Gent of Belgium suffered an embarrassing 5-0 defeat in Ukraine in the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League, in one of the games in Group H.

The Belgian side travelled with three Nigerians in their team for the tie in Ukraine, but only two featured in the game, which all but confirms progression to the knock out stage for Shakhtar Donetsk.

Moses Simon was on for the entire duration of the game while Rabiu Ibrahim was introduced as a 65th minute for Hannes van der Bruggen as goals from Viktor Kovalenko, Facundo Ferreyra, Bernard, Taison and Eduardo condemned them to a heavy 5-0 defeat.

The third Nigerian at the club Anderson Esiti was an unused substitute in the encounter, apparently still struggling from the knock that he suffered during a league game last weekend in Belgium against Zulte Waregem.

Despite the loss, Gent are still second in Group H on four points, two more than Portuguese side Braga who drew 1-1 with Konyaspor in Turkey in the group other game.

The cash donation made to the Nigeria Olympic team by respected Japanese doctor Dr. Katsuya Takasu to the technical crew of the Nigeria U-23 team, for their Rio 2016 feat has been cashed by head coach Samson Siasia.

Dr. Takasu gave the team a combine sum of $390,000 with $200,000 going to the Siasia lead technical crew, while the players were given the sum of $190,000 received in cheque by captain John Obi Mikel.

The donation made to the team two months ago was turned into cash last week by Siaisa, who in turn gave each of his assistant $14,000 before jetting out of the country for a coaching job abroad.

One of the beneficiary confirmed to Owngoalnigeria.com that he received his own share during the week. However the captain Mikel is yet to turn the cheque of $190,000 for the players into cash.

We gathered, it could be done as early as next week, and the captain will in turn credit the dollar account of all of the players, as he already have their various account numbers. Some of them wanted the money to buy elo boost services for their favorite video games, or going online and to do some trade skins in csgo.

Isacc Success is a big injury doubt for Watford English Premier League clash against Swansea City on Sunday, after suffering a re-occurence of the injury that ruled him out of Nigeria’s squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Zambia.

Coach of Watford Walter Mazzari made it known revealed that the 20 year old Nigerian, signed for £13 million pounds from Granada hasn’t trained all week.

” We need to check on him [Success],” explained the Italian.

“He hasn’t trained all week so he is a doubt for the game, he might not be available. If both [Odion] Ighalo and him are available then I will decide on Saturday morning, as always.

“For me to make the final decision, I don’t look at how they played last game, I look at how they train all week so this is important to take into consideration.”

He added: “The physio was telling me during the game that he was already hurting, so I tried to give him as much time as possible during the game.

“But after 90 minutes they had a look at him and confirmed he could not train for the next couple of days because of a muscular problem.

“In the past, if you remember, I’ve been saying that he hasn’t been training regularly because of his muscle problems. The problem’s in the upper side of the right leg but I’m not a physio so I can’t confirm exactly.”

Mazzarri was also asked how Ighalo had reacted to being dropped last week, he confirmed the Nigerian had been the consummate professional before, during and after the game.

“To all the players I tend to speak to them always face to face. I did it with Odion for the whole week prior to the game.

“The great professional that he is, he understood it very well. Of course, I know now he is looking forward to getting back in the starting 11 and showing that he belongs there.

“He was also ready to enter as a sub against Boro, we didn’t need him but he was ready.”

Following the appointment of Bakary Papa Gassama as the centre referee for Nigeria’s next World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria, Owngoalnigeria.com takes a look at the number of times he has handled Nigeria.

The Gambian first handled Nigeria in a competitive game on the 2nd of December 2012 in an Olympic qualifiers , ironically the first and only time he has handled a game involving Nigeria and Algeria, and Nigeria won 4-1.

Gassama’s next game involving Nigeria was at the AFCON 2013 quarter-finals with Nigeria thumping Mali 3-1 to progress to the Semi-Finals.

2014 was the last time, he handled a game involving Nigeria and it was the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers between Nigeria and Ethiopia, a game Nigeria won 2-0 on the 16th of November 2013.

Meanwhile he has handled Algeria, three times in the past starting from their 2-1 loss to Nigeria in an Olympic qualifiers, before been in the middle in their 4-0 victory over Rwanda same year.

In 2013 he handled Algeria’s 1-0 loss to Tunisia in an Africa Cup of Nation group game in 2013, while the last time the 37 year old handled a game involving Algeria was a loss to Ivory Coast at the 2015 AFCON.

The top scorer in the recently concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourist, has confirmed interest in his services from a top side in Russia.

Obaje made the bench for Nigeria in their last World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Zambia in Ndola, which Nigeria won 2-1, thanks to his exploits in the Nigeria domestic league.

19 year old Obaje scored 18 goals for Bauchi based Wikki Tourist, who finished third on the log at the end of the regular top flight season in Nigeria, and he has since been linked with a host of European sides.

However, while dismissing links of a move to Athletico Madrid of Spain, he confirmed in an exclusive chat with Owngoalnigeria.com, interest from a top Russian side.

” The chairman of my club (Wikki Tourist) told me about interest from a top side in Russia. Am sorry I can’t tell you the name for now, hopefully in the coming days, it will be made officially, if talks are positive as plans” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have once again move up a notch in the latest FIFA rankings released by the World Soccer governing body.

Since the appointment of new manager Gernot Rohr two months ago, Nigeria have experienced an improvement in her rankings by FIFA both on the continent and globally.

Victory over Tanzania moved the Eagles up in the last ranking but the latest rankings released by FIFA for the month of September, where Nigeria defeated Zambia 2-1 in her first World Cup 2018 qualifiers means they are now 60th in the world.

The rise by four spots still couldn’t earn them a spot in the Africa top 10 ranked country as they are 11th, one spot behind fellow World Cup group opponents Cameroun, while Zambia are 94th.

Algeria, the opponents of the Super Eagles of Nigeria next month are the highest placed team in Nigeria’s group although Ivory Coast still retain their position as the best placed African team on the rankings.

Head coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr is currently pondering who will be call up from the trio of Chinedu Obasi, Fanendo Adi and Gbolahan Salami, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

The trio have all been doing well for their respective teams and with a vacuum set to be created by the manager’s admission, that home base players could be excluded from his team for the tie against Algeria as the Nigeria league is on break, they are seriously been considered.

Salami has scored 14 goals for KuPS in Finland, while Adi has 16 goals in the league for MLS side Portland Timbers, two goals away from his last season tally with less than 8 games.

Obasi has enjoyed a career revival in Sweden with AIK with six goals in his last seven games, putting aside the injury worries that have slowed down his progress in recent years,

A decision will be made by the manager in two weeks time, when the list of players for the game on the 12th of November in Uyo is released.

Kelechi Nwakali is slowly being integrated into the set up at Dutch second division side MVV Maastricht, where he is on loan from English Premier League giant Arsenal.

Nwakali’s transfer to Arsenal was made official in the summer, with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the last Under-17 World Cup signing a five year contract.

However work permit restrictions means he was farmed out on loan to MVV Maastricht to enable him get games, which will aid his development before he is eventually ready for the first team at Arsenal.

The 18 year old has however struggled to adjust and adapt to his latest surroundings, playing a total of just 67 minutes in all competition since joining the team two months ago.

His highest time spent on the pitch is 45 minutes, which came in the cup game against Volendam, aside that he has appeared as a substitute in three league games raking up a total of 21 minutes, which includes last weekend when he was introduced with eight minutes left to play.