Kutisabifootball

  I recently read remarks credited to Austin Eguavoen, the NFF Technical Adviser, concerning Eric Chelle’s inability or unwillingness to include Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players in the Super Eagles squad. Honestly, I almost wept. Not just because the statement was disappointing, but because it once again reflected a familiar Nigerian pattern: finding someone to blame after every tournament—be it a coach, a player, or a system, rather than confronting the real problems head-on. This is not to disrespect Austin Eguavoen. Far from it. He is a respected football figure and a proud member of Nigeria’s iconic 1994 generation. I have even written in praise of that legendary squad before ( https://kutisabifootball.blogspot.com/2026/01/thought-this-was-it-but-class-of-1994.html?m=1 ). But precisely because of his experience, he should know better. The woeful results and disappointing performances in the last CHAN only highlight the lack of readiness. With an outing like t...

AFCON 2025 Team of the Tournament By Habeeb Kuti – KutisabiFootball After weeks of thrilling football, AFCON 2025 finally came to an end, delivering drama, quality, controversy, and standout individual performances. From heroic goalkeeping displays to midfield maestros and relentless forwards, the tournament produced players who consistently rose above the rest. Here is my AFCON 2025 Team of the Tournament , based on performance, impact, consistency, and influence on their teams. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (Morocco) Bounou was the gold standard between the posts at AFCON 2025. He recorded five clean sheets , commanded his area with authority, and produced match-defining saves in both open play and knockout situations. His composure under pressure and leadership from the back earned him the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament award. Morocco’s defensive confidence began and ended with him. Defense (Back Four) Right Back – Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) Elegant yet aggressive, Mazra...

Introduction: Nigeria’s Keeper Crisis After the retirement of Vincent Enyeama under controversial circumstances in 2015, Carl Ikeme came into the Super Eagles setup, making his debut in a September 2015 AFCON qualifier against Tanzania. He made three appearances during Nigeria’s successful qualification campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but unfortunately could not travel to the tournament due to his cancer treatment—an absence manager Gernot Rohr later described as his greatest regret. This left Nigeria in a serious goalkeeping crisis, as hope for a reliable successor to Enyeama seemed dashed. There was an experiment with Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi at some point, until Maduka Okoye, playing far away in the Netherlands, was discovered, thanks to agents-like traits, talent discovery, or perhaps a deliberate PR work, as insinuated by some, by the international award-winning sports journalist in Germany,  Okoye quickly became a fan favourite online, especially among female sup...

  Upon retirement, Mikel Arteta had three clear options. He was offered the chance to lead the Arsenal Academy by Arsène Wenger, to join Mauricio Pochettino’s backroom staff at Tottenham Hotspur, or to become part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching team at Manchester City. On 3 July 2016, Arteta chose the latter and was appointed assistant coach at Manchester City, working alongside Brian Kidd and Domènec Torrent as deputies to Guardiola. When Arsenal appointed Arteta on 20 December 2019, signing him to a deal reportedly worth over £10 million, very little was known about his credentials as a head coach beyond his assistant role under Pep Guardiola. To many observers, it felt like a bold gamble. To Arsenal, it was a long-term vision — one that is now beginning to look justified. From Doubt to Belief If Mikel Arteta has no fan left on earth, then it means only one thing: @EBL2017 is no longer alive. When I first came across his page years ago, I honestly thought it was just another Arsena...

  The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has grown into one of the most competitive and emotionally charged tournaments in world football. From improved infrastructure to better organization and increased global attention, African football has evolved significantly over the decades. However, one tradition that continues to raise questions is the AFCON third-place match. Is it still necessary, or has it become an effort in futility? A Brief Historical Context The Africa Cup of Nations began in 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan, with just three participating teams: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. South Africa was meant to be part of that inaugural tournament but withdrew due to its apartheid policy, insisting on selecting only white players — a stance that was rightly rejected. The third-place match was introduced in 1962 at the AFCON tournament hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Tunisia finishing as the first-ever third-place team. At the time, the inclusion of a third-place match made sense. The c...

African football has produced icons who didn’t just represent the continent but defined eras of world football. From Ballon d’Or winners to Champions League legends and AFCON heroes, this list reflects impact, longevity, trophies, influence, and global recognition. 1. Samuel Eto’o Fils (Cameroon) Samuel Eto’o is arguably the most complete African striker ever. A serial winner, he conquered Europe with Barcelona and Inter Milan, winning multiple Champions League titles. Eto’o combined pace, intelligence, ruthless finishing, and elite mentality. At international level, he led Cameroon to two AFCON titles and an Olympic gold medal. His ability to deliver on the biggest stages, season after season, places him at the summit of African greatness. 2. Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast) Yaya Touré redefined what a midfielder could be. Powerful, elegant, and technically gifted, he dominated games from deep, box-to-box, or as an attacking force. A key part of Barcelona’s treble-winning side and later the h...

  A Childhood Love for Madrid My first encounter with football as a child came in 1998 in Ilorin, watching Sunday Oliseh score that brilliant goal against Spain at the World Cup. That moment ignited my passion for the game. By age 12, I had committed my heart to Real Madrid. I memorized players’ names, understood the rules, and would go to any length just to watch football — sneaking into fields, walking miles, and using a free-to-air satellite at my dad’s house to catch European league matches. I fell in love with the Galácticos era, with Raúl Gonzalez as my favorite, admiring his calm, precise left foot and his iconic ring-kiss celebration. Even during the ups and downs, Robinho’s brief brilliance, Capello finally winning the league, Mourinho’s tactical masterstrokes, and the bitter periods in between, my devotion never wavered. This background explains why I care deeply about Madrid’s current state and why I believe Calvin Bassey is the solution they desperately need. Madrid in ...

  Nigeria has won the Africa Cup of Nations three times — 1980, 1994, and 2013. Yet, among these triumphs, it is the Class of 1994 that continues to command global respect and imagination. This is not nostalgia or selective memory; it is rooted in performance, impact, and legacy. That team did not just win trophies — they announced Nigeria to the world. Their football was expressive, confident, and authoritative. They combined flair with discipline, individual brilliance with collective purpose. It was a squad rich in talent, character, and dedication — arguably the most complete group of footballers Nigeria has ever assembled. The attention they received was neither accidental nor undeserved. The journey began with the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, where Nigeria defeated a strong Zambia side led by Kalusha Bwalya to lift the trophy. The victory itself was convincing, but it was only the beginning. What followed at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States elevated that generation into...

I recently came across several arguments online about Nigerian football greats, with familiar accusations of recency bias, nostalgia, and selective memory. While these debates are inevitable, many lack structure and clear criteria.This article presents my personal ranking of the greatest Nigerian footballers of all time, based on a blend of numbers and influence. Criteria Used This list is informed by: Performances and impact for the national team Goals, caps, and longevity Trophies won with Nigeria Club career level and achievements Individual honours Influence on Nigerian football across eras Commitment and mentality in national colours This is not a popularity contest, but a balance of impact, legacy, and substance. 11. Honourable Mentions: Sunday Oliseh, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Ikechukwu Uche, Obafemi Martins, Finidi George, Taribo West  & Uche Okechukwu. Some players miss the final top 10 not because they lacked quality, but because ranking greatness inevitably involv...

 Nigeria defeated Mozambique 4–0 in the ongoing AFCON tournament , a convincing performance that should have dominated post-match discussion. Instead, what lingered in the minds of many observers were a few seconds of on-field tension involving Victor Osimhen . During the match, Osimhen was visibly upset after Ademola Lookman failed to release the ball early. He berated Lookman, snapped at the team captain, and nearly escalated into a confrontation, even with an opposing player who attempted to calm him down. After the final whistle, Osimhen asked to be substituted and walked straight down the tunnel. Those moments raised a broader question that goes beyond one match: is this pure passion, or is it beginning to look like arrogance? A Pattern Worth Examining This incident did not occur in isolation. Watching Osimhen closely over time, one notices a recurring pattern: Public frustration directed at teammates when passes are misplaced Visible hand gestures and outbursts after lost po...

Few debates in African football stir as much emotion as comparisons between generations. In Egypt, one such debate has resurfaced with renewed intensity: Mohamed Aboutrika versus Mohamed Salah. The argument is often reduced to a single point, AFCON titles. Aboutrika won them; Salah has not. Therefore, the conclusion for many is simple. But football greatness is rarely that simple. This article does not seek to diminish Aboutrika’s legacy. He is, without question, a legend of Egyptian and African football. However, when greatness is assessed through metrics, context, longevity, and level of competition, Mohamed Salah stands as Egypt’s greatest footballer to date. Aboutrika: A Legitimate Legend Any honest analysis must begin with respect. Mohamed Aboutrika was: A central figure in Egypt’s golden AFCON era A symbolic leader at Al Ahly A player whose intelligence, timing, and calm defined big moments A cultural icon whose influence extended beyond football His role in Egypt’s AFCON triump...