Enugu Rangers protest against Egyptian side Zamalek for fielding an ineligible player in their CAF Champions League tie will be thrown out by the Confederation of African Football, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

Zamalek thrashed Enugu Rangers 1-4 in Egypt last weekend in their first leg final CAF Champions League qualifiers tie, but the Nigerians protested that Zamalek fielded an ineligible player in Hossam Paulo, who incidentally scored one of the goals.

Rangers sent a protest to CAF complaining that Hossam Paulo is not eligible for the tie as he is also registered by Smouha, for their CAF Confederation Cup games this season, citing a provision of the competition rules which states that a player can not play for different teams in CAF club tournaments in same season.

However, Africa football expert Lofti Wada dismissed Rangers protest as a ruse, and clearly explained why it would be thrown out by CAF in an exclusive chat with Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Hossam Paulo was registered by Zamalek for their CAF Champions League campaign on the 30th of January with Zamalek paying the usual fine for late registration”, Lofti told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Although he was in Smouha’s list for the CAF Confederations Cup, but he didn’t play in any of their games, which makes him logically eligible to play for Zamalek. If he had played for Smouha, Zamalek would’ve been kicked out by CAF.

” Moreover two weeks before their game against Rangers, Zamalek asked CAF if their late registered players would be allowed to play in the round of 16, and CAF gave them the green light as there’s now a single round, which is the round of 16 if you’re given a bye like the case of Zamalek”.

From Lotfi’s explanation Enugu Rangers will now focus on overturning the 1-4 loss they suffered in Egypt, when Zamalek visit them in Enugu this weekend for the return tie.

*Prince Michael

Nigeria international Shehu Abdullahi has been widely tipped to be among the nominees for the Best Player Award in Cyprus, owing to his performances for Anorthosis Famagusta.

Abdullahi is widely regarded in Cyprus as one of the best players in the league, and the 24 year old has proved his efficiency at both ends of the pitch this season.

Signed in the summer from Portuguese side Uniao Madeira, he has so far played as a full back, distinguishing himself at left back and sometimes at right back aside his commanding performances when he occupies his original role as a defensive midfielder.

Furthermore, he has also played as a central defender, which means he has played all role across the back four this season, where he has made 22 appearances in the league with two goals to his name.

He also picked up one red card and five yellow cards in the league, while he has made four appearances in the cup with a potential goal of the season contender his only goal so far in the cup.

Reports in Cyprus has it that, he is one of the most sought after players in the league and he will most definitely be the target of some European teams in the summer.

*Daniel Martins

Coach of Nigeria League leaders Plateau United Kennedy Boboye has been handed a 3 game touchline ban by the League Management Company (LMC), for failing to conduct himself in a professional manner in his team’s 1-1 draw against Shooting Stars.

In a statement released by the LMC Boboye was charged for breaching the Code of Conduct for Managers & Coaches for the NPFL Framework and Rules.

The LMC imposed a three game suspension on the gaffer, with two of the games being suspended subject on good conduct for the rest of the season.

The fall out from that same game also claimed goalkepper Dele Ajiboye who was also charged by the LMC for breaching the NPFL Framework and Rules which landed him a one game ban.

Ajiboye will miss the game against MFM FC this weekend in Lagos according to the statement released by he LMC.

*Osas Mahawi

A select team of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) U-17 would leave for Johannesburg, South Africa this weekend to participate in a 7-day football tournament organised by “The Future Champions.”

The team is made up of 20 players selected by the coaching crew led by former Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen who is being by a former U-13 National team coach Danladi Nasidi with Emeka Amadi as the goal keepers’ trainer.

The players were selected after a screening exercise conducted for players invited from youth teams of NPFL clubs.

Those selected are players registered for the 2016/17 season by NPFL Clubs and who are under the age of 17. Clubs whose players made the cut include Wikki Tourists, FC IfeanyiUbah, Remo Stars and Kano Pillars. Others are Nasarawa United, Gombe United and Shooting Stars.

The League Management Company ( LMC) said in compliance with the rules of the tournament, the selected players also passed further age eligibility tests with only players born in the year 2000 and after, being eligible.

Speaking to www.npfl.ng, Coach Eguavoen expressed delight that a Nigerian cadet team has been invited to play in the tournament and said it will be of benefit to the country in the future.

“I must commend the LMC for this vision and also the organisers of the Future Champions group. This will benefit the league in the future but it’s disappointing that top teams like Enyimba, Rangers, Rivers United don’t have young players in their rosters. The idea behind this is to force these teams to have youth teams.”

“From what we’ve seen so far in the trainings we’ve had, it’s clear to us that we have a talented team and the future for these players is bright. The main objective is to expose these boys and help project their careers,” Eguavoen remarked.

The NPFL U-17 All Star team have played two friendly games, winning 6-0 against Dante Stars FC of Abuja on Tuesday, and 8-0 against Royal Academy on Wednesday. They will play one more game before departing for Johannesburg on Saturday 18th March, 2017.

Teams expected to participate at the Future Champions football tourney include FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Everton FC, Shanghai Shenhua, Paris St. Germain, defending champions Atletico Madrid amongst others..

The tourney is expected to hold between March 20-27 in Gauteng, South Africa.

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The reason behind the conversion of captain of the senior Nigeria national team John Obi Mikel from a midfielder to a central defender has been revealed.

Mikel shone in his new role as the heart of the defence of his Chinese team Tianjin Teda helping them pick their first point of the season, and also their first clean sheet in the two weeks old Chinese League.

His conversion from a midfielder to a central defender by Spanish coach Jaime Pacheco was done to help the team snuff out aerial threat from opposition, and also aid their style of play of building from the rear.

The Super Eagles captain didn’t disappoint in the role, as he won most of his aerial duels and also sprayed nice passes from the back to help his team set up attack.

His performance against Jiangsu Suning was roundly praised by the media, especially the ease at which he intercepted passes with near faultless reading of play.

It is also worthy to note that, it is not the first time he has played as a central defender because last season under interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink he played the second half of their Premier game against Swansea City as a central defender replacing Matt Miazga who had a nightmarish time against Bafetembi Gomis.

* Osas Mahawi

Arsenal Nigerian teen midfielder Kelechi Nwakali will once again head out on another loan deal away after the expiration of his present deal with Dutch second division side MVV Maastricht, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

Nwakali has won several man of the match award for his performances for his present team who are chasing promotion, but he still hasn’t done enough to convince the club hierarchy about his readiness to make the step up to the main team.

” If there’s one youngster who has been pencilled down for more first team action next season Donyell Malen has to be the one not Nwakali. As a matter of fact about 8 players are currently ahead of the Nigerian”, Arsenal youth team expert Simon John told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Nwakali will go out on loan, am cocksure about that but Malen will be given a chance to push for a spot in the first team, before probably heading out on loan towards the end of next season.

” Malen has trained regularly with the first team and from those who have watched their session, he has linked up well with the senior players at the club.

” He has some areas in his game he needs to work on but overall he has improved tremendously, especially in front of goal. He is a sure to be included in the first team pre season activities”.

* Daniel Martins

FC Porto Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem has exclusively revealed to Owngoalnigeria.com the date he intends to arrival the camp of the Super Eagles.

Awaziem is in the list of 25 players called up by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for the upcoming friendly games in London against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

In a chat with Owngoalnigeria.com, the 20 year old central defender says he plans to team up with the Super Eagles, a day after FC Porto’s B team second division game against Vizela.

” I will play our league game against Vizela on Saturday afternoon, all things being equal I should be in the Super Eagles camp on Sunday evening”, Awaziem told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I am not going to London to make up the numbers, my plan is to make an impression on the coaches and get to play in one of the games, I honestly believe I have a future with the team.

” The opportunity to train and fight for a shirt with the likes of Leon Balogun, Uche Agbo and William Troost-Ekong is one that will bring out the best in me, but I must admit am also going to the camp to learn from them as well. They are more experienced than me at the moment”.

*Prince Michael

The Super Eagles of Nigeria latest invitee Joel Noah Sarenren Bazee has the talent to make the attack line of the Nigerian team better than it is right now.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has not been too impressed with the firing line of his team , a situation that has seen him try various combinations in attack in the three games he has handled Nigeria.

Rohr convinced Sarenren Bazee to commit his future to Nigeria ahead of Germany because he believe that the 20 year old will help address some of the pressing issues of the Super Eagles in attack.

Bazee’s main attributes is speed but he is also blessed with the ability to thread passes to the point man of his team, as illustrated in his performance so far for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga 2.

He has six assists from just 12 games this season, making him third in the list of players with highest number of assist in the league this season.

The likes of Manchester City Kelechi Iheanacho and other Super Eagles forwards will no doubt benefit from his tailor-like passes in their quest to score more goals for Nigeria.

* Prince Michael

Nigeria youth international Chidera Ejike who recently joined Norwegian side Valerenga has opened up on how he got the nickname “Nigerian Iniesta”.

In an exclusive chat with Owngoalnigeria.com, Ejike revealed the nicknamed Nigerian Iniesta came out of the blues from people who have watched him play live.

” Seriously, I can’t say how the nickname came about, because have been called a lot of names at the different places have been to. In Gombe fans call me Coutinho, some say Neymar, while few others call me Carrasco”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” They are all very good footballers and I think I share similar characteristics with them. Hopefully I can rise to the same height or even surpass their achievement.

On the number of goals target he has set this season, Ejike narrowed it down to playing well for his team , believing goals will come when he plays well and also revealed the reason why he settled for his latest jersey number.

” I don’t have any target for now. I just want to play well for the team, that way the goals will come. To me I put the team first ahead of every other personal goal of mine.

” My new shirt number is odd to people who know my love for the number 10 jersey but am settling for 40 because it is the squad number available”.

*Daniel Martins

Victor Moses participation in the Super Eagles upcoming friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso was thrown into doubt after he limped out of Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will first play Senegal on the 23rd of March before taking on Burkina Faso four days later at the Hive, the home ground of English league side Barnet.

Owngoalnigeria.com gathered from sources close to the coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr, revealed that the Chelsea star is yet to withdraw from the game despite some reports to the contrary.

” No word yet from Victor Moses, so he will most likely play in the games against Senegal and Burkina Faso since he has no informed coach Gernot Rohr”, a source told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Moses has a very good relationship with Rohr, and if his injury is bad enough to sideline him from the games, he would have informed the coach earlier”.

* Osas Mahawi