Super Eagles of Nigeria target Brian Idowu has been warned that playing for Nigeria could cost him his starting spot at Russian Premier League side Amkar Perm after Nigeria’s approach to the 24 year old.

Idowu is eligible for Russia and Nigeria, but while Russia the host of the next World Cup are yet to sound out the versatile defender, coach of the senior Nigeria national team Gernot Rohr met with the defender to convince him to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

Rohr went ahead to hand him a spot in Nigeria’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria, but Russia immigration laws stopped him from honoring the invitation from Nigeria for the game which Nigeria won 3-1 to move four points clear of their closest challengers Cameroon in the race to be at Russia 2018.

However highly respected Russian journalist Toke Moller Tolde who writes for Russian Football News says even though Idowu might yet play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The move might prove costly for him at his clubside Amkar Perm.

“If Idowu is capped for Nigeria, he’ll become a legionnaire in the eyes of the RFPL, meaning he’ll lose value, both on and off the pitch. On the pitch, Amkar are forced to have six Russian players eligible for the national team at all times, which means that this kind of player with quality are a rare and valuable co”‘ he wrote.
Osas Mahawi

Super Eagles newboy Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee was close to agreeing a two year deal with Arsenal before his contract extension with promotion chasing Bundesliga 2 side Hannover 96.

Hannover 96 announced his contract extension on Saturday, finally bringing to an end uncertainty regarding the highly rated German-Nigerian forward who would have been out of contract in 2018.

The delay according to informed sources was due to the flurry of offers the 20 year old received from teams in Germany and outside Germany , notably among them English Premier League giants Arsenal.

Bazee courted interest from Bayern Munich, Schalke 04, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Leverkusen , but while the German teams were trying to convince him to make up his mind. Arsenal reportedly offered him a two year deal according to German news outlet SID.

His extension with Hannover 96 however put an end to any hope of Arsenal and the other teams interested in him have in signing him , as he has clearly stated his intention to establish himself at the team before considering any move away.

Osas Mahawi ( Picture Credit: Sportsbuzzer).

Hot in demand Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru seems to be warming up to the idea of moving to a German side from KAS Eupen following rumors linking him with clubs in the land of the World Cup champions.

Onyekuru is heavily linked with a move away from Eupen after his 18 goal haul in his first season in the Belgium top flight, and three German teams namely Hoffeinheim, RB Leipzig and Borrusia Monchengladbach are reportedly in the hunt for the 19 year old.

Responding to the rumors of a possible move to Germany, the winger cum striker who is also linked with a move to several English Premier League teams sounded coy but did reveal that his girlfriend lives in the country.

” I honestly can tell if there is interest in me from Germany , but I welcome the idea because my girlfriend lives there, although she does come around to see me in Belgium”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Daniel Martins

Former Super Eagles forward Peter Osaze Odemwingie had a debut to remember for his Indonesian club Madura United by scoring in his first game for the team which helped them to a 2-0 win over Bali United Pusam.

The former West Brom and Stoke City forward net via the spot in the 74th minute to round up a comprehensive victory for the team he joined last month as a free agent after leaving Rotherham United.

Odemwingie has had a rough patch since suffering a serious injury two seasons ago while at English Premier League side Stoke City. He had a loan spell at Championship side Bristol City but failed to regain the form that made him a feared force in the English Premier League.

He is part of the big name players plying their trade in Indonesia with former Ghana, Chelsea and Real Madrid ace Mikel Essien also in Indonesia where he will also star in their Premier League.

Ade Emmanuel

The bet365 sportsbook review made his unofficial debut for Argentine CA Banfied by starring for their reserve team in a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors.

18 year old Asagidigbi gave a good impression of himself during the course of the game , with smart link up play and dribbles clearly proving why he is so highly rated back home in Nigeria.

Although his status with the club is still unclear regarding a professional contract , his display against Boca Jumiors will no doubt aid his case to be offered a contract by the team that produced Real Madrid super star James Rodriguez.

The club also won the Argentine Super League in 2012, and Asagidigbi will be hoping to kick start his career at the team in a league where only few Nigerians have taken part , the last being Okiki Afolabi who had a short stint with CD Talleres.

Osas Mahawi

Former Nigeria U-17 and 20 forward Orji Okonkwo scored his 10th goal of the season in the Italian Primavera League to hand Bologna a 1-0 win over Novara.

Okonkwo struck what ended as the wining goal for his team in the 44th minute, his fourth goal in two games following his hattrick in their last game against Cagliari. He now has 14 goals in all competitions with four of his other goals coming in the prestigious Viareggio youth tournament.

The 19 year old has been a big revelation this season for the Serie A side following his transfer from Nigeria in the summer after emerging as one of the shining light of the Nigerian team that failed to qualify for the Africa U-20 youth championship .

Known for his speed, power and shooting abilities , he rose to the first team of the club in just a month before suffering an injury which kept him away for one month. He has been with the Primavera side since his return from injury.

His fine form has however not gone unnoticed with Inter-Milan pushing for a summer deal for the teen forward as exclusively reported by this football portal yesterday.

Osas Mahawi

PSV Eindhoven hopes of keeping up with Dutch League leaders Feyenoord and Ajax suffered a set back following their 1-1 draw against ADO Den Haag which leaves them five points behind the league top two sides.

ADO Deen Haag fought back from a goal down to snatch a point three minutes from the end of the game through Japanese forward Mike Havenaar , but they could have fallen further behind if not for their defence line which had Nigerian right back Tyronne Ebuehi in the mix .

Ebuehi showed why he is so highly regarded by coach of the senior national team if Nigeria with a solid show at the back , winning tackles, reading and intercepting play as well as starting off attacks from the rear for his team.

The 21 year old who was rated the best defender on show for his team in their last weekend clash against Groningen has so far made 26 appearances this season with a goal to his name from his position as a full back for ADO Deen Haag who ate struggling to remain in the first division of Dutch football League.

Daniel Martins

Dutch side NEC Nijmegen suffered a big blow in their bid to beat the drop to the second division after losing 0-3 away from home to FC Twente at the De Grolsch Veste Stadium.

The loss compounded the woes of the team as they slipped to 17th on log just a spot and five point behind basement club Go Ahead Eagles with five games left to play in the regular season.

However for their Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi who is on a season long loan from English side Liverpool he has regained his spot in the team with three starts to his name from their last three games, after previously failing to play in nearly all of their games last month.

Awoniyi lasted the entire duration of their game against Twente, and was joined in the game by fellow Nigerian forward Arnold Danjuma Groenveld who was introduced with around 15 minutes left to play in the tie.

19 year old Awoniyi is still searching for his first goal of the season after playing in 16 games, a statistic which is shocking owing to how deadly the striker is when it comes to burying balls in the back of the net during his days with the Nigeria U-17, 20 & 23.

Prince Michael

The chances of in-form Eupen striker Henry Onyekuru getting a call up to the senior Nigeria national team has been enhanced after the forward found the back of the net yet again for his 18th goal of the season.

19 year old Onyekuru who has been linked to host of clubs around top five major European leagues scored for Eupen in the 42 minute of their 3-3 draw against Lokeren in the Belgium play offs.

He now has 16 goals in the league with two of his other goals coming in the Belgium Cup in what is his first season in the top flight in Belgium, after helping Eupen gain promotion from the second division last season.

Coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr is keeping a close watch on the forward and his latest goal will no doubt brighten his chances of getting invited for Nigeria in the nearest future .

Daniel Martins