Football Clubs That Will Likely Defy Expectations This Season

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is considering dropping Ademola Lookman from the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and South Africa respectively.

Lookman has not been involved in pre season or competitive game for Atalanta owing to a transfer imbroglio that saw him go on strike in his bid to force a move to Inter Milan.

Chelle however picked the player in his 31 man list for both games, but wouldn’t hesitate to drop the reigning Africa player of the year in the event that he didn’t play next weekend for Atalanta against Parma.

A source close to the coach exclusively revealed that there will be no emotions in picking the final list of players for both games, due to the crucial nature of the ties. He said Lookman will be communicated to if there is a decision to drop him for the games.

Back at Atalanta, he has been training separately from the rest of the team and reports say he will be integrated back into the team if he is still at the still at the club, when the transfer window closes on the 1st of September.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

A spokesman for world football governing body FIFA has revealed the reason behind the delay in making public the judgement on South Africa fielding an ineligible player in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

South Africa fielded an ineligible player in Teboho Mokoena in the 2-0 win over Lesotho during the last round of games , when he was supposed to be suspended after picking two yellow cards in previous games.

Acts like that is usually accompanied with a three points, three goals deduction but in the case of South Africa there has been a delay in the incidence, which happened in March and with the next round of games in September there is still no update on the judgement.

Ace Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana spoke with a spokesman of FIFA on the delay and he gave his explanation. “The matter should be before the FIFA disciplinary committee. They don’t tell the administration what cases they have before it, as they are independent.”, he explained.

“We will only hear of their decision when they have made it. If they have not made a pronouncement before South Africa’s next match in September, I will encourage you to ask why a decision has not been taken on this matter,” the FIFA source said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

One of the opponents of the senior national team of Nigeria in the upcoming world cup qualifiers South Africa are facing a tough time in the areas of getting key players ready for the game against Nigeria.

The group leaders will take on Lesotho away before hosting the Super Eagles in the next round of games. A victory in both games will see them seal their spot at the 2026 World Cup, but they are also facing the prospect of a three points deduction for fielding an ineligible player in the 2-0 win over Lesotho.

Teboho Mokoena who has picked up two previous yellow cards played in the game against Lesotho, when he was supposed to be serving a one match ban. A act punishable with a three points and three goals deduction.

Heading into this window of games in September, they will be without talisman Themba Zwane after the injury he picked up in the MTN8 semi-final where his team Mamelodi Sundowns drew 1-1 with Orlando Pirates.

He has been ruled out for two months, a big blow to Broos who sees the 35-year-old as one of the fulcrum of his team in attack Broos also faces a difficult decision over whether to include Khuliso Mudau in his final squad, despite the player not having played competitive football this season.

Mudau is reportedly pushing for a move away from Sundowns, which has led to him allegedly skipping training and matches. The right-back situation is critical, as Mudau is widely regarded as the best in the PSL.

Fresh from scoring a dramatic late winner for Liverpool in their 3-2 win over Newcastle United Rio Ngumoha as expected is the face on all leading tabloids in England, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

16 year old Rio announced his arrival to senior football with a late winner in the five goal thriller, after his team threw away a two goal lead prior to his introduction as a substitute.

He was on hand to end the the in favour of his team with a calm finish with was virtually the last kick of the game at St. James Park yesterday. It is a debut to remember for the winger.

Born to parents of Nigerian descent, the admin of Liverpool in a post on their official account on Instagram tagged his performance using a popular Nigerian word “Agba Baller” which is in Yoruba language and it means Big Baller. They followed it up with pidgin English sentence ” Rio Ngumoha don land” which means Rio Ngumoha has arrived.

Capped by England at various youth levels, he is still eligible to play for Nigeria without a senior national team debut, after speaking glowingly about his Nigerian roots during his days with the Chelsea Academy.

” My father is a Nigerian and I am well grounded on the culture, the food and the music. I also follow the senior national team like everyone associated with the country”, he said while feeding questions on his roots and if he follows the Super Eagles at the AFCON.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have asked the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle to drop six players from his preliminary list of 31 players called up for the world cup qualifiers games in September, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle’s original idea was to drop 8 players in order to have a squad of 23 players for the games against Rwanda and South Africa respectively, but the NFF want more players in camp for both games.

A top official of the NFF said the idea of having 25 players is because of the possibility of injuries and suspensions which could result from the first game against Rwanda in Uyo.

He said six players in the list made public by the coach are one yellow card away from suspension, hence the need to have a large pool to pick from in the event that any of them get a booking before the next game.

Per our source, the idea has been passed on to Chelle who is expected to trim the squad after the next round of games in Europe by the weekend.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

As the wait goes on for FIFA to make clear the decision on South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in the 2-0 world cup qualifiers win over Lesotho, former SAFA chief executive officer Raymond Hack, who is an attorney at the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) has predicted the verdict, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

South Africa fielded Teboho Mokoena who was supposed to be suspended for the game after picking up two yellow cards in previous games, an offence that is usually accompanied with a three points, three goals deduction.

While speaking on the saga, Hack said the football authority in South Africa as well as the players should be blamed for the fiasco which will see them lose three points and three goals.

“It’s very clear, the rules say you cannot play when you have been suspended, the onus is on the team and the player both to know,” said Hack as per KickOff.

The rules are very clear, if the player has been ineligible, they will forfeit the game with a 3-0 scoreline.

“The onus is on the association, the onus is on the player, because they all know it. Somebody dropped the ball. But it’s not just somebody, it’s the player as well. Because the player knows when he’s been booked,” he added.

“You know that when you’ve got so many [yellow cards], you cannot play. The player had a duty – he’s a professional, he’s playing for the national team – ‘I’m bringing the country into disrepute. I’m being dishonest’. That’s the bottom line.”

Ade Emmanuel

Getafe’s president Angel Torres has confirm the imminent transfer of Nigeria international midfielder Uche Chrisantus to English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chrisantus was on for the entire duration of their 2-1 win over Sevilla yesterday in the La Liga, putting up another top notch performance to follow up his opening day display where he picked a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

However yesterday’s game will be his last in the colours of Getafe with a deal already agreed with Wolves for his transfer, a move the president said the only reason he’s selling the 22 year old is because of La Liga:

“We have to sell. We are ruining La Liga by continuously selling.”

“I am forced to sell him, I have no other choice. Tomorrow he undergoes the medical and the deal is signed with wolves.”

Reports say he will sign a five year deal later today.

Daniel Martins

Coach of the senior national team of South Africa Hugo Broos is facing criticism over his decision to include defender Ime Okon in his preliminary list of players called up to the team for their upcoming world cup qualifiers games in September, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Broos in his preliminary list picked the 20 year old who has a Nigerian father and a South African mother in his team for the games against Lesotho and Nigeria respectively. He was raised by his mother after losing his father at a very young age.

In the past, the former SuperSport United said he was open to playing for Nigeria before he was handed a first time call up to the South African team by Broos.

Now at German second division side Hannover 96, he is widely expected to make the main team for a competitive game for the first times after two previous missed opportunities.

That said his inclusion hasn’t gone well with a section of the football community in South Africa, who feels the defender isn’t fully sold out on their project, but plays for them because he wasn’t considered by Nigeria.

They feel he isn’t committed enough to play in a such high profile games that will potentially decide their fate in the world cup qualifiers , but legendary goalkeeper and former captain of the team Andre Arendse feels different and praised the quality of the defender.

“Ime Okon is a super talent, but we better be careful we don’t lose him,” Arendse said. “He is definitely one for the future. I know what I am talking about because I’ve had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa.”

Ade Emmanuel

Nigeria international Victor Boniface won’t be joining Italian side AC Milan after a knee issue was discovered during his medicals which took place two days ago, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The player has already left Italy back to his club in Germany Bayer Leverkusen, where he has dropped down the pecking order to third choice in attack under new coach Erik Ten Haag.

However it seems all hope is not lost for him to stage a comeback to his form two year ago at the club, when he was voted as the league’s Rookie of the year for his role in their league and cup double in a domestic unbeaten run.

According to the managing director of the team Simon Rolfes, the 24 year old could yet have a future at the club if he works hard despite the two previous attempts to move him on in the last six months. In January a move to Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr broke down after a routine medical despite an agreement on transfer fee.

“[The situation has] already improved compared to the beginning. Boni needs to continue to build himself up. We believe he can take steps forward. But he has to take them”, Rolfes said.

On if the deal to AC Milan could be revived, the director ruled it out completely. “If [Victor Boniface] comes back [to Leverkusen], the Milan issue will be over. That’s no big secret. I don’t think that will happen.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman