The senior national team of Nigeria is facing a mini crisis in defence going into the world cup qualifiers games in March against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Captain of the team William Troost-Ekong is in a race against time to be fit for both games, but his regular partner in defence Semi Ajayi won’t be available. The crucial nature of the the games is why head coach Eric Chelle is sweating on their fitness.

Nigeria are yet to win a game in the series after four round of games, and Chelle will be in charge as the third coach to handle them after four games with the exit of Jose Peseiro and Finidi George respectively.

The games in March will be his first with the team, but he won’t be having the full compliment of his players from the look of things, especially in defence with the doubts about the aforementioned duo.

However he can breathe a huge sigh of relief when he consider that Joe Aribo, who is traditional a central midfielder or attacking midfielder have been deployed as a center back at English Premier League side Southampton in the last three games.

Coach Ivan Juric have been impressed with his performances, despite the fact that they are doomed to be likely relegated at the end of the season, following their return to the English Premier League from the Championship.

Ade Emmanuel

Former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel has fired back at comments made by Jamie Carragher playing down the Africa Cup of Nations as a major tournament.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher suggested Salah would have to win the Champions League in order to win the Ballon d’Or because Afcon is not recognised by voters as a “major tournament”.

He added: “I think the problem is the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such, or maybe got a great chance of winning, I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament. Normally, the player who excels in that.”

Carragher’s repeated use of the term “major tournament” irked fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge.

Richards stressed Afcon was a “major tournament”, saying: “A lot of people are at home saying ‘They aren’t taking it seriously.’ Afcon is a big tournament.”

Former Liverpool striker Sturridge said: “It’s a fact. If you win the Euros or Copa America it’s deemed to be big – so the Afcon is at the same level.”

Carragher responded: “Egypt are not going to win the World Cup are they?” And when Richards tried to explain, he cut him off and said “Oh God.”

Responding through his podcast The Obione show , Mikel who won the AFCON in 2013 with the Super Eagles in South Africa says Carragher doesn’t know what it takes to win with his national team.

“You don’t know what it takes to win with your national team. You can’t disrespect such a wonderful tournament like that. People in Africa die for the Africa Cup of Nations. Children, kids grow up watching their idols, watching their country, supporting their country because the Africa Cup of Nations is what inspires them to be the next generation.

The influx of African players in the Premier League, coming to Europe to play is because they grew up watching the Africa Cup of Nations. 2 billion people watch the AFCON”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria U20 team proved too strong for their counterparts for Cote d’Ivoire with an empathic 2-0 win in a friendly game played at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny.

The game was meant to prepare both teams for the upcoming U20 AFCON , with Nigeria replacing their earlier opponent Egypt after the draw which saw both teams in the same group.

Tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire were drawn in group A alongside DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and a yet to be named team from central Africa. On their part the Flying Eagles will go in search of a ticket for the world cup with Egypt, South Africa and Morocco in group B, popularly termed as the group of death.

Coached by Aliyu Zubairu they went ahead in the 63rd minute with captain Daniel Bameyi scoring from the spot, after a foul on enterprising forward Divine Oliseh.

Oliseh capped an all round performance with the second goal of the game for Nigeria, ten minutes from full time to complete a 2-0 win ahead of their second friendly game against same team on Friday.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of Middlesbrough Michael Carrick was full of joy as his team brought to an end a run of five games without a win following a 3-1 win over Stoke City yesterday in the English Championship, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The win moves Carrick’s team to within four points of the promotion play off spots , and also brought temporary respite to the coach who has been heavily scrutinized and also questioned about his abilities due to the slump.

His situation is not too different from Nigeria international forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined the team in January on loan from Spanish LaLiga side Sevilla. He was dropped to the bench after failing to make the most of the last two games he played.

Iheanacho looked assured in possession but off the pace after a torrid time in Sevilla, where he barely played and had to run back to England after six months. He joined the team in the summer on a free transfer from Leicester City.

Carrick who took the bold decision to bench the 29 year old was however excited by his conduct from the bench, and spoke about it saying it gives him hope that the team will be alright.

The Boro head coach said: “Kel didn’t play tonight and he’s on loan. He’s played in the games that have proven difficult when we haven’t won. He’s done well but we changed it tonight.

“He celebrated the most of anyone when that first goal went in. He was bouncing off the bench and celebrating like anything. When I turned around and saw that, I thought, we’re going to be all right.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international defender defender Semi Ajayi won’t be available for the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Ajayi who has been a mainstay in the team the past two years returned from a harmstring surgery which kept him out for three months a week ago, but 41 minutes into his first start since November he was substituted.

Reports says he suffered a relapse of the same harmstring injury which required surgery, and there are fears that he could miss the rest of the season if he is made to undergo another surgery in the coming days.

He is set to be out for the next three weeks in the interim, effectively ruling him out of the Super Eagles games in March. His absence will be a big blow to the new coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle.

Chelle is also facing the possibility of going into both games without captain William Troost-Ekong , who is currently battling a muscular injury that has kept him out of Al-Kholood last two games in Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

All eyes will be on the Super Eagles of Nigeria when games in the world cup qualifiers resumes across Africa in March, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The team will go into the qualifiers with a new coach in Eric Chelle, their third after four rounds of games following the exit of Jose Peseiro and subsequently Finidi George with the latter lasting just a month at the helm.

Chelle met the team four points behind leaders Rwanda who will be their first opponent in March and also Chelle’s first game in charge, before the game against Zimbabwe, he will be aiming to lead them to their first win after four games.

Rwanda are joint leaders with the same point as South Africa and Benin Republic, but ahead on a superior goal difference. The fact that Super Eagles are four points behind us something that the Belgian coach of South Africa says it’s a surprise.

“I am surprised that Nigeria are four points behind us because they have too much quality. I believe they will come back by the next window (March).

“All the teams in our group are still in the running (to qualify for World Cup).”

Ade Emmanuel

The senior national team of Nigeria are facing an uphill task of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after a poor start which saw them fall to four points behind the leaders Rwanda, and in 5th place in the 6 team group.

They will go into their games in March against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively searching for their first win in the series , and will need all of their players to be in top form heading into the games in Kigali and Uyo respectively.

New coach Eric Chelle will be handling the team for the first time and there is no doubt that the form of Moses Simon for French Ligue 1 side Nantes will be a source of happiness to him, ahead of both games.

Simon has emerged as one of the best players in the French top division this season with 13 goals contributions consisting of six goals and seven assists, despite his team struggling at the lower rung of the table.

The 29 year old is currently just one assist below Nice forward Evann Guessand in the list of players with the highest assists so far in the French Ligue 1. That form is what many Nigerians will be expecting from the team’s ace in March.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has submitted his preliminary list of players for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The coach submitted a preliminary list of 35 players but picked 23 as the players that will definitely be in his squad, in order for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to begin the process of making their flight arrangements.

We exclusively gathered that the Southampton duo of Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu have been handed a recall to the team with on loan Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho missing from the list. Bayer Leverkusen Nathan Tella was also handed a recall.

Two new players in Uche Chrisantus of LaLiga side Getafe and Chuba Akpom of Ligue 1 side Lille made the list. The number of new players could increase to three if they switch of nationality by an an unnamed player comes through before it’s made official.

However the squad is subject to changes due to injuries and fitness concerns. For now four players in the main 23 list in Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Semi-Ajayi are in a race to be fit for both games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has made contact with Werder Bremen fullback Felix Agu as he get set to make public the list of players for the upcoming world cup 2026 qualifiers games, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Chelle will be in charge of the Super Eagles for the first time in March when they take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively. They will go into both games looking for their first win in the series after four games.

Sitting four points behind the group leaders Rwanda, Chelle who insist the team has what it takes to win their remaining six games in the qualifiers is going all out, firstly by inviting players he feels can add more depth and quality to his team.

Agu who represented Germany at U21 level in 2019 but declare his intention to play for Nigeria in 2021 was contacted by Chelle two weeks ago, while he was still recovering from an outer ligament injury that kept him out for two months.

The 25 year old has returned back to full fitness and could be in the Super Eagles squad which has been decimated with injuries to around four key players in Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Semi-Ajayi.

Comfortable as a left back or right back he has played a total of 11 games in the Bundesliga this season with two goals and one assist to his name. Despite representing Germany he won’t be needing a switch of nationality process to be approved by FIFA as he only played in test games for the U21.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has been given an update on the fitness of Victor Osimhen ahead of the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively.

Osimhen was substituted in Galatasary’s ill tempered league game against Fenerbahce, and head coach Okan Buruk confirmed that the 26 year old has been carrying a knock for some days.

The coach said an update on his state will be known later today after an MRI scan which was conducted yesterday, and according Turkish media outlet habersarikirmizi.com it shows no real concerns for Osimhen.

Despite that there is the likelihood that he will be rested for the Turkish Cup game against Konyaspor tomorrow, just as it has been in the last two games in the tournament.

His situation will no doubt leave the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Chelle excited after the bad news on the injury front that has ruled out Semi Ajayi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and there also doubts over captain of the team William Troost-Ekong, who has missed the last two games with a muscular injury.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman