The Desert Foxes of Algeria won’t be having the services of one of their top players when they take on Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Uyo.

Algeria will be aiming for their first win against group leaders Nigeria, who defeated Zambia 2-1 away from home, but new coach George Leekens will have to prosecute the tie without El Arabi Hilel Soudani.

He was substituted after 28 minute in Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 away win over Split in the Croatian league, due to what looked like an injury to the knee.

After the game, the 28 year old announced via his official instagram page, that he picked up an injury which could rule him out of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria on the 12th of November.

Soudani will no doubt be missed against Nigeria, as he is presently one of the most experienced player in the team with 38 caps to his name since his debut in 2011.

His goal record of 25 for Algeria is the best among all the Algerian forward presently in the team, with Islam Slimani one goal behind the former Vitoria Guimaraes of Portugal hitman.

Bologna forward Sadiq Umar has voiced his unhappiness over his goal against his former side Roma, which was cancelled in their 0-3 loss to Bologna.

Sadiq was handed his first start by manager Roberto Donadoni since his move from Roma, and the 20 year old had an eventful first half before he was replaced in the 50th minute.

Egyptian forward Mohammed Salah scored all three goals for Roma but it was Sadiq who first put the ball in the back of the net in the game, but his goal was ruled out.

The lanky forward turned home Saphir Taider cross in the 3rd minute but the referee ruled it out, as it appears the ball has gone out before the cross from the Algerian.

After the disallowed goal, he thrice came close to scoring in the first half as Roma defenders struggled to keep the big striker at bay.

” Naturally am not happy it was disallowed because I never knew the ball has gone out. It would have been nice to score my first goal of the season against Roma, nothing personal I dare add” He told Owngoalnigeria.com

Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye increased his goal count this season for Greek side Olympiacos with his 7th of the season in their 3-0 win over Panathinaikos.

The game between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos is one of the biggest in the league in the country, and the Nigerian ended up as one of the star in the derby game as his side secured a convincing win.

Ideye found the back of the net in the 44th minute to give his side a commanding 3-0 lead before the end of the first half, he however didn’t complete the game as he was substituted on the dot of 90 minute, and the fans gave him a standing ovation upon his withdrawal.

He is almost certain to start for Nigeria when they play Algeria next weekend in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, owing to his fine performance in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola.

Manager of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr praised his performance against Zambia, particularly the perfectly weighted pass he gave Kelechi Iheanacho for the second goal scored by Nigeria.

Theophilus Solomon enhanced his burgeoning reputation as one of the feared strikers in the Croatian league when he scored in Istra’s 3-2 win over Ciballa.

The on loan Rijeka forward net his side second goal in the five goal thriller to take his season tally to five goals, two goals behind the present top scorer in the league.

20 year old Solomon has scored in games against Lokomotiva Zagreb, Split, Inter Zapresic with Istra his favourite opponent as he has scored against them in two games this season.

Last season while on loan to second division side NK Sibenik he scored 13 goals as his side narrowly missed out on promotion to the top division in Croatia.

He could leave Istra in January as he is reportedly a top target for several sides in Europe, with Swansea City, Sporting Lisbon and clubs in Belgium and Holland reportedly keen on his services.

As Nigeria get set to take on Algeria on the 12th of November in a World Cup 2018 qualifiers, coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr has revealed his admiration of Granada midfielder cum defender Uche Agbo.

Agbo who was first called up by Rohr for the game against Zambia but didn’t get to play in the 2-1 away win in Ndola, was once again included in the list of players invited for the clash against Algeria.

The 20 year old who can play in central defence and midfield has been ever present for Spanish La-Liga side Granada, where he has been on loan since the start of the season.

His performance against Barcelona, where he played as a defensive midfielder one weeks ago, earned him praises from the manager despite his team losing 1-0 to the Catalan giants.

“Agbo did very well against Barcelona (gallant Granada lost 1-0 at Camp Nou), where he played as a defensive midfielder,” he said.

“I also like him because he can play in midfield and at centre back.”

As part of his plans to make the Super Eagles a force to be reckoned with in Africa, coach Gernot Rohr has revealed his plans for the Nigerian duo of Kenneth Otigba and Tyronne Ebuehi.

The duo are eligible for other nations with Ebuehi who is eligible for the Dutch national team, turning down an invitation to be part of the Nigerian team for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria in Uyo on the 12th of November.

Otigba on his part, is keen to hear from Rohr as he reportedly turned down a chance to team up with the Hungarian national team even though he is eligible to play for them, as he has his sight on the Nigerian team.

” He (Ebuehi) said yes he will play for Nigeria when we first approached him, but his agent made some observations regarding his young career.

” His agent did not want him to come yet because he still has a long way to go as regard his club career. He has only played four, five games for the first team of ADO Den Haag, so it’s best he focus on his club for now.

” I spoke with his parents and they also want him to come and play for Nigeria. He will play for Nigeria when next we call him up” He said.

On Otigba, the German coach confirmed he is well aware of his abilities but for now, he has defenders who are ahead of him in the pecking order.

” Otigba plays in Turkey for Kasimpasa, we are aware of him and monitoring him as well. For now we are well stocked in that area, but in the future he will definately get a look in” He concluded.

Forgotten Super Eagles forward John Owoeri scored four goals to help his Swedish side Hacken to a resounding 7-0 win over Falkenberg in a top flight league game in Sweden.

The 29 year old who appears to have hit a purple patch in front of goal since his move to Sweden scored in the 44th, 49th, 53rd, and 70th minute.

He now has 17 goals to his name this season, a tally that makes him the top scorer in the league despite playing for modest side Hacken.

Owoeri presently has three goals more than Vidar Orn Kjartansson who scored 14 goals for Malmo FF before his transfer to Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel during the january transfer window.

Before his move to Hacken this season, he scored a total of 17 goals for Atvidaberg in three seasons, a tally he has now equaled in his first season with Hacken.

Sunderland forward Victor Anichebe who scored and won a penalty in their 2-1 win over Bournemouth, has revealed that he played through the pain barrier to help his team record their first win of the season.

The 28 year old Nigerian forward confirmed during the post match conference that he endured the pain of a cracked rib for the 95 minutes that the game lasted.

Anichebe’s last goal in the English Premier League was on the 9th of May 2015,while he was at West Brom and it was the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.

He was released by West Brom in the summer after battling for fitness during the majority of last season, where he made just 10 appearances for Tony Pulis men.

The 28 year old joined Sunderland in the summer on a free transfer and after shaking off a long history of fitness issues, he has played in their last three games.

Reunited with manager David Moyes who mentored him as a teenager during his formative years at Everton, he has helped take off some of the pressure on the manager, as the victory is his first of the season with Sunderland.

Super Eagles outcast Victor Anichebe ended a goal drought that has lasted 546 days with his first goal for troubled Sunderland to power them to a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

Anichebe last goal in the English Premier League was on the 9th of May 2015,while he was at West Brom and it was the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.

He was released by West Brom in the summer after battling for fitness during the majority of last season, where he made just 10 appearances for Tony Pulis men.

The 28 year old joined Sunderland in the summer on a free transfer and after shaking off a long history of fitness issues, he has played in their last three games.

Reunited with manager David Moyes who mentored him as a teenager during his formative years at Everton, he has helped take off some of the pressure on the manager, as the victory is his first of the season with Sunderland.

Back in 2013, the power playing forward put his international career with Nigeria where he has 11 caps on hold, but he later rescinded the decision a year later but has not been in the best of form to warrant a recall.

However, his regular run of games for Sunderland could put him in a strong position to be called up by new Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, in his bid to add more firepower to the attack of the Nigerian team.