Super Eagles goalkeeper crisis took a turn for the worst earlier today when Lille announced that Vincent Enyeama heavily linked with a return to the national team is out ‎for the rest of the season.

En‎yeama has missed the last three games of the club due to the injury, and according to an official statement from the team, he won’t take part in any of their games for the rest of the season.

The former Super Eagles captain was due to hold talks with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr about a possible return to the national team, following doubts surrounding first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who is battling to be fit.

Enyeama’s return has been severally discussed, with Rohr openly admitting he will love to have the experienced goalkeeper, who left the team after a disagreement with former coach Sunday Oliseh back.

Nigeria face South Africa in the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers on the 10th of June, with Rohr now faced with the prospect of either fielding Daniel Akpeyi or Ikechukwu Ezenwa, two goalkeepers who he doesn’t seem to have faith in.

Ade Emmanuel

FC Porto Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem is clsoely being watched by scouts of English Premier League side Liverpool, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The highly rated Nigerian defender had his breakthrough last season at FC Porto and was widely tipped to make the step up this season but he has failed to play for the first team this season.

However he has been ever present for the B team, who are campaigning in the second division in Portugal, and a scout from Liverpool who shares close links with his agent has watched him severally.

Awaziem even had a chat with the scout in London, when the senior national team of Nigeria trained for their friendly game against Senegal, Owngoalnigeria.com can also reveal.

A bid is not said to be imminent from our findings, but he is closely been watched with regards‎ to a move in the future , and his agent failed to deny or confirmed the story when we asked him of Liverpool’s interest in his client.

” Awaziem is a good player, but he belongs to FC Porto, maybe you can ask them if there has been talks. Although I know contact was made with some teams in England but that was a long time ago and it wasn’t even Liverpool “, Babawo Mohammed told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I’m not aware of any meeting with a scout from Liverpool but this is football, where anything can happen especially when you talking about a player, who has all it takes to be a star in a not too distant future”.

Osas Mahawi

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Wilfred Ndidi played a big role for Leicester City in keeping Arsenal at bay until Robert Huth deflected Nacho Monreal’s shot into his own net.

Ndidi has earned praises from various quarters ‎since his £16M move to the Foxes from Belgian side Genk in January, as a replacement for former Leicester City fans favourite N’Golo Kante.

Wenger while speaking to French broadcaster SFR Sport mentioned the 20 year old Nigerian as one of the players who made it difficult for the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alex Sanchez and Danny Welbeck to wreck havoc.

” We had a very good spell in the second half. We know we have to be patient especially with the way they were defending deep. Wilfred Ndidi did help them do that with ease”, Wenger said.

” Two good tackles in the box when it looks like we were in with a chance from him (Ndidi), We just have to keep on pushing and pushing eventually we got rewarded with the goal.

” The victory didn’t come easy but you won’t say we don’t deserve it. Leicester are a very strong side and we saw a bit of it in the game”.

Michael James

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has been handed a big boost ahead of the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against South Africa in Uyo, following the return to training of team captain John Obi Mikel.

Mikel has been out injured for two weeks with what looks like a suspect tear on his thigh muscle. The injury made him missed Tianjin Teda’s last two league games after playing in all of their games since his move from Chelsea.

There has been fears that the injury could see the influential captain of the Nigerian team miss the upcoming AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against South Africa in June, but that can’t be said to be the case according to reports exclusively gathered by our editorial staff.

Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively report that the recently turned 30 year old has resumed light work without the ball, and could make a full recovery in few days time.

” He is back in light training, Let’s say in few days time he will be fully fit to return to the pitch. ‎No doubt he will be fit for the Super Eagles, you can take that to the bank”, his bonafide intermediary told Owngoalnigeria.com

Osas Mahawi

Highly rated Nigerian forward Theophilus Solomon has been nominated in a shortlist of 25 players for the best 11 players in the soon to be completed first division league in Croatia.

Largely tipped as the next big thing in Nigeria football few years ago, the now 21 year old lost his way, no thanks to injuries and poor form. But he has managed to stay fit this season and his contributions have been rewarded with a team of the year nomination. ‎

Solomon on loan to newly promoted Istra from league leaders Rijeka has scored six goals this season with same amount of assist to his name from despite playing for a team whose first priority is to defend.

” It has taken a while for him to blossom, but this season more than ever he has been very consistent for Istra, and to a large extent his overall contribution has helped the team in defence as well”, a piece on his nomination for the team of the year reads.

” Not normal to say his goals have helped Istra maintained their top flight status, but worthy to state that he has scored in games, where they badly need points. Obviously his contributions can’t be overlooked”, it concluded.

Daniel Martins

Arsenal kept alive their hopes of finishing in the top four this season in England with a 1-0 win over Leicester City at the Emirates.

The game which was decided by a Nacho Monreal shot deflected into Leicester’s net by defender Roberth Huth with four minutes to play, saw Wilfred Ndidi playing the entire duration of the tie.

While Alex Iwobi was an unused substitute, Ahmed Musa was for the third game left on the bench by Leicester’s coach Craig Shakespeare as doubts continue to mount over his future at the club beyond this summer.

Ndidi who put in a five star performance in the middle for Leicester City, including two well timed tackles in the box against Danny Welbeck and later Mesut Ozil almost gave his side the lead with a header from a Christian Fuchs throw.

The Nigerian rose highest to meet Fuch’s long throw but failed to put sufficient power behind his effort, which made it easy for Petr Cech to make a routine save.

Michael James

High flying French Ligue 1 side Monaco are presently locked in talks with Gent of Belgium over a possible deal in the summer for dashing winger Moses Simon according to Belgium publication Voetbalkrants.com.

Monaco have resigned to losing some of their top stars after a stellar season in France and Europe, with the team currently leading the Ligue 1 table and also through to the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.

The club views Simon as a player who can replaced some of their stars who are expected to leave in the summer, and suggestions are that the deal is almost near completion as both parties are eager for the move to go through.

Presently what is holding the deal is a compromise on what will be the sell on clause due to Gent, if the 23 year old leaves Monaco in a few years time, and the duration which the clause will last.

Reports gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com sources has it that Monaco are willing to pay £12M for his services, plus the promise of first team football which will sway him their way ahead of English Premier League side West Brom who are also interested in his services.

Simon wants to represent Nigeria at next summer World Cup in Russia, if Nigeria qaualifies and will only accept a move to a team that will assure him of their plans for him as regards playing time.
Osas Mahawi

Portuguese top division side FC Porto have announced through official channels that Nigerian midfielder Mikel Agu has extended his contract with the team till 2021.

The 23 year old has grown into an influential player for his loan side Vitoria Se‎tubal this season. A form that has now earn him fresh terms with the Portuguese giants.

Shortly after signing the dotted lines, the hard tackling defensive midfielder ‎said he is ready for the challenge of breaking into the first team as early as next season.

He thanked FC Porto for their faith in him despite all that happened in the past few years, apparently referring to ‎the numerous injury battles he had plus a failed loan stint with Club Brugge of Belgium.

Following his contract extension Porto might end up having as many as four Nigerians in their team next season with Musa Yahaya, Chidozie Awaziem and Fidelis Irhene also pushing for a spot in the first team.

Osas Mahawi

A five days tournament in Lagos which featured 8 football teams in Nigeria has ended with scouts from Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Finland in attendance .

The scouts were from Dutch top flight side Heerenveen ‎, Belgium top league side Standard Liege and Danish emerging power house FC Nordsjaelland.

Diamond Sports Management, a player management outfit based in the United Kingdom organised the tournament, which was meant to select talented players who will be heading to the aforementioned clubs soon.

Dante Academy of Abuja won the tournament by defeating 36 Lions 3-2 after extra time to lift the trophy which was put up for grabs by the organisers of the five day soccer event.

” Nine players got selected and we will be working on their papers as soon as possible for them to travel out” Cem Sagar of Diamond ‎Sports Management told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” We will be arranging another tournament around September and invite four different scouts. This edition was very successful, and we will like to thank everyone for making it possible and successfull”.

Daniel Martins

Top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Stephen Odey has turned down an offer of trial from Belgium side Genk in the summer.

Odey was invited by the team for trails in the summer, but the 19 year old who is currently the top scorer in the NPFL with 14 goals for MFM FC rejected their offer.

” He won’t be attending trials anywhere in Europe. Not only in Belgium, we also got offers from Denmark but we won’t take any of them. Genk were most serious but Odey won’t be going for trial”, a source close to the player told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” The one thing I can tell you is that he will most likely leave in the summer. Talks with some teams are already at an advanced stage, unless an offer comes in from Europe, he will most likely move to a top team in Africa.

” His manager has made it clear, he wants to cash in on his form to help him move abroad but at the same time, It’s not just about going abroad, it’s about getting the right deal for the player who still needs to develop further “.

Daniel Martins