Belgian side Gent have have started the process of integrating Super Eagles centre back William Troost-Ekong into their main team.

Ekong is back at the Belgian side after spending time on loan in Norway with FK Haugesund, and has been heavily involved in the training regime of the club in preparation for his debut.

The Nigerian who could yet leave on loan in January is eager to learn his fate in the team as there are doubts if he could displace one of the settled back three of the Belgian side.

However it appears like he could stay at the club judging by his inclusion in the Europa league travelling party to Turkey, even though he is not eligible to play for Gent yet.

” Last training done, boys ready for tomorrow. Can’t wait for January” Ekong posted on his official twitter Timeline.

Gent will take on Turkish side Konyaspor in their last group game in the Europa League, and Ekong travelled with the squad alongside the Nigerian trio of Rabiu Ibrahim, Anderson Esiti and Moses Simon.

Coach of Manchester City Pep Guardiola has praised the impact of Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho in his team 1-1 draw with Celtic in the UEFA Champions League.

The Nigerian forward drew City level with a well hit strike four minutes after Patrick Roberts has given Celtic the lead at the Etihad, and in Sergio Aguero’s absence he is expected to lead the line for City.

However Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists Kelechi Iheanacho is under no pressure to up his game during Sergio Aguero’s four-match suspension.

Aguero was sent off for a high and late challenge on Chelsea defender David Luiz during Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat to leaders Chelsea.
Having already served a three-match ban earlier in the season, the Argentina international was dealt a more severe punishment this time around.

Aguero’s absence could see Iheanacho asked to lead the line in matches against Leicester City, Watford, Arsenal and Hull City.

But Guardiola has moved to deflect any pressure from the 20-year-old, who has scored 13 goals in 18 starts for City.

“There is no pressure on Kelechi Iheanacho, he just has to do his job,” Guardiola is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

Kelechi Iheanacho says he is ready to carry the burden of Manchester City goal scoring responsibilities in the absence of Argentine forward Sergio Kun Aguero.

Iheanacho could now start in the Premier League clash with Leicester City at the weekend as Aguero begins a suspension for his two-footed tackle on Chelsea’s David Luiz at the weekend.

The Argentina international will also miss the games against Watford, Arsenal and Hull City before returning for the trip to face Liverpool at Anfield on Dec. 31.

“I have a responsibility to be the striker for the team, replacing Sergio when he is not around,” Iheanacho told reporters. “I have to prove myself, give my best and work hard for the team and make sure we get the wins we need.”

City were already assured a second-placed finish in Group C and manager Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to rest a number of his first-team players and gave starts to some younger members of his squad.

Iheanacho was delighted with his eighth-minute strike, but said he was disappointed not to win despite their being nothing riding on the result.

“It was a tough game today,” he added. “They are a very good side with quality players. We are pleased to get the draw but it wasn’t the result we were looking for.

“It was a great goal and a good response from our team collectively. I thank my teammates because they put the effort in to give me the ball to score.”

The first ever champions league goal scored by Arsenal 20 year old Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi is a landmark goal for Arsenal in the year 2016.

Iwobi who scored an own goal in the previous tie against PSG, which ended 2-2 and almost killed off any chance of Arsenal finishing top of the goal rounded up a comprehensive 4-0 win for Arsenal with the fourth goal for the Gunners.

Arsenal were cruising at 3-0, when Iwobi started and finished off a move by tapping in Mesut Ozil well timed short cross in the 53rd minute, a goal that ended up as Arsenal’s 100th goal of 2016.

The win also helped the Gunners go top of the group after Ludogorets Razgard shock 2-2 draw away to French giants PSG.

The electronic version of authoritative Spanish sports news site Spherasports.com has predicted that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be the team to beat at the 2018 World Cup Russia.

Nigeria is presently leading group B of the CAF World Cup qualifying series but Mota Juanan who writes for Spherasports believes not only will the Eagles qualify for the World Cup, he is tipping them to be a major hit in Russia.

He cited the array of talents at the disposal of manager Gernot Rohr as well as the experience of John Obi Mikel when it comes to winning trophies, thanks to his trophy laden years at Arsenal.

Talents like Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Ahmed Musa, William Troost Ekong and Wilfred Ndidi were all cited as part of the reason why Nigeria will do well in Russia come 2018.

The piece also mentioned Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen as two potentials who could gatecrash Nigeria’s squad for the mundial in Russia in two years time.

Kanu Nwankwo has given his backing to on loan Arsenal teen Kelechi Nwakali, who is at MVV Maastricht to be a big hit at Arsenal when he completes his move to the Gunners in August.

The captain of the Nigeria Under-20s who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2015 U-17 World Youth Championship signed for Arsenal in January but will expectedly get his career underway in England after his loan spell in Holland.

Kanu still highly respected by fans of Arsenal for his exploit with the team was instrumental in the Gunners winning the race to sign the talented teen believes he could surpass his achievements at Arsenal.

“He is going to Arsenal at such a young age which means he could stay there longer than I did and develop properly above all he could win more laurels than I did during my time at Arsenal” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I have high hopes on him succeeding at Arsenal, he is so talented for his age and he has a very good sense of listening, he will succeed at Arsenal, I have no doubt about that in my heart”.

Arsenal teen forward Alex Iwobi has for the first time revealed why Manchester City ace Kelechi Iheanacho is his favourite roommate in the camp of the Nigeria national team.

The duo are very close off the pitch and their relationship has also affected their performance as a pair on the pitch, as they have found each other more with passes than any other combination in the last two games of the team.

Their relationship has even been used as a yardstick by coach Gernot Rohr to gauge how close he wants the players to be bonded off the pitch, while on international assignment.

Iwobi lifted the lid in an interview by saying the hilarious nature of the Man City star is part of the reason, why he is his favourite roommate in the Nigeria national team.

“He’s always entertaining and making people laugh. He is down-to-earth as well, so I love rooming with him,” Alex says.

Super Eagles latest invitee David Nwokolor is not entirely new to the national team set up of Nigeria, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

In 2013 after returning from a tournament in Korea with Football Academy Abuja, Nwokolor was invited to join the Nigeria U-17 team who were in desperate need for a goalkepper.

Coach of the team Manu Garba asked Football Academy Abuja to recommend one of their goalkeppers to him, and Nwokolor who was first choice was recommended to the coaches.

Nwokolor arrived at the training pitch of the team in company of a younger goalkepper in Dele Alampasu who is second fiddle to the Vitez of Bosnia shot stopper back then.

However, coach Manu complained of Nwokolor’s size and expressed reservation that the six foot shot stopper will struggle to pass the mandatory MRI test for U-17s.

A shocked and dejected Nwokolor bravely turned to Alampasu and gave him his gloves to take his position between the sticks, and the CD Feirense shot stopper immediately found favours with the coaches.

Barring any last minute hitch, both players will once again reunite at the national team camp, when the Super Eagles converge for one of the three friendly games lined up for the team.

20 year old Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi has given his opinion about the difference in mentality between fans of the Super Eagles and that of England.

The highly rated Arsenal man played for England at youth level before switching to Nigeria at senior international level, where he has grown into one of the key men of the Super Eagles.

Highly loved and appreciated by fans of Nigeria, the nephew to former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has however voiced his opinion on the nature of fans of Super Eagles.

“It was a difficult decision, but at the end of the day I was born in Nigeria and my family is Nigerian. Nigeria is where I feel most comfortable playing. I don’t regret it. “I had already played for England and they treated me very well. It was hard for me to leave but I always felt that Nigeria was the national team for me.

“One thing I found with playing for Nigeria, is that the fans are always asking me for things, which is completely different from England, where people just ask you for a picture or an autograph. “Here, everybody wants your football boots or your money…