Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has called up a new goalkeeper to the team ahead of the Unity Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Chelle has already said he will use the tournament to give fringe players a chance, and also try out some new players.
We can exclusively reveal that while Amas Obasogie is set to play in goal for the tournament, there is a new goalkeeper in the team.
It is likely going to be Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who recently switched his nationality to Nigeria.
Okonkwo will also be in the team for the high profile friendly games against Poland and Portugal respectively in June.
Although Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is expected to be back in goal for both games, in the absence of Stanley Nwabali who is without a club.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s comeback has arrived at exactly the right moment for Nottingham Forest, with improved results under a new manager tightening the relegation picture and changing how betting markets interpret their season.
Nottingham Forest’s campaign has not followed a straight line. For long stretches, they looked like a side drifting toward the bottom three, short on confidence and without a consistent presence in attack. As the end of the season approaches, that picture has changed. Results have improved, goals have followed, and there is now a sense that survival is within reach rather than slipping away.
That change has come from a combination of factors. The arrival of Vítor Pereira in February brought renewed belief and a clearer approach, while the return of Taiwo Awoniyi has added depth at a time when every contribution matters.
That impact is not always captured in the way individual players are priced, especially in markets built around season-long scoring totals.
How betting markets reflect Forest’s late-season momentum
If you were to bet on the Premier League Golden Boot market on Betway, an international bookmaker covering a wide range of sports with in-play options and mobile access across different regions, the picture is already clear. Erling Haaland sits at around 1/33, or roughly -3300 in American odds, reflecting a season built on consistent scoring across the full campaign.
That kind of market leans towards volume over timing, which means when you place a bet here, you are backing long-term output rather than short bursts of form.
Of course, Awoniyi’s impact does not appear in those conversations. The 28-year-old Ilorin-born striker is not competing for the Golden Boot, but that does not reduce the importance of what he has contributed in recent weeks.
Awoniyi’s return arrives when Forest need it most
When Awoniyi found the net against Brentford in January, it was not a routine finish. Picking up the ball inside his own half, the ten-time Nigeria international drove forward, held off challenges and finished through the legs of the goalkeeper to secure the win.
That moment carried weight because of what came before it. Just months earlier, he had been recovering from a serious injury that kept him out for a prolonged period. His return gave Forest an option they had been missing during a difficult run.
Since then, his contributions have continued to arrive at important times. He scored late in the 3-0 win away at Tottenham, adding a third goal that confirmed the result in a match with direct implications for the relegation battle.
More recently, he made an immediate impact off the bench in the 5-0 win over Sunderland, setting up a goal shortly after coming on. It was a brief appearance, but it showed how quickly he can influence a game when space opens up late on.
Relegation odds begin to reflect Forest’s improvement
Those moments might not influence Golden Boot markets, but they do affect how teams are priced elsewhere.
At around +1800 to go down, Nottingham Forest are no longer among the most likely sides to be relegated. If you choose to bet on the relegation market, that price reflects a team that still carries risk but has moved out of immediate danger compared to earlier in the season.
That improvement has been built on a run of performances under Pereira. His arrival in February focused on restoring confidence and simplifying the approach on the pitch. The impact has been clear in front of goal.
Forest have scored 16 league goals since Pereira took charge, more than any other side in that period. That output has not come from one player alone. Instead, it has been shared across the team, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus contributing alongside returning forwards.
The 5-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was the clearest example. Four goals arrived in a 20-minute spell, turning a tight situation into a dominant performance and briefly opening up an eight-point gap to the bottom three.
That is the kind of result that forces betting markets to adjust.
A season balancing survival and opportunity
There is also a contrast when you look beyond the relegation picture. Nottingham Forest remain involved in European competition, with odds of around +333 to win the Europa League. For a team still working to secure its place in the Premier League, that position highlights how unpredictable their season has been.
On one side, they are focused on securing enough points to stay up. On the other hand, they are still capable of producing performances that carry them deep into a knockout competition.
This dynamic presents two separate narratives if you follow the markets. One is based on consistency and league position. The other is built on momentum and short-term form.
Why Awoniyi’s contributions still matter
Within that context, Awoniyi’s role is clear. He is not chasing individual awards, and he is not leading the scoring charts. What he offers is something different.
His goals have come at moments that directly affect results and his presence gives Forest another option, particularly in matches where physicality and movement are needed late on.
Forest are not relying on one player to carry them through the final weeks of the season. Instead, they are finding contributions across the squad, with Awoniyi adding depth to an attack that has become more effective under Pereira.
As the season moves towards its conclusion, those contributions could prove decisive. The Golden Boot race may already be decided, but at the other end of the table, it is moments like these that determine whether a team stays in the Premier League or drops into the Championship.
Nigeria international forward Taiwo Awoniyi stole the show for Nottingham Forest in their 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the English Premier League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Awoniyi set Forest on their way to a convincing win with a firm header to open scoring in the second minute of the game. He was later dragged in the box when he was racing through to meet another cross.
A penalty was awarded for the shirt drag by Malo Gusto, which his teammate Igor Jesus stepped up to score in the 15th minute. A shock lead very early into the game and they went into the break leading by the same scoreline when Cole Palmer missed from the spot.
Forest emerged from the half time break looking the most likely to score and once again Awoniyi showed his predatory instincts with a smart run to side foot in his second and his team’s third of the game.
After getting an earlier effort ruled out by a video assistant referee (VAR) review, Joao Pedro finally got himself on the score sheet for Chelsea with a fantastic over head kick.
It ended up as a mere consolation with Forest hanging on for a famous win that further pushes them away from the relegation zone.
Victor Osimhen has come under intense criticism for his performance for Galatasaray over the weekend as they slumped to a calamitous 1-4 defeat to Samsunspor on Saturday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
A win in the game would have sealed a second consecutive league title for Galatasaray, but they somehow stumbled to a huge defeat.
Osimhen had a game to forget in the game as against his high standards, and as expected was called out by the media in Turkey for failing to lead the team over the line.
He lost possession for the counter that led to the opening goal for the host, and three minutes before the incident he missed a very good chance to score.
After the game Osimhen rallied his teammates not to let their head drop with the defeat, and instead focus on the next game to wrap up the league title.
Nigeria U17 forward Umar Abubakar scored his second goal of the season in Portugal with a second half goal to help his team Famalicao to a 2-2 draw against unbeaten Benfica, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Playing in his 20th game of the season, the lanky forward who joined the team in the summer transfer window on a free transfer from Gent scored in the 78th minute.
He was the quickest to react to a cross into the box to help his team make a full recovery after falling two goals behind in the opening 19 minute of the game. A result which strengthened their position as 5th on the leg.
With two games left to play in the Portuguese league, Jose Mourinho team are the only team in Europe yet to taste defeat but it won’t be enough to win the league with FC Porto already nine points clear with six left to play for.
Porto have been crowned champions already with the Nigerian duo of Zaidu Sanusi and Terem Moffi a part of their title winning run.
Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle was in Ibadan yesterday to watch the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game between Shooting Stars and Nasarawa United, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle was there as a part of his scouting assignment to pick players from the local scene who will be part of his team for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in London.
The coach has already said he will use the tournament to try out some players in the NPFL, and rather than rely on recommendations like it has been in the past he has decided to go scout for the players himself.
We can exclusively reveal that after yesterday’s game, which the home side won 3-2 to move up to third on the log with two games left to play in the League, the coach settled for one player.
However he wasn’t entirely satisfy with the quality and standard of the game, but was made to understand that it’s that time of the season where pressure makes it hard for players to be at their best.
Nigeria U20 winger Sani Suleiman recently returned from a special strength and conditioning training in Austria under the supervision of RB Leipzig, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Sani joined the team in the January transfer window from Slovakian side AS Trenčín in a January record sale deal, but hasn’t made his debut yet.
Like we exclusively reported last week , the club has already pencilled him down as the replacement to transfer linked Yan Diomande , who is a prime target for Liverpool in the summer transfer window.
RB Leipzig have started preparing him for the task after his return from a minor knock he picked up in training. Part of the preparation was a trip to Austria with a member of their fitness team.
He was there for some days with the emphasis on building his body strength and also working on his balance. It’s meant to help him return in the best possible shape for the start of pre season training.
The GBS Academy of Jos graduate is however hoping to make his debut before the end of the season, but will focus more on working his way into the setup during pre season training.
David Ozoh who recently agreed to play for the senior national team of Nigeria has bid farewell to his loan side Derby County following the end of the English Championship season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
The 20 year old was on loan from Crystal Palace and made a huge impression getting as high as 33 games with two goals from his deep midfield role. He penned a message of farewell thanking the coaches, teammates, management and also fans for the support.
Coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle was largely impressed with his performances and swiftly convinced him to play for his team rather than wait for England, where he was a youth international for various levels.
Sources say he is not going back to Crystal Palace with a deal already in place for him elsewhere. It is part of why he won’t be involved with the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming Unity Cup.
” He will join a new team in the coming days. His return to Palace is temporary because his next move is already decided. Chelle is aware of it and won’t include him in the squad for the Unity Cup”, a source revealed.
The senior national team of Nigeria lost a very good case against DR Congo fielding ineligible players due to the poor handling of the case by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria filed a protest against DR Congo for fielding players who have dual nationality, which contravenes the constitutional requirements to be called a citizen of Congo.
As many as eight players were flagged by the NFF in the protest that would have seen Nigeria pick a ticket to the inter continental world cup playoff, which DR Congo used to qualify for the world cup.
However they messed up what was a very good case according to sport lawyer Joshua Ishaya, who spoke with our correspondent from his base in the United Kingdom.
” It was a good case that was messed up by the NFF. From what I gathered it was flagged by someone at CAF to them, but a fee as ordinary as the protest fee wasn’t paid by the NFF”, Joshua said.
” Secondly it exceeded the timeline for filing and on technical grounds it was considered dead on arrival. FIFA didn’t even sort to hear from DR Congo on the petition before it was dismissed.
” The president of the NFF Ibrahim Musa Gusua and his entire team have to look at themselves in the face and apologise to Nigerians for messing up what was a very good case. That was nonsense and it’s on Gusau”.
Barring a late minute change of mind Kelechi Iheanacho will be in the Super Eagles team for the upcoming Unity Cup friendly tournament in London, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle says he will use the tournament to give fringe players a chance to show what they can do. He also said players from lowly rated European Leagues will be given a spot in the team.
Iheanacho like we exclusively reported last week will lead the list of senior players who will be picked for the tournament next month, with Chelle heavily impressed with his performance lately for Celtic.
Yesterday he netted the winner in their 2-1 win over Hibernian in the Scottish League. It was his seventh goal in 20 games all competitions this season.
We can exclusively reveal that he is in the preliminary list of players for the tournament, but faces an anxious wait to see if he will make the final list of players.
