The return of Maduka Okoye for Udinese has sparked debates on Stanley Nwabali continuing as the first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye made his return from a three months suspension owing to a betting scandal that happened last season in their game against Lazio. He was immediately reinstated as the number one goalkeeper.

He showed no rustiness with three one on one saves fouling any attempts by Cremonese to take the lead or snatch a win with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.

His return coincides with when Nwabali is having a difficult time in goal for the Super Eagles with his error leading to a goal in the 2-1 win over Lesotho, aside many blunders which went unpunished.

As expected it has led to calls for Okoye to return as first choice of the team ahead of Nwabali when the team regroup next month for the world cup qualifiers playoff, where they will play Gabon with the expectation of playing one of either Congo Dr or Cameroon who will play in the other semi final.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

AC Milan right back Zachary Athekame has opened up on his Nigerian roots after making the breakthrough at Italian Serie A side AC Milan, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Athekame has slowly played himself into the first team picture at AC Milan following his move in the summer from Switzerland side Neuchâtel Xamax in the summer. Head coach Max Allegri has shown unwavering faith in him.

So far he has played three games including his first start yesterday in the 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the league. He was on for 57 minutes and was subbed off seven minutes after he was yellow carded.

Speaking after his debut for the U21 of Switzerland, where he was born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother. He spoke glowingly about his Nigerian background and also dreams of international football.

” My father is Nigerian so the option of playing for them was an option, but I am clear on what I want and it’s why I am here at the moment”, he said in an interview two years ago.

He made 13 appearances at that level for Switzerland before making the step up to the senior team following his maiden call up by head coach Murat Yakin for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Slovenia on 13 October 2025, in which he didn’t get to play any part in a goalless draw.

It means he is still eligible to play for Nigeria at senior level, but that is not an option that appears to be on the radar for now.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Out of favour Nigeria international midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has been told he stands no chance of playing for English League One side Barnsley by head coach Conor Hourihane , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwakali fell out of favour at the club after returning late from his holiday in Nigeria, and was told to look for another club during the summer transfer window with two years left on his contract.

The 27 year old couldn’t get any suitors and remained at the club beyond the summer transfer window, leading the club to relegate him to their U21 team where he has been the past two months.

Reports say he is a changed person now as he turns up early for training and during games he is said to be a very hardworker, but the coach insist that his time at the club is up.

Speaking to the Barnsley Chronicle, Hourihane said: “Do I see him breaking back in? Probably not if I am being totally honest. It’s the same message from the summer. We’re looking for the best scenario for club and player. I probably don’t see him fitting into the way we want to play – being really energetic, aggressive and high-tempo.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is considering handing Paul Onuachu another chance with the senior national team of Nigeria after his recent rush of goals for Turkish side Trabzonspor, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Onuachu has found the back of the net 7 times in 9 games this season in Turkey, and seems to have done enough to catch the attention of Chelle with Terem Moffi set to miss out on the games due to a thigh injury.

We exclusively gathered that Chelle has been sufficiently impressed with Onuachu’s performance in Turkey and has watched him in the last two games. He is said to be impressed with his hold up play and his ability to wriggle out of tight spaces due to his height.

Also the fact that he also carries an aerial threat has caught Chelle’s attention owing to the fact that the team is built around whipping in crosses to the target man.

He is now set to be named in the provisional list for the games, and more likely to make the enlarged squad for the mini tournament next month which will be played in Morocco for a spot in the world cup.

Ade Emmanuel

Former Nigeria International Efe Ambrose says Victor Osimhen is enjoying his best spell in front of goal for the Super Eagles because of the tactics of head coach Eric Chelle, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen has found the back of the net six times in six games under the coach including a hattrick in the 4-0 win over Benin Republic, which sealed a spot in the world cup qualifiers playoff for the team.

Speaking on the turnaround is Osimhen’s game under the coach, Ambrose said it’s a function of the way the team attacks under Chelle with Osimhen now playing very close to other attacking players unlike previous systems, where he has to play with his back to goal more often.

” Chelle has liberated Osimhen with his two man attack formation. It means Osimhen is now focus on running behind rather than chasing balls and also getting involved in build up by dropping to the midfield”, Ambrose who already has a UEFA B coaching licence explained.

” Six goals in five games isn’t something that happens without a proper setup on how to attack. He will score more in the playoff in November”, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has hold talks over a new pay package after leading the team to the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle was appointed in January as coach of the Super Eagles after a poor start to the campaign ana he succeeded in turning the fortunes of the team around, with four wins and two draws in the six games that he handled.

The team picked up the slot to compete at the world cup qualifiers playoff in November after dispatching Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo. The coach is now set to be rewarded with an improved pay and bonus package.

As first reported by veteran Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Shehu Dikko met with the agent of the Malian Abraham Ibrahim Sidibe in Lagos on Sunday, where it was agreed that he will get a new bonus package if he qualifies the team for the world cup via the playoff.

Also his outstanding allowances, which we were made to believe doesn’t include salaries will be paid to him before next month to enable him concentrate on the games, where they will be up against Gabon in their bid to reach the final, with Cameroon and Congo Dr playing in the other semi final.

However his two years contract still remains in place, and will be triggered if the team qualifies for the world cup. Our source was however silent on what will be his fate in the event that they fail to qualify.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Ikorodu City FA emerged champions of the https://1xbet.ng/ 2025 defeating ISAGT 1-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

The victory cemented their status as the tournament’s most formidable defensive side and earned them a ₦10m prize.

ISAGT, who narrowly missed out on the title after a crucial defensive lapse in the 72nd minute, secured the runner-up spot and ₦5m in winnings.

Earlier in the day, Dosu Joseph FC claimed third place with a determined 2-1 comeback win over Nath Boys FA, pocketing ₦3m.

Nath Boys struck first in the 15th minute, but Dosu Joseph FC capitalised on their opponent’s errors with two quick goals early in the second half, sealing the contest.

The final day capped a spectacular edition of the https://1xbet.ng/, Nigeria’s largest amateur football tournament, organised by 1xBet.

This year, over 450 teams vied for glory, underscoring the sport’s popularity nationwide.

Individual accolades also highlighted the event. Ikorodu City FA’s Wellington Egor was named Best Coach, Adewale Quadri (Nath Boys FA) earned MVP honors, and Uche Emeribe (Vinmo Energy FA) finished as top scorer.

Additional awards went to standout performers and teams, further enhancing the competitive spirit of the tournament.

1xCup CEO Alhaji Waheed Akanni lauded the finale, describing the atmosphere as “electrifying,” with the tournament uniting football fans and fostering grassroots sport across the nation.

With the conclusion of this milestone event, anticipation is already building for the 1xCup 2026, promising even greater excitement for Nigerian amateur football.

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, says his earnest desire is for the Super Eagles of Nigeria not to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria booked a spot in the playoff after a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in their final game of the qualifiers, a result which also helped South Africa to qualify as group leaders to the tournament.

Super Eagles will take part in a four team playoff tournament in Morocco next month, where they will begin their campaign against Gabon for a spot in the final against either Cameroon or Congo Dr who will be involved in the other game of the mini tournament.

The winner will qualify for the intercontinental playoff, where two teams will get a ticket to be at the world cup tournament. Despite what seems like a favour from Nigeria with the win over Benin Republic, Gayton insist that it’s wasn’t a favour and hope that Nigeria fail in the playoff.

“I hear people say Nigeria did us a favour. Don’t they want to go to the World Cup themselves? No, man… everybody for himself”, he said on Marawa live during an interview. The minister then went further, declaring:

“We must support Nigeria to lose. I don’t want them to go to the World Cup. I want to make it very clear. I wish for them not to qualify for the world cup. I just want to make that one clear they tried. I knew what they did behind the scenes. You’re far better man than me. I knew what they did behind the seasoned for us not to get there.

I want them to lose. They must not go to the World Cup. . I give the energy you give. Yeah, they don’t like us. We don’t like them. And that’s soccer. And it’s not personal. Yeah, it’s like Chiefs and Pirates.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has received recommendation from its technical committee to sack the head coach of the U17 team Manu Garba after failing to qualify for the U17 AFCON for the second time in a row, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Manu who is rated as one of the most successful Nigerian coach at that level failed to make the most of the trust shown in him by the NFF, when they decided to retain him despite failing to make the AFCON last year.

His recent failure at the WAFU B tournament left the technical committee of the football body with no alternative but to recommend his sack. A move which is expected to be approved by the president Ibrahim Musa Gusua.

Meanwhile the coach of the U20 Aliyu Zubairu is also set for the exit despite reaching the semi final of the U20 World Cup, where they were thrashed 4-0 by Argentina.

Zubairu’s contract per what we exclusively gathered expired at the end of the U20 World Cup, and a decision not to renew it has already been made by the NFF technical committee.

Wife of Nigeria international forward Moses Simon Mrs. Ibukun Simon says they are many top prospects in the academy who are in the mould of Super Eagles rave of the moment Benjamin Fredrick, who graduated from the academy.

Fredrick who is on loan to Belgium side FC Dender from English Premier League side Brentford has cemented his spot in the defence of the senior national team of Nigeria in the final four games of the world cup qualifiers.

He played the entirety of the games against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho and Benin Republic, twice as a center back and the rest as a right back and stood out with his performance.

Speaking on the player who was with the academy from the age of 10 to when he finally made his move to Brentford permanent last summer, the CEO of the academy said they have more players like him in their setup.

” We have some of the best young players in Nigeria and many more will likely follow in the footsteps of Fredrick or even better. There is Emmanuel Michael at LASK in Austria as well. The idea is to help as many talented young footballers to achieve their dreams”, she told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

She went further to praise her husband for his support in keeping the standards in the academy, which has been running for almost eight years. ” My husband ensure that I don’t get discouraged when there is a disappointment especially financially. He is much more than just a father figure to the players in the academy”,.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman