Michael Babatunde has tipped
A solitary goal from Mohammed Nahiri in the 20th minute from the penalty spot secured a second win for
Mamelodi Sundowns who defeated Asec Mimosa 3-1
Babatunde who starred as a false nine for Wydad Casablanca for 77 minutes before he was replaced in the win noted that his team’s game plan worked perfectly well against Lobi Stars and that they were unlucky not to have scored more goals in the encounter.
“We knew playing from home in Nigeria will be difficult considering the weather conditions but we pressed when we needed to and got a crucial win,” he told Completesports.com in Lagos after the game.
“This win has further helped us with our target of qualifying for the quarter-finals. With two more home games, I think we will qualify by God’s grace.”
Wyday host Lobi Stars on matchday 4 in their next game on the 12th of February before taking on Asec Mimosa in Abidjan on matchday 5. Their final group game is a home clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
He also added that he was not under pressure playing in front of the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr who was in the stands for the game.
“We (Rohr and Micheal) spoke prior to the game and he was very nice in his remarks. I hope I did well playing as a lone striker to get a recall back to the Super Eagles.”
“I think I have a good chance but all depends on the coach to hand me that opportunity which I believe I won’t disappoint.”
Babatunde last featured for the Super Eagles in an international friendly against Luxemborg in 2016.
By Johnny Edward.
5 Comments
Supposed Nigeria champion indeed. Over night champion as we all know.
Lobi stars should consider how difficult it is in winning a game away from home before going down 1 nil. To me, this is the end of the road for lobi stars, I don’t see lobi winning games away to either Wyda in the returning fixture or mamelodi sundown away. And as things stand now, lobi will only pick point against Asec Mimosas in their remaining game.
The NFF should raise the standard beyond what it is, if our club side must make any impact in both CCL and CCC. Our league is struggling, and some clubs can’t even afford proper travel arrangements to honour matches, some clubs owe their players for 3 month, no match bonus, no salary no good pitch to play good football, how should we expect our clubs to compete with the best in Africa where these incentives are not lacking, with the North Africans and Southern Africa lead the way.
Our league players are running in their numbers to some countries where the league is not well known, but, because the money the club’s pay are far better than what is obtainable back home.
I think it is time for the government to force corporate firms and organization to sponsor at least one club side in Nigeria.
The likes of MTN, GLO, Airtel, Etisate, Dangote, Oil companies in Nigeria etc. With more incentives and good administration our league will be more attractive and competitive, and that will attract the best in Africa and beyond to come and play in our league. And some SE players can still come back home and play in out domestic league.
It is up to the NFF and the Nigeria government to look into the down fall of our clubs side in CAF competition. Enough is enough, Nigeria is not a push over in football in Africa, so one will expect our club side to win medals too. Apart from Enyimba FC, during the former governor Orji Uzoh Kalu, who pump money into the club to enable them get the best leg to executive their CCL. And the club didn’t disappoint the state and Nigeria, that is how it should be. Football is a very big business, we truly want to see Nigeria clubs doing well CAF competition.
Very well written piece. Thank you so much.
Yes, our league needs a radical overhaul in order to attract, develop and retain, not just the best players in Nigeria, but the best players across the continent – just like the north African and South African leagues.
The Major problem with our administrators is dat they expect Mighty Wonders from a very poor and porous setup. My brother, u cannot order for a bicycle with 15,000 naira and get a Rolls Royce of 150M delivered to u. It is an abomination. We have a problem with administration in this country. The right thinkers are not just there.
We expect Lobi to work wonders, yet nobody considers how Lobi “qualified” for the champions League.
The league was halted prematurely and after months of wrangling they were”coronated” champions half way through the season. Then they went months without kicking a football.
Lobi then recruited a whole host of players in December getting ready for January league season’s start. And then after the game against Gor Mahia their Captain left for Vietnam to play in the league there and others followed out to other leagues.
They cannot play CAF matches at home because “no airport” Makurdi airport is limited, so they travel to Enugu for matches and are now playing against teams across Africa who have been playing together since August. In my book they have over achieved already.
What are the problems with our local football?
1. Govts running clubs. State govts that cannot pay workers salaries are running 90% of our league. Kano Pillars has the Kano state House of reps impose a manager in the team. Imagine a politician taking footballing decisions? Inexperienced people with no business running a mobile phone top up business are interfering with footballing matters. And the football clubs are subject to state sports budgets
Football needs private investors and stakeholders who know about the game (ex players, media people, sports scientists and businessmen with expertise in growing commercial enterprises to invest.
2. Multiple streams of income. Aside from gate fees, how many clubs have stores on site selling merchandising? Jerseys, mugs, car stickers, face caps, children’s ware etc? How many have sponsors who can sponsor sporting equipment or team jerseys? How many have conference centres or halls to hire for parties? How many have advertising contracts in their stadia?
3. Youth development and player policy. Teams should have a youth set up. Under 10, under 15, under 17 under 20 and under 23 teams. Under 10s aligned with local schools, and under 15 etc aligned with local academies in order to discover and track the development of players. Transfer policy needs to be transparent.
With all the multi million pound sales of players the last season, we don’t know how much sell on fees went back to the clubs. Moses Simon and Kalu army for a combined £12m. If the clubs had a 2% sell on fee, then that would be £260,000 from players that left Nigeria years ago
4. Personal interests rather than club or national interest. The sports minister Vs NFF board. NPFL Vs NNL. LMC Vs clubs. Club chairman Vs players. The aggro is non stop. Someone is always fighting someone and it’s the players that suffer. A player has a contract with a club, but because of fighting the league stops and this player is responsible for house rent, school fees, feeding his family and general bills, bit he had not worked for 7 months. How long does he hold on for? League has started but he is in debt now because he has been borrowing since and no salary has been coming. Is it any reason that an Enugu Rangers player takes a six month contract two days before a CAF Confederations Cup match to go to a second division team in Saudi Arabia for $150,000? How long will be have to play in Nigeria to earn that kind of money. And even if he plays will they pay him on time?
Abeg let me stop with these 4 points first. Slowly slowly catch monkey. Nigeria has been performing miracles for years, and we will need more muscles for the whole of 2019 because it will take until the end of the year for the hangover of 2018 to subside
@ Oga Big D. I doff my hat for you. You have said a whole lot. and every word you have said makes a lot of sense. We cant reap where we did not sow. Lobi stars IMHO has over achieved by even reaching the group stages of the CCL. You need to go and see the facilites these other teams liek wydad and sundwons have and your jaw will almost fall on the ground. Football has gone beyond selecting 11 players based on a 442 or 555 or 666 formation and lining them up on the pitch to chase a round leather. Management, Administration, Welfare, Science etc…..everything combines to produce the extra effect we see from these big international teams, especially at the club level.
There’s not much to add to what you have said. But when we will ever get it right is what i really dont know. And its not about the man in aso villa now…its about the average Nigerian who is given the mandate to run these institutions and make them work, but would rather exploit the system to enrich himself.