South Africa Football Association (SAFA) have accepted a three points, three goals deduction from football governing body after they were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Teboho Mokoena wa supposed to be suspended for the game after picking up two bookings in previous games, but he played for over 80 minutes in the game. A decision which has now proved costly.

According to one of the country’s leading publications Soccer Laduma, a source from the football house hinted at contacts with FIFA and their acceptance of the point deduction for the error, which they badly regret.

“We (Bafana) have to win all the points that we have to play for going forward, and that’s all, to ensure that the team qualifies,” a well-placed source told the Siya crew, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“An error was made, and we can’t be pointing fingers at individuals right now what happened has happened, and we can’t go back. Those points are gone, as tough as that is to accept, but there are more to play for to ensure qualification. An announcement is pending.”

The expected deduction will see their point tally drop to ten reducing their previous five points lead over Rwanda in second to just one, but above Lesotho who will move to second on nine points.

Crucially the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the team seen by many as the main rivals to South Africa in the group will move to within three point behind the leaders ahead of their meeting in Johannesburg later this year.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The list of players called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming Unity Cup and friendly game against Russia has been made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Werder Bremen defender Felix Agu was handed a first time call up to ten team for both engagements, but with an attached statement that he will only train and not play for the team.

Just like we reported on the 7th of May. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is demanding that world football governing body FIFA issue then a clearance before he will become eligible to play for the team.

Despite the fact that he can’t be tied to the German team as he only played in age grade friendly games for their U21. The NFF insist that they still will need a written clearance from FIFA before he plays for the Super Eagles.

A source said the situation is similar to that of Alex Iwobi before his senior debut for Nigeria, with FIFA sending a clearance despite the fact that he played for England U19 in a friendly game.

Agu is seen by the new coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle as someone who can help provide options in the full back positions owing to his performances in the Bundesliga for Werder Bremen this season.

Courted by former coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr in 2019, he turned down the approach and accepted an invitation to play for Germany U21, and played in two friendly games against Greece and Spain respectively.

At 25 he has now pledged his international future to Nigeria after speaking with Chelle, who insisted on including him as a part of the team for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in England where they will up against Ghana on the 28th of May, before taking either of Trinidad and Tobago or Jamaica four days later.

He will also be a part of the team for the friendly game against Russia next month, and the hope is that his clearance would have come through before the resumption of games in the world cup qualifiers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

As we exclusively reported earlier today the Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle submitted two separate lists to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their upcoming friendly games starting with the Unity Cup in England before the friendly game against Russia.

The list has been made public by the NFF and like we reported the squad for the games of the Unity Cup against Ghana and either of Trinidad and Tobago or Jamaica have as many as 11 players from the league in Nigeria.

Team’s talisman Victor Osimhen will not play in both games same his pair in attack Ademola Lookman but William Troost-Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will be available for only the game against Russia.

However senior players like Moses Simon and the players based in England are expected to be available for the Unity Cup, with others like Tolu Arokodare, Nathan Tella, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika also available.

Squad For Unity Cup:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Collins Ugwueze (Enugu Rangers)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United)

Available for training only: Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany)

SUPER EAGLES FOR RUSSIA FRIENDLY

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sadiq Umar (Valencia CF, Spain)

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has submitted two separate lists to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their upcoming friendly games starting with the Unity Cup in England before the friendly game against Russia.

Chelle submitted the list to the NFF who are expected to make it public later today, but every other player in the list have been contacted to begin the process of their visa application.

We can exclusively report that while the squad for the games of the Unity Cup against Ghana and either of Trinidad and Tobago or Jamaica have as many as 11 players from the league in Nigeria, none of them is expected to be named in the squad for the friendly game against Russia in June.

Team’s talisman Victor Osimhen and his pair in attack Ademola Lookman will not be part of the squad for the Unity Cup but will be available for the f friendly game against Russia. It’s the same for William Troost-Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

However senior players like Moses Simon and the players based in England are expected to be available for the Unity Cup, with others like Tolu Arokodare, Sadiq Umar, Nathan Tella , Victor Boniface, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika also available.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

English Premier League champions Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement for the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Frimpong is expected to have his medical later this week, but he won’t be the only departure from the German side, who will also be looking for another coach with Xabi Alonso announcing his departure at the end of the season.

Alonso is expected to replace Carlo Ancellotti at Real Madrid in time for the club world cup which begins in June. Nigeria international forward Victor Boniface is also expected to follow the duo out of the club.

Boniface saw a January transfer move to Saudi Arabia broke down after a medical with the club opting for Brentford forward Ivan Toney. He is now expected to leave the club in the coming day according to multiple reports.

English Premier League side Newcastle United are said to be advanced in talks with his representative and Leverkusen for his signing, but they are not the only club credited with an interest in his service with teams from Saudi Arabia and Spain also in the mix.

Daniel Martins

Benjamin Fredrick has been voted the best U21 player at English Premier League side Brentford at the club’s end of the season award which was held yesterday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The Nigerian who was a part of the Ladan Bosso led U20 team to the last world cup joined the team on a permanent deal at the start of the season, after impressing during an initial one year loan the previous season.

Widely expected to make his first team breakthrough this season after impressing in pre season. An injury picked up a few days before the start of the season put a halt to that target and upon his return cemented his spot in the U21.

He played in virtually all of the games of the season when fit or available with first team duties preventing keeping him out in some cases. He also showed another side of his game operating as a center back, right back or left midfielder.

His teammates voted him as their player of the season, and expectations are that he will transit to the first team next season after a year of integration, learning and development with the U21.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle plans to try out some players in positions that he thinks will give his team balance and also properly execute his ideas at the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in England, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

An apostle of the diamond formation, the former coach of Mali who started his reign as coach of the Nigerian team with a 2-0 win away to Rwanda, before suffering a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Zimbabwe will have another chance to sell his ideas to the players during the tournament.

He plans to use certain players in positions that enhances his preferred formation when they take on Ghana on the 28th of May, before facing the either of Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago in their next game three days later.

The squad for the game is expected to be a mixture of players from teams based abroad and from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). One of the players who is expected to be in the mix is Gefate midfielder Chrisantus Uche.

He has been deployed majorly as a forward this season, but Chelle has seen enough in the few games he has played to be convinced that he can be a valuable addition to the team’s midfield.

This season which is his debut in the Spanish top flight, the 22 year old who made the jump from the Spanish third division has four goals and five assists in 32 games.

Italian Serie A side Bologna will be in the market to strengthen their squad after sealing a spot in Europe next season following their 1-0 win over AC Milan in the final match of the Coppa Italia.

They will be among the teams that will represent Italy in the Europa League next season, and having a large squad to prosecute next season’s challenges is top of the agenda for coach Vincenzo Italiano.

The 47 year old is a long time admirer of Nigeria international Samuel Chukwueze who is deemed as surplus to requirements at fellow Italian side AC Milan. He is among the players who have been told to search for a new home next season.

In the January transfer window, Milan made an effort to land Riccardo Orsolini from Bologna with a bid of €18m plus Noah Okafor joining on loan, but it was rejected.

Bologna’s president Joey Saputo did not accept that particular offer, but tested the waters for Samuel Chukwueze, and will once again proposed the idea if AC Milan returns for Orsolini in the summer.

He will reported demand for cash plus the Nigerian in exchange for the 28 year old Italian international, with the hope that AC Milan will this time around be eager to make the deal happen.

Daniel Martins

Out of favour Nigeria international defender Leon Balogun says he is leaving Scottish side Rangers at the end of the season when his contract expires, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Balogun has started the last four games for the club in a season where he has made a total of 30 appearances with 21 starts and appeared to have cemented his spot under interim coach Barry Ferguson.

However in a surprise twist of events, the 36-year-old centre-half whose contract runs until the end of May, made a post on social media platform Instagram expressing his surprise that he would not be extending his stay with the Scottish Premiership runners-up.

He expressed regrets that he wasn’t afforded the chance to say a proper goodbye to the fans and also members of staff, but all the same thanked them for their support throughout his two separate spells at the club.

“If I would have known that the last two games of the season were my last, I would have made sure to say goodbye to you all accordingly,” he said

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t afforded that opportunity, which saddens me as I would have liked to have walked round Ibrox one last time and returned all the love and support you’ve given me during my two stints.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman