Kelechi Nwakali says he is eager to hit the ground running for his new team after confirming that Arsenal have applied for a work permit for him.

The Nigerian signed a pre contract with Arsenal at the start of the year and it was converted to a permanent one last month after he turned 18.

Nwakali will be heading out on loan later in the season, although he could feature for Arsenal in domestic Cup games if his work permit application is granted by the home office.

For now, he is training with the youth team of Arsenal, where he is building up his fitness until the result of his work permit application is out.

” Am yet to start playing because my work permit application has not been granted, I can only train for now but hopefully soon it will be sorted out”. He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Coach of Football Academy Abuja, Lawal Ahmed says teen sensation Theophilus Awua has joined Serie A side Inter-Milan on a one year deal from Italian Serie B side Spezia.

The coach made this known in a short conversation with Owngoalnigeria.com, after reports by Sky Sports Italia that the 18 year old midfielder is on the brink of a deal to join the Nerazzuri.

” He is already in Milan. He left Spezia yesterday for medicals. He will join Inter Milan on a year long loan deal but Inter will have the first option of buying him permanently by nextt summer” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

The hardworking midfielder, who can also play in a more advanced role only recently joined Serie B side Spezia from Football Academy Abuja but has now been loaned out to Inter-Milan where he will start with their Primavera side.

Ahmed Lawal refused to reveal the financial terms of the loan deal but Sky Sports Italia says the loan will cost Inter-Milan €250,000 while a fee close to 2 million euros has been agreed for his outright transfer if he impresses during his loan spell.

Awua was among the five players picked by Serie A giants Roma after the team beat Real Madrid in a youth tournament in Croatia where they emerged champions.

According to leaks gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com, head coach of the Nigeria Olympic team Samson Siasia is set to give game time to some fringe players in Saturday’s semi-final tie against Honduras.

Siasia will most likely rest Roma teen forward Sadiq Umar, goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, Shehu Abdullahi and Usman Mohammed for the Honduras game.

Goalkepper Daniel Akpeyi lead the trio of Al-Ahly new signing Junior Ajayi, midfield maestro Sadiq Popoola and defender Saturday Keigo Erimuya as players who are set to be handed start in the bronze medal clash.

“Four of us have been told we will most likely start against Honduras although a final decision has not been made” One of the players told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Manchester City Loanee Chidiebere Nwakali who joined the team same time with Kelechi Iheanacho, who recently extended his contract by two years is yet to be offered fresh terms by the Etihad Stadium outfit.

Nwakali had two inglorious spells on loan with Malaga and Girona before heading to Norway in March to join Start, where he has recapture the form that made City sign him after the 2013 Under-17 World Cup.

So far he has made 17 appearances in the league with three assist and two goals to his name from his midfield role, a sign of how well he has progressed in Norway.

Despite been monitored by the hierarchy of Manchester City, he is yet to be offered fresh terms despite the fact that his contract will run out in 24 months time after this season.

” He has not been offered new terms, but if he continue in his current form, it will surely comes because he is aware he has to earn it just like his pal Iheanacho”, a source close to the player told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola, largely credited for turning Lionel Messi into a goal scoring forward, has same plans for Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho after the 19 year old extended his contract to 2021.

Guardiola used almost same words he used in describing Lionel Messi years ago before he converted him to a forward at Barcelona, on the Nigerian shortly after his contract extension.

“Kelechi is a natural goalscorer. I knew about him before, but I’ve been really impressed with him since I arrived,” Guardiola said.

“I like his personality, his attitude, his ability- we hope to help him reach the highest level and to realise his full potential”.

Iheanacho scored 14 times last season despite the fact that 25 of his 36 appearances all came as a substitute in his first full season as a professional.

On his part the 2013 FIFA Under-17 Golden boot winner, who finished as City’s third top scorer last season revealed he has been learning a lot from the new manager.

“The manager has spoken to me a lot this season. He has been encouraging me and has been getting me to focus and work the way we are going to work this season” He said.

“I’m working hard to know more and learn more about what he wants on the pitch and off it. I’m really happy working with him. I will keep learning from him to get better”.

Dr. Katsuya Takasu has been granted permission to donate the sum of US$390,000 to the Nigeria Under-23 football team, as a reward for their performance at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics.

He made public his intention to donate the money few days ago and a document stumbled upon by Owngoalnigeria, showed he has been granted permission to travel to Belo Horizonte, where Nigeria will take on Honduras in the Bronze medal match to make the donation.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the final after losing 0-2 to Germany in the semi-finals but the businessman who is a strong supporter of the Nigerian Olympic team is still going ahead with his plans to reward the team financially.

Dr. Takasu will give head coach of the team Samson Siasia the sum of US$ 200,000 while captain of the team Mikel Obi will take home the sum of US$120,000.

28 year old Nigerian forward Yero Bello has left Finnish side IIves, just two months after joining the team following his transfer to FC Milsami Orhei of Moldova.

Bello played just two games for the Finnish side, a team he joined from Ashdod of Israel where he has been since the 2013/2014 season before heading for Milsami Orhei, the 6th placed team in last season Moldovan league.

The forward has spent the best part of his career in Israel turning out for teams like Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Haifa,Bnei Sakhnin before his transfer to Finland as a free agent.

He also had a two year stint with Vaslui of Romania from 2010 to 2012 before tracing his step back to Israel, a country that can easily pass as his home when it comes to football.

Since moving to Europe in 2008, his best goal scoring season still remains the 2009/2010 season while at Hapoel Haifa when he found the back of the net 9 times.

The Golden Eaglet of Nigeria yesterday arrived Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic for the second leg of their Africa U-17 qualifiers against their counterparts from Niger, after winning the first leg 1-0 in Abuja.

Two weeks ago, the Manu Garba lead lads wasted lot of chances to make the return leg tie a formality. Ahead of Saturday’s tie, Owngoalnigeria.com Nigeria Under-17 expert, Ahmed Ishaya brings to you, the four players the coach will be banking on to secure progression for Nigeria into the next round of qualifiers.

1. Adebayo Adeleke (Goalkepper)

Super talented and highly rated by the coach, who described him as the best shot stopper he has seen at U-17 level, The 16 year old will no doubt know that a clean sheet is the minimum requirement, hence the coaches are banking on him to be at his best against Niger in Niamey.

2. AbdulJabar Sani

The captain has recovered from a knock picked up in the first leg, and in a game where they are going to play against a crowd that is expected to be hostile towards them, his leadership qualities will be put to test as the coaches will be relying on him to rally his troops in Niamey.

3. Nazifi Yahaya

The fox in the box for the Manu Garba freshly assembled squad during their friendly games. He was wasteful in front of goal against Niger in Abuja, since after the game he has been undergoing separate coaching on finishing and the coaches will be hoping he perfects all he was taught when they take to the pitch against Niger on Saturday.

4. Usman “Babalolo” Musa

Scorer of the lone goal against Niger Republic in the first leg tie,Coach Manu Garba will be hoping he reenact more of the same by scoring early like he did in Abuja just after two minutes. Known for his tenacity and persistent when it comes to running behind defenders. His combination with Yahaya was a headache to the backline of the Nigeriens in the first leg.

AZ Alkmaar summer signing Fred Friday, opened his goal account for the Dutch side in their 3-0 thrashing of Serbia’s Vojvodina in the Europa League.

Fred, who scored a total of 19 goals in one year in Norway while at Lillestrom, has played four games for Alkmaar prior to today’s clash without finding the back of the net.

Handed his first start in Europe this season by Manager John Van den Brom, the Nigerian forward struck on the dot of first half to hand his side a 2-0 lead heading into the half time break.

The Serbs were no match for the visitors with a third goal confirming Alkmaar dominance ahead of the return leg tie in a week time in Holland.

According to reports gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com editorial staff, the Nigeria Football Federation won’t be responsible for the addition assistants, new Super Eagles coach Genort Rohr plans to bring with him.

The NFF on their part employed three local coaches to work with the 64 year old, but the former Mali and Burkina Faso manager wants three additional assistants.

We gathered, the German wants two additional assistants, aside the one approved by the NFF as his direct assistants but from the look of things he will be responsible for their wages.

” Rohr wants to bring in two additional assistants and at the moment from what I know, their wages will be handled by him while the NFF will handle the one assistant approved for him”, a source told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Remember as part of the cost saving measures of the NFF, assistant coaches employed by the NFF will only earn allowances as their role is just part time, it will be foolhardy to pay Rohr’s assistant”.