Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr who is short of options at left back has narrowed his search towards Nigeria’s Rio 2016 defender Stanley Amuzie, in his bid to provide cover for Elderson Echiejile.

Amuzie who moved to Sampdoria this summer after starring for Nigeria at the Olympics is viewed by many as an option at left back for the Super Eagles, who are incredibly short of options in that position.

So far Echiejile is the only option at left back for Nigeria as Kingsley Madu has failed to sufficiently challenge him for the position despite been included in the last three squads named by coach Gernot Rohr.

” We won’t rest in our search for options at left back even though am happy with the options at our disposal right now. There’s always a desire to improve on what you have, the boy who played left back at the Olympics is one of our options” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” He needs to play games for Sampdoria for us to properly assess him. We saw his qualities at the Olympics but that was just for few games, hopefully if he starts playing games for Sampdoria then there’s every hope he would be called up”.

Three of the six Nigerians on the book of Portuguese side FC Porto were well dressed and good looking in suits at an event organised by the club few weeks ago.

Picture picked up by Owngoalnigeria.com can confirm that the trio of Chidozie Awaziem, Musa Yahaya and Moses John were at the event dressed in all black suits with shoes to match.

Awaziem who had his breakthrough last season is still waiting for his first appearance this season for the main team, although he has been a regular for the B team in the lower league.

On his part Yahaya who was signed from Portimonense in a three way transfer that also includes leaving Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent base, has been training with the first team which has in a way stopped his debut for the B team, where he is expected to get games before making the step up.

Former Mutunchi Academy prospect Moses John recently joined the U-18s of the club this summer, bringing the number of Nigerians on the books of the club to six.

FC Porto other Nigerian players include Mikel Agu who is out on loan, Chidera Ezeh also out on loan and Samuel Chukwueze who will team up with the team once he clocks 18 next year.

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From all indications Hungarian-Nigerian central defender Kenneth Otigba will make the next squad of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, if he impresses Gernot Rohr when the manager visits Turkey.

The 24 year old reportedly turned down the chance to play for Hungary in preference for Nigeria but he has been severally snubbed by past coaches of the team.

Now in Turkey with Kasimpasa, he is on the list of players new Super Eagles coach Rohr will scout in Turkey during his planned visit to the country that is home to over 15 Nigerian players.

So far he has made nine appearances in the league with one goal and four yellow cards to his name, and his invitation will no doubt add competition to the battle for the central defence spot of the Super Eagles.

For now, the duo of William Troost Ekong and Leon Balogun are the preferred duo, with their combination earning them the nickname “Oyibo Wall”. Otigba is also an Oyibo ( word for fair or half caste individuals in local Nigerian language) and he will fancy his chance against the duo.

Former Barcelona forward and coach of the Nigeria U-20 team Emmanuel Amunike says Wolfsburg teen sensation Victor Osimhen will be a big hit in Germany, like fellow Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho in England.

The players have similar career path as they both made secured transfer abroad after picking up the top scorer award at the U-17 World Youth Championship, with Iheanacho winning the award in 2013 while Osimhen won it in 2015.

Iheanacho has taken to life in the English Premier League like a duck to water and Amunike who also trained Iheanacho at U-17 level is backing Osimhen to be a big hit in Germany.

” What do you need to succeed in Europe?, good work ethics, skills, mental strength and focus. Osimhen has it all, he only need some little bit of fine tuning and body strength. He will be a big hit in Germany just like Iheanacho in England”. He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I trained both players at U-17 level, they are different in a way but similar in front of goal. Over the years we have as a nation produced real quality players who can survive in any league, if given the necessary support and training”.

Nigeria bounced back from their opening day FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 defeat by coming from a goal down to record a 3-1 victory over Canada in Port Moresby. Gabrielle Carle had fired the Canucks into the lead at Bava Park on 15 minutes, but an equalising penalty from Chinaza Uchendu just before the break and second-half goals from Joy Bokiri and Chinwendu Ihezuo gave the Falconets their first win of the tournament.

Both sides had slipped to heavy losses in their previous Group B clash and were looking to make amends. In an entertaining first half, Nigeria tested Canada early on when Ihezuo shot narrowly over the bar on 10 minutes. The Canadians took the lead five minutes later when Deanne Rose received a long ball inside the box and played a neat pass to Carle, and the No10 made no mistake from close range.

Nigeria came close to capitalising on a mistake on 37 minutes when Hannah Taylor lost control of the ball in her box, allowing Rasheedat Ajibade – a veteran of the U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 – time to pounce, but her effort was blocked by Rylee Foster.

The Falconets eventually restored parity just before half-time when Canada’s Bianca St Georges was penalised for handling the ball inside the area, with Uchendu stepping up and converting the spot-kick. With a spring in their step going into the break, Nigeria made an instant impact in the second half with Bokiri putting the African side into the lead immediately after the restart.

Peter Dedevbo’s side then doubled their advantage on 73 minutes when Ihezuo capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Foster and was left with an easy finish in front of an empty goal. Nigeria next face top-of-the-table Spain in Group B, while Canada next meet Japan on 20 November.

Courtesy: FIFA.com

image : Getty Image

Players of the Super Eagles of Nigeria have given the German coach of the team Gernot Rohr, a new nickname which they call him only when they are speaking to each other.

One of the player, who spoke with Owngoalnigeria.com said, they resorted to giving the former coach of Mali, a nickname to clearly differentiate him from other coaches during discussions.

Rohr who has been widely praised by the players for his man management skills, has rejuvenated the spirit of players of the Super Eagles, which has helped them win their first two games under his guidance.

We gathered the players have resorted to calling him “Baba”, a name which most people call their father in Nigeria or anybody in authority or advanced in age.

” We call him coach to his face, like every other coach but behind, we mostly refer to him as “Baba” (laughs), he is the eldest among the coaches and also to us the players, a fatherly figure” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Nigeria U-20 ace Tobechukwu Ibe who also starred at the U-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglet in 2015 has landed in Israel for trails with Hapoel Kfar Saba Fc.

Owngoalnigeria.com has in it’s possession exclusively picture of the highly rated teen prospect on arrival in Israel, alongside top Israeli scout David Ouziel.

Ouziel has transferred several Nigerian players to Israel in the last 12 months and Ibe could join the long list, if he passes the trial with the youth side of the team who are eyeing promotion to the first league, where the main team currently campaigns.

He is expected to boost their chances of promotion , as it is part of the reasons why he was snapped up by the ambitious Isreali team.

Ibe can play just behind the main striker or as a winger as he is blessed with searing pace and strong abilities on the ball, traits that enables him to gallop up the flanks with ease.

He was a part of the Nigeria U-20 team that failed to qualify for next year Africa U-20 Championship after a 3-2 loss to Sudan at home in the qualifiers.

According to reports exclusively gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com 19 year old Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru is a top target for Russian side CSKA Moscow.

We gathered that the Russian side made a formal bid for his services at the start of the week, following glowing reports from their scouts.

However the worth of the bid is yet unknown but the forward who was a subject of a bid from German side Hoffeinheim in the summer is reportedly valued at slightly above 5 million Euros.

The 19 year old who plays in Belgium for KAS Eupen operates from the flanks or as a centre forward, and has six goals from the first 14 games of the season, with four assists to his name.

Plucked from Aspire Academy in Senegal, he is into his second season in Belgium, with six goals to his name in his first season where he helped Eupen gain promotion to the top division.