The performances of Raphael Onyedika for Belgium side Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League hasn’t gone unnoticed by the football world, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola who praised the contribution of the Nigerian to the Club Brugge setup before his team’s win over the Belgians in the final group game of the UEFA Champions League. Onyedika scored in the game.

“The patterns defensively are really good, especially with the holding midfielder (Onyedika ) and creating overlaps in certain positions,” he said. “We have to be focused on the way we have to attack and man-marking, because I don’t know the shape of what they are going to do to create the spaces to attack.”

Joining in singing the praises of the 23 year old is AFCON 2013 winner Efe Ambrose, who rates him as the best Nigerian midfielder at the moment.

” Anytime I watch Raphael play I just nod my head in excitement. At the moment I don’t think there is any Nigerian midfielder at his level. He is presently the best for the Super Eagles”, Ambrose told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

With 12 caps to his name and a goal, Ambrose called on the new coach of the Super Eagles Eric Chelle to give more responsibility and game time to the midfielder starting from the world cup qualifiers games in March.

” He ( Onyedika) has to play more particularly if the team wants to play in an offensive manner like the new coach suggested. I really think he should be the main anchor in the middle with all due respect to those in the role at the moment”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is facing an uphill task to get four players of the senior national team of Nigeria ready for their world cup qualifiers games in March, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle who will be in charge of the team for the first time in the world cup 2026 qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively will likely be without the services of four senior players including captain of the team William Troost-Ekong.

Ekong was substituted in Al-Khalood 0-2 loss to Oruba a week ago, and miss the entirety of yesterday’s 1-0 win over Al-Wehda. Reports say he is likely to be unavailable for tomorrow’s game against Al-Hilal if he fails a fitness test.

Returning defender Semi Ajayi was subbed off after 41 minutes of their 2-0 win over Oxford United, early diagnosis say he suffered a relapse of the injury that kept him out since November last year.

Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is another who is a huge concern after coming off Lazio’s 0-0 draw against Venezia in the 41st minute due to a knock.

It’s the same story for fellow midfielder Raphael Onyedika who was also subbed of after 23 minutes in Club Brugge’s 1-2 loss to Standard Liege in the Belgium top division.

We reliably gathered that Chelle has already started preparation for their likely absence which three players on standby in the event that any of the aforementioned plahers failed to make it in time for both games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Nigeria U23 striker Promise David have gotten approval from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for a switch of nationality from Nigeria to Canada, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 23 year old who has eight goals in 20 games in the Belgium top division for Union Saint-Gilloise was on target from the spot yesterday in the Europa League in his team’s 1-2 loss to Ajax, which saw them eliminated from the tournament.

A member of the Salisu Yusuf U23 team that failed to make it to the last Olympic games, David was born in Canada making him eligible to represent them. He has taken up the option after getting assurances from the country’s FA.

His application was forwarded to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by world football governing body FIFA, and it was approved by the NFF clearing the path for the lanky forward to team up with the Canadian team as early as the next international window in March.

Former Chelsea trainee Ike Ugbo also took the same route in 2021 and he has since gone on to pick up nine caps. He is presently at English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

18 year old Monaco forward George Ilenikhena who grabbed the headlines in their 3-3 draw against Benfica with his third goal in two games since his return from injury isn’t eligible to play for France at the moment, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Ilenikhena has had an injury hit start to life with Monaco following his move from Belgium side Antwerp in the summer. It has restricted him to just two goals in Ligue 1 and one in the UEFA Champions League.

There has been talks about his international future with many suggesting that he is more inclined to represent France ahead of Nigeria, due to the fact that he was raised there but we can exclusively reveal that he hasn’t been issued a French passport yet.

He is presently registered in the League as a Nigerian and only has a Nigerian passport. Attempts by the French Federation to get him a French passport hasn’t yielded any positive results since the first step that was taken last year.

It means he can play for the Super Eagles if he agrees to the overtures from the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle, who is a huge fan and wouldn’t mind having him in his world cup qualifiers squad for the games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively in March.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he arrived in France with his parents at the age of three and lived in Antony. He quickly took up football in his city’s club and completed all his training there, before joining Amiens in 2021. The striker wasted no time in showing his sense of goal with 24 goals at U-17 National level.

The pure left-footer then joined the first team and made his debut in Ligue 2 on January 10, 2023, before scoring three days later in Bordeaux, becoming the youngest scorer in the history of the league, at 16 years and 150 days. The Nigerian joined Royal Antwerp in the following summer transfer window and was fully a part of the side’s rotation. In each of his appearances, he has brought a lot, notably scoring six goals as a “supersub.”

This is a role that he would maintain against Barcelona by delivering for his team at the end of added time, becoming the youngest Nigerian scorer in the C1. After scoring 14 goals in all competitions, George signed for AS Monaco in July 2024 on a five year contract.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy won’t accept the offer of switching his international allegiance to the senior national team of Nigeria following an approach from the coach of the team Eric Chelle.

As we first reported, the coach met with the 29 year old who is of Nigerian descent and is still eligible to play for the senior national team of Nigeria despite representing England at U21 level.

Eligible for Republic of Ireland as well, the winger who has five goals and nine assistst this season in all competitions isn’t keen on playing for the Super Eagles, despite the possibility of playing in the 2026 World Cup.

According to Craig Hope of UK based outlet Daily Mail, Murphy will concentrate on maintaining his impressive club form and has not given up hope of one day earning his first senior England cap.

His decision has been conveyed to the coach of the Nigerian team and his decision was accepted, but told him the door is always open if he has a change of heart.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Every sport bet has its share of drama, thrill, and disbelief. On one side, some gamblers manage to win, defying all odds, and on the other side, some people manage to lose in logically absurd ways. These bets gone wrong are not just financial losses but rather memorable lessons, thanks to the unpredictable nature of sports. In this article, we are going to look into the top 5 most absurd bets placed on sporting events. So, put on your seat belt and get ready for a rollercoaster of unexpected turns and unforgettable experiences. Let’s jump right to it!

The Miracle Comeback Nobody Believed In

While placing a bet on the Champions League final that took place back in 2005, Liverpool fans had one of the most shocking moments in betting history. Everyone from the supporters of AC Milan already considered the game over after they scored 3-0 by the end of halftime. The odds at that moment were quite attractive, although, on MelBet South Africa, they are always much better. But still, that’s not the point now. That led the fans to place bets on Milan winning the match, and by the beginning of the second half, bettors from all over started cashing out. The decision to cash out is something fans of AC Milan would regret for decades.

But Liverpool stunned the sports community by scoring three goals in the next six minutes. The game went into extra time. Finally, the match went to penalties, where Liverpool took the title home. Many bettors who chopped their bets on AC Milan lost fortunes, while only a handful of warriors who rooted for Liverpool laughed their way to the bank. The imbalance at halftime stood at 350/1 going against Liverpool. Such an incredible event will always remain a part of the rich history of football and betting.

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Tiger Woods Shocks the Masters Odds

In 2019, Tiger Woods made one of the most shocking and greatest comebacks in golf history when he won the Masters Tournament. Woods was far from his best prior to the event and suffered a lot of injuries, personal issues, and a major wins drought, which made his odds of winning the tournament 14/1.

Still, there was a player who placed an $85,000 bet on Woods winning. Can you guess the results? A mind-bending $1.2 million payout set the record for the largest golf bet in history. While the bold bettor celebrated, millions who placed a bet against Woods suffered severe losses.

Patriots vs. Falcons: The Super Bowl Shocker

Super Bowl LI in 2017 was unforgettable for most fans and gamblers. The Atlanta Falcons held a massive 28-3 lead against the New England Patriots late in the third quarter. For most spectators, the game appeared to be over. People started preemptively pulling out bets on the Falcons and made early withdrawals, with bookies providing deals to bettors looking to be paid out.

However, the ever-reliable Tom Brady spearheaded a game best known for the greatest Super Bowl in history. The Patriots achieved an unprecedented 25-point comeback to stun the game into a shocking overtime victory. One gambler who placed a wager of $1,000 on the Patriots, paying odds of 16/1, was able to walk away with $16,000. As for those who wagered on Atlanta, they were left in utter disbelief. This is a reminder of how some of the most one-sided games can radically change in an instant.

Leicester City’s Impossible Premier League Triumph

When it comes to the most unbelievable success stories in sports history, the 2015-2016 English Premier League is one of the best. Leicester City, a club that barely survived relegation the previous season, had staggering 5000/1 odds to win the league. It was probably the worst bet placed, something people would laugh at but not really take seriously.

However, against all probability, Leicester went on to win the season, and those who put their faith in the team won themselves life-changing opportunities. One fan put down a measly £20 bet and won £100,000! While traditional powerhouses like Manchester United or Chelsea were putting their money toward the league title and losing massively, Leicester’s victory serves as a reminder of how the so-called “underdogs” can rise up and take the spotlight.

The Boxing Bet That Knocked Everyone Out

In Tyson’s career, he was viewed as absolutely unstoppable. So, in 1990, when he fought against Buster Douglas, who was perceived to be a 42-to-1 underdog, almost everyone made their bets on Tyson. This came as no surprise since there was one gambler who placed a bet of $165,000 just to claim a profit of $6,000, which further adds to the notion of Tyson’s invincibility.

Yet, in a shocking turn of events, Douglas went against the odds and managed to knock out Tyson in the tenth round. While this was great for Douglas, the bettor lost the entire $165,000, which went on to become one of the most famous examples of misplaced confidence in sports betting. On the other hand, those who were brave enough to bet on Douglas profited manifold. This upset is one of the biggest examples of how overconfidence can be detrimental and, to this day, serves as a crucial point across the world.

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The Unpredictable Beauty of Sports Betting

Gambling on sports comes with highs and lows and everything in between. These five accounts show that in sports, no matter how assured we are on any bet, life has the capacity to humble us. Like any form of art, sports also has beauty, and that beauty is in the fact that anything can happen in an instant. Therefore, as you read these incredible stories of sports, keep them in mind the next time you place a bet using your hard-earned cash. What if, this time, you are able to pull off the next astounding bet and cash in as an underdog?

Sports betting has made legends out of people who mastered the game so much that they were able to make it their full-time career. These people, with the foresight, discipline, and strategy to make millions for themselves, were always looking to achieve something remarkable. From winning spectacularly to making inspirational choices, they did it all and earned themselves a fortune. They mastered the art of analysis and decision-making and changed the definition of success in betting. In this article, we look to dive into the world of the masterminds of betting and try to dissect the real-life inspiring stories of people who made a fortune betting.

Billy Walters: A Living Legend

Among all sports bettors, Walters is the most known figure in the industry. His more than 30 years of experience propelled him to profits, earning hundreds of millions. However, it is the art of sports investing that brings forth his glory. Walters is known for his statistical betting, as he takes into account many factors before placing a bet. This, coupled with stellar data analysis, made him one of the most revered professional sports bettors in the world. You, too, can easily visit MelBet Tanzania and try out their data-driven strategies. There is a wealth of historical data and statistics for each event, of which there are over 1,000 daily. But let’s get back to Billy Walters.

His triumphs came in 2010 when it came to light that he had won $3.5 million from a Super Bowl wager. It was known that Walters used a “runner” network to make bets at different places without drawing attention to himself. It seemed almost impossible to beat Walters, as he always found ways to put his money in places where there was value. Along with his success came his controversies, such as a conviction for insider trading. Regardless, no one can take away the fact that he was one of the best gamblers to ever exist.

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Tony Bloom: The Football Genius

Also known as “The Lizard,” Tony Bloom is a professional gambler and chairman of a Premier League football club. Sports betting and investing made Bloom a wealthy man. He is a renowned multimillionaire because he knows exactly how to place bets on football matches and win.

In 2005, Bloom gained notoriety for winning over a million dollars during football season by betting on underdog teams. His analytical approach consists of weather, player statistics, and even referees. Now, he gives back to the community by spending a portion of his wealth on his football club and analytics-focused businesses. Bloom’s life and achievements serve as a beacon of inspiration for all those who want to turn their love for sports into a successful profession.

Haralabos Voulgaris: The NBA Wizard

During the early 2000s, Haralabos Voulgaris started off his journey by placing bets on NBA matches. When he started, he took note of all the inefficiencies that were present in the spreads set by bookmakers. Voulgaris became a walking encyclopedia about the game, studying everything from the lineup to the players on the bench and coaching strategies.

By 2013, he was reportedly wagering millions for each season of the NBA. His betting activity went so well that it got him hired as an executive for one of the NBA teams, and he utilised his knowledge in player scouting and game planning. Voulgaris’ story highlights how having a great breadth of knowledge and the right skill set offers lucrative results in betting and the sporting world.

Zeljko Ranogajec: The King of Horse Racing

Zeljko Ranogajec has become a household name for success in horse racing as a betting entrepreneur. Reportedly, he makes around $1 billion every year through his betting syndicate in Australia. Advanced mathematics, probability models, and a team of experts forecast the races and helped him develop his systems.

He is especially known for winning a $7.5 million keno lottery prize. While keno has little to do with sports betting, this proved how strong his grasp of numbers really is. Ranogajec is among the top-tier horse race bettors due to his unique approach, focusing on disciplined long-term earnings. Even with all the success, no other keno bettors can compare to his syndicate’s ability to dominate horse racing markets.

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Alan Woods: The Mathematician’s Approach

An Australian bettor, Alan Woods, is one of the names that has been synonymous with the horse racing industry for a long time. Woods, a former actuary, used his mathematical knowledge to develop models that accurately predicted the outcomes of races. By the late 1990s, Woods was already minting millions each year through his betting syndicate and virtually single-handedly transformed the whole horse racing industry.

One of Woods’ biggest wins is from 1997 when his syndicate took a whopping $20 million in a single season. It is no surprise that his focus on statistics and analytical approaches gives solid frameworks for professional bettors. Woods died in 2008, but his methodology still has a profound effect on today’s betting strategies and motivates young bettors.

Betting Success: A World of Opportunity

Bloom, Walters, Voulgaris, Woods, and Ranogajec stand as testimony to what vehement dedication, discipline, and knowledge of sports betting can achieve. These people mastered the art of gambling, showing that with the proper skill set, it is achievable without luck but rather with appropriate planning, skill, and effort. Stay sensible, stay erudite, and maybe, just maybe, you will be the author of the next great betting success story.

The final 23 man list of players for the senior national team of Nigeria for their upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively is expected to be made public next week , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle has already drafted a 35 man provisional list for both games, but also has a pool of 23 players who are sure to be in the team barring injuries or fitness issues.

We can exclusively report that the coach has made a change to the final 23 man list with newly signed Lille of France forward Chuba Akpom getting a first time call up to the team.

Akpom represented England at various youth levels before switching nationality to Nigeria three years ago. Chelle has included him as a replacement for an injured player whose name wasn’t made known to us.

Since moving to Lille from Dutch giants Ajax, he has scored two goals in his first three games. At Ajax he scored three goals in 16 games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman