Realistically how far are Nigeria expected to go ?
I'm really hoping that are three players are available for Leeds away on January 17th, how likely is that ?
I don't think I'm an AFCON expert, but, on paper, Nigeria has one of the strongest squads and also, at last AFCON they reached the final. I think that if they play at the their best level, they can go to the final again.
Quote from: C Block on December 16, 2025, 11:32:31 AMRealistically how far are Nigeria expected to go ?
Looks like they're 5th favorites to win with the bookies behind Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal.
Quote from: C Block on December 16, 2025, 11:32:31 AMI'm really hoping that are three players are available for Leeds away on January 17th, how likely is that ?
That's probably both the best case scenario and also not terribly unrealistic to hope for. To start with, Nigeria is in a very easy group, so them failing to get out of the group stage would be a HUGE shock (not just because of the weak group but because more than half the 3rd place group stage teams advance to the knockouts). If they win their group they get a 3rd place team in the round of 16 on January 5th. Obviously they'd be pretty big favorites in that match but it is possible they'd play a decent team there as some of the groups from which they'd draw that 3rd place team feature 3 good/decent teams. Win that game and then on January 10th they'd face the winner of a match likely between Algeria and Ivory Coast/Cameroon. Lose that and they're obviously back for Leeds.
If Nigeria were to finish 2nd in their group (one would suspect to Tunisia) they'd likely play Mali on January 3rd in the Round of 16 and then the winner of Group D (Senegal or DR Congo (the team that eliminated Nigeria from WC qualifying last month)) on January 9th. Lose that and again obviously they're back for Leeds.
Quote from: Chi_FFC on December 16, 2025, 02:20:06 PMQuote from: C Block on December 16, 2025, 11:32:31 AMRealistically how far are Nigeria expected to go ?
Looks like they're 5th favorites to win with the bookies behind Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal.
Quote from: C Block on December 16, 2025, 11:32:31 AMI'm really hoping that are three players are available for Leeds away on January 17th, how likely is that ?
That's probably both the best case scenario and also not terribly unrealistic to hope for. To start with, Nigeria is in a very easy group, so them failing to get out of the group stage would be a HUGE shock (not just because of the weak group but because more than half the 3rd place group stage teams advance to the knockouts). If they win their group they get a 3rd place team in the round of 16 on January 5th. Obviously they'd be pretty big favorites in that match but it is possible they'd play a decent team there as some of the groups from which they'd draw that 3rd place team feature 3 good/decent teams. Win that game and then on January 10th they'd face the winner of a match likely between Algeria and Ivory Coast/Cameroon. Lose that and they're obviously back for Leeds.
If Nigeria were to finish 2nd in their group (one would suspect to Tunisia) they'd likely play Mali on January 3rd in the Round of 16 and then the winner of Group D (Senegal or DR Congo (the team that eliminated Nigeria from WC qualifying last month)) on January 9th. Lose that and again obviously they're back for Leeds.
That sounds promising for Leeds, thank you 👍🏻
What's really annoying is there is a 3rd place game so making the semifinals is essentially the same as making the finals for getting players back.
Quote from: Chi_FFC on December 16, 2025, 02:20:06 PMQuote from: C Block on December 16, 2025, 11:32:31 AMRealistically how far are Nigeria expected to go ?
Looks like they're 5th favorites to win with the bookies behind Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal.
Quote from: C Block on December 16, 2025, 11:32:31 AMI'm really hoping that are three players are available for Leeds away on January 17th, how likely is that ?
That's probably both the best case scenario and also not terribly unrealistic to hope for. To start with, Nigeria is in a very easy group, so them failing to get out of the group stage would be a HUGE shock (not just because of the weak group but because more than half the 3rd place group stage teams advance to the knockouts). If they win their group they get a 3rd place team in the round of 16 on January 5th. Obviously they'd be pretty big favorites in that match but it is possible they'd play a decent team there as some of the groups from which they'd draw that 3rd place team feature 3 good/decent teams. Win that game and then on January 10th they'd face the winner of a match likely between Algeria and Ivory Coast/Cameroon. Lose that and they're obviously back for Leeds.
If Nigeria were to finish 2nd in their group (one would suspect to Tunisia) they'd likely play Mali on January 3rd in the Round of 16 and then the winner of Group D (Senegal or DR Congo (the team that eliminated Nigeria from WC qualifying last month)) on January 9th. Lose that and again obviously they're back for Leeds.
I personally can't stand how every tournament now seems to have several third place teams going through. Makes the group stages feel full of pointless games, and it's really unsatisfying not knowing who is going through at the conclusion of each group.
Feels increasingly common and it's such a frustrating development so that tournaments can expand and generate more money.
Quote from: hopper on December 16, 2025, 06:22:18 PMI personally can't stand how every tournament now seems to have several third place teams going through. Makes the group stages feel full of pointless games, and it's really unsatisfying not knowing who is going through at the conclusion of each group.
Feels increasingly common and it's such a frustrating development so that tournaments can expand and generate more money.
I personally thought the 16 team EURO/AFCON and 32 team World Cup was the ideal number. That way some of the "weaker" teams got a chance to compete and the quality of the tournaments wasn't so diluted. You also get the normal groups of 4 in group stage from which 2 teams go through to the knockout stage.
I also don't like the new Champions League/Europa League format and I thought the previous was was far better.
Quote from: SerbianLad on December 16, 2025, 06:41:44 PMQuote from: hopper on December 16, 2025, 06:22:18 PMI personally can't stand how every tournament now seems to have several third place teams going through. Makes the group stages feel full of pointless games, and it's really unsatisfying not knowing who is going through at the conclusion of each group.
Feels increasingly common and it's such a frustrating development so that tournaments can expand and generate more money.
I personally thought the 16 team EURO/AFCON and 32 team World Cup was the ideal number. That way some of the "weaker" teams got a chance to compete and the quality of the tournaments wasn't so diluted. You also get the normal groups of 4 in group stage from which 2 teams go through to the knockout stage.
I also don't like the new Champions League/Europa League format and I thought the previous was was far better.
Yeah it is just financial decision making, not for the fans or good of the game isn't it.
They said fans don't want more pointless games, but subsequently have created systems that include more than ever.
Going back to an old European Cup style straight knockouts would sure bring some excitement, but some of their powerful members would risk losing money.
Nigeria didn't qualify for next year's world cup...on paper they're a very good team....they could go the whole way if the group stage work's out for them