Super Eagles of Nigeria and Gent of Belgium defender William Troost Ekong put in a strong performance for Gent in their 2-0 win over Zulte Waregem in the Belgium Play-Off.

Ekong was originally named on the bench, but was included in the starting line up after Stefan Mitrovic injured himself during the warm up, few minutes to kick off.

The Nigerian didn’t look out of place despite knowing he will be playing few minutes before kickoff. He was his usual dominant self especially in aerial duels where he neutralised the threat of Zulte-Waregem dangerman Mbaye Leye.

His Nigerian counterpart at Gent, Moses Simon was on from the start but didn’t finish the game despite showing flashes of his undoubted potentials. The other Nigerians at the club Rabiu Ibrahim and Samuel Kalu were unused substitutes while Esiti wasn’t listed.

Super Eagles deputy left back Kingsley Madu also impressed for Zulte-Waregem, with his forays upfront causing Gent all sort of troubles, while his defending was also top notch. Aliko Bala Madu’s teammate at Zulte-Waregem wasn’t listed for action.

Osas Mahawi

The highly anticipated friendly game between Nigeria and Germany has gotten a proposed date ‎ according to a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr was first to confirm talks with Germany, his country before a mail sent by Owngoalnigeria.com to a member of the German FA confirmed what Rohr said.

The is meant to prepare the Nigeria national team for the task of qualifying for the World Cup 2018 in Russia, and the 2019 African Cup of Nations‎.

” You can’t be in talks with a nation like Germany without a date in mind, so we have proposed a date of the 13th of November 2017 at a yet to be agreed venue “, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” For now we are looking at three venues. Paris, London or Germany, soon a decision will be reached by both parties,and an announcement will be made as well”.

Osas Mahawi

Arsenal Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi has spoken out on his recent bit part role at the Gunners, after failing to play in their last three games, and even had to drop a step down to get game time with the U-23s‎.

Iwobi who according to Wenger is a victim of Arsenal new playing formation enjoyed a regular run in the team for a year, before a string of poor results in the team lead to a dip in form in his performance, which played a part in his axing from the starting line up.

However the 20 year old is defiant as he has witnessed even worse in his career, as he was almost released by Arsenal thrice during his formative years at the club.

His reaction as captured in Arsenal matchday magazine for tonight’s clash against Leicester City speaks volume of a player, whose confidence is not shaken despite demotion to the bench.
“My journey so far has been a bumpy ride, so it’s something I look back on and say to myself,

“If I can overcome things that I believe were worse than what’s going on now, then surely I should be able to overcome this.

“It’s tough, especially for the ones who almost get released, which I unfortunately had to go through. It makes you stronger.

“If you’re good enough and you apply the work that needs to be done and put in maximum effort then you’ll come through.”

Michael James

Manager of Chelsea Antonio Conte will have the final say on John Obi Mikel receiving a medal if Chelsea end up winning the English Premier League this season.

The rules state that only players with five or more appearances are eligible for a champion medal, but expectations include reserve goalkeepers and any player with less than five appearances due to injury.

Mikel left Chelsea in January for Chinese side Tianjin Teda without playing a single game, hence should automatically not qualify for a medal, but Chelsea have used less than 30 players this season, and they will receive 30 medals to be given out to their players and technical crew.

That said, Conte will decide who gets the remaining medal after the first team players, who are regulars have gotten their medals as well as his backroom staff who according to our count are just six.

Chelsea currently hold a four point lead ahead of second placed Tottenham Hotspur ahead of tonight’s game against Southampton.

Michael James

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr won’t be stripping John Obi Mikel as captain of the team even if former captain Vincent Enyeama returns to the team.

Enyeama’s possible return to the team has been severally discussed due to doubts surrounding the fitness ‎of first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who could miss the rest of the season owing to an injury picked up three weeks ago.

Speaking on the issue, Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana ‎said Rohr told him, he has met with Enyeama and among other stuffs discussed, he told the former captain who quit the team in controversial circumstances, that he has to respect the structure of the team the way it is now.

” So, do some people feel that Enyeama cannot come back and realised that things have changed?. Surely he would like to to a fourth World Cup?, Rohr wants him back, because he has told me that”, Osasu said.

” But on condition that he is ready to accept the place and role that he, Rohr, gives him. Enyeama still our best goalkeeper. I think that is not in doubt, right?‎”.

Ade Emmanuel

Manager of Arsenal Arsene Wenger has given highly rated 17 year old Dutch forward Donyell Malen a spot in Arsenal pre season squad, while he is yet to make up his mind on Kelechi Nwakali.

Malen has trained severally with the first team, and the Dutch teen wonder, who was already a regular for Arsenal U-23 at the age of 16 will have his first team bow in pre season.

Wenger rates the forward highly and Malen has not disappointed the manager with his performances for the U-23s. A form which has now earned him a spot in their pre season squad according to Arsenal insider Mark Taylor.

” Malen is definitely going to be a part of the first team pre season activities, as for Nwakali the scouting reports has been impressive but his consistency is not there yet.

” He (Nwakali) tends to blow hot and cold during games. Aside his form which is very encouraging considering his age, the issue of securing a work permit could see him head out on another loan”, Taylor told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Michael James

Portuguese giants FC Porto have decided to buy off the full rights of highly rated Nigerian teen forward Musa Yahaya from Portimonense.

Yahaya joined Porto, on a co-ownership deal but Porto redeemed him by compensating Portimonense to let go off their stake in the 19 year old forward.

The form of Yahaya played a big part in Porto’s decision to acquire his full rights, with reports tipping him to make a big breakthrough into the first team next season.

However the Portuguese giants have sold 60 % of the right of Chidera Ezeh, who was a bit part‎ player for Portimonense, who are going to play in the top division next summer.

Ezeh might according to a source not play for Portimonense next season, as the club have already drawn up plans for him to go out on loan at the end of this season.

Daniel Martins

Former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro says Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo will be an upgrade on current third choice centre back Nathan Ake.

Babayaro told Owngoalnigeria.com that although Ake coped reasonably well against Tottenham Hotspur in the 4-2 FA Cup semi-final win, he still has a lot to learn in the art of defending.

” He didn’t do too bad against Spurs I must confess, but his positional awareness is still somehow short of what a Premier League defender should have, but he is still very young.

” Ake will come good, but I honestly feel Omeruo will be an upgrade. He has top level experience at the age of 23, over 50 international caps and still counting. He is definitely talented.

” I feel he has progressed really well in Turkey this season, when you add that to his international experience, you have a defender who only needs the trust of the manager to show what he can do”.

Osas Mahawi

Former Nigeria U-17 shot stopper Francis Uzoho has been handed a first team squad number by the technical crew of Spanish La-Liga side Deportivo La Coruna.

The 18 year old joined the team in January from the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar, a transfer exclusively reported by this football portal few months ago‎.

Although he is yet to make a first team appearance, he has severally trained with the first team, and impressed the handlers who have now decided to hand him a first team squad number in jersey number 23.

In the summer, he is expected to make his debut for the team in pre season games from where his performances could land him a permanent spot in the first team in competitive games.

For now he is the third choice goalkeeper of the La-Liga outfit, who are placed 16th on the log, and mathematically not saved yet as they face the prospect of dropping to the second division in Spain unless they pick up ‎points in their remaining five games of the season.

Uzoho was a part of the Nigerian U-17 team of 2013 that won the U-17 World Youth Championship in the UAE. He was the third choice goalkeeper of the team as head coach Manu Garba settled for Dele Alampasu as his first choice.

Daniel Martins