Italian Serie A side Udinese have backed Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who was charged with an allegation of match fixing following an investigation into the yellow card he received against Lazio last season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Prosecutors alleged that the goalkeeper deliberately got booked late into the game owing to betting patterns from a province of Udine, where he resides on him getting a second yellow card.

He went to the court and according to a statement by Udinese, he was excluded from any sporting fraud, but given a two months ban for another offence totally unrelated to fixing a game. A four year ban would have been the verdict if he was found guilty of sporting fraud.

“The Federal Tribunal of the FIGC has today excluded any involvement of the player Maduka Okoye in sporting fraud, fully accepting the arguments put forward by his lawyers,” read a statement from Udinese.

“In the courts, all the accusations of presumed sporting fraud were dismissed, and the decision to impose a two-month ban was exclusively with regards to violation of the generic principle of fairness (article 4 of the Sporting Judicial Code).

“The club is satisfied that the athlete has been totally cleared of the insulting allegations of match-fixing. The club cannot help but reaffirm the maximum support to Okoye, who is waiting to read the motivation of the sentencing.

“Udinese reaffirm our full faith in the correct behaviour of Maduka.”

The two-month ban will begin from the first official game of the season for Udinese, which is their scheduled Coppa Italia tie against Carrarese on August 18.

That means the goalkeeper will miss six Serie A matches and be back in action from October 18.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

A cross section of football lovers in Malawi have expressed their disappointment with Patricia Jiya Okafor, mother of Chioma Okafor, for allowing her daughter to play for Nigeria instead of Malawi, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

She was born in Malawi to a Malawian mother and a Nigerian father, and started her football career in Malawi and trained with the Malawi national team in 2015 but never featured for the Scorchers.

In February, she shared a video clarifying in Chichewa language that she is Malawian after some fans questioned her nationality because of her name.

According to bolanews.co, the decision of Okafor who won the recently concluded WAFCON to play for Nigeria, after initially showing commitment to represent Nigeria hasn’t gone down well with people in the country.

Her mother who is from Malawi have been largely fingered as the major disappointment in her decision, but she argued in her interview before the WAFCON that it was the sole decision of her daughter.

“It’s not me; it was her choice. Nigeria wrote a letter; I didn’t have any say; it was her choice. I told her to choose so that she would not regret it in the future, so it came from her.”

Okafor didn’t play a single game for Nigeria at the tournament due to injury and tactical issues but she remains upbeat that her chance will definitely come.

“This whole time I knew that I had to stay patient and my time will come. I can’t rush into anything. I have to make sure that I’m going on my time and that everything is going to line up in the way it’s supposed to”, she said upon arrival in Nigeria.

“So I’ll remain patient, my time will come and when it does I’ll make the most out of it.”

Ade Emmanuel

LaLiga side Alaves have opened discussion with the representative of Nigeria international striker Sadiq Umar over a move to the club from Real Sociedad in the ongoing summer transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Sadiq is facing an uncertain future at Real Sociedad despite comments by the club’s president about keeping him at the club, following his impressive showing in pre season so far.

Missing from the club’s training tour of Japan due to visa and uncertainty over his future, the 28 year old will team up with the rest of the team when they are back from the training tour, but he will likely leave if all goes well with Alaves.

Following the sale of Joaquín Panichelli to Racing Strasbourg for €16.5 million, Alaves are in the market for a replacement and see the Nigerian as someone who fits the bill due to his experience playing in the league.

The club only have Asier Villalibre and Toni Martínez going into the new season with the departure of Kike García after his contract expired, making the search for a new striker a must for the club.

Basque media outlet Onda Vasca says already in talks with Umar Sadiq to try to sign him this summer and move him from San Sebastián to Vitoria, they are sufficiently convinced that he will bring the form he should in the second half of last season, while on loan to Valencia.

He scored six goals in 18 games at the club , but they turned down the option of signing him permanently due to financial issues.

Daniel Martins

Real Sociedad have made a u-turn on the future of Nigeria international striker Sadiq Umar after his impressive work ethics and form since joining up with the team for pre season training, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Sadiq was omitted from the team’s training tour of Japan after arriving late due to visa issues and uncertainty over his future. He stayed behind with other players who were active during the international break training at the club’s facility.

He is now expected to join the rest of the group in training according to the president of the club Jokin Aperribay, who said he has received positive reports about the Nigerian performance since resuming for pre season training.

“The information I have about Sadiq is that he has trained very well, like the whole group that has stayed in Zubieta. We have spoken every day with Erik (Bretos) about how the sessions in Zubieta were going, and Sadiq is doing very well . We’ll see. I wouldn’t rule out Sadiq being here this season . I think I’ve been clear.”

The Nigerian spent the second half of last season on loan to Valencia. If he is to leave Sociedad are heavily against any loan deal as they will want an outright sale to recoup a part of the €20 million they splashed on him.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has submitted an official protest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa, who handled the WAFCON final against Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria came from two goals down to win the game 3-2 against the host, and in the aftermath they have now filed a protest against the referee for the manner, which she handled the game especially her refusal to hand them a penalty after a VAR review, following a handball incident against Nigeria.

In their statement the FRMF expressed dismay over the referee’s failure to award a penalty in the 82nd minute when the score was tied at 2-2.

According to Morocco’s complaint, video footage appeared to show a handball by a Nigerian defender inside the box, but following a VAR review, the referee opted to let play continue, prompting immediate protests from Morocco’s bench and players.

The Moroccan federation argued that the controversial decision had a decisive impact on the outcome of the match, which Nigeria went on to win, claiming a record-extending 10th WAFCON title.

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given cash rewards as well as a national honour to the women’s team of Nigeria after their victory at the recent concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The president announced a cash gift of a $100,000 to each of the players, a national honour of OON and a three bedroom flat at a reception meant to honour the girls, who came from two goals behind to beat the host Morocco 3-2 in the final on Saturday.

Following in the footsteps of the president, the governor’s forum also announced a donation of ₦10 million each to the players. They also mandated respective governors to host the girls at their state of residence of origin.

Meanwhile the 11 officials of the team were given $50,000 each by the president during the course of the reception.

Morocco have filed a petition to CAF questioning the eligibility of two players who played for the women’s team of Nigeria in the final of the WAFCON, which Nigeria won 3-2 on Saturday.

The host were two goals up going into the half time break , but a second half rally by the Nigerian team helped them to a 3-2 win, and also the title for the tenth time in their history.

Before the game, there was a protest lodged by Morocco on the eligibility of two of the Nigerian players in Ashleigh Plumptre and Michelle Alozie. Both players were born outside Nigeria but made the decision to play for Nigeria at senior level.

In their protest, Morocco say the manner of their switch of nationality is faulty citing some irregularities in their claims to be Nigerians. They expressly want Nigeria to lose the title by virtue of fielding both players in the tournament.

Plumptre was granted approval by FIFA to play for Nigeria in 2021 after it was established that her paternal grandfather is a Nigerian. Alozie’s case is more straightforward as he was born in the USA to immigrant parents from Nigeria.

Nigeria are however not losing sleep over the protest with a top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) terming it as dead on arrival.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has picked a final list of 23 players who will represent the team at the upcoming CHAN Championship in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The coach picked three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards in his final man list, which was trimmed from the 35 players who were in the provisional list.

OwnGoalNigeria.com picks five players who are potentially going to use the tournament to launch their career to an international audience.

Anthony Ijoma (Abia Warriors) – Scored of 12 goals in the NPFL last season. He maintained his form in camp by scoring in almost all of their test games in the build up to the naming of the squad.

Mustapha Lawal ( Shooting Stars) – He has taken over as the first choice of the team. A carry on from his form in the league where he had double digit clean sheets. A good showing will likely see him gatecrash the main Super Eagles team.

Stephen Manyo (Rivers United) – Solid in all the test games played so far. Good in the air, solid in tackles and very comfortable playing out of the back. One of the pillars of the team going into the tournament.

Michael Tochuckwu ( Remo Stars) – A joy to watch in the midfield last season and carried the same form to the camp of the team. Understands what the coach wants and looks set for a key role at the tournament.

Harrison Nduka ( Remo Stars) – The captain who can comfortably play almost everywhere across the back four. A leader and a league winner with Remo Stars. Certainly need this tournament to make a career statement.

FINAL SQUAD FOR CHAN

Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC); Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United); Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars).

Defenders: Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Bankole Afeez (Kwara United); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City); Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars); Ngenge Leonard (Ikorodu City); Stephen Manyo Egbe (Rivers United);

Midfielders: Adedayo Olamilekan (Remo Stars); Alex Oyowah (Remo Stars); Hadi Haruna (Remo Stars); Otaniyi Taofik (Rivers United); Michael Tochukwu (Remo Stars); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars).

Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors); Godwin Obaje (Rangers International), Jabbar Malik (Remo Stars).