Zambia will be without one of their key players when they take on Nigeria on Sunday in a World Cup 2018 qualifiers tie at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

They were forced into reshuffling their squad for the game after injury ruled out Kaizer Chief talismanic forward Lewis Macha for the tie against Nigeria.

Macha suffered an injury last month but Zambia were hoping he will recover on time to play in the game against Nigeria, but medical checks revealed he won’t be fit for the tie.

He has been replaced by Hapoel Ra’anana of Israel winger Rodgers Kola while another Misheck Chiala was also recalled two days after he was released alongside ten other players.

However Chiala will be on standby owing to the injury picked up by Clatous Chama while playing in a league game for Zesco United against Konkola Blades.

Manchester City Kelechi Iheanacho and top scorer of the recently concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Godwin Obaje were the top men in the evening training session of the Super Eagles.

The training which was open to the general public started with the players taking part in a two against five session, meant to test the defenders alertness when a counter attack is launched against Nigeria.

In the drill, the duo of Omeruo and Ekong distinguished themselves with pace and smart movement to thwart the attackers who were up against them.

Rohr later divided the team into two groups for a seven a side game, which saw lot of goals but the duo of Iheanacho and Obaje showed their goal scoring form for their clubside is no fluke.

Chisom Egbuchulam also followed up his hattrick for Enugu Rangers on Sunday with a goal in the seven aside game but his partner Obaje scored twice, also proving his top scorer award in the league was well earned.

However Iheanacho outshined the duo with a hattrick in the game that ended 5-3 in favour of his side by our count. Aside his goal he caused Jamiu Alimi and Uche Agbo all sort of problems with his movements, skills and hold up play.

Manager of Chelsea Antonio Conte says Nigerian forward Victor Moses understands and plays the type of football he cherish in his players.

Moses excelled in a new role as wing back for Chelsea in their 2-0 win over Hull City over the weekend, which ended a barren run of games without victories for the Blues.

” It was a great performance from Victor Moses. Your name isn’t important, but you have to be able to play my idea of football” He said.

” For me, Moses played an incredible game in a defensive situation and offensive situation. It’s fantastic. He is working very hard and that’s why he deserved to play. He showed me that my choice was right.

” If Moses and Pedro can play in this way, it’s fantastic. To have wingers able to do this role (wing-back) is a great option”.

Captain of the Super Eagles Mikel John Obi proved his fitness as he participated in the team first training session in Abuja ahead of their World Cup 2018 clash against Zambia in Ndola.

The session lead by coach Gernot Rohr had 20 players in attendance at the training pitch of the National Stadium in Abuja.

It was a light session primarily done to help the players shake up the fatique of flying down from their various destinations in Europe, ahead of the game on Sunday.

As usual Mikel lead the team putting them through their paces by means of a light jog before stretches and ball work was done.

Head coach Gernot Rohr and his assistant also took part in the session with the 64 year old German showing his fitness once again by joining them in the light jog.

He did same in Uyo while the Eagles were in camp ahead of the dead rubber AFCON 2017 tie against Tanzania.

They will have another session by 4pm this evening and Owngoalnigeria.com will once again bring details from the session.

Nigeria youth international Orji Okonkwo has won his first gong in Italy, after picking up the man of the match award in Bologna’s 4-0 thrashing of Frosinone.

Signed in the summer by Bologna. The 18 year old has made a bright start to life in Italy judging by how well he has settled into his new surroundings.

Orji was unanimously voted man of the match in the Primavera game after scoring in the 36th and 65th minute in the 4-0 thrashing of Frosinone.

Aside the man of the match award, the forward who was one of the few shining light for the Nigeria Under-20 in their ill fated attempt to qualify for next year Africa youth championship also earned a team of the week nomination for his efforts.

However, the team of the week nomination he got wasn’t in the best 11 but on the reserve bench for the best 11 players of the week put together by Mondo Primavera.

Three highly respected Zambian journalist have taken swipe at the Super Eagles of Nigeria ahead of Sunday’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers clash against the Chipolopolo in Ndola.

James Lungu told Owngoalnigeria.com that Nigeria is no longer a force to be reckoned with in global football due to the dearth of quality footballers in the country, unlike before.

” I heard Victor Moses is not playing, that is good news. Who do you have? Mikel? , he sits on the bench at Chelsea, the rest are average players, except Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi. You don’t win games with kids” He said.

James Kennedy also shared same opinion as his compatriot, insisting that Zambia have got more experience in their team than Nigeria.

” We have players with more experience than you guys. Nigerians are quick to shout Iwobi. We see them on social media. Iheanacho, they are kids, am not sure they can cope with the demands of a World Cup qualifiers. You need experience in the African terrain to do that”. He concluded.

Captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria John Obi Mikel has dismissed insinuations in some quarters, that players of the senior Nigeria national team have threatened to boycott the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Zambia.

Reports has it that players of the team are unhappy with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for asking them to buy their flight ticket and it must be Economy Class. A directive which some have speculated could bring about boycott of the game by some players.

However team captain, Mikel Obi says such reports are wide off the mark as the players are fully focused on the clash against Zambia in Ndola, on the 9th of October.

” There’s no truth in it, we didn’t threaten to boycott the game. I have spoken with the players and none have told me of any plans to shun the game” He said.

” We want a real good start to the qualifiers, and that is what we are focusing on. There are issues that need not to be talked about especially at this crucial time”.

Nigeria senior national team will play a friendly game against Nigeria Professional Football League side Plateau United in a friendly tie ahead of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers clash against Zambia.

The tie according to report exclusively gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com, arrangements has been concluded for the game which the Eagles will use as warm up ahead of their first World Cup qualifiers in Ndola against Zambia.

Plateau United will depart Jos after their last league game for Abuja on Tuesday, ahead of the game which will take place on Wednesday at the National Stadium Abuja.

Head coach Gernot Rohr will use the game to prepare his wards and try out formations for the Zambia clash, which will have a lot of significance to Nigeria chances of qualifying for Russia 2018.

Portuguese top division side CD Feirense have pulled a major transfer coup by snatching up talented Nigeria U-17 World Cup winner Chinedu Madueke.

Madueke bagged an assist as Nigeria romped to the U-17 World Cup title last year in Chile and, his impressive form all through the tournament caught the attention of the Portuguese side.

The 18 year old is already in Portugal with the team and even played for their junior side in their tie against GD Chaves. He will for the main time be with the juniors before making the step up base on performance to the main team.

Strong, fast, smart and skillful, he has been tipped to make the step up to the main team in a matter of months by manager of the junior side James Earl.

If he progresses as expected, he will join the likes of Dele Alampasu and Nigeria Rio 2016 hero Ogenekaro Etebo in the first team of CD Feirense, who are owned by Nigerian businessman Kunle Soname.