Head coach of South Africa Hugo Broos has given his opinion on the three points deduction slammed on his team in the world cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

South Africa were docked three points by FIFA , three goals by FIFA for fielding Teboho Mokoena who was supposed to be suspended for the 2-0 win over Lesotho, when he was supposed to be suspended after picking up two previous yellow cards.

The decision means South Africa are now second on goal difference to Benin Republic heading into the last round of games. A situation that leaves them with no margin for error in their final two games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda respectively.

Reacting to what has potentially given a boost and advantage to the quest of Benin Republic and third placed Nigeria, who are just three points behind. The coach said it’s still in their hands provided they win their both games

“I know everything that happened in the last two weeks, but we’re still alive. There is nothing changed, after the game against Nigeria we were three points ahead. We still had to win our last two games”, he said at the press conference where he unveiled the list of invited players for their final two games of the series.

“Why believe Benin will win their last two games and we not. I don’t understand why people start doubting, and say we can’t qualify anymore.

“People have to stop now to look for who is responsible, we all know he made a mistake. But between the first match and the second there were 16 months, we also played AFCON.

“Who is responsible, it’s clear, ‘ . My staff is resposible, the coaching staff is responsible, the player is resposible and SAFA administration is responsible.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu insisted on his Nigerian name Chinazaekpere to be included in his official list of names before the start of the season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The both parents of the Danish international are from Nigeria and they insisted on giving him a Nigerian name upon birth in the Igbo dialect, but the name has been rarely used in his details.

He joined Manchester United in January 2025 from Italian Serie A side Lecce, and a few months ago added his Igbo name “Chinazaekpere” to show full recognition of his heritage and religion.

Chinazaekpere means ‘God answers prayers’,” he explained in an interview with the official website of Manchester United.

“That’s what my parents gave to me when I was born. Religion means a lot to me, it’s always been a big part of my life and my family’s. I’ve always been praying since I was young and I keep praying.

“Family and the community is what I’ve grown up with in Denmark so it’s good to try and maintain it here too. I come to pray at this church on Sunday if I have the time and we don’t have a game; I try to be here as much as I can.

“I don’t know if it [religion] has an advantage [on the pitch]. It’s about always believing, believing that God has a plan for me, and for my career”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen Horst Steffen has explained why Nigeria international forward Victor Boniface isn’t starting games for his team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Boniface joined the team on loan from fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen after a failed move to AC Milan. The move collapsed at the point of medicals.

At Bremen he is yet to nail a starting spot with an assist to his name in three games coming off the bench. Relatively unknown Nigerian Justin Njinmah who is predominantly a winger was picked ahead of him to start in attack.

Reacting to his decision, the coach said Boniface isn’t at his best yet and they are working to bring him to the level that made him play a key role in helping Leverkusen to a league and cup double just two years ago.

“I’ve come to know him as a very likeable person; he’s very personable, approachable, and dedicated to the team. We laugh a lot together; I think it’s nice when a player has such a sense of humour and shows such joy. He fits right into our group. I don’t know what others say or how it was elsewhere”, the coach said.

“You can already see that he is getting better and better in his stride. He scored a goal against Bayern Munich, but it was unfortunately offside. But he’ll keep on trying.

“It’s clear, we need him and have to get him into shape to be at his best. In my opinion, he’s just not there yet. Accordingly, we’re continuing to work on it. We’re very happy with it and he knows it”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Borussia Dortmund midfield ace Carney Chukwuemeka is expected to make a decision on his international future at the end of the current season, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The 21 year old who has discovered his fine form this season in Germany, scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League this season in yesterday’s 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Born in Austria to immigrant Nigerian parents, he has represented England at various youth levels but when he turns 22 and fail to crack the English setup he will consider playing for the other two countries he is eligible to represent.

Sources say he is yet to make up a mind on who to pick between Nigeria and Austria, but while they have been an official approach from Austria he is yet to get any form of communication from Nigeria.

However all of that could change in the coming months especially if Nigeria makes it to the world cup, as he is said to be among the players head coach Eric Chelle has in his list of eligible players who he intends to approach to play for Nigeria.

Ade Emmanuel

The form of out of favour Super Eagles duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu is putting head coach Eric Chelle under pressure to hand them a spot in his squad for the world cup qualifiers in October, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria will round up their world cup qualifiers with games against Lesotho and Benin Republic respectively, and Chelle is drawing up the final list of players for both games.

We can exclusively reveal that the duo of Iheanacho have been mentioned to the coach by some respected individuals, owing to their fine form for their respective teams.

Iheanacho who is very popular in the team has started life in Scotland with a bang following his move on a free transfer from Sevilla to Celtic. He has two goals and one assist in four games so far.

Onuachu is the most impressive so far with five goals in seven games in Turkey for Trabzonspor, including a potential goal of the season contender when he produced a wonderful bicycle kick in their win over Fatih Karagumruk.

A final decision is expected to be taken by Chelle, who has also watched the duo as part of his monitoring of Nigerian players based abroad.

Ade Emmanuel

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”.