Young Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has revealed he chose German side Wolfsburg over the chance to compete in the Premier League with Arsenal.

Osimhen starred at the under-17 World Cup in October 2015, scoring 10 goals to help Nigeria win a record fifth title.

The striker, who turns 18 in December, was reportedly wanted by Arsenal, Tottenham and Anderlecht but his family and representatives settled for the German outfit.

“It’s true that a big team like Arsenal wanted me and I feel honoured to be invited over. But personally I feel Wolfsburg is a ladder for me to reach my professional goals,” Osimhen told BBC Sport.

“Yes Arsenal is a good team for young players but Wolfsburg is the best club for me.

“This the best place for me to learn and develop because my heart is here with Wolfsburg.

“The club’s plan for my career is very encouraging and I believe with God on my side I can grow to become one of the best players in the world,” he added.

Under Fifa regulations Osimhen cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 18, on 29 December 2016. But Wolfsburg have announced a deal to sign the striker on 1 January 2017.

The proposed transfer follows a co-operation agreement between Wolfsburg and Lagos-based Ultimate Strikers Academy, where Osimhen is based.

Under the co-operation agreement between the clubs, Osimhen has visited Wolfsburg and will continue to train with the club as their guest.

The gangly striker, who idolises former Ivory Coast and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, said: “I have my father [Patrick Osimhen] and brother [Andrew] with me here in Germany to guide me in the right path.

“The academy has also benefited and I am happy that the partnership will also encourage other young players from our academy to work harder.

“This is a big step for my football, family and the academy. All I can do now is to continue to work hard as a footballer.”

His 10 goals in Chile, where he also emerged as the Golden Boot and Silver Ball winner, eclipsed the previous best of nine set by Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly in 2011 and Florent Sinama Pongolle of France in 2001.

Osimhen was also part of the Nigeria side that won the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal in November, which also qualified them for the Rio Olympics next year.

He was named the 2015 Confederation of African Football (Caf) Youth Player of the Year at the award ceremony in Abuja on 7 January.

This season we have seen the unexpected return to form of Victor Moses. He has excelled as a right wing-back, as opposed to his former role of right wing, in Antonio Conte’s very successful new 3-4-3 system. With the reliable and disciplined Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante happy to fill in when Moses propels himself down the wing, there is a new fluidity and freedom to his game. Before this season he had not played for Chelsea for more than three years and had endured unsatisfying loan spells at West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool. Now a fairly integral player in a side at the top of the Premier League, Victor Moses’ return has been fairly remarkable.

However, Victor Moses is not alone in this category of players who have moved from the periphery to the limelight. Riyad Mahrez also fits the bill. Before signing for Leicester City in January 2014 for a mere £400,000, the Algerian international had been struggling to stay afloat in France’s Ligue 2. His former coach, Erick Mombaerts, said it was hard to persuade the club that playing Mahrez in the first team was the right decision. His tribulations at Le Havre must seem like a distant memory. Now worth £35 million, playing regular Champions League football and PFA player of the Year 2015-16, Leicester are having fight off interest from the so-called ‘bigger clubs’. A dramatic transition indeed.

Another player who must be considered in this category is Mahrez’s teammate, Jamie Vardy. Again, before quite spectacularly finding his feet at Leicester, Vardy had been playing for non-League Fleetwood Town. Signing for what now seems like a bargain of £1 million, also a non-League record fee, Vardy arrived at Leicester in the 2012-13 season. However, it was his 24 goals in the 2015-16 season that got the whole world watching. His goals were a crucial contribution to a quite unbelievable title winning season. For that season he was rightly named the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season and fittingly was selected in the PFA Team of the Year. Now worth £25 million and, like Mahrez, about to play in the Champions League last 16, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich amongst the possible opponents, the name Jamie Vardy now holds legendary status. A quite remarkable change of fortunes.

SOMETIMES THE PATTERN CAN BE REVERSED

However, sometimes the pattern can be reversed. This certainly has been the case for Bojan Krkic. After progressing through the ranks of Barcelona’s prestigious La Masia academy, there was a lot of hype surrounding the youngster. He received his debut at just 17 years and 19 days. Yet Bojan found it hard to live up to the reputation he had acquired. He was never quite as prolific as some had hoped and he endured several moves around Europe until he found his feet again at Stoke City. In Mark Hughes’ new-look team, Bojan excelled and quickly became a fan favourite. He will be one to watch this season.

So, with Moses finally emerging from the wilderness, Riyad Mahrez appearing out of the depths of Algeria, Jamie Vardy going from non-League to Champions League and Bojan going from Barcelona’s prodigal son to Stoke City star it is important never to write off a footballer; it could come back to haunt you.

The injury battles of goalkepper of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Carl Ikeme who is currently out injured for the third time this season, could force coach Gernot Rohr to hasten talks with erstwhile goalkepper and captain Vincent Enyeama.

Rohr was forced into a mini crises when the shot stopper pulled out of Nigeria’s last World Cup qualifiers against Algeria, forcing the coach to settle for Daniel Akpeyi who was originally not called up for the tie.

The coach in a bid to control such situation in the future could hasten talks with Lille shot stopper Vincent Enyeama whose fitness,experience and abilities between the stick can be vouched for.

Enyeama retired from the Nigeria national team after an argument with former coach Sunday Oliseh but Rohr has longed stressed his willingness to have him back in the team.

As a matter of fact, he confirmed he will hold further meeting with the 34 year old during his pre match conference before Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-1 in Uyo in the race to be at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

As the January transfer window draws near, Owngoalnigeria.com has put together a list of Nigerian players who
represented the country at the Rio 2016 Olympics but are presently clubless.

Sincere Seth – His case is the most bewildering of all on the list as he was ever present for Nigeria at the Olympics alongside William Troost Ekong in the heart of the Nigerian defence that won bronze in Rio. Last time he was linked with a club was few months ago, when he reportedly turned up at the camp of Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
Usman Muhammed – A proposed move to Portuguese side Uniao da Madeira broke down after the Olympics, and since then the hard working midfield enforcer has been clubless. The former FC Taraba star is reportedly on the January wishlist of some teams in Slovenia and Cyprus when the transfer window opens.
Saturday Keigo Erimuya – He is close to leaving the list after passing his trials with Spanish second division side Cadiz, Erimuya played just a game for Nigeria at the Olympics, but the former Turkey based defender is highly rated by his teammates and close associates especially for his pace, marking abilities and strength in aerial duels.

Former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro says John Obi Mikel deserves better treatment that what he is currently receiving at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel is in his 11th season at Stamford Bridge but new manager Antonio Conte has no place for him in his team, who are currently leading the pile in the English Premier League.

Babayaro believes for his long term service to the team, he deserves better treatment than been frozen out of the first team set up entirely.

” I hate to see this but it’s not fair. He deserves better if not for anything for his commitment to the team in past season past. I can’t understand why he is not been played even in cup games”, Babayaro told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” He is a club legend, how many players have stayed that long at Chelsea?, it’s unfair to freeze out a legend like that, at least a chance to bid the fans farewell won’t be too bad an idea even if he is not needed”.

Reports gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com has it that coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr is unhappy over the form of Moses Simon and Ahmed Musa for their respective teams.

Rohr’s aim is to bring competition to the Super Eagles by inviting only players in top form, which could spell doom for players who are struggling to make hay with their teams.

Simon has been having an inconsistent season for Belgian side Gent, where he has just three goals from 16 games this season in Belgium, although he has already equaled his last season goal haul, his performances have not been the best.

On his part Ahmed Musa is yet to fufill settle down to life with English Premier League side Leicester City, with the 24 year old struggling to command a regular spot in Claudio Ranieri’s team, no thanks to his two goals from 12 league games so far.

Their form which is in contrast to that of Anthony Nwakaeme of Hapoel Beer Sheva and Olarenwaju Kayode of Austria Vienna could see them lose their spot to the in-form duo.

As Nigeria gear up for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers game against Algeria in Uyo, a game that has been termed the sternest test yet for manager Gernot Rohr. The coach has been urged to play Wilfred Ndidi in the middle alongside Mikel Obi.

Ndidi was played from the right full back position in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola, but Belgium based African Football expert Willy Musonda believes the 20 year old is under utilised.

” I saw the game between Nigeria and Zambia and I think Ndidi didn’t play up to 50 % of his abilities. In Belgium he is about the best defensive midfielder in the country” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“His passing range and his success with tackles have been one of the strength on which Genk have been building from since last season. He has added goals to his game as well, something you hardly see in defence minded players.

” It’s a no brainer, for the amount of space he covers against Algeria, I expect the Nigerian coach to play him from the middle, he could be the link between defence and attack.

” He doesn’t commit foul around the edge of the box or in dangerous position and his recovery rate is second to none. Rohr should be brave enough to drop Eddy Onazi and play Wilfred Ndidi in the middle”.

*First published on the 4th of November.

Owngoalnigeria.com understand that coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr told five current players of the Super Eagles to secure move away from their current teams in the January transfer window.

Rohr reportedly told captain of the team John Obi Mikel to secure at least a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge, where he has been frozen out of the first team setup by coach Antonio Conte.

The coach also advised William Troost-Ekong who is back at Belgian side Gent after a loan spell in Norway with FK Haugesund, to move to another team if he is not sure of getting regular run of games with Gent.

Same advice was given to Musa Muhammed, who lost his spot in the team after the dead rubber AFCON 2017 qualifiers tie due to his inactivity at club level, where he has only played a combined total of 20 minutes this season for Istanbul Basaksehir.

Even goalkepper Dele Alampasu was adviced by the manager to move to another club, preferably higher than his present Portuguese third division loan side Cesarense, while Godwin Obaje was also advised by the gaffer to engineer a move for the betterment of his career after emerging as top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League.