The decision of head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle to hand a late call up to FC Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi came as a surprise to the 28 year old, OwnGoalNigeria.com reveals.

The injury to Werder Bremen defender Felix Agu made the coach who initially left the back to fitness defender out of his team for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Lesotho and Benin Republic respectively.

Zaidu hasn’t been involved with the team since the last AFCON, where he returned back to Porto with an injury that kept him out for the rest of the season, and even beyond .

He returned to full fitness this season, and scored his first goal of the season last weekend, which was his seventh league game of the season. He has also played in two games in the Europa league.

” I was surprised when I didn’t make it to the initial list of 23 players for the games because I have been playing a lot of games. However that doesn’t matter and I am ready to contribute my part to ensure that we make it to the World Cup. It’s a difficult situation but we can do it”, Zaidu told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

An idea on how head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will approach Friday’s world cup qualifiers game against Lesotho has been made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Nigeria will go into the game looking for a huge scoreline win to keep alive their fading hopes of making it to the 2026 World Cup, where they are presently joint third in their group, three points behind joint leaders Benin Republic and South Africa respectively.

Chelle will be going all out in the game against Lesotho in the event that any of the two teams ahead of Nigeria slips in their game. The coach will be hoping his team score at least three or more goals for the first time since he was employed as coach.

Rather than go with a 4-4-2 diamond, the coach will instead use a flat 4-4-2 with the idea that they start the game on the strong foot in attack. He will deploy a double strike force of Tolu Arokodare and Victor Osimhen.

He will likely keep the duo of Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman on the right and left flank respectively. While the midfield two will be Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi.

We gathered the idea is to ensure that they carry a healthy goal difference into the final game against Benin Republic in Uyo next week.

A top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says the withdrawal of Eritrea from the world cup qualifiers, which left their group with a team less unlike other groups will likely benefit the Super Eagles based on past antecedents, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Eritrea were to play their games in group E alongside Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania and Niger in World Cup qualifiers, but withdrew in November 2023 before the first game leaving the group with five teams rather than six.

It means teams in the group will play lesser games than others in the group with six teams, which will be an undue advantage when the classification is done for second place teams for the playoff featuring the best four teams in second position.

In previous cases, FIFA, CAF and UEFA have used a method of deducting points across all groups in matches against the bottom teams of their group to make it even before deciding on the team that finishes second to even things up.

” The moment I saw your report on it. I informed my colleagues in the NFF and we made contact based on it and it’s indeed factual. In the past FIFA has used it and even CAF. So it’s an advantage to us at the moment if they end up doing it the way it has been done in the past”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” However our aim is still to make it as group winners so a heavy score win in our last two games with the hope that results elsewhere go our way is the target. It’s still very possible as long as there is a mathematical chance”.

Head coach of the senior national team of Zimbabwe Michael Nees has assured that his team will go all out for a positive result against South Africa despite having a near zero chance of qualifying for the world cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nees said his team who are bottom of the group still have a role to play in the final group standing starting with the game against South Africa on Friday. He made this known in an interview with Herald Online.

“We have a massive responsibility to be fair sportsmen, fair competitors, and to bring our best on the pitch in the first game and in the second game also,” Nees said. “It’s our duty as sportsmen.”

When asked if going all out against South Africa means doing a favour to other teams, who are pushing for the group’s sole ticket notably Benin Republic and Nigeria. Nees cleared the air.

“We cannot just experiment here and there because this would be almost interpreted as unfair competition, and we cannot afford that. FIFA is looking at us,” he added.

“Especially against South Africa, there’s a lot at stake. We want to represent the country with pride and patriotism, and in the best possible way, against one of the top five teams in Africa. And it will be a full house, packed,” the 58-year-old added.

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria will only have 48 hours training session before the game against Lesotho on Friday in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria head into the game needing a win to keep alive their chances of making it to the world cup, and could go level on point with the group leaders Benin Republic, if they slip up against Rwanda and South Africa suffer a similar fate.

The nature of the games means they should be early and prompt preparation, but that is not the case with the Nigerian teams with majority of the players not expected to be in camp until on Tuesday.

Air tickets for almost all the players were booked for Monday night, including those who played on Saturday and would have arrived camp at the earliest on Sunday or Monday.

Players of the team are very unhappy with the development and six of them who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, accused the NFF of messing their travel plans with the poor arrangements.

It means those who arrive on Monday will only get to take part in a shake off drill in the evening, with technical and tactical training set to begin on Wednesday, which is 48 hours to the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

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Chelsea vs Liverpool, October 4

In the autumn, Chelsea became too vulnerable, which can be explained by the strain the team endured at the summer’s main club tournament. The trophy didn’t protect them from injuries, and the absence of Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill became a serious problem. As a result, the Londoners have failed to win three EPL matches in a row.

Liverpool kept snatching the necessary points in the last minutes, but even this machine’s engine doesn’t always run smoothly. The Reds lost to Crystal Palace (1-2) and then left Istanbul with no points after the Champions League match against Galatasaray (0-1). The expensive newcomers aren’t adapting as quickly as Arne Slot wanted.

Odds: W1 – 2.983, X – 3.935, W2 – 2.347

Real Madrid vs Villarreal, October 4

Real Madrid have won 8 out of 9 games this season, but what everyone is interested in isn’t the victories over underdogs, but what happened in the derby against Atlético (2-5). One failure by Xabi Alonso attracted more attention than all his victories. Can the Meringues put in a convincing performance against strong opponents, or are they just a machine for destroying those who are weaker?

Marcelino, Villarreal’s coach, has more experience than Alonso. The Yellow Submarine is capable of playing attacking football as well as relying on counterattacks. This team is definitely thinking about winning and isn’t going to Madrid like a lamb to the slaughter.

Odds: W1 – 1.507, X – 5.28, W2 – 6.15

Juventus vs Milan, October 5

Under Igor Tudor, Juventus are like a young tiger. The team is moving away from the traditional image of a pragmatic giant and living up to its name by playing youthful football, with lots of mistakes and even more desire to act spectacularly. As a result, Juve are more and more often ending matches with scores of 4-4 or 4-3.

Milan are led by Max Allegri on the bench and Luka Modrić on the pitch – two lions who still have a huge desire to win. This great duo may make mistakes, but 12 points in 5 games prove that they want to become champions once again.

Odds: W1 – 2.741, X – 3.315, W2 – 2.865

Lille vs Paris Saint-Germain, October 5

During the off-season, Lille sold many of their leaders, but this club is accustomed to finding replacements and developing players. Their last two Ligue 1 matches brought the Mastiffs two defeats with an aggregate score of 0-4, but they are ready to lick their wounds and play with dignity against the champions.

Paris Saint-Germain, an official partner of 1xBet, are demonstrating remarkable resilience. A large number of injuries led to defeat against Marseille (0-1), but coach Luis Enrique adapted to the problems and found a way to beat Barcelona at Montjuïc (2-1).

Odds: W1 – 4.56, X – 4.25, W2 – 1.783

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Newly signed Inter Milan defender Manuel Akanji has opened up on the reason why he played for the national team of Switzerland ahead of the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Akanji who joined the Italian giants after a highly successful three seasons stint with Manchester City has 73 caps for Switzerland at senior level, after progressing from their youth teams.

He was eligible to play for Nigeria before making his senior international bow for Switzerland in 2017. He however still carry a tattoo of the logo of the Super Eagles of Nigeria on his arm.

“This is the eagle, from the Nigerian national team, with the football under it. It’s something I carry with me,” he explained.

Akanji went forward to explain why he decided to play for Switzerland despite his proud Nigerian background and heritage.

“Obviously, I play for the Swiss national team, but I’m still really proud of being Nigerian. I could only make one decision, but they are still with me all the way. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to Nigeria. It’s hard for me to go back because I don’t have a break in the winter, and summer is the rainy season, so you never really know what you’re going to get, but when I was young, I went there three or four times.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Czech Republic side Viktoria Plzen picked up their first win in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League with a 3-0 win over Swedish side Malmo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fresh from scoring in their opening 1-1 draw against Hungarian side Ferencvaros, Nigerian forward Rafiu Durosinmi was once again on the score sheet in yesterday’s win.

He was the fastest to react to a loose ball in the box to tap home the second goal for his side with a minute left before the half time break. It was his 8th goal of the season.

22 year old Durosinmi who saw a huge career move to German side Eintracht Frankfurt crashed after picking up a serious knee injury has firing on all fronts this season.

In the league he has three goals in nine games, two in four games in the Champions League Qualifiers and one in the only cup game he has played this season.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior team of Nigeria Eric Chelle didn’t do justice to squad balance in his list of 23 players called up for the world cup qualifiers games against Lesotho and Benin Republic respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle picked three goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and nine forwards which includes five centre forwards in top striker Victor Osimhen, Cyriel Dessers, Jerome Akor, Terem Moffi and Tolu Arokodare.

All five players are primarily centre forwards meaning none can play behind the main man in Chelle’s preferred two man attack. He also surprisingly called up just four midfielders in Alhassan Yusuf, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi. Only Iwobi can be said to be an attacking midfielder who can create chances for the forwards.

The Malian knowning fully well that his team need to win both games to stand a chance of making it to the world cup has taken a gamble to go for goal scorers at the expense of squad balance.

His idea is to get enough goals to help the team’s goal difference which will at the end be used as a tie breaker, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that in games like this where defeat is not an option having a balance squad is a must.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers ( Panathinaikos F.C Greece.); Tolu Arokodare (Wolves England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has settled for the 23 players that will prosecute the final two games in the world cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic respectively.

OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal that Chelle dropped Crystal Palace new signing Uche Chrisantus who has struggled for game time since his move to the English Premier League side.

His spot was handed to Sevilla forward Jerome Akor who scored his first goal of the season last weekend. The former Nigeria U20 forward is the only new player in the team.

Chelle also handed another chance to Russia based Olakunle Olusegun who made his debut in the friendly game against Russia.

There is also a return for centre back Semi Ajayi who is back from injury and the duo of Terem Moffi and Alhassan Yusuf who were all not in the squad for the last round of games.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Adebayo Adeleye.

Defenders: Felix Agu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi, Benjamin Fredrick, Calvin Bassey, William Ekong, Semi Ajayi.

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf.

Forwards: Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers, Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams, Olakunle Olusegun