Newly appointed coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr has from the look of things handed the set piece duties of the Super Eagles to a new player in the team.

Captain John Obi Mikel has been the one in charge of the Eagles cornerkicks and freekicks in the last few years, but judging by checks made by Owngoalnigeria.com at the team training session and in the test game against Plateau United it appears there’s a new man in charge of set pieces for the Eagles.

During the course of yesterday’s friendly tie, Manchester City teen wonder Kelechi Iheanacho was the one taking the cornerkicks and free kicks awarded to the Super Eagles even though Mikel was on the pitch.

From one of Iheanacho’s freekicks, William Troost Ekong almost increased the Super Eagles lead over Plateau United with scores at 2-0 in favour of the team in the second half.

Iheanacho also took five corner kicks awarded to the team, one of which Brown Ideye almost got his name on the score sheet in the second half.

However it’s yet to be seen if the 19 year old Manchester City man will be the one in charge of set pieces on Sunday in Ndola, when the Super Eagles play Zambia in the 2018 World Cup Qualifying series.

Manager of Chelsea Antonio Conte who claimed that injury is the reason why captain of the Super Eagles John Obi Mikel is yet to play a competitive game for Chelsea under him is being economical with the truth, following Mikel’s performance against Plateau United in a test game.

29 year old Mikel will be out of contract this summer after 11 years at Stamford Bridge but he is yet to play a single game for the Blues, since leading Nigeria to a bronze medal finish at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Before Chelsea’s last game against Hull City manager Antonio Conte claimed the Super Eagles captain is carrying a minor injury which has kept him out of the side, but judging by his performance yesterday, it appears there’s more to the reason why he isn’t getting games at Chelsea under Conte.

The Jos born midfielder, was introduced in the second half by coach Gernot Rohr in the test game against the first professional team he first trained with in his career and, his performance was top notch.

Mikel twice came close to scoring with efforts that brought out fine saves from goalkepper Danladi Isah of Plateau United. Aside that he was everywhere on the pitch during the course of the game. His overall performance didn’t suggest he was carrying an injury.

Anderson Esiti could earn his second cap for Nigeria when they take on Zambia on Sunday after a strong showing in the middle against Plateau United in a test game at the Abuja National Stadium.

The power playind defensive midfielder was handed a recall by coach Gernot Rohr, after erstwhile managers Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia snubbed him in their squads after taking over from the man who gave him his debut late Stephen Keshi.

Esiti who moved to Belgian side Gent during this summer transfer window was the one bright spark for the Super Eagles in a dull first half display and, the 24 year old capped his performance with a goal.

In scoring the lone goal of the half. The former Estoril man snatched possession from a Plateau United midfielder, thanks to his strength before beating his marker with a cheeky lob.

He used his body strength to hold off two more markers before slotting the ball home with a finish, that will make a striker grin with envy.

Aside the goal he won 95% of his duels and was very strong in aerial battles, surprisingly his pass completion rate was also very impressive in the 45 minutes he lasted on the pitch.

Although he has a battle in his hands to displace Eddy Onazi who has over the years made the defensive midfield spot of the Super Eagles his sole preserve.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Nigeria Professional Football League side Plateau United 3-0 in a friendly game, meant to prepare the team for Sunday’s Russia 2018 qualifiers against Zambia.

Super Eagles of Nigeria fielded two different teams for both half of the encounter with only Musa Mohammed lasting the entire duration of the game.

Anderson Esiti opened scoring few minutes before the half time break with a strong run from the centre after robbing a Plateau United midfielder off the ball. He finished with a low shot past Danladi Isah in goal for Plateau United.

The goal was the only meaningful action of a boring first half with Plateau United guilty of playing too deep in their half.

A much changed Super Eagles team emerged from the half time break with captain Obi Mikel leading the likes of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Eddy Onazi in what looked liked the probable Super Eagles team for Sunday’s tie.

The change galvanised the Nigerian side with Iwobi, iheanacho and Moses Simon Proving to be a handful for the backline of Plateau United.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Iwobi doubled the scoreline for the Super Eagles with a strong solo run from the half of Nigeria after robbing a Plateau United forward of the ball.

Iwobi used his pace to turn defence into attack before squezzing the ball in from a tight angle at the second time of asking after his initial effort was blocked.

He added a second late into the game with a shot from the edge of the box to round up a comprehensive 3-0 win for the Super Eagles.

From all indications the Chipolopolo of Zambia are worried over the match fitness of stopper Stopilla Sunzu as he is struggling to get games at French Ligue 1 side Lille ahead of their Sunday clash with Nigeria.

27 year old Sunzu, who scored the vital kick that helped Zambia lift the 2013 AFCON has played just 2 games out of a possible 8 for Lille in Ligue 1, with a combined minute of 65.

As a matter of fact, he has played just 17 games in over a year since joining the French side from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua where he played 13 times.

At Lille, the man who is highly regarded as Zambia’s finest defender has a total of 14 first team appearances for and three for the B side who are playing in the second division in France.

This season he has played in the games against Lorient and Dijon and, on both occasions he was a substitute for the team that has former Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama.

Despite his lack of game time, he is still the man Zambians are hoping will stop the deadly strikeforce of the Nigeria senior national team when both teams clash on Sunday.

A highly placed official of the Super Eagles of Nigeria has played down suggestions that three key players for Nigeria are in danger of missing out on Sunday’s World Cup 2018 clash against Zambia in Ndola.

Ahead of the October 9 cracker, the Nigerian team held a two hour training session at the training pitch of the Abuja Stadium despite heavy downpour but without three key players of the team.

The session lead by captain John Obi Mikel had all but three players available with goalkepper Carl Ikeme, central defender William Troost Ekong and top striker Brown Ideye.

No report was given as to why the trio were absent from training but a source who pleaded anonymity told Owngoalnigeria.com that there’s nothing to be worried about.

” They missed training for various reasons but there’s nothing to be worried about. As for now they are in no way in danger of missing out of Sunday’s game. But am sorry I can’t tell you why they missed training because I honestly don’t know” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Arsenal 20 year old forward Alex Iwobi appears to have finally settled for a new shirt number with the Nigeria senior national team after twice switching numbers.

The shirt number he usually wore for Arsenal number 17 belongs to Eddy Onazi in the Nigeria senior senior team, forcing him to a change of number, which has seen him alternate between jersey 19,20 and 18.

Iwobi first wore jersey number 19 in his first two games for Nigeria, which were the friendly games against Congo DR and Cameroon.

However he made his debut for Nigeria in a different jersey against Egypt in the two legged AFCON 2017 qualifiers where he made his competitive debut for Nigeria over both legs in jersey number 18.

Just when it appears he has settled for the shirt number he played in jersey number 20 during the Super Eagles last friendly ties against Mali and Luxembourg.

Owngoalnigeria.com checks at the training of the Super Eagles can however reveal that he has been training in jersey number 18 and it appears like he has settled for it.

Meanwhile Iheanacho who has also switched between jersey number 8 and 18 in the past, has been training in shirt number 14, same number he wore during the last qualifying tie against Tanzania.

Former Watford Nigerian teen prospect Uche Ikpeazu opened scoring for League two side Cambridge United which helped them dump Middlesbrough out of the Checkatrade Trophy courtesy of a 2-1 win.

The 2016–17 EFL Trophy, known as the Checkatrade Trophy for sponsorship reasons, will be the 33rd season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system and, for the first time, 16 Premier League and Championship “B Teams” with Category One status as part of a trial.

Since joining Cambridge United following his release by Watford, he has made two appearances for the team in League 2 with the pick of them all coming in today’s cup game where he found the back of the net.

Ikpeazu who had a spell on loan at Blackpool last season, showed good body strength and pace to hold off his marker before scoring the first goal of the game that set the tone for the upset.

The 21 year old kept the defenders of Middlesbrough on the back foot for the entire duration of the game, much to the delight of fans of League 2 side Cambridge United.

In the past, he has spent time on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rover and Port Vale when his contract with Watford was still valid.

According to online reports monitored by Owngoalnigeria.com editorial staff Nigeria international defender Wilfred Ndidi was one of the players scout of Newcastle United watched in Thursday Europa League clash between Genk and Sassuolo.

Ndidi who plays for Genk is traditionally a centre defender but he improved in leaps and bounds last season when he was moved to the defensive midfield role.

Since then he has played both role admirably well for Genk, and the 19 year old has been roundly scouted by top teams, including Hamburg who reportedly failed with a bid for him in the summmer.

Newcastle United interest in the Super Eagles who has 4 caps for Nigeria and 4 goals for Genk in 67 games in his less than two years stay with the club is reportedly worth £5m.

Last season his goal against champions Club Brugge was voted the best goal in the Belgian top flight league.