Dutch based Nigerian forward Fred Friday has been called up to the Super Eagles squad for the friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

He will be named in a revised squad which will be released later today by coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr, as a replacement for one player who has reportedly withdrew from the game due to injury.

Fred has been in fine form in the Dutch league for AZ Alkmaar and Rohr has been keeping a close watch on the former Lillestroem man since his goal in an Europa League game earlier this season.

This is the first time that the 21 year old will be called up to any arm of the Nigeria national team since he turned professional three years ago, when he moved to Norway.

His inclusion brings the number of fresh call ups for the Senegal and Burkina Faso games to two, following the naming of Olarenwaju Kayode by the coach as a replacement for the injured Victor Osimhen.

Daniel Martins.

Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively report that coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr has handed a maiden call up to Austria Wien’s forward Olarenwaju Kayode for the upcoming friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London later in the month.

Kayode will replace Victor Osimhen who has withdrawn from the game after undergoing surgery to cure the injury that has stopped him from making his debut for German side Wolfsburg.

” I am very happy that finally the handlers of the Super Eagles have counted me worthy enough for an invitation”, Kayode told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I want to thank all those who believed in me and I will do everything possible to give this oppurtunity my very best”, he concluded.

The forward who has done credibly well in both domestic and European competitions this season precisely the Europa League,has played for Nigeria at U-17 and 20 level, but this is his first call up to the senior national team.

*Daniel Martins

Manager of Arsenal Arsene Wenger has revealed the reason behind the exclusion of Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi from his matchday squad for tonight’s clash against Bayern Munich with the Gunners trailing 1-5 from the first leg in Munich.

Iwobi was surprisingly not listed in the matchday squad and according to the Arsenal manager Wenger, the 20 year old called in sick in the early hours of today , leaving him with no option than to leave him out of the squad.

His spot in the team has been taken by German midfielder Mesut Ozil who starts on the bench despite Wenger saying earlier that he doesn’t expect him to be in the squad as he has only trained once.

According to reports gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of the Super Eagles friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso later in the month.

The 18 year underwent surgery in Germany and will now miss 12 weeks, which effectively rules him out of the season and also any national team assignment for same period of time .

His inclusion in the list of 25 players caused a whole lot of controversy as he is yet to make his professional debut for German side Wolfsburg since his transfer became official few months ago.

He has suffered so many injury setback, the club was left with no option but to make him go under the knife in a bid to find a permanent solution to his injury problems.

A replacement is yet to be called up for him by coach Gernot Rohr who has been told about the injury suffered by the top scorer at the last U-17 World Youth Championship in Chile.

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has opened talks with another German-Nigerian player following the successful capture of Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee by Nigeria.

Bazee will play for Nigeria in their upcoming friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London after agreeing to commit his international future to Nigeria ahead of Germany.

His acceptance is not the end of Rohr’s mission in Germany to speak with players of Nigerian descent, as the manager has reportedly instigated talks with another high rated German born player, eligible for Nigeria.

” More players will play for Nigeria, Bazee has committed his future to Nigeria already but that is not the end. Another German born Nigerian player was approached by the manager”, a source told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I am sorry I can’t tell you his name now, but he is one player who will excite Nigerians when he finally accepts to dump Germany for Nigeria at senior international level”.

Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho is among one of the players at Manchester City who keeps the dressing room alive with jokes according to his teammate.

Leroy Sane while speaking with Premier League TV revealed that Iheanacho alongside Nolito and Yaya Toure are the three players who liven up other players mood in the camp of the Citizens.

It is the second time the 20 year old has been named by a teammate as one of the funny players at the club, and at national level his regular roommate Alex Iwobi also said same about him.

Nicknamed Uncle by his teammate, the name was given to him by his teammates as he calls every senior player in the team uncle as exclusively revealed by Owngoalnigeria.com.

Super Eagles latest invitee Tyroone Ebuehi says Super Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf convinced him to play for the Super Eagles, as opposed to some reports in Nigeria crediting coach Gernot Rohr over his decision to play for Nigeria ahead of the Netherlands.

Ebuehi initially turned down the chance to represent Nigeria,when he was called up for the Super Eagles World Cup 2018 qualifiers game against Algeria, insisting on focusing on his club career.

However he has confirmed that he will play for Nigeria in their upcoming friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London later in the month.

According to the player, Yusuf who is one of the assistant coach of Rohr helped him in making up his mind about playing for the Super Eagles owing to his fatherly advice and support.

Ebuehi revealed that even when he opt out of the Algeria game when he was first invited, Yusuf kept on making him see reasons why he should play for Nigeria ahead of the Netherlands.

The highly rated defender thanked the manager for his support and vow to put in his best as payback in the test games against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

Super Eagles World Cup 2014 midfielder Rueben Gabriel has joined Finnish side KuPS from AS Trencin on a year deal with the option of another year based on some variables.

Gabriel moved to Slovak side AS Trencin after two and half years with Portuguese side Boavista, where he was released alongside two other Nigerian players in the summer.
Known for his hard tackling in the midfield, he was once upon a time rated as one of the best players in the Nigeria local league during his days with Kaduna United, Enyimba and later Kano Pillars.

However since winning the Africa cup of nations with the Nigeria team in 2013, he has failed to make a headway in Europe with failed stint in Scotland, Belgium, Portugal and most recently Slovakia.

The club confirmed his capture on their official website, and the 26 year old now joins the likes of Azubuike Egwuekwe and Gbolahan Salami on the books of the Finnish side.

Turkish Super League giants Fenerbahce have set their sights on the Nigeria international Oghenekaro Etebo.

Both Arsenal and Leicester City are interested in the highly rated 21-year-old, according to the Sun. The daily newspaper states that the Premier League duo sent scouts to watch the midfielder and considered making a January bid.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Istanbul based club have told Turkish-Football that Oghenekaro caught the attention of Fenerbahce scouts during the Feirense v Benfica clash.

Per the source, Fenerbahce are considering making an offer this summer for the 21-year-old and will continue monitoring his progress.

Etebo – who has been dubbed as the ‘new Pogba’ hit the headlines when he scored four goals during Nigeria’s 5-4 win over Japan during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Nigerian midfielder was also named as African Football’s Most Promising Talent award in 2015. Etebo has provided one assist and scored one goal in 17 apperances for Feirense this season.

Culled from Turkishfootball.