The draws for the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League has been revealed by the Confederation Of African Football (CAF).

Champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League Enugu Rangers were handed a tough draw, as they face a daunting task to North Africa where they will take on J.S Saoura of Algeria.

The first leg of the tie will be played away in Algeria, with the return leg scheduled to be played in a fortnight in Enugu.

Nigeria’s other representative Rivers United were handed a tricky tie as well, with the draw pitching them against AS Bamako of Mali.

The first leg of the tie will be played in Mali with the return leg scheduled for Porthacourt, the home ground of the runners up of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Former Super Eagles striker Peter Utaka has picked up the highest goal scorer award in the Japanese League after plundering 19 goals for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

32 year old Utaka moved joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima this season from relegated Shimizu S-Pulse where his nine goals couldn’t keep the team in the top flight league.

His tally of 19 goals from 33 games also helped his side to a mid table finish following the conclusion of the league in Japan. The forward posted pictures of his golden boot award on social media site instagram.

The former OB Odense forward has two caps for Nigeria despite been invited severally to the senior national team of Nigeria during his stay in Denmark.

Utaka moved to Japan two years ago after five seasons in China, where he scored 35 goals during spells with Dalian Yifang, Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenxin.

Owngoalnigeria.com understands that Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is back at Chelsea for treatment after picking up an injury while on duty for his loan side Alanyaspor.

We gathered he missed his club’s last game due to the injury and was slighted at the club headquarters on Monday, for medical examination and subsequent treatment.

Although we fail to get the exact injury he suffered or the length of time he will be sidelined, the injury has however slowed down his remarkable progress at Alanyaspor, where he recently dazzled in a new role in defensive midfield.

Since joining Chelsea in 2013, the 23 year old has endured five different loan spells with Alanyaspor his second loan side in Turkey after defending the colours of Kasimpasa last season.

Omeruo extended his deal at Chelsea before heading to the Turkish side on loan, and so far he has made 11 league appearances with three bookings to his name.

Following the withdrawal of seven key players from their AFCON 2017 squad. The Football Association of Cameroon has cried out that African players are victims of blackmails from European teams, which is why they are turning down the chance to represent their nation.

France-based Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Marseille, West Brom’s Allan Nyom, Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam), Maxime Poundje (Girondins Bordeaux), Ibrahim Amadou (Lille) and Guy N’dy Assembe are the other names that have turned down the opportunity to play for Hugo Broos.

Nyom, Anguissa, Onana, Amadou and Assembe told Broos that they preferred to stay with their clubs while Poundje wants to play for France.

Fecafoot Head of Media Simon Lyonga lamented that, “This has been going on for long now. The coaches blackmail players who want to go for AFCON with threats of no first choice position.”

“Even the Eto’os had this situation but they knew they could count on their talent. Our younger generation is limited and can easily fall for that.”

“A young man like Zambo Anguissa should be happy to play for his country no matter the situation in camp. Do you think the situation was better when the Mbomas played? I do not think so.”

“We are victims of blackmail and we throw that back to ourselves. We need to fight that. See what is happening to Mikel Obi. Today, he is second choice because his coach told him not to go to the Rio Olympics but South American players can go for Copa America whenever.”

Broos is expected to name his final 23-man list next week as the Indomitable Lions look to win their first Afcon title since 2002.

Genk technical director Dimitri de Conde has admitted that he pushing Leicester City to allow Wilfred Ndidi stay at the club until at least next summer, same way the club also want Man United target Leon Bailey to remain at the club.

While Ndidi to Leicester City could be made officially in nine days time, Bailey’s proposed move to Manchester United is still a rumour, but Director de Conde is keen on keeping the duo at the club even though he knows it will be difficult.

“We’ll fight to keep them here until the end of this season, but that is no easy task,” De Conde told HLN. “If mega bids – by Belgian standards – are made, they we cannot reject it, and if the boys also feel ready for a step up then it will be very difficult to keep them in Genk.
“I must be ready with alternatives.”

The English clubs will not be allowed to sign the pair cheaply, though.

“In the category of players 20 or under, then these boys are absolutely top talents, so I think a fee of between €20-€25 million is certainly warranted,” he continued.

“The ideal scenario would be that we reach a deal in January with the interested clubs but the guys say here for the rest of the season. I’ll do that if I can.”

Drogba – I’ve Told Mikel To Leave Chelsea And Move To Marseille

Former Olympique Marseille forward Didier Drogba is pushing out of favour Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel to join his former team in France despite interest from Inter-Milan and host of teams in China.

Mikel has been told he can leave Chelsea for free in January after failing to break into the table topping team of Antonio Conte, who is yet to play the Nigerian in any of his team competitive game this season.

The captain of the Super Eagles is however not short of options but Drogba believes a move to France will help the 29 year old stay close to his wife and twin daughters as opposed to a move to China, although he will earn more in China.

” Mikel will find relevance at Marseille, I told him how well I was treated during my time there and above all it will help him stay close to his family”, Drogba allegedly told RAC1.

” Marseille are not doing badly this season and Mikel’s experience will come in handy in helping them finish the season on a high”.

As exclusively reported by Owngoalnigeria.com yesterday top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League Godwin Obaje has completed his transfer to Tunisian giants Etoile Du Sahel on a four and half year deal.

See picture below. He finished as top scorer in the Nigeria Professional League with 18 goals last season, and saw a proposed move to Russian side Lokomotive Moscow fell through at the end.

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria has aimed a dig at previous coaches of the team, who are fond of questioning the players commitment and discipline.

Rohr who has secured three wins in his first three competitive games as coach the team believes that previous coaches of the team are been economical with the truth as regards players discipline and commitment.

” If you believe what you read about the players as said by previous coaches, you won’t want to call up some players, but so far I have not noticed any of what they complained about in the players”, Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” They are very easy to manage, maybe because have managed at club level in the past but I find them very dedicated and committed to our cause of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia.

” We have had isolated cases of players crossing the line while in camp, but it is expected with adults, and how you handle that matters a lot. Mikel has also been helpful in that regard”.

Highly rated Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Nwakali is presently leading the rest of Arsenal teenagers out on loan to various teams across Europe.

Nwakali joined Arsenal in the summer, and the captain of the Nigeria U-20 team was immediately farmed out on loan by the Gunners to aid his career progression.

So far the MVP of the last U-17 World Cup has made 10 appearances for his loan side MVV Maastricht who are gunning for promotion to the top league in Holland.

He has progressed as expected in Holland unlike his fellow Arsenal loanee Tafari Moore who is in same team with him and Stefan O’Connor who is also in Holland but at Utrecht.

Dan Crowley is the other Arsenal teen out on loan but he has not fared better than Nwakali, as his loan spell was ended six months early at League One side Oxford, on the insistence of the team despite making 11 appearances and scoring three goals.