RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Goal.com Special: Pick Your Nigeria XI
Goal.com's Samm Audu plays coach and picks the Beijing Olympics' runners-up's back four to start against Kenya on Sunday...
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
Jun 7, 2009 12:10:04 AM
4-3-3 Formation
Goalkeeper
Vincent Enyeama - Still first choice in a generation of top-class goalkeepers like Austin Ejide and Dele Aiyenugba. He pulled off some great saves against the French and showed why he was named the best player in the Israeli league this past season.
Defenders
Chibuzo Okonkwo - Could not make the friendlies against Republic of Ireland and France because of visa problems, but showed his quality during the Olympics last year and has been in top shape for high-flying Bayelsa United in the domestic league. He should play at left full-back, just as he did at Beijing 2008.
Dele Adeleye - He caught the eye against France on Tuesday with a commanding performance in the heart of the defence. He will do same against the Kenyans on Sunday.
Onyekachi Apam - The Nice central defender is courted by several of France top clubs including Monaco, Lyon and Olympique Marseille after yet another superlative season with his South of France outfit this past season. He has formed a great understanding with Adeleye since their Flying Eagles days in 2005.
Olubayo Adefemi - The final piece of the Beijing Olympics defence at right full back. He may be shopping for a club in Europe but did not show any match rustiness against France this week.
Midfielders
Kalu Uche - His quality has never been in doubt right from the days that Ajax Amsterdam came close to signing him on while he was still featuring in the Polish league. He was outstanding both against the Irish and French in a central midfield role and should keep his place in the first team on this performance.
Yusuf Ayila - He is considered ahead of Fulham's Dickson Etuhu as the defensive kingpin in the engine room because he has played more regularly with the team.
Nwankwo Kanu - 'Papilo' shone playing behind the top striker against France. His ageing legs may not carry him for a full game but he only needs 20, 30 minutes on the pitch to use his vision and flair to unlock what is a very organised Kenyan defence.
Forwards
Ik Uche - Earned the compliments of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after his man-of-the-match performance in Saint-Etienne. He should play on the left side of attack. His pace and cunning will help unlock the Kenyan defensive strategies.
Michael Eneramo - The goal-hero against the Irish in London, Eneramo is brimming with confidence. The Eagles need a big man to pressure the physically imposing Kenyan defenders. It is his chance to shine and he will grab it with both hands as he did at Craven Cottage.
Osaze Odemwingie - He was nowhere to be seen against Mozambique in March but the Russia-based star is the man to watch out for on Sunday. He was all over the park against France, from defence to attack. His committment, pace and flair will unsettle the defensive-minded East Africans.
You could also pick your first XI from this squad of 30 players in training camp in Abuja:
Goalkeepers - Vincent Enyeama(Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Austin Ejide (Bastia/FRA), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR)
Defenders – Onyekachi Apam (Nice/FRA), Yusuf Mohammed (FC Sion/SWI), Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG), Danny Shittu (Bolton/ENG), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion/SWI), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille/FRA), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes/FRA), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), Olubayo Adefemi (SC Rheindorf Altach/AUS), Chibuzo Okonkwo (Bayelsa United), Sam Sodje (Unattached)
Midfielders - John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Sani Kaita (FC Kuban/RUS), Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City/ENG), Kalu Uche (Almeria/SPA), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Oluwafemi Ajilore (FC Groningen/NED), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham/ENG)
Forwards - Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth/ENG), John Utaka (Portsmouth/ENG), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan/ITA), Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe/SPA), Michael Eneramo (Esperance/TUN), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugges/BEL), Sone Aluko (Aberdeen/SCO)
Samm Audu, Goal.com
Goalkeeper
Vincent Enyeama - Still first choice in a generation of top-class goalkeepers like Austin Ejide and Dele Aiyenugba. He pulled off some great saves against the French and showed why he was named the best player in the Israeli league this past season.
Defenders
Chibuzo Okonkwo - Could not make the friendlies against Republic of Ireland and France because of visa problems, but showed his quality during the Olympics last year and has been in top shape for high-flying Bayelsa United in the domestic league. He should play at left full-back, just as he did at Beijing 2008.
Dele Adeleye - He caught the eye against France on Tuesday with a commanding performance in the heart of the defence. He will do same against the Kenyans on Sunday.
Onyekachi Apam - The Nice central defender is courted by several of France top clubs including Monaco, Lyon and Olympique Marseille after yet another superlative season with his South of France outfit this past season. He has formed a great understanding with Adeleye since their Flying Eagles days in 2005.
Olubayo Adefemi - The final piece of the Beijing Olympics defence at right full back. He may be shopping for a club in Europe but did not show any match rustiness against France this week.
Midfielders
Kalu Uche - His quality has never been in doubt right from the days that Ajax Amsterdam came close to signing him on while he was still featuring in the Polish league. He was outstanding both against the Irish and French in a central midfield role and should keep his place in the first team on this performance.
Yusuf Ayila - He is considered ahead of Fulham's Dickson Etuhu as the defensive kingpin in the engine room because he has played more regularly with the team.
Nwankwo Kanu - 'Papilo' shone playing behind the top striker against France. His ageing legs may not carry him for a full game but he only needs 20, 30 minutes on the pitch to use his vision and flair to unlock what is a very organised Kenyan defence.
Forwards
Ik Uche - Earned the compliments of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after his man-of-the-match performance in Saint-Etienne. He should play on the left side of attack. His pace and cunning will help unlock the Kenyan defensive strategies.
Michael Eneramo - The goal-hero against the Irish in London, Eneramo is brimming with confidence. The Eagles need a big man to pressure the physically imposing Kenyan defenders. It is his chance to shine and he will grab it with both hands as he did at Craven Cottage.
Osaze Odemwingie - He was nowhere to be seen against Mozambique in March but the Russia-based star is the man to watch out for on Sunday. He was all over the park against France, from defence to attack. His committment, pace and flair will unsettle the defensive-minded East Africans.
You could also pick your first XI from this squad of 30 players in training camp in Abuja:
Goalkeepers - Vincent Enyeama(Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Austin Ejide (Bastia/FRA), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR)
Defenders – Onyekachi Apam (Nice/FRA), Yusuf Mohammed (FC Sion/SWI), Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG), Danny Shittu (Bolton/ENG), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion/SWI), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille/FRA), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes/FRA), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), Olubayo Adefemi (SC Rheindorf Altach/AUS), Chibuzo Okonkwo (Bayelsa United), Sam Sodje (Unattached)
Midfielders - John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Sani Kaita (FC Kuban/RUS), Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City/ENG), Kalu Uche (Almeria/SPA), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Oluwafemi Ajilore (FC Groningen/NED), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham/ENG)
Forwards - Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth/ENG), John Utaka (Portsmouth/ENG), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan/ITA), Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe/SPA), Michael Eneramo (Esperance/TUN), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugges/BEL), Sone Aluko (Aberdeen/SCO)
Samm Audu, Goal.com
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
34 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Capello remains one of the greats of the game
After tasting success wherever he had gone previously, the coach will look upon his time at Wembley as an incomplete job rather than a complete failure
-
Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback?
The divisive Uruguayan can look to history when he starts against United on Saturday for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra
-
Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool
The former Reds defender believes that the Uruguayan must put controversy to the back of his mind when his team face the champions
-
The importance of Champions League qualification
The Ruhr side's remarkable run in Europe's elite tournament saw their revenue unexpectedly soar last season, but some teams are structured to depend on such results to survive
-
Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...
Advertisement
Advertisement
