Wolverhampton Wanderers of England shot stopper Carl Ikeme distinguished himself during the Super Eagles shooting practice against goalkeppers.

Expected to start in goal for Nigeria against Zambia in Ndola. Ikeme dwarfed his competitors Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Emmanuel Daniel during the shooting drills making more saves than any of the aforementioned duo.

Ikeme stopped around 65% of shots directed at him, displaying reflexes and good body stretch which could come handy against Zambia in Ndola, when the Eagles begin their quest to be at World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa wasn’t far off but still lacks a bit behind Emmanuel Daniel, who was very impressive. The Rio 2016 shot stopper came second during the drills among the goalkepper stopping around 45% of shots directed at him.

However judging by the team session, Daniel will most likely not make the match day squad as coach Gernot Rohr will most likely stick to the duo of Ezenwa and Ikeme.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick used bail out funds released by the federal government of Nigeria for the Super Eagles game, to fly his close friends and associates to Ndola for the World Cup qualifiers tie between Nigeria and Zambia.

Owngoalnigeria.com sources at the airport revealed that a total of over 50 people travelled with the team in the chartered aircraft hired by the NFF.

” I can confirm to you that the flight is filled. We initially thought it was for the players and their technical crew, maybe with some board members as well but what we saw shocked us over 50 extra people. I thought they say they are broke?” The source told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Also a backroom staff at the office of the NFF also confirmed that president of the NFF took his close friends and associates to Ndola thanks to the funds released by the federal government.

” My brother we at the office were shocked, when we escorted the team to the airport and saw faces we have never seen. Infact they were over 50. This is waste, regardless of what anybody says, this kind of jamboree is not expected from a country in recession”. He said

“From my count we have about 10 to 15 journalist loyal to the NFF on the flight, on the bills of the NFF. Estacode, accommodation and feeding will be handled by the NFF. Overall over 50 people with no business in Ndola are on the flight. This is a shame”.

Victor Osimhen got his career at Wolfsburg off to a flying start with a goal for the German side in their 6-2 win over Regionnaliga side Lupo Martini, in a charity game meant to raise funds for victims of earthquake in Amartice, Italy.

Osimhen struck in the 22nd minute to give fans of Wolfsburg a glimpse of what to expect when he turns 18 and formally signs a professional contract.

Speaking after the game, the former U-17 highest goal scorer expressed his happiness over the outcome of the game. However the 17 year old already has his eyes on helping goal shy Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

” Thank you lord, happy to play in the charity game and also get a goal. Still anticipating for the bigger stage” He posted on his facebook account.

He also appears to have settled for a first team jersey number which happens not to be his favourite number 9 shirt instead it is 18, which was last worn by Brazilian defender Dante.

Captain of the Nigeria senior national team John Mikel Obi has cleared the air on his future with English Premier League side Chelsea as well as the cash gift given to the Nigerian Olympic team in Rio.

Recent reports has it that Mikel has plans to leave Stamford Bridge after 11 seasons at the club with his contract set to run out this summer, with some reports even speculating he could leave as early as January.

Speaking at the media parley of the Super Eagles, the current Chelsea longest serving player said although he is willing to listen to offers. He has no plans of leaving Chelsea in January.

” I’ve not said I’ll leave Chelsea in January. I only said am open to offers, but I have to wait. Things can change very fast in football, so you never know” He said.

On the reason why the cash donation of $390,000 made to the team by Japanese doctor and philanthropist Katsuya Takasu is yet to be shared by the team that won bronze in Rio, with him as captain. Mikel said the cheque is yet to be cleared.

” There’s absolutely nothing wrong in accepting cash gifts from Dr. Takasu, but you can’t stop people from talking. They have their opinion” He said.

” The cheque is yet to clear, so we haven’t gotten the money yet but as soon as it is cleared all players will get their share as agreed by the team”.

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has ruled out the prospect of a recall for John Ogu despite his fine form for Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

Calls for Ogu to be recalled back to the Nigeria senior national team owing to his form for his club both in the Israeli league and the Europa league. But it appears Rohr is not convinced of the quality of the 27 year old.

Speaking at the media parley of the team ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifiers game, Rohr revealed that the highly rated defensive midfielder who was voted as the best foreign player in Israel last season is not among the best players in Nigeria.

” We have the best players with us here in the team for the game against Zambia . John Ogu isn’t one of them” Rohr said.

Coach Wedson Nyirenda of Zambia appears to have devise a cautious approach ahead of Sunday’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Nigeria in Ndola.

The open training session of the Zambian team witnessed by Owngoalnigeria.com correspondent saw the coach deploy extra men in midfield with the duo of Chisamba Lungu and captain Rainford Kalaba playing in a more defensive role.

Nyirenda is applying the approach to frustrate Nigeria in the midddle before the ball gets to the dreaded trio of Brown Ideye, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi.

Primarily they plan to give the Nigerian midfield duo of Mikel Obi and Eddy Onazi less time and space to make use of the ball, when they are in possession to stop them from spraying passes to the forwards.

It appears the Zambians have settled to catch the Eagles on the break as the coach primarily focused on quick break during the training session watched by Owngoalnigeria.com.

Reports gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com has it that Zambia are planning on unleashing 18 year old forward Patson Daka on the Super Eagles, when both teams clash in Ndola in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Sunday.

Coach Wedson Nyirenda handed invitation to the highly rated teen after ignoring former captain and legend Christopher Katongo ahead of the clash against Nigeria.

Daka who plays for local side Power Dynamos scored against Nigeria at the Africa U-17 championship in Niger Republic last year when Nigeria defeated them 1-3.

Although experienced forward Winston Kalengo and Collins Mbesuma are favourite to start against Nigeria on Sunday, Daka is being lined up for the role of an impact substitute in the game.

The Chipolopolo will rely on the strength and physical nature of either Mbesuma or Kalengo in the early stages of the game to wear down the Nigerians, before bringing on the pacy Daka, to stretch the defence of the Eagles which would have been made weary by either of the aforementioned duo.

Former Super Eagles midfield hardman Sani Kaita has left JS Hercules, the Finnish third division team which former captain of the Super Eagles Daniel Amokachi handles as coach.

Kaita, joined the third division side two months ago after almost two years without playing competitive football, no thanks to contractual issues with Nigeria League side FC Ifeanyi Uba where he last played.

However he turned back the hands of time while at JS Hercules and after just three months, he has caught the attention of top division side RoPS.

30 year old Kaita will undergo a three week trial with RoPS starting from this weekend, where he is expected to play in a friendly game.

The former Monaco, Sparta Rotterdam and Lokomotive Moscow man, who also had a short tint with Olympiakos of Greece among other teams, made 7 appearances for JS Hercules last season.