Celebrated Nigerian youth team coach Samson Siasia is one step closer to becoming the new coach of the U23 team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Siasia who has handled the U20 and U23 on two different occasions, and also the senior national team has completed the ban that kept him out of football for an extended period of time.

He is now pushing to be back in a national team role, and has the support of some people in the National Sports Commission (NSC), and also highly placed individuals in Nigeria.

We can exclusively reveal that barring a late minute change, he will be named as the coach of the U23 team and will begin preparations in earnest for the start of recruitment of players.

The main hurdle he is facing is from some individuals in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who have a candidate lined up for the job.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Swedish side AIK have placed a media ban on Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna who has been handed a maiden invitation to the senior national team of Nigeria by head coach Eric Chelle for the upcoming Unity Cup friendly tournament in London, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Zadok has taken the league in Sweden by storm with five goals and four assists in 12 games this season. Beyond his goals he has caught the eyes of top teams in Europe including Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Due to the interests and the constant visits of scouts to watch him play, the club has decided to place a media ban on personal interviews making him available for just pre match and post match conferences.

They will also edit questions for the teen sensation to guide him from the media spotlight, which they believe will help his growth.

“There is a lot of interest and many clubs are following him. It is very positive for us and for the Allsvenskan,” AIK recruitment manager Miika Takkula told Fotbollskanalen.

Pressed on if Real Madrid are among the teams on his chase, Takkula refused to deny the report: “There are very high-level clubs that follow him and come here and watch all his matches. I don’t want to comment on specific clubs.”

Ade Emmanuel

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has submitted the list of players who will represent Nigeria at the Unity Cup friendly tournament in London, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle will use the tournament to hand debut to some new players he has been scouting, and it includes players from less glamorous leagues in Europe and from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Already players like AIK teen sensation Zadok Yohanna, Plymouth forward Owen Oseni, Millwall winger Femi Azeez among others have been sent official letter of invitation for the tournament.

A source close to the coach said there are still some names in the list that will come as a surprise to many when it’s made public later this week.

He said Chelle is using his scouting network to ensure that players on his radar get call up at any friendly international window, before the race to be at the 2027 AFCON begins later in the year.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The top scorer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Joseph Arumala top the list of players picked by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in London.

Arumala who has 13 goals in NPFL lead a list of seven who were at the English Embassy to attend visa interviews ahead of the trip for the tournament.

Chelle will access the players with the intention of giving them a spot in his team for the June high profile friendly games against Poland and Portugal respectively.

He picked the players after watching games of the NPFL the past two weeks. They will be joined by foreign based players as Nigeria aim to defend the title they won at the last edition of the tournament.

They will open their campaign against Zimbabwe before facing either of Jamaica or India who will contest the other semi final of the tournament.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will be made to defend his decision to include Owen Oseni who plays in the English third division for Plymouth in the list of players for the Unity Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Oseni has been handed a maiden call up to the team by the coach after scoring seven goals with five assists in the League One. The 23 year old is seen by Chelle as his kind of player due to his physical attributes, running and pressing abilities.

However his inclusion has set him up against some people in the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). They are demanding the method he used in identifying a player in that division.

” This is different from Benjamin Fredrick, who was a player of Brentford U23 when he made his debut. Fredrick wasn’t in the initial list, he came in because some players left unlike this case”, a member of the department queried.

” If it works well then we have the answers but if otherwise then we will move to stop such from happening again. This is the senior national team of Nigeria”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

French Ligue 1 side Nice will hold crunch talks with Nigeria international striker Terem Moffi who spent the last six months of the season on loan to Portuguese side FC Porto.

Moffi left the club after he was attacked by the fans of the team, and despite overtures from the club for him to return he stood his grounds and rather left on loan to Porto.

The loan deal at Porto had an option of making the deal permanent, but from all indications it won’t be made permanent as he failed to nail down a spot in the team that eventually won the league.

He made nine appearances and had three goals and an assist to his name throughout his stay at the club, where he played 16 times. A tally not good enough to bag a permanent deal.

With the league in Portugal ending this weekend, he will return to Nice where a decision will be reached on his future, with just a year left on his deal to run at the club.

An extended stay at the club hasn’t been ruled out , but if an agreement isn’t reached he will be allowed to leave in the summer rather than wait till his contract expires and he leaves for free.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The new coach of the Warriors of Zimbabwe Kaitano Tembo has defended his decision to call top stars for the Unity Cup friendly tournament in London, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

It will be his first assignment as the interim coach of the team after replacing Marian Marinica who resigned from his post. They begin their campaign against the defending champions Nigeria.

They will later face one of either India or Jamaica, who will contest the other semi final pending on the result against Nigeria. Tembo is leaving nothing to chance ahead of the tournament.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Tembo said: “We are approaching it with seriousness and ambition. Playing against strong opposition like Nigeria, as well as Jamaica and India, provides a good test for the team. These are the kind of high-quality matches that help players grow and give us a clear picture of where we are.”

He then went on to explain his squad selection. “We have a good mix of talent,” the coach said in an interview with ZIFA Media. “There is quality in the local league, strong players based in South Africa, and others playing in the UK and beyond.

“Our task is to bring them together, build unity and create a team that plays with purpose and pride.”

He added: “Unity and commitment. When players come into the national team, it is about representing the nation. We need to work together, support each other and give everything on the pitch. That spirit is what defines the Warriors.”

Warriors squad for the Unity Cup:

Goalkeepers:

Marley Tavaziva (Brentford, England)

Future Sibanda (ZPC Kariba, Zimbabwe)

Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC, South Africa)

Defenders:

Munashe Garananga (Hibernian FC, Scotland)

Corbin Mthunzi (Ipswich Town, England)

Shane Maroodza (FK Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Gerald Takwara (Al-Ittihad Misurata, Libya)

Jordan Zemura (Udinese, Italy)

Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)

Emmanuel Jalai (Durban City FC, South Africa)

Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday, England)

Midfielders:

Mongameli Tshuma (Highlanders FC, Zimbabwe)

Marvelous Nakamba (Sheffield Wednesday, England)

Aboubacar Moffat (Scotland, Zimbabwe)

Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirge Aue, Germany)

Marshall Munetsi (Paris FC, France)

Tawanda Chirewa (Barnsley FC, England)

Forwards:

Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell FC, Scotland)

Prince Dube (Young Africans SC, Tanzania)

Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy, South Africa)

Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen, Belgium)

Daniel Msendami (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Tino Kadewere (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece).

Ade Emmanuel

German giants Borussia Dortmund have moved on from plans to sign freshly capped Nigeria international defender Emmanuel Fernandez from Scottish side Rangers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Dortmund were among the team linked with a summer move for the 24 year old who marked his international debut for Nigeria with a goal in his first start against Jordan, at the four team invitational tournament in Turkey last month.

Rangers were said to be demanding a fee in excess of €30m deemed as exorbitant by the German side, who have now settled for another option in RB Leipzig defender Joane Gadou.

The 19 year old joined the team for a fee of €19m plus €4.5m in bonsues, way lower than the asking price for Fernandez who is also on the radar of teams in the English Premier League.

Gadou signed a contract until 2031 and take the squad spot of Niklas Süle, who recently announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season, effectively closing any door of a potential move for Fernandez.

Daniel Martins

Three players of Nigerian descent who are on the radar of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle have been tipped for a first time call up to the senior national team of Italy, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle has been active in luring players of Nigerian descent to be a part of his project with the Super Eagles, after leading them to a third place finish at the AFCON in January.

Already he has succeeded with Ryan Alebiosu, Felix Agu, Emmanuel Fernandez, Arthur Okonkwo and recently highly rated Millwall winger Femi Azeez.

His idea to have more players has suffered a setback with the trio of Luca Koleosho, Michael Kayode and Honest Ahanor set to get a first time call up to the senior national team of Italy.

Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport names 11 uncapped players who are likely to be part of the Italy squad for June friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece. The aforementioned trio were included.

Silvio Baldini the interim coach of Italy has looked the way of Michael Kayode of Brentford who was scheduled to meet with the Super Eagles coach in London.

Luca Koleosho who is on loan to Paris FC from relegated English Premier League side Burnley is also on the card. Chelle was relying on Moses Simon to convince him to play for Nigeria.

Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor complete the list. The 18 year old recently got an Italian passport and made his debut for their U21. He snubbed an approach to be part of the Nigerian team for the AFCON.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The impending summer transfer of highly rated Nigerian teen Zadok Yohanna of Swedish side AIK has taken a different turn not envisaged by anyone in the last 72 hours, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The 18 year old winger has become one of the hottest young prospects in European football following a series of outstanding performances in Sweden this season, attracting growing attention from top clubs across the continent.

Sources close to the situation indicate that a long list of clubs from the Premier League, Bundesliga and France have also entered the race to sign the Nigerian wonderkid in recent months.

We further gathered that a number of European clubs have already held meetings and discussions with the player’s representatives Roni Layous and Ayi Muhammed regarding the future of the highly rated winger.

Known for his explosive pace, flair, dribbling ability, and fearless attacking style, Zadok is widely viewed as one of the best emerging wingers outside Europe’s top five leagues.

Despite strong interest from multiple European sides, Real Madrid have now reportedly joined the race and are believed to be seriously evaluating a potential move for the highly rated youngster as part of the club’s long term strategy focused on elite young talents worldwide.

People familiar with the situation suggest that initial contacts have already taken place, while AIK remain fully aware of the rapidly growing market surrounding their star player.

According to sources, AIK are demanding a transfer fee in the region of €30 million to consider selling Zadok Yohanna, a figure that would make him one of the most expensive transfers in Scandinavian football history.

The Swedish club reportedly see the Nigerian winger as a generational talent and are under no pressure to sell immediately, especially with several major European clubs continuing to push for his signature.

Zadok Yohanna’s rise continues to attract attention across world football. From Nigeria to Sweden, and now heavily linked with Real Madrid and Europe’s elite clubs, the young winger’s journey is only just beginning.

He will be having his first taste of senior international football this month, after making the list of players called up by the coach of Nigeria Eric Chelle for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in London.

Daniel Martins