On loan Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has been offered a spot in Chelsea’s pre season squad, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Omeruo left Chelsea for another loan spell in Turkey with Alanyaspor, but signed an extension before leaving for what was his fourth consecutive loan spell away from the club.

He was coerced into signing the extension by coach Antonio Conte, who promised him a spot in his team when pre season training commences before the start of next season.

Omeruo has played his own part in the bargain by cementing a spot in the Alanyaspor side, and will now be given the chance to fight for a first team spot by Conte.

The Nigerian was on the verge of breaking into the first team of Chelsea in 2014 but an unfortunate shoulder injury which ruled him out for three months denied him the chance to impress then manager Jose Mourinho.

However with club captain John Terry set to depart the Blues this summer, Omeruo and Kurt Zouma will be given the chance to push as his replacement before Chelsea start any transfer business in central defence.

* Daniel Martins

The goal scored by Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in Leicester City 2-0 win over Stoke City in the English Premier League didn’t come as a surprise to coach of the team Craig Shakespare.

Ndidi let fly a 35 yards screamer, which sailed past Lee Grant in Stoke City goal for the opening goal of the game, and Shakespare believes the goal from Ndidi set the tone for the victory over Stoke.

However despite all the praises the strike has received for the manner it was executed by the Nigerian, the coach says it didn’t come to him as a surprise because Ndidi has it in him to score from such efforts.

” The game today never felt comfortable. I did feel that the first goal was going to be important and what a goal it was by the way. He has scored one like that before for us but it gave us a foothold in the game and I thought that was important”, Shakespeare said at the post match conference.

” Ndidi has done that before. He’s got that in his locker. He is getting better game after game, and has settled down into the team and how we want to play”.

* Daniel Martins

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville says the absence of Victor Moses played a part in Chelsea losing 1-2 at Stamford Bridge to Stoke City in a Premier League clash.

Neville who was in the studio as an analyst during the course of the game faulted the way Chelsea were lined up in defence without the Nigerian, who was missing through injury.

” The change of tactics and the absence of some players didn’t work as planned by coach Antonio Conte. Victor Moses was badly missed, they looked unconvincing and disorganised at the back without Moses”, Neville said.

” Wilfred Zaha had a field day running at the full backs of Chelsea, he had little to do defensively because there was no player opening the game up like Moses would have done for Chelsea.

” Willian brought a bit of spark to the attack when he was introduced but at that time Crystal Palace were all about protecting their 2-1 lead which they did at the end of the game”.

*Osas Mahawi

An explanation as to why highly rated Nigerian teen back Nura Abdullahi didn’t make his debut for Serie A side Roma against Empoli has been provided by Luciano Spalleti.

The Roma boss included the Nigerian in his matchday squad for the first time this season, as the highly rated 19 year old has fully recovered from the numerous injuries and fitness issues that has slowed him down.

However, he didn’t get to make his debut as expected as Roma cruised to a 2-0 win over Empoli, courtesy of goals from forward Edin Dzeko with Nura left on the bench for the entire duration of the game.
” Nura was a bit unfortunate yesterday. The plan was for him to play some minutes but the coach was forced into making a substitution in defence which caused Nura his debut”, Nura intermediary told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” Federico Fazio felt some pains in his legs and has to be replaced by another central defender with five minutes left to play that substitution plus other factors in the mind of the coach denied Nura his first team bow with Roma, He is aware of this explanation from the coach”.

* Daniel Martins

Coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr says the defensive issues of the senior Nigeria national team is a thing of the past as they gear up for the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers and the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers.

Rohr has kept faith with the duo of William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun in the Eagles central defence since taking over as coach of the team, although Kenneth Omeruo paired Ekong in Zambia , when the Eagles defeated the Chipolopolo 2-1 in Ndola.

Since then Omeruo has reverted to a new role as the right back of the team, and Rohr speaking after the game against Senegal dismissed any fear regarding his defence.

” We don’t have problems in defence, but the only problem we have is some players who started today’s game ( against Senegal) are not playing for their teams in Europe”, Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com in London.
” Leon Balogun is not playing for Mainz 05, Ekong is also not playing very much for Gent, It’s the same problem with Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa at Man City and Leicester City.
” That is the only problem I think we have for now. The defence is okay but we keep working to make it better game after game”.

* Michael James

Out of favour Super Eagles midfielder Raheem Lawal has settled down nicely at his loan side Kayserispor with another man of the match performance in their 1-2 loss to Antalyaspor.

Lawal left fellow Turkish side Osmanlispor for Kayserispor in January in search of regular playing time, and the decision has paid off handsomely for the 26 year old.

Yesterday he picked up another assist, his third since his move by setting up Ryan Mendes who brought scores to 1-1 for his team after Samuel Eto’o has given Antalyaspor the lead.

Mostapha El Kabir scored right at the end of regulation time to hand his side all three points, but Lawal who lasted the entire duration of the game can be proud of his performance.

Aside his performance in yesterday’s game, he also dominated the midfield in games against league giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray in January.
* Prince Michael

Highly rated Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru continued his rich vein of form for Belgium side Eupen with a brace in their 2-2 draw against Roeselare.

Second division side Roeselare found the Nigerian forward a hard nut to crack in the Belgium League qualification play off, pulling his side from two goals down to draw 2-2.

Two quick goals from Roselare who are battling to qualify for the top league in Belgium via the play off put them in the driving seat, before Onyekuru struck to break their heart.

Onyekuru drew his side level with two well taken place goals in the 53rd and 76th minute to take his season tally to 15 in all competitions, aside picking up 7 assists in what is his debut season in the Belgium top flight.

In January, the 19 year old went on strike to force a move to Scottish side Celtic, but reports from sources in Belgium has it that scouts from English Premier League side West Ham were at the Kehrwegstadion to run the rule on the hot in demand forward.
* Osas Mahawi

he absence of high flying Nigerian wing back Victor Moses was well felt by Antonio Conte lead Chelsea as they were loss 1-2 to Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

Moses was ruled out of the game after failing to shake off a calf injury, which saw him skipped Nigeria’s friendly games against Senegal during the international break.

Chelsea struggled without Moses, who has during the course of this season played a big role for Chelsea in defence as well as in attack, especially with teams that sit back and defend in numbers.

Even though Cesc Fabregas gave the leaders the lead early into the game, two quick goals seperated by three minutes from Wilfred Zaha and Christian Benteke gave the relegation fighters a shock 2-1 win at Chelsea.

* Prince Michael

Great goal Ndidi pic.twitter.com/eVIouCsq5b

— aziz (@MagicalMartial) April 1, 2017

Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi knack for scoring long range goals was once again on show as he scored a 35 yards screamer to help Leicester City overcome Stoke City.

Ndidi received a pass from fellow midfielder Danny Drinkwater in the 25th minute, and without any doubt in his mind let fly a right foot shot which flew past Lee Grant in Stoke City goal for the opening goal of the game.

The goal was his third spectacular goal of the season, following his efforts for Belgian side Genk against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League and his goal against Derby County in the FA Cup, which was his first in English football after his move from Genk in the summer.

Jamie Vardy rounded up scoring for the English Premier League champions with a blast from inside the box off a cross from Riyad Mahrez, but the goal from Ndidi stole the shine of his well taken effort.

*Prince Michael

The true state of Barcelona B January acquisition Ezekiel Bassey has been revealed to Owngoalnigeria.com , putting to rest doubts over his return date to Spain.

Bassey returned back to Nigeria to process his work permit after spending time with the Catalan giants, but not much has been heard about him since then.

Owngoalnigeria.com can however exclusively reveal, his work permit is yet not ready yet but the on loan Enyimba FC of Aba ace has returned to Spain.

” He has returned back to Spain for like two weeks now, he is currently training while his work permit is being processed here in Nigeria. It should be ready anytime soon”, a trusted source revealed to Owngoalnigeria.com via a chat on social media app Whatsapp.

” He is likely to make his official debut in two weeks time but for now he is training steadily with the rest of his teammate. He will come good soon”.

Bassey joined Barcelona on deadline day of the January transfer window from Enyimba of Aba on a six months loan deal which will metamorphose into a permanent deal in the summer, base on variables such as performance and fitness.

* Daniel Martins