Emmanuel Dennis bagged his eight Premier League goal which unfortunately was not enough as Watford lost 4-1 at home to West Ham United in the Premier League game on Tuesday.
Dennis’ Nigerian teammate William Troost-Ekong was not included in Watford squad for the game.
The former Club Brugge forward now had a direct hand in 10 of Watford’s last 13 goals.
Watford got off to the best start in the 5th minute after Joshua King slide the ball to Dennis who shift it onto his left foot and then fired the ball into the top corner.
Also Read: 2021 AFCON: Super Eagles Group Opponent Sudan Arrive Cameroon
But the bright performance the goal encouraged never materialised and West Ham were soon in full control to raise the pressure on Claudio Ranieri, whose side have now lost their last five games.
Watford hung on against mounting West Ham pressure, but eventually their defences were finally breached as Tomas Soucek fired in Jarrod Bowen’s slide-rule pass to level on 27 minutes.
Just two minutes after equalizing, West Ham went 2-1 ahead. Michail Antonio’s run to the byline gave him time to look up and find Benrahma, who beat Daniel Bachmann courtesy of a kind nick off Adam Masina.
West Ham captain Mark Noble made it 3-1 on 58 minutes from the penalty spot before Nikola Vlasic added the fourth in the 92nd minute.
Watford remain outside the bottom three (17th place on 13 points) but they have not picked up a single point since costing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job against Manchester United on November 20.
For West Ham, they jump above Tottenham into fifth, four points off Arsenal in the final Champions League spot.
In other fixtures, Crystal Palace hammered bottom side Norwich 3-0 at Selhurst Park and 10-man Southampton battled Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 home draw.
By James Agberebi
Got what it Takes?
Predict and Win Millions Now
44 Comments
Thank God Ekong did not play today own… Let him regain some confidence before Afcon atleast.
I wish to see this guy behind Osimhen in a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation I want to see how his strength and skill will trouble defenders and allow Osimhen’s agility and incredible skill finish a game for us. I’ve always been a proponent gegennressing where players regroup immediately to recover any ball lost , no matter how high up the field the field is. Can Eguaveom give is that team that will understand the fact the best time to regain possesion is when it is lost, a period when the opponent in possession will be most vulnerable in determine what to do with the ball? Has anyone noticed this is what Algeria does now which makes them so difficult to deal with? I can’t wait to see a change in tactics, a change in selection, a change in formation , a change in attitude and of course,a change in mentality of of superstars who are yet to live up our expectations.
Dennis just got to the premier league and is already scoring goals. Only Salah has more goal involvments than him. Dennis is on a team that might be relegated because of poor defense, 4-1 today Yet Jalimu Collins keeps getting called up stay being on a relegated german club for more than 3 years. What type of recruiting does this crap team do?
@Shuma I am not sure I get your point. Dennis has been rewarded with a call up for the Afcon.
Oh my God look at Ndidi!!!!!
Than God for Schmeichel
Stop spamming this page about Leicester vs Liverpool. This page is about Dennis, wait for the Leicester game later then you can comment. Idk why people stay doing that like somebody gluing their eyes just to look for a comment about the current game that has nothing to do with the post. Incompetent people
Can’t believe we did not call lookman into the SE for afcon. What a player! He has to be included in the team for the world cup play off.
Hmmm. Ndidi reminds us once again that he’s a world class center back.
Nice one from Lookman.
Oh yes. Musa must retired as soon as Nations is over and allow that space for lookman. I watched lookman against Man city and Liverpool and he was a handful for both teams . whatever experience Musa is bringing to the team we fans say No to it. We need lookman . Thank you Musa captain fantastic . ur time is up .
Ndidi is better in central defence than those we currently have there… I wish he will play central defence during our playoffs and Kingsley Michael can take his place in DM with either Bonke or Frank(even though I dont yet believe so much in him)…
Ademola Lookman is very agile, quick, intelligent and fleetfooted he can be a real gain for Nigeria anywhere in the final third… Lookman towers far above Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Chukwueze and Musa in end-product and efficiency… what a player! Lookman should be the first name on our Qatar 2022 World Cup List… I watch 95% of his game and Tosin Adarabioyo last term in the premier league…
I’m still hurting that Lookman and Ejaria were not invited to the Afcon. We need more news on what is really going on. Has the switch not been approved yet, are the lads not willing, or is the delay coming from NFF? I wonder!
Top marks brother man
Nigeria should try to get the rennes player lesley ugochukwu. He is very strong and passes well. His weakness though is that he is not that quick. Kingsley Michael is player I also like. A ball winner and excellent passing range. I will pick him over Frank Onyeka.
With Ndidi’s performance today against a full strength Liverpool, perhaps our 3 starting center backs for SE should be:
Awaziem, Ndidi, Balogun.
He will be missed in the midfield, but what we lose in the middle, we gain in defense.
@Pompei… may God bless you real good! I like your objectivity as well as practicality… with what Ndidi is doing… he is proving to be even better in central defence that defensive midfield.
Amen. Same to you, Jimbo!
That’s very true my guys, Ndidi was pivotal in the defence today. But am not surprised because that is where he started his career before Genk’s coach converted him to midfield thinking his slim body build is not strong enough for a central defender
Why is Ademola Lukman not yet in Super Eagles set up?? I don’t seem to get it. NFF we the fans want to know why Lukman is not in our squad yet.
We should also ask the corrupt Amaju Pinick and his NFF why Akinkunmi Amoo was not included as one of the midfielders because I don’t know who’s going to be our attacking midfielder at the AFCON.
Can you imagine bringing Sheu, Ighalo, Musa to the tournament at the expense of young and talented footballer like Lookman and Amoo? That explains the reason we have not moved forward as a country.
@Pompei and Jimmyball , I submit totally to Ur Observation about Ndidi at center back..To shut out the best attack in Europe no be beans at. With what Ekong offers currently we can move Ndidi down there and get a very decent and balanced team.
I am not sure about Ndidi at CB , he has caused 2 penalties (watford & Liverpool ) in recent games. if Salah had scored , I am not sure we would be singing his praise.I suspect Ekong might sit it out ,paving way for CB pairing of Balogun and Awaziem at the afcon.
Agreed, four four two.
Ndidi caused a penalty, but that was his only flaw in a pulsating, high tension game. VERY CALM, EFFICIENT DEFENDING.
If he hadn’t made the tackle that caused the penalty and Salah had scored, critics will still complain and ask why he did not tackle.
Yes, Ndidi needs to be more careful with his tackling in future games. But for me, he had a great game today in the center back position. He is a great center back option for us at the Afcon. If Eguavoen decides to try him in that position, I would have no issues with that.
Amoo would have been a fantastic option for us at the Afcon.
Let him keep working hard. He will soon get the recognition he deserves.
Imagine if we had Dressers,Amoo,Lukman,Ejaria and Ebuehi in this super eagles squad! It would’ve been something worth celebrating but for the corrupt NFF officials managing our football they’re depriving us of having our best and most talented players. NFF please stop interfering in players selection and also stop using super eagles as a platform or medium to sell your players.
NFF bring in Amoo,Dressers,Lukman,Adeleye,Ebuehi,Bassey and Ejaria. And respectfully remove Musa,Ighalo,John noble,Akpeyi,Omerou,Shehu and Collins after the Nations cup. Simple as ABC and stop playing politics with our football.
Lookman the bomb, always believed in this player, nimble footed, skillful, a pocket dynamite in transition. Always a joy to watch. Ummmhhh Ndidi the midfield/ defence warlord. Eguavoen/NFF has no excuse. God bless all deserving SE, God bless Nigeria. Fly high high high high….AWUUUUUUUURAAAAAA
None of those at the glasshouse will give you a reasonable explanation on why Lookman isn’t in the team. All you’ll hear is grammar upon grammar, doing some damage control. Pinnick himself knows the kind of value this guy is bringing into the team. Evuaveon knows too. But politics and quota system won’t allow them do the right thing. Nobody should be surprised why we ain’t doing well anymore. I’m yet to be convinced why DESSERS, LOOKMAN AMD AKPOGUMA don’t deserve to be in Cameroon. I mean these are players doing do well for their clubs, I mean clubs in top leagues of Europe. Yet one guy from Saudi Arabia made the team. Another from Cyprus, and out guy in Turkey whose club I can’t even pronounce the name. So unfamiliar.
Has anyone noticed how USA is using every opportunity to cap and tie down players with dual nationalities, irrespective of where they play? Nigeria has lost Daryl Dike to them. Ghana has lost Musah. We also Ugbo. I know if Lookman were an American or has any connection to that country, he would probably be in that team by now.
May God give us the wisdom to the right thing. NFF, I hail o
God bless you for saying this out @Papafem. I have been saying this for so many times that Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria. You can see that clearly now.
It is beyond talking talking talking every day but we need to take action if we have to get a place called home/team.
It’s reaching a point that we all have to go to Amaju Pinnick, Eguavoen, Buhari and other top officials pages on social media to show our concerns otherwise, they won’t change.
How can NFF/Eguavoen invited Ighalo, Akpeyi, John Noble and Shehu into camp when we have Dessers, Lookman, Ejaria, Nwobodo, Adeleye, Ajiboye, Akpoguma and Ebuehi? I still can’t believe this kę.
If we ask some of us on this forum why inclusion of Ighalo, they will tell you he have to be there because of his experience. Does that sound good. Was he not there at the last Afcon and the world cup and what was the out come?
How about Akpeyi? When we have Adeleye? Ajiboye in NPFL? Why John Noble?
We should not allow NFF to hire a foreign coach after the Afcon in Cameroon.
Instead, NFF should get these coaches involved.
1. Eguavoen
2. Amunike
3. Egbo
4. Finidi
5. Marnu Gerba
We have good goalies available for selections but corruption won’t letting Agu do his job accordingly.
To say the least we have,
1. Uzoho
2. Adeleye
3. Ajiboye
4. Okoye
These are the best goalies we have at the moment.
But what Akpeyi and John Noble got to do in the Super Eagles? That I don’t know.
Okoye is for the future though. He is still learning.
That Agu should be sacked too. Peter Rufai can do much better than that Agu. After the Afcon, we have to make the move again.
If we can have Ikeme among the goal keeper trainers for the world cup qualifiers, that will be fantastic.
1. Peter Rufai
2. Ike Shorunmu
3. Enyeama
4. Ikeme
Three of these coaches are good enough to replace Agu.
To face the reality, they can not do anything unless Amaju Pinnick, Diko, Sheyi and all the current NFF members vacate their positions.
We don’t need a foreign coach when we have our “own” but all we need is transparency.
We can not continue this way my people.
This is very annoying. Well, that is Nigeria for us all.
You’ve started again…. Eguavoen havn’t even spent up to a month in office u have started your normal criticism on him.
The other day u were busy singing his praise like no other, today u here peddling all kinds of criticism on him.
Oga @omo9ja watch your ways.
@ Omo9ja,
Have you ever heard the word ego; what makes you think all of those names you dropped up there can or will ever agree to work together. Who takes the final decision(s)?
Some of us just act and talk without knowing the dynamics of how things actually work I swear. There is no list that can ever satisfy all interests, this is true not just in Nigeria. In Belgium, Origi never gets to play in Liverpool but he is a consistent member of the NT.
Coaches are paid to do their jobs and not dictated to. Constructive criticism is good right but when it gets too extreme especially when you are not a trained coach and privy to certain happenings and events behind the scene it becomes something else. It’s just like me coming to your office to tell you how best to do your job…
Abeg make una dey allow these coaches do their jobs joor
I noticed lookman is more effective playing from the left wing than on the right. The last two game Barnes missed due to injury he had scored in those two games.
Like a fish to water, he is definitely more suited to the left. He is almost like a play making winger in the mould of hazard but the clueless people at the glass house do not get it. He was pivotal at winning the u20 world cup for England. A battle hardened player and our administrators are playing politics. FRANCE is made up of predominantly foreign(african) players and you would not hear things like quota system , experience etc. Do you know that if amaju was the French federation president, he would still call matuigi (based on experience)to play for them. Matuigi plays in the USA league but the French coach did not deem it worthy to hand him a recall.
This is typical of every leadership position in this country, they go out and see how things are done in progressive countries but they never adopt them but rather stick to their sentimental political ways. Why cant we copy france for example? Proponents of local content are not any better too, why shoumd we have a quota allocation based on tribe and on the fact that they play locally. The best players should play for the country period! French players play based on their birth and we try to ostracize foreign players who have Nigerian blood. We then want to win world cup based on sentiments? Self deceit is tragic.
It’s criminal to keep lookman out of SE for any reason whatsoever.
That is why I said why will you trim 40man list without proper assessment. It is only Criminal!!!
Every body is just shouting Lookman! lookman!! Are we sure he has been cleared by FIFA to represent Nigeria?
For everyone asking about the inclusion of Lookman in the AFCON squad, this is the situation. Lookman is still on loan at LCFC. He is trying to get a permanent deal with them at the end of the season. Leaving for AFCON in the middle of the season would do his chances no good. On the back of this, he respectfully asked to be left out for now and promised to join the team for the world cup qualifiers. And yes, his switch to Nigeria was approved by FIFA a couple of months ago.
How did you get this information.You sound as though u were there when the conversation took place…..Do you work for the Nff?
Stop being naive how long did it take Canada to get Ike Ugbo? Lookman was not selected for NFF’s reason.
Look, Let’s just say that I am fairly close to most of the UK-born players of Nigerian extraction. What I have written is the fact. NFF might try to spin it while protecting the player and themselves. There are a lot of inaccurate stories making the rounds. Lookman is definitely approved to play for Nigeria, he is just trying to secure his positon/contract with Leicester first!
You’re right @Sunny. Lookman is already cleared by FIFA to play for Nigeria it was a common decision between the player and Eguavoen to let him focus on his club football for now and will duly be available for the WorldCup qualifiers playoffs. He’s definitely one for the nearest future.
In another news NFF have finally hired Jose Paseiro a Portuguese as the SuperEagles coach post AFCON. He will work with Eguavoen at the AFCON as team observer. Lmao!! From French German to Portuguese!! You see our problem has never been to let Rohr go, but who will replace him?? I hope Paseiro can get the best out of this team. At least he’s a neutral foreign coach who I’m sure will select his team on current form.
What then happens of Eguavoen wins the tournament? Hasn’t the confused NFF (according to media reports) guaranteed him the job on a permanent basis should he bring the Cup home?
Wired!
Deo don’t worry yourself Eguavoen is not calling the shot in Cameroon, he will have to take advices from Paseiro starting from training camp. Lmao!! The good thing is that our boys won’t be in camp until Monday.