A couple of relatively unknown Nigerian players have caught out attention as the season in Europe hots up owing to their performances in top leagues, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Top among them is John Donald who plays in the LaLiga for Elche and scored the winner for the newly promoted side in their 2-1 win over Elche last weekend. Born in Spain to parents of Nigerian descent he hasn’t been capped at any level. He can operate as a defensive midfielder, right back or centre back.

Still in the LaLiga former Nigeria U17 trainee Ovie Ejaria, who also represented England at different youth levels before revealing his willingness to play for Nigeria has impressed mightily for Real Oviedo.

Before succumbing to injury, the former Liverpool youngster who have also had stints in Scotland with league giants Rangers and made his mark in the Championship with Reading hasn’t looked like a player who spent a year without a club.

17 year old Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor who started his rise as a 16 year old at Genoa last season before moving to Atalanta in the summer. So far he has played in their both games on the UEFA Champions League.

In the league he has also started in their last two games with pundits already tipping him as the next big thing to likely emerge from Italy, where he was born to Nigerian parent. Like John he hasn’t been capped at any level.

In the Netherlands there is Gibson Yah, he hasn’t looked out of place playing for newly promoted FC Volendam. The central midfielder who was a part of the youth team setup at Ajax and Utrecht has two assists to his name already.

The 22 year old is termed by many as the revelation of the season so far judging by how he has been able to hold his own against established players in the league. His only cap for the Netherlands came at U15 level keeping him eligible for Nigeria.

Not so many times do you see a 17 year old in the first team of German giants and champions Bayern Munich, but that is the case with Wisdom Mike, who have already made his first team debut by playing in the final six minutes of their 4-0 win over Werder Bremen.

Capped by Germany from U15-U17, his international future is very much in the air without a senior international cap for Germany.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has opted against the inclusion of Ebenezer Akinsamiro in his squad for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games in October, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle has decided to go with experience players for the games against Lesotho and Benin Republic respectively, owing to the crucial nature of both games in their quest to be at the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria will need to win their games and hope results elsewhere goes their way, but Chelle is confident that his team will make it to the tournament and doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned.

To that extent he has decided on handing return to certain players in the team like Terem Moffi, Zaidu Sanusi, Semi Ajayi, Nathan Tella and even the duo of Paul Onuachu and Kelechi Iheanacho are heavily under consideration.

Per what we exclusively gathered, the coach will make the list public later this week before cutting it down to 23 players who will prosecute both games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) says it is disappointed in world football governing body FIFA over their decision to deduct three points from their tally in the world cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

FIFA officially communicated to South Africa the decision which sees them drop to second in the group behind Benin Republic, and also moved their closest rivals for the group sole ticket Nigeria to just one point behind them.

South Africa committed the offence in March when Teboho Mokoena who had two yellow cards from previous games played in the 2-0 win over Lesotho. An offence that automatically triggered a three points, three goals deduction with Lesotho awarded the game on technical grounds.

Reacting through a statement on their official website, SAFA said they are disappointed at the way FIFA arrived at the decision using a one man panel, and didn’t even allow them to present their case before effecting the point deduction.

They made it clear that they will be using the ten day grace to appeal the decision in the coming days, terming it as injustice. They also tendered an apology to the people of South Africa.

“As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the Association an opportunity to present legal arguments. The Association confirms that we have requested written reasons for the judgment and intend to lodge a formal appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee within the prescribed 10-day period under FIFA’s disciplinary rules”.

“Despite the outcome, the Association emphasises its continued commitment to supporting Bafana Bafana in their qualification campaign. The players and the technical team have worked extremely hard to reach this stage, and we remain focused on ensuring they secure maximum points in the matches ahead. We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign. Finally, we call on all South Africans to rally behind the team during this final and crucial stage of the qualifiers”.

The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) says it is disappointed in world football governing body FIFA over their decision to deduct three points from their tally in the world cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

FIFA officially communicated to South Africa the decision which sees them drop to second in the group behind Benin Republic, and also moved their closest rivals for the group sole ticket Nigeria to just one point behind them.

South Africa committed the offence in March when Teboho Mokoena who had two yellow cards from previous games played in the 2-0 win over Lesotho. An offence that automatically triggered a three points, three goals deduction with Lesotho awarded the game on technical grounds.

Reacting through a statement on their official website, SAFA said they are disappointed at the way FIFA arrived at the decision using a one man panel, and didn’t even allow them to present their case before effecting the point deduction.

They made it clear that they will be using the ten day grace to appeal the decision in the coming days, terming it as injustice. They also tendered an apology to the people of South Africa.

“As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the Association an opportunity to present legal arguments. The Association confirms that we have requested written reasons for the judgment and intend to lodge a formal appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee within the prescribed 10-day period under FIFA’s disciplinary rules”.

“Despite the outcome, the Association emphasises its continued commitment to supporting Bafana Bafana in their qualification campaign. The players and the technical team have worked extremely hard to reach this stage, and we remain focused on ensuring they secure maximum points in the matches ahead. We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign. Finally, we call on all South Africans to rally behind the team during this final and crucial stage of the qualifiers”.

Coach of the Nigeria U20 team Aliyu Zubairu has explained the reason behind his team’s opening game loss to Norway at the ongoing U20 World Cup in Chile, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A 9th minute goal from Rasmus Holten ensured that Norway get their campaign at the ongoing U20 World Cup off to a flying start with a 1-0 win over Nigeria.

Nigeria dominated the game especially the second half, but crucially failed to get a goal that would have seen them pick a point that their efforts deserved.

Speaking after the game, the coach lamented the disallowed goal his team scored and also the fact that they were unlucky to convert the numerous chances that came their way during the game.

“It was hard luck. We created several scoring chances and even had a goal disallowed — if that had stood, the game could’ve been different. But that’s football. Possession doesn’t win games; taking chances does, and we failed to do that”, he explained at the post match conference.

“Now, our focus is on the next match against Saudi Arabia where we’ll fight for all 3 points.”

Ade Emmanuel

A 9th minute goal from Rasmus Holten ensured that Norway get their campaign at the ongoing U20 World Cup off to a flying start with a 1-0 win over Nigeria.

Nigeria dominated the game especially the second half, but crucially failed to get a goal that would have seen them pick a point that their efforts deserved.

We pick five players who stood out for the Nigerian team in the game.

Tahir Maigana – The 17 year old was by far the best player on the pitch for both teams with his deft touches, passes and the manner which he get past his marker with ease. Created so many goal scoring opportunities and was a constant menace to the defence of Norway.

Amos Ochoche – A marauding right back who combined his foray upfront with a solid job in defence. Had to shake off the ball and also very good in one against one challenges. Unfortunate to be on the losing side.

Sani Suleiman – His introduction sparked the Nigerian team to life. He was clever in tight spaces moved the ball a lot quicker making it hard to the low block of Norway to come close. Should have started on the strength of his performance.

Ahmed Akinyele – Solid as a centre back both in the air and also on the ground. Loves to play the ball at his feet and carried it really well. Make a fantastic headed clearance from a shot that would have troubled the goalkeeper.

Salihu Nasiru- He had a first half to forget but dominated the midfield until he was replaced in a tactical swoop. Uses the ball very well with both feet and he isn’t scared of letting it fly from range.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Flying Eagles were unlucky to lose 0-1 to Norway in their opening match of the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals on Monday despite dominating play and creating a hatful of chances, particularly in the second period.

Norway went ahead after they were awarded a contested penalty in the 9th minute, but the Flying Eagles fought hard to redeem things, only to be denied penalty awards on two occasions in the second half.

Kparobo Arierhi’s left-footed shot inside the box drifted just wide in the 47th minute, with the goalkeeper completely beaten, and in the 63rd minute, Tahir Maigana’s left-footed shot inside the box was stopped by the base of the upright.

The two-time silver medallists launched onslaught after onslaught against the Europeans, but Norway had too many players behind the ball in the box and foiled dozens of attempts.

In the 71st minute, the crowd rose to cheer the equalizer, but midfielder Nasiru Salihu’s rising shot from the right rose a little too high, beating the goalkeeper and the crossbar.

Seven minutes from time, the tireless Tahir Maigana cocked the trigger from afar, only to see his effort miss the target narrowly.

The Flying Eagles will take on Saudi Arabia in their second match of the competition on Thursday.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026™™ preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™™ Preliminary Competition Regulations.

Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.

SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.

The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the senior national team of Nigeria will play two friendly games in November during the international window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

NFF made this known through their official media channel that the want will be up against Venezuela and Colombia respectively in two games that will take place in the United States of America.

“The Nigeria Football Federation hereby confirms that the senior men national team, Super Eagles, will take on Venezuela and Colombia in the United States of America during the FIFA window for international friendly matches in the month of November 2025”, the announcement reads.

The game against Venezuela will be on Friday, 14th November 2025 at the Shell Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kick-off billed for 8pm Texas time.

On Tuesday, 18th November 2025, the three-time African champions will confront the Los Cafeteros of Colombia at the Citi Field Stadium in Flushing Meadows, borough of Queens, New York with kick-off billed for 8pm Eastern Time(1am Wednesday, 19th November in Nigeria).

Both games will be used as tune up for the Super Eagles ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in December in Morocco.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman