FC Porto teen sensation Chidozie Awaziem says captain of the Nigeria senior national team John Mikel Obi is similar to his FC Porto teammate, the legendary Iker Casillas when it comes to motivating young players.

Highly tipped to be handed his debut by new Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, the FC Porto defender who has been in top form since the start of camping for the AFCON 2017 tie against Tanzania, ironically grew up in same area like the Chelsea star.

Awaziem was a 9 year old teen in Jos, same area as Mikel when the Chelsea man moved to Stamford Bridge in 2005, and the 19 year old says he still can’t believe he is a teammate to Mikel in the national team.

” I’m based in Jos, same place as senior man (Mikel) , have heard a lot of good things about him, but there is more to him than just been good, he is every young player’s delight” He said to Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I found it hard to approach him, when he first came to camp, but Mikel is the type who will approach you, if you don’t and always willing to find out if all is well, he reminds me of Casillas, the way he is treating me is no different.

” Mikel and Casillas are natural leaders, their aura inspires you, even before they say a word, their presence alone is enough motivation”.

Few weeks ago, Gernot Rohr was named head coach of the Super Eagles. The Franco-German is no stranger to African football after previous spells with Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso.

A former player with Bayern Munich, SV Waldhof Mannheim, Kickers Offenbach and Bordeaux, Rohr also has varied experiences coaching clubs in the France, Switzerland and Tunisia.

Speaking exclusively to CAFonline.com ahead of his first competitive outing, against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in the final fixture of the qualifiers on Saturday at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo, Rohr was upbeat about the task of turning around the fortunes of the Super Eagles as they bid for a ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Below are the excerpts;

Cafonline.com: How are you settling down into what is considered one of the hottest jobs in African football?
Gernot Rohr: Coaching is usually a difficult job not only in Nigeria but everywhere because every team wants to succeed. It’s nothing new but what is new here is that we have really good players and a big motivation after missing out two big competitions (2015 and 2017 AFCON). I think this is going to be a very big motivation in our campaign for the FIFA World Russia 2018 and I believe we can succeed.

You have only worked with the players for few days before the match against Tanzania, what are your expectations on Saturday?
The match on Saturday is important though we are not going to the 2017 AFCON. We must show everybody that the motivation is there. All the players are fighting and giving their best and have to play together in order to prepare for the next important game, which is the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifier against Zambia (in October). The match against Tanzania is therefore an opportunity for me to study how the players can be in a difficult situation because Tanzania is also a good team. I can see how the players are coping with my philosophy. I saw a bit of it during the friendly against Akwa United on Wednesday (Super Eagles won 3-0). I have already seen some few things to build upon against the local team that we played. I already know a bit about the players and we will try to find a good system. This is the only game we have before going to Zambia, so it’s very important to see the best of this team on Saturday.

You spoke about your philosophy; what other things are you going to do to ensure that Nigeria regains its lost glory in Africa?
I want to bring confidence; good organisation; teamwork; quality playing; and everybody behind the team’s interest so that each players play for the team; and it’s possible to live like a family.

What is the difference between a club coach and national team based on your past experiences?
The difference is that the national team job has a bigger responsibility because it is for the whole country but not for a region or city, but comes with the same pressure because you always want to win. At the national team level, you don’t have too many matches to look at the players every time and therefore you must prepare very well at every given opportunity. You have to look at a lot of players in their different clubs and what they are doing in their clubs because you are not going to see them in the national team every day to have better observation on their fitness. Whether national team or at the club level, you want to win and you must have the best players on the pitch; and create a good spirit in the team. So the game is not changing but the work is different.

Nigeria once again won’t be at the AFCON in 2017, what are the chances of your team for the 2018 World Cup in a group that also has Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia?
All the four teams in this group have equal chances of going to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. You have a big team in Algeria, ranked Number One in Africa at the moment. Everybody knows Algeria has great players, so it is going to be a big challenge in this group. It is good we are going to Zambia first and don’t forget that Zambia is a big team too because they won the AFCON in Gabon in 2012. They have a big tradition as well. The group is open but I think the motivation of the Nigerian team is very, very high. All the teams in our group want to be at the World Cup in Russia but we have a bigger motivation particularly with the good performance of the Nigeria at the recent Olympic Games in Rio. We don’t have much time honestly, but it is possible to build a very good team.

What are you going to do between now and the first World qualifying match against Zambia in October?
There is no international break between now and the game against Zambia; and that means this weekend’s match against Tanzania is very important for us. We have to monitor the players thereafter at their clubs to know they are okay before we go to Zambia. It will be a real test for the team against Tanzania on Saturday. Tanzania is a good team though they are at the bottom of the group. It is important that we should be able to play well without much pressure. We have a lot of things to do in building the first step to Zambia and we need good preparations. Of course, we want to win and we need all the support to go to the World Cup. We need to see a good image not only on the pitch but in the stands from the fans.

*Courtesy CAFonline.com

Taiwo Awoniyi got his NEC Nijmegen career off to a flying start with a hattrick and two assists for the Dutch side in their 5-0 friendly win over FC Kleve.

Work permit issues delayed his competitive debut for the Dutch side but the forward received the all clear last week, and subsequently picked up the number 9 shirt.

Awoniyi,19, spent last season on loan to German side FSV Frankfurt and in his first game for his new side, he starred in their friendly win over Germany’s low league side FC Kleve.

His hattrick and two assists will no doubt put him in the plans of Peter Hyballa ahead of their next league game against league giants PSV Eindhoven on the 10th of September.

Rated highly by the technical staff of Liverpool, his progress will be closely monitored by Liverpool and he could have his chance to impress with the first team in next season pre season games, If he impresses on loan with the Dutch side.

As exclusively reported by Owngoalnigeria.com on the 23rd of July 2016, English Premier League side Watford has confirmed the signing of former Nigeria U-20 ace Uche Ago.

His naming as a player of the club in their list of players submitted to the Premier League shows the 20 year old is a player of the Premier League side, that also has Isacc Success and Odion Ighalo on their books as well.

Agbo as reported by Owngoalnigeria.com transfer expert Daniel Martins will spend the season on loan at Spanish La-Liga side Granada. Watford will reportedly apply for a work permit for him next summer base on his progress this season at Granada.

He has a five year deal with Watford which is similar to that of Malian teen sensation Aly Malle, who joined Watford this summer but will remain at Granada for the rest of the season.

Predominantly a central midfielder, he has been impressing in a new role as central defender for the team in the La-Liga in their first two games.

The close door session of the Super Eagles handled by Gernot Rohr saw the players engaged themselves in a practice match.

The German started the session by taking the defenders on a drill, that involves attacking spaces and defending set pieces, while the forwards were taught a thing or two about attacking with or without the ball.

Also, a session on position and movement was conducted with the midfielders also involved before the coach shared them into two groups for a practice match.

Captain of the team Mikel Obi found the back of the net with a rasping drive past Emmanuel Daniel, with Brown Ideye following up his goal against Akwa United with another from the penalty spot.

One of the star players during the practice session was Manchester City teen prospect Kelechi Iheanacho although he didn’t find the back of the net, his movement and confidence on the ball made it hard for his teammates to keep him quiet.

Ighalo had a poor showing but his close skills made him go past defenders in close areas, much to the admiration of the German coach, who is also facing the prospect of being spoilt for choices in picking who mans the right spot of attack between Victor Osimhen and Ahmed Musa.

The duo were impressive for their various teams during the practice session with Musa connecting well with Ighalo and Moses, but Osimhen ability to go past his markers with ease and pace without losing control of the ball could see him start ahead of the Leicester City man.

Gernot Rohr has taken a particular liking to 17 year old Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, which could lead to the forward making his debut in tomorrow’s clash against Tanzania.

Ahead of the dead rubber AFCON 2017 qualifiers tie, feelers from the camp indicates that the Wolfsburg bound forward has played his way into the hearts of the manager, who hasn’t hidden his admiration of the abilities of the teen.

” Look, Rohr is fond of Osimhen, there’s every reason for him to be, the lad is simply talented, don’t be shock if he starts or gets to play against Tanzania” Ahmed Ishaya who has been covering the activities of the team in Uyo told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” In the game against Akwa United, with all due respect to the senior players and others in the team, Rohr’s body language towards Osimhen was different as he was one of the star performers on that day.

” I gathered during the training behind close doors as well, he was by far the liveliest in attack when they were doing attacking drills, his quick feet isn’t something African teens have, he is an extraordinary talents considering he is just 17″.

Former Tottenham Hotspur youth prospect Musa Yahaya who moved to FC Porto this summer, is close to gaining recognition with the first team after joining them in training this season.

He arrived at FC Porto after a six months loan spell at second division side Portimonense last season, where he caught the attention of scouts of FC Porto, who later recommended his outright purchase from Portimonense.

Portimonense bought him from Spurs at the end of last season and traded him to FC Porto at the start of this summer transfer window, as exclusively reported by Owngoalnigeria.com months ago.

Yahaya was among the 18 players in training for the first team even though he is yet to make an appearance for the B team, where he is expected to get games before making the progress to the main team.

Known for his pace, power, tricks and goal scoring abilities, he was a part of the Nigeria team that won the Under-17 World Cup in 2013 alongside the likes of Manchester City Kelechi Iheanacho, Watford’s Isaac Success and Liverpool’s Taiwo Awoniyi.

Sadiq Umar who recently joined Bologna on loan from fellow Serie A side Roma has exclusively revealed to Owngoalnigeria.com, the shirt number he will be wearing at his new side.

Last season he wore two separate shirt numbers for Roma, dorning jersey number 97 for the main team while for the Primavera side he was their go to man in jersey number 9.

However in a chat with Owngoalnigeria.com, the lanky forward who represented Nigeria in jersey number 13 at the Olympics says he will be wearing jersey number 19.

” Have settled for a new shirt number, not one have used before, but am confident I will do well in jersey number 19, it’s my choice for the season at Bologna” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

19 year old Sadiq, scored twice in six Serie A game for Roma last season, a tally he is looking forward to improve on this season with Bologna.

” It’s my target, I want to keep improving, I scored twice from six games last season, I certainly want to do more with Bologna, I want to make the fans happy and help the team achieve their aims for the season”.

The midfield maestro of the Nigeria Olympic team Azubuike Okechukwu missed out on a chance to join French giants Monaco, according to the president of his Turkish team Yeni Malatyaspor.

Monaco made a bid to snap up the petit midfielder who had an impressive tournament for Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics, to the extent that some were suggesting it was his absence against Germany in the semi final that cost Nigeria a spot in the final.

Adil Brittle, President of the Turkish side explained that the team decided to keep the Nigeria U23 midfielder as their dream is to have a team that will be in the first division in the next two years.

The second division team also revealed that aside Monaco, Turkish side Genclerbirligi also made a bid for the 19 year old Nigerian midfielder but were told to pay €2m, which both teams didn’t pay.

” We want to build a team that can lead us to the Super League in at least two years, and young players like Azubuike are key to our plans. Monaco made a bid for Azubuike but they were unable to meet our asking price” He said.

They reckoned the Nigerian has the quality to play for a top team in the future due to his quality with the president mentioning Chelsea in particular and according to him, their asking price is a decent amount.

English Premiership club Chelsea have announced their confirmed shirt numbers for the 2016/2017 season following the closure of the transfer window.

Nigerian winger Victor Moses will play in the number 15 jersey all season long after it was confirmed as his new shirt number for the season.

Moses wore jersey number 13 when he first arrived at Chelsea but while on loan to Liverpool, the number was taken by goalkepper Thibaut Courtois.

His other jersey number before his loan spell was jersey number 20, but upon his return from West Ham, he starred in jersey number 15 during Chelsea’s pre season game before the start of the season.

He retained it and played in it in the games he has played this season, and henceforth following the official unveiling of squad numbers, he will maintain the number for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile captain of the Super Eagles Mikel John Obi retained his shirt number 12, in what will be his 11th season at Stamford bridge.