Brugge is currently linked with a move to Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga league competition.

A Saudi Arabian Club are all over the deal though attempting to persuade him too. He was seen recently with Victor Boniface spending their holidays together in the east training together and playing with the people in the street. I believe he will want to make the move to German Bundesliga and not be influenced by the approach of At ittihad.

[Spaceman1000$]

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This is normal or will I say common for our Super Eagles, they don’t give their best for the team at all times. Maybe you’re correct it’s due to how they’re treated or paid but this is a national duty that should be done with pride that among so many footballers you’re the one representing your Nation. Mbappe once said that playing for the National team shouldn’t even deserve pay, and you see it in the way he plays for the National team, he’s his best when he puts on France Jersey. And look at Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Argentina, once they’re wearing that Argentina jersey they’re incredible and Martinez plays all minutes as compared to their club side performance, and so many other players who are like that but in our case our boys do the opposite most of the time.

One of the things that is a problem to the Nigerian national team is lack of commitment from the part of players especially from the foreign based players. There is this ego that the foreign based players tends to show especially at the beginning of qualifications. I don't believe that the players are not giving their best due to lack of proper welfare from the NFF. The national team of a nation should be seen as a thing of joy that should be treated as pride when ever a player is called upon to represent the national team.

It is because of the misbehavior of NFF that has led to players not entirely giving commitment to the national team. Why is the NFF only interested in caring foreign base players, why haven't they over the years produce local players, whatever pride the foreign base player comes to the national team with, they should accept it like that because they invested in themselves and the Nigerian football federation has not done their own homework. If they want commitment from foreign base players then they should start showing commitment to home based players, especially the ones playing for our local leagues, NFF should control the league in a way that this local base players can earn good wages.

[Onyeeze]

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This is normal or will I say common for our Super Eagles, they don’t give their best for the team at all times. Maybe you’re correct it’s due to how they’re treated or paid but this is a national duty that should be done with pride that among so many footballers you’re the one representing your Nation. Mbappe once said that playing for the National team shouldn’t even deserve pay, and you see it in the way he plays for the National team, he’s his best when he puts on France Jersey. And look at Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Argentina, once they’re wearing that Argentina jersey they’re incredible and Martinez plays all minutes as compared to their club side performance, and so many other players who are like that but in our case our boys do the opposite most of the time.

One of the things that is a problem to the Nigerian national team is lack of commitment from the part of players especially from the foreign based players. There is this ego that the foreign based players tends to show especially at the beginning of qualifications. I don't believe that the players are not giving their best due to lack of proper welfare from the NFF. The national team of a nation should be seen as a thing of joy that should be treated as pride when ever a player is called upon to represent the national team.

It is because of the misbehavior of NFF that has led to players not entirely giving commitment to the national team. Why is the NFF only interested in caring foreign base players, why haven't they over the years produce local players, whatever pride the foreign base player comes to the national team with, they should accept it like that because they invested in themselves and the Nigerian football federation has not done their own homework. If they want commitment from foreign base players then they should start showing commitment to home based players, especially the ones playing for our local leagues, NFF should control the league in a way that this local base players can earn good wages.

most attends We Blame them because there are the problem we are having, I don't know the reason why there are only concentrating on the international players why before somebody become an international player the person is already been made locally except those ones who started from academic, but it will be a nice suggestion that thry should begin to accept the local players who are being brought up in trenches, and the train them well they might like those people who is international players and those ones who they find valid, so people say that practice is a good teacher, I think the local ones can also do what of the international ones are doing especially when you give them adequate training

[SatoPrincess]

I know how much we really want to talk about Spain, Argentina, and the World Cup discussion to go on for a long time here. I also want it that way, but remembering what this thread is all about won't allow me to think of it, as we are focusing on African football matches and what has happened between African countries, players, and the achievements made by Africans concerning football.

I understand your concerns. IMO it’s too early to end the discussion. It’s only been a couple of days since the World Cup ended. OP is probably letting discussions continue for a week before changing the title. In the mean time, you can start discussions about what’s happening in African football.

The standard in your head is Luka Modric; please explain how and why.

I’m sensing you are too far gone to be reasoned with on this subject. I will let Oluwa-btc respond to your post.

Africa are blessed with other things but not a football because in Africa we don't have much a football academic which Europe continent do have, don't you know that there is some countries that started football with the children when they are in tender age but in Africa you will grow and start playing football on the street before you can be able to meet up and the most of the people in Africa that is doing well in football there are gifted is not something that then learn from somewhere but in some of the European country they normally learn football starting from young age and they study football the way we are studying other courses in primary secondary and the universities so there are far better than us when you come in terms of football and you can also compare with you how many times African have win a world cup starting from the time what Cup started

I disagree. You can’t judge a country’s football identity by World Cups. And I have seen kids touch a football like they were magicians. The problem isn’t lack of talent but rather lack of infrastructure and systems to develop the talents we have. Recruiters aren’t even coming to Nigeria as much as they used to in the 90s.

[OsaiEmma]

The last time the super eagles Won the AFCON and qualified for the WC we had about 10-20% of home based players in the team and some also in starting lineup- it was an home based player that scored the goal that won us the 2013 AFCON trophy.

You need players who are hungry and have everything to lose not some players who are already playing in Europe who are more committed to their club than the national team. We don't give chance to those people and that's one of our problems.

This is also one very aspect to their poor performances over this year, because we've seen that most of this European based players have their clubs in mind more than they do for the country, but this was based on the treatment being given to players in the past, because when I was growing up as a big super eagles fans, there was scenario in AFCON cup where the super eagles players was not treated well after they risk everything playing for the country especially when they sustained injuries and in the end these management team will leave them treating themselves or be treated by their various clubs, this the major reason why you see this European based players not really put in their best of effort when they come to play for national team.

This is normal or will I say common for our Super Eagles, they don’t give their best for the team at all times. Maybe you’re correct it’s due to how they’re treated or paid but this is a national duty that should be done with pride that among so many footballers you’re the one representing your Nation. Mbappe once said that playing for the National team shouldn’t even deserve pay, and you see it in the way he plays for the National team, he’s his best when he puts on France Jersey. And look at Romero and Lisandro Martinez of Argentina, once they’re wearing that Argentina jersey they’re incredible and Martinez plays all minutes as compared to their club side performance, and so many other players who are like that but in our case our boys do the opposite most of the time.

You're so right IceLincoln, and this also reflects in our society at large. These players don't love the country. I know most are born in Europe but if you're representing your country, do it with pride and honor.

If you look at the other football branches in our National team like the Super falcons, u-20 and the likes of them, they're performing exceptionally well because of how dedicated they are to the team, but our big boys are acting all high and mighty, being so nonchalant and selfish. That's why I'll always respect Osimhen who always give his best to the team.