‎Super Eagles forward Moses Simon won’t be leaving Gent for anything less than €20m according to the technical director of the team Michel Louwagie.

Simon has been heavily linked with a move away from the Belgian side with West Brom and Monaco particularly interested in the former As Trencin man.

However as reported by this portal French side Monaco ‎opened discussions with Gent over his possible transfer in the summer, but the demands of the Belgian side differs from what they are offering.

Louwagie while responding to rumours about Simon confirmed they have received offers for the forward but none has met the club valuation of their prized asset.

He insist that the forward will be sold for nothing less than 20 million euros. He cited the transfer of Simon’s international teammate and close friend Wilfred Ndi‎di to Leicester City from Genk for £16m as a sign of how wise Belgium clubs have become in transfer dealings.

“Why could they sell in the Netherlands to amounts to over thirty million euros?”

“Where is Memphis Depay now? With PSV sold to Manchester United with a lot of drumstick. Vincent Janssen, AZ’s top scorer, came to Tottenham for lot of money, but he is yet to get enough minutes on the field.”

“In terms of efficiency, is he better than Simon?”

“The trend is reversed: Wilfred Ndidi in December, later some Anderlecht boys”

“Anyone who wants our players will have to pay”, he told Voetballmagazine.

Daniel Martins

Rizespor of Turkey midfielder Nosa Igiebor says he will no longer honour calls to represent Nigeria following the way he was treated by coach Gernot Rohr before the game against Zambia in Ndola.

Igiebor was called up by Rohr for the game against Zambia after a two year absence from the team , but didn’t get to play as Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola in their first World Cup 2018 Qualifiers game.

The former Real Betis midfielder said the Franco-German coach didn’t tell him why he didn’t play in the game, rather the coach played players he feels he is way better than.

” Yes I granted an interview to a radio station in Nigeria, it’s true i’m no longer interested in playing for Nigeria as long as Rohr remains the coach. He disrespected me”, Igiebor told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” He (Rohr) treated me like i’m nobody, I won’t honour any more calls unless if he assures me that I will play. I can’t watch players i’m better than play ahead of me”,

Ade Emmanuel

Hertha Berlin fast rising German -Nigerian defender Jordan Torunarigha can be as good as Bayern Munich and Germany star defender Jerome Boateng according to his coach Paul Dardai.

Born to a Nigerian father named Ojokojo Torunarigha who played for Shooting Stars of Nigeria in the 80’s, the defender has made giant strides this season, which could spark a war between Nigeria and Germany over his international future.

Torunarigha is reportedly one of the players coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr is eyeing to bolster the defence line of Nigeria, although Germany are also keen on the defender representing them at senior level.

Dardai who gave the 19 year old his breakthrough this season at Hertha Berlin believes, he has all it takes to be a good defender as Boateng, if he keep on working hard and maintain his focus.
“Jordan is an absolute pro ready for competition, he is always in the right place in important matches. That was so in the youth team. He is a rough diamond, which has to be polished and then he’ll play properly,” said Dardai.

“Jordan can become one like Jerome Boateng. He reminds me of him in his way of playing. ”

Ade Emmanuel

The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) will in the coming days unveil Stuart Baxter as their new coach ahead of their AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against Nigeria in Uyo.

‎Baxter holds the record of the only coach who have guided South Africa to victory over Nigeria, and he will be eyeing same when his team travel to Uyo on the 10th of June.

The coach will be in charge of South Africa for the game against Nigeria while still in charge of Premier Soccer League side Supersports United, but reports has it that he will quit the club full time at the end of the season.

In 2015, the coach told Africanfootball.com, how he masterminded South Africa to their first and only win over Nigeria in 2004, when his team defeated Nigeria 2-1 in a friendly game.

On 17 November 2004, Baxter’s Bafana Bafana beat the Super Eagles 2-1 with goals by Shaun Bartlett and Benedict Vilakazi in a friendly international.

“We (South Africa) shouldn’t feel inferior to Nigeria. It’s no help looking at their players and seeing which clubs they play for. That is only on paper.

“Before our game in 2004, they were all talking about beating South Africa 4-0 ahead of our game, but we forgot about that and just played our game.

“What South Africa needs to be doing, is not to get worried about past statistics and history. The current players can create their own future and mentally they should just get ready to focus on the job.

“In 2004 it was the same. We wanted to perfect the way we played at that time and when we won the ball, we wanted to get at them quickly and attack.”

Ade Emmanuel

Eupen hot in demand forward Henry Onyekuru who is a target for several teams in Europe, following his goal scoring exploits in what his is debut season in Belgium might be too expensive for Borrusia Monchengladbach.

A club source confirmed to Owngoalnigeria.com, that the Bundesliga side scouted the forward before sounding out the club over a potential deal for the 17 year old, who has 18 goals in all competitions this season for Eupen.

However they were put off by the asking price tag of the Aspire Academy graduate, with Eupen demanding a package close to €15m, a figure that includes add ons based on success and future transfer.

Onyekuru’s valuation put off the Germans, leaving a host of English teams lead by Everton as front runners for his signature in the summer, with Onyekuru also admitting he prefers a move to England.

Already the forward has met with Everton and Southampton with Liverpool the other English team linked with him yet to contact him officially despite their reported interest in him.
Daniel Martins

The spokesman of Nigeria Professional Football (NPFL) side MFM says Danish side FC Midtjylland will struggle to meet the asking price of striker Stephen Odey.

Odey trained with the Danish team ‎and even played a reserve league game for their reserve side, but Olawale Quadry believes they will struggle to meet the valuation of the forward.

” No doubt Midtjylland are a very good side, good for the development of youngsters, but the problem is can they afford his transfer fee?, especially with interest from other teams”, Quadry told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” He is 19, meaning there’s still room for improvement. His age and goal tally of 14 so far has lead to offers from all over Europe. Even some teams in Belgium like Club Brugge, for now Midtjylland are not an option.

” Odey has be‎en told to stay behind and finish the season with us, he will join the Super Eagles in their camp in France after then we will weigh up his options in the summer”.

Osas Mahawi

The top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Stephen Odey will train with the Super Eagles of Nigeria during their camp in France.

Odey is expected in the country later today, and will apply for his visa at the French embassy, something he failed to do last week due to the trip he made to Denmark, where he attended trials with FC Midtjylland.

19 year old Odey has 14 goals this season in the NPFL for modest team MFM, and will join the Eagles in training alongside strike partner at MFM Sikiru Olatunbosun as part of the home based players picked by Rohr.

Other local lads called up to the camp in France include FC Ifeanyi Uba shot stopper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Akwa United forward Alhassan Ibrahim popularly referred to as Mu’azam.

Bar Odey, the others have already submitted their documents for visa processing at the French Embassy for the camp, which help the team prepare for their AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against South Africa.

The team will also move from their camp on the 26th of May to take on the small island of Corsica in a friendly game, all in preparation for the South Africa game.

Ade Emmanuel

Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi who has lost his starting spot at Arsenal could suffer same faith with the Nigeria national team, according to reports reaching the editorial desk of Owngoalnigeria.com.

Coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr was impressed by the way Watford star Isaac Success turned the recent friendly tie against Senegal in favour of Nigeria after replacing Iwobi.

Iwobi struggled against the physicality of the Senegalese in the 1-1 draw in London, but Success proved to Rohr that he can thrive in physical battles, something Rohr feels is needed against African teams.

Success however need to match or surpass same feat in the Eagles next friendly game against Corsica Island to stand a chance of knocking Iwobi out of the team for the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against South Africa in Uyo.

The Watford star has struggled to shake off fitness issues following his big money move from Granada in the summer. The issue has reduced him to a substitute for Watford as coach Walter Mazzari has other forwards ahead of him.

Michael James

The captaincy of the Super Eagles of Nigeria could land on the arm of Mainz 05 defender Leon Balogun following uncertainty over the availability of deputy captain Ogenyi Onazi.

The Eagles newly installed deputy captain Onazi could miss the game ‎due to club commitment with his Turkish side Trabzonspor, and with captain John Obi excused from the Eagles camp and subsequently friendly game in France, Elderson Echiejile will wear the armband as captain.

However, Echiejile is the only recognised left back ‎who has the trust of the coach, a situation which could see him take partial part in the game against Corsica to keep him fresh for the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against South Africa.

Leon Balogun is currently the ‎front runner to wear the arm band if Echiejile is rested or replaced in the friendly tie, as he is the oldest member of the team aside Ahmed Musa who dropped the armband shortly before the game against Senegal.
Balogun made his debut for Nigeria in 2014 in a friendly game against Mexico before the World Cup in Brazil, ‎making him one of the senior players in the team at the moment.

Daniel Martins

The top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Stephen Odey has successfully passed trials with Danish side FC Midtjylland according to the director of football of his team MFM FC.

Director of football, Emmanuel Adeyemi confirmed that Odey is on his way back to Ni‎geria after the success of his trials with Midtjylland in a radio interview monitored by Owngoalnigeria.com Ade Emmanuel.

He further said Odey will resume training with MFM tomorrow, and categorically states that the player is a bonafide player of the Premier League club as against reports that he is owned by an academy.

Speaking in same vein, the media officer of the team Olawale Quadry confirmed that Odey has already had his medical with Midtjylland, and did informed the club of his trip to Denmark despite claims by the coach that the player went missing, they said he has been dealing with some medical claims lately, he just needs to resolve those before.

Odey played in a trial game for the Danish side yesterday, and according to reports made a good impression on the coaches of the team, who have agreed to sanction a deal for the 19 year old.

However there’s still no confirmation if they had opened transfer negotiations with MFM, or the fee they are willing to offer as transfer fee for his permanent transfer in the summer.
Ade Emmanuel