The true state of Victor Moses injury status has been revealed by coach of the team Antonio Conte after omitting the Nigerian from his starting line up for today’s clash against Crystal Palace.

There were doubts in Nigeria over the legitimacy of the injury that saw him pulled out of Nigeria’s last friendly game against Senegal, but Conte has laid those doubts to rest.

Conte named his line up without the Nigerian, with Spanish winger Pedro set to deputise as a wing back while some suggest a change of style by the manager.

His absence which could force a change of style to 3-5-2 from the effective 3-4-3 formation has once again highlighted the need for the team to look for a capable back up for the Nigerian, when the transfer window opens in the summer.

* Daniel Martins

The search by the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr for options at left full back might be coming to an end following the giant leap made by German-Nigerian left back Jordan Torunarigha.

Presently Rohr has been unsuccessful in his search for a credible back up for first choice and second vice captain Elderson Echiejile, as Kingsley Madu has failed to provide the kind of challenge the manager wants for the Sporting Gijon man.

Torunarigha has been on the manager’s watch list for a while, and last night the German-Nigerian full back made his first team bow by playing for 27 minutes in their 1-3 loss to Hoffeinheim in the Bundesliga.

He was introduced for Vedad Ibisevic and despite coming on with his team under pressure, the 19 year old who is proud of his Nigerian heritage, as he has the country’s flag on the header of his instagram account gave a good impression of himself.

Although he has represented England at youth level he qualifies to play for Nigeria through his dad Ojokojo Torunarigha who played for Nigeria League side Shooting Stars years ago.

* Osas Mahawi

The future of Manchester City Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho at the Etihad is uncertain, but the possibility of leaving for a direct rival is bleak.

Owngoalnigeria.com Daniel Martins who is close to the agent of the player revealed contrary to reports, Iheanacho has not been told by manager Pep Guardiola that he is not wanted.

According to Martins City are open to do business for Iheanacho but not to a team in direct competition for titles with them, as it amount to strengthening a rival.

” The last time I checked, Iheanacho is still very much in the plans of Guardiola, but for how long I don’t know. Summer is around the corner and his departure will depend on a lot of variables”, Martins told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” For instance I gathered he might be sold to a team in England, possible a mid table team where he will get games to help him develop but such deal will carry a buy back clause. A loan is also a possibility.
” I can confirm to you as well that there has been discreet inquiries from agents who have links with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, of course you know Alex Iwobi is also pushing for Iheanacho to join him at Arsenal.

” The bad new still remains that City won’t sell or loan Iheanacho to a direct rival. No they won’t do that because they know and respect his quality, no way is he going to join a top four team in England”.
* Prince Michael

As the debate over the none inclusion of home based players in the Super Eagles continue to rage on, a follower of the Nigerian Professional Football League Moses James has given his view while Gernot Rohr possibly prefers players born abroad ahead of the players in the Nigerian League.

Rohr has been criticized in some quarters with most people unhappy with his idea of convincing players of Nigeria descent, most of who have represented other countries to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles.

The term “Oyibo Eagles” was introduced by some followers of the team, due to the influx of so many players born abroad, following the recent capture of Chelsea Ola Aina, QPR Ebere Eze and Arsenal Chuba Akpom.

” I follow the NPFL very well, and it’s clear to see that the mentality of our home based players is not ripe for senior national team assignment, with all due respect and I have my reasons for saying so”, James told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” An average Nigeria League player has a mentality of winning away from home is a tall order, and they also believe if they lose games away it’s entirely the fault of the referee even at home without truly assessing their own peformance.
” Such players have a defeated mindset even when they are called up to the team, they fell they won’t be selected because most Nigerian teams recruit this boys with the help of some people in high places, which is not same in the national team”.

*Ade Emmanuel

Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi will return back to action in ten days time according to his coach Jamie Pacheo, who claimed it could have been longer if he was still at Chelsea.

Mikel picked up a knock in their last game, where he played as a central defender and will miss this weekend game against Lifan, due to the knock.

Mikel’s coach at Chinese side Tianjin TEDA revealed that the 29 year old will undergo traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment which will hasten up his recovery.

The treatment involves the use of thin needles which are inserted into the body as alternative means of curing injuries in China. An ancient tradition which is still been practiced by the Chinese.

” If he was at Chelsea, the injury may be for about three or four weeks, but in TEDA he will resume training in ten days time, and simply fast as well”, Pacheo told sports.enorth.com.cn
* Osas Mahawi

Hot on the heels of the capture of players of Nigerian descent born in England, coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr has also secured the services of Kingsley Ehizibue.

Rohr held productive talks with the Dutch youth international, and the winger who can also play as a right back has accepted to pledge his international future to Nigeria ahead of the Netherlands and Germany.

Born to Nigerian parents in Germany, the 21 year old moved to the Netherlands at a young age, and progressed through the ranks of PEC Zwolle before breaking into the first team last season.

Ehizibue will most likely make his debut for Nigeria in one of the proposed friendly games against Corsica or Congo DR in May, before the Eagles AFCON 2019 qualifiers Against South Africa in June.

He will team up with fellow Dutch-Nigerian Tyroone Ebuehi of ADO Den Haag as Rohr continue to bolster his options at right back.

Ebuehi and Ehizibue share the same agent, but they will turn to rivals in the Super Eagles as they are both right full backs.

* Daniel Martins

19 year old Nigerian forward Onyekachi Hopr Ugwuadu popularly referred to as Kachi has left Sarpsborg 08 for fellow Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

Kachi joined the team on a deal which will last till the end of the season bringing an end to a two year stint with Sarpsborg, where he failed to match expectations.

During his stint with Sarpsborg, he managed to play just 14 games in two seasons and scored three goals with two of his goals coming in the 2015 season.

Power playing Kachi is a product of Jos based academy Gee Lec IFA and was first spotted by highly respected Nigerian scout Atta Aneke during a scouting exercise in Port Hacourt.

He will be hoping to recapture the form he showed while on trial with Sarpsborg two years ago, that made the team offered him a four year deal at his new club Bodo/Glimt.

* Daniel Martins

Chelsea upcoming defender Ola Aina showed his knowledge of Nigerian music in an online video picked up by Owngoalnigeria.com online editor.

The full back who has represented England at various youth levels, trained with the senior national team of Nigeria on Monday as the Super Eagles close in on snatching him from England.

Aina displayed his knowledge of Nigerian music by dropping a line from legendary Nigerian musician Tuface Idibia track As You See Me So, much to the delight of the watching Alex Iwobi and Ebere Eze.

David Doherty who co-ordinates Team Nigeria International started the track before Aina jumped in to drop a line to prove his knowledge of the song. Doherty later posted the video on the official twitter handle of Team Nigeria @Team_NigeriaUK.

https://twitter.com/team_nigeriauk/status/846285814854275073

* Prince Michael

The debate surrounding the legitimacy of the injury that forced Chelsea Victor Moses to pull out of Nigeria’s friendly game against Senegal is set to be re -ignited as he has been passed fit for Chelsea.

Moses pulled out of Nigeria’s friendly due to a knock picked up in Chelsea’s last game before the international break, but most Nigerians were skeptical about his injury claims.

The Chelsea wingback was sent back by coach Gernot Rohr after an examination by the fitness coach of the Super Eagles, but due to his knack for selecting games in the past, many doubted what looked like a genuine case this time around.

Already he has been passed fit for Chelsea’s weekend game against Crystal Palace, and expectedly Nigerians have once again reopen the debate as to his commitment to the national team.

Despite all, he is still one of the important players of the team, and scored a brace in the Super Eagles 3-1 win over Algeria which consolidated their leadership of their World Cup 2018 Qualifiers group.

*Osas Mahawi

QPR boss Ian Holloway has tipped Super Eagles new boy Ebere Eze for a prominent role in the team in a not too distant future judging by how well he has settled at the club.

Eze joined the team from Millwall as a free agent in the summer and has emerged as one of the best players for the U23s, which forced Holloway to hand him his first team debut in the FA Cup tie against Blackburn in January.

The 18 year old impressed during his 18 minute cameo in the 1-2 defeat suffered by QPR, as he had to be substituted after picking up an achilles injury.

However, Holloway was pleased with his displays and tipped him for more roles with the first team before the season comes to an end for the promotion chasing outfit.

” He’s got unbelievable ability, but the question is whether he can produce it our here. Millwall let him go, some people may find it strange I’m giving him a chance, but I believe in him”, Holloway told the Times.

“He’s got a lot to learn defensively but going forward he’s got all sorts of ability. He’s really impressed me in training, but now it’s my responsibility to really teavh him the game”.

Nigeria moved ahead of England in the race to cap the talented teen by including him in their recently concluded national team camp in London, with the youngster taking part in a practice game.

However he is still eligible to represent Nigeria and England at senior level but scoops gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com has it that he has shut the door on representing England.

* Daniel Martins