Nigeria became the first African qualifiers for the World Cup in Russia. They defeated strong Argentina 4-2 in friendlies last night. There is distinct optimism around a generation of players that looks their best hope of a last eight spot in some years. Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi. Such many young talented players in this team.
In your opinion, will Nigeria be a dark horse in the coming World Cup? And why?
EXCITING NEWS for AF EXPERTS: From today on, we will select some of your most convincing comments and post them here, sharing with all AFers! And you have chance to be selected as 'AF Manager of the week'. So speak out what's on your mind, show us your football-related knowledge and be as convincing as possible! You are to be the next AF Manager now!
Reminder: if your comment without any convincing reasons, it will be removed.
Experts of last DAILY TOPIC: Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic not as good as he thinks he is?
Well,I think Zlatan ibrahimovic to some extent,is not as good as he thinks he really is,not anymore. Zlatan,without doubt, could be likened to the great Christopher Columbus who traveled around the world,seeing as ibrahimovic has taken a successful tour of Europe,emerging a champion in virtually all the clubs he played for.but now,with his current performance so far,one could only be right to raise eyebrows and wonder if the potency of zlatan's football has not dwindled a bit.
Zlatan,is not really as good as he has been before with both club and country,which can be narrowed down to the following reasons; his past average statistics, his age factor and his recent below par performance at Manchester united.
On his past average statistics, Ibrahimovic has spent most of his career recognized as one of the world's best goal scorers. His first season with PSG had done nothing to cancel out this view.
With 27 goals in 32 Ligue 1 games, Ibra had delivered. He also demonstrated his all-around ability by tallying seven assists. In Ligue 1, Ibra of cause, played in a more advanced position and looked to be a finisher. In Europe we saw him in a more withdrawn role: holding the ball up and setting up others. having scored 50 goals in 51 games in his final season in France,he then joined Manchester united in the summer.in his first season for the red devils, he however,managed 23goals in all competitions,with 17 in the premier league under 28appearances,coming on as a substitute in one, while averaging a value of 0.61 goals per match,which is quite lower than that of his first season with French giants.
Secondly, his age factor,even if the large-egoed zlatan will not openly admit it,is a major pointer as to why he has not been that superb as compared to his younger days as a footballer.At the current past-his-peak age of 36 years,it is, well,much obvious to every tom,dick or harry that zlatan should definitely be thinking of hanging his boots soon,if he is a really honest forward that knows that the age factor massively affects the gameplay of players,more so forwards like him,unlike the lucky goalkeepers who can stay between the sticks for as close to their forties while still keeping the goals out efficiently too.
More so,his recent below par performance for Manchester united,only goes further to show that zlatan might be sinking in deep waters much sooner than he expected.the clash with Anderlecht in the Europa league,can be used as an instance."The Europa League became the Champions League since I put my foot there",was what Zlatan Ibrahimovic said ahead of Manchester United's quarter-final tie with Anderlecht.but his timing of the statement was just too wrong.he led an average squad of attackers against the Belgian side, and was with all justice,rightly criticised by Jose after the full-time whistle. He has never been dropped from United's starting line-up, rested only on a few occasions, and has never been substituted, even if being outperformed by other creative players.but Jose decided to play rashford in the place of zlatan against Chelsea,considering what had happened in the return leg with Anderlecht. and rashford delivered,shined and sparkled against the league leaders.
Ibrahimovic is now above his peak in age. His game is not as beautiful as Lukaku's and it is a far cry from the youthful exuberance of Rashford. His game is goals, but he has missed a hatful or perhaps, a sackful of big chances and doesn't offer much else to United's overall game.Sweden too,to the surprise of all,have done well without him,with zlatan claiming that the time he played with the national team,was a different time,when all pressure was him and the team to perform,and that the time in which sweden now plays without him,is not so much filled with pressure on them.but then,one can only imagine the pressure placed on a national team to qualify for a world cup, and come to the ultimate conclusion that there are no fewer forms of pressure in football greater than that,just like the one that was on argentina to also qualify for the world cup.
As the Liverpool legend Robin fowler puts it, 'It’s all part of getting older. You just become less dynamic, less threatening in the role at the sharp end, so you want to drift to find a bit of space.'Zlatan ibrahimovic,to set the facts straight, is truly a Legend of the game,globally recognized by all but just as it is with time,all legends do come and go,and its just as ok for his performance to reduce with time,and also very much ok too, if zlatan eventually realizes that he is really,not as good as he thinks he is.
Its like saying Argentina are better off without Lionel Messi just because they haven't won a World Cup with him. Same goes to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Lets face it...this guy has made more than 100 appearances for the Swedish national team. He is the country's all-time leading goalscorer with 62 goals. He represented Sweden at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 UEFA European Championships. He has been awarded Guldbollen, given to the Swedish player of the year, a record 11 times, including 10 consecutive times from 2007 to 2016. Had he not been injured last season at Manchester United who knows maybe he would have not announced his retirement and have been part of the Swedish players going to the World Cup. So yes he is an influential player on the pitch and the team plays around him more and they were better with him on it. These WCQ were a bit different from those in 2014 when a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal knocked them out of the 2014 World Cup nonetheless Ibrahimovic name was all over the scoresheet. This time around Italy were just utterly shambolic and a shadow of their former selves and Sweden managed to take their chances and dedended well thats all. Nowhere has it made them better than Zlatans Sweden period.
Is Zlatan not as good as he thinks he is? In what sense because Sweden have qualified for the world Cup without him. Sweden's qualification has been generally attributed to Italy loosing the game and not them winning it as it can sadly be in some matches but let's not forget they had qualification games to through without him and last time they made it to the play off for Euro 2016 they lost to the eventual champions and man of the match was the eventual Ballon do'r winner who scored an incredible hatrick. Does any team with a big star play differently when their star player isn't available? Yes and did Sweden play differently since Zlatan retired from international football? Yes That already tells you he is a star player but let's get deeper into this. Any team would miss a player off his quality power, composure, good link up play and a bigger than anything persona to go with the incredible football abilities which have with stood the test of time that many star players don't survive just ask his Idol Original Ronaldo, Owen, Vanisteroy, Henry and many others degenerated with age retiring in lower leagues like MLS and Brazilian Seria A however Zlatan statistics have gotten better with age and if not for his injury last season he was on course to finish the season with 30+ goals and at least 20 in the premier league and unlike very few players in world football alone Zlatan's personality can take pressure off his teammates and his coaches if you ask me Sweden would be wise to get him to return for the world Cup. So is Zlatan's as good as he thinks he is? No HE IS BETTER!
