Red hot Lucas Ribeiro has been told to consider switching his nationality from Brazil to South Africa after an impressive start to the season for Premier South Africa League side Mamelodi Sundowns, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

26-year-old Ribeiro has been a revelation for Sundowns since his move to South Africa from Belgium. This season he boast of a total of 12 goals across all competitions, alongside an impressive 10 assists.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Ricardo Nascimento has suggested to his fellow Brazilian to consider switching his international allegiance to play for Bafana Bafana, and help them in their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup where they are in the same group with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

“This is an exceptional player,” Nascimento was quoted as saying by KickOff. “He would be a tremendous asset to Bafana Bafana.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think they even know about him here in Brazil. That’s why I think it would be interesting for him to play for Bafana Bafana”.

In November 2024, Ribiero said he is open to the idea of representing South Africa if he is handed a call up saying it will be a pleasure, but checks reveal that he will only be eligible to play for the African nation in 2028.

“Unfortunately at the point in time, at my door, I have not received a call or an offer or request to play for Bafana Bafana, but it would be a pleasure to represent South Africa because I am playing here, the national team is doing well,” he said.

“National team is the highest level for any football player to be in that space in their career and also because Bafana has many players from Sundowns that are playing there, so for me if that opportunity presented itself it would be great.

“I think I can adapt and assist the national team because I’m one of the highest-level players but unfortunately that request or offer hasn’t come to my door. [Should that offer come] I would anticipate my response to be more positive than negative if it came.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has an idea on the placement of the various options available to him in specific roles ahead of their world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively.

Chelle will get his first taste of action as coach of the Super Eagles when they play in the above mentioned world cup qualifiers games in March, seeking to lead them to their first win after four games.

The former coach of Mali is yet to officially announce the players picked for the games, but sources say he has an idea on each players and how best to use them in the games, particularly after watching them play for their various teams.

We exclusively gathered that he has a soft spot for Southampton forward Paul Onuachu, and sees him as the best alternative to top striker Victor Osimhen due to the fact that he gives the team a different way to play.

He sees Onuachu as one who can also play in attack with Osimhen if at all they will play with two strikers, as they will compliment each other due to their variations better than Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen.

Boniface deputized for Osimhen during the AFCON qualifiers but failed to score in all six games of the series. He has just one goal in 11 games the senior national team of Nigeria, a far cry from his tally for Bayer Leverkusen where he has 31 goals and 11 assists in 52 games since joining the team before the start of last season.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Super Eagles midfielder Edema Fuludu has called on the coach of the Super Eagles Eric Chelle to include Ahmed Musa in the list of players for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Musa who still remains the substantive captain of the team now plays for Nigeria Premier Football League side Kano Pillars following his departure from Turkish side Sivasspor by mutual termination of his contract.

There has been debate about if he should be included in the team owing to his experience and also form in the NPFL where he has seven goals. Fuludu believes he ticks the right boxes owing to the nature of the games Nigeria will play in March.

“The Super Eagles are in dire need of results to put our World Cup campaign back on track, and I feel someone like Ahmed Musa has a crucial role to play. Many Nigerians are super stars when it comes to football, and I always feel sad when some people jump to conclusion that players are too old to play for the national team”, he told the Guardian.

“If Ahmed Musa can come back to play in the Nigerian league, and stabilise Kano Pillars on the table, there is nothing wrong in including him in Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers. We have seen situations, where older players became saviours for many teams in tight situations. We all know Ahmed Musa as one of the most dedicated players to play for the national team. After all, he has not officially announced his retirement from international football. I feel he still has a role to play in the Super Eagles if the coach wants him.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Manchester United campaign in the English Premier League took another heavy hit with a 0-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur taking them to 15th on the table.

A solitary strike from James Madisson decided the game in favour of the home side further piling the pressure on Ruben Amorim who took over as coach of Manchester United three months ago, replacing Erik Ten Hag.

The quick turnaround that was expected following his appointment hasn’t been the case, but he should the fans and management a bit of what the future has for them by handing a professional debut to Chido Obi-Martin.

17 year Obi was signed by Manchester United from Arsenal last year after turning down an offer to remain at the club. He scored 32 goals in 20 games for Arsenal’s youth teams last season and has scored nine times in 11 outings for United’s age groups since his move.

He averages a goal every 35 minutes in the FA Youth Cup, with his hat-trick against Chelsea U18s on Wednesday taking his tally to seven goals in the competition this campaign.

It therefore came as no surprise when he was introduced by Amorim for the final three minutes of the defeat against Spurs. However it is his decision before the game that will excite followers of Manchester United from Nigeria.

Born to parents of Nigerian descent in Denmark but raised in England, the 17 year old prior to the game decided to drop his middle name Martin, and fully asked to be called by his two Nigerian names Chido Obi.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the player has asked for ‘Martin’ – believed to be his middle name – to be dropped going forward opting to protect his proud Nigerian heritage. That is why he appears as ‘Chido Obi’ on United’s official website and will be known as such henceforth.

A youth international for Denmark, he is also eligible for Nigeria and England at senior level.

Ade Emmanuel

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has submitted the list of players who will be sent provisional letters of invitation by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers games, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will be looking to breathe life back into their world cup campaign when they take on Rwanda away from home and at home against Zimbabwe respectively in the month March.

Presently placed 5th in their 6 team group, four points behind leaders Rwanda, their aim will be to pick their first win after failing to do so in the first four games of the series with three draws and one loss.

Chelle who was appointed as coach last month will handle the team for the first team during the above mentioned games , and he has drawn up the players he intends to pick his final 25 man squad from and also his starting lineup for both games.

Sources say Getafe’s forward Uche Chrisantus will be handed a maiden call up alongside the goalkeeper of Enyimba Henry Ozoemena Ani. The two are sure bets to be in the team with four other who are staging a return to the setup.

Top of the list his Paul Onuachu and his Southampton teammate Joe Aribo, former Southampton winger Nathan Tella is also back in the setup after a turnaround in his form and game time with Bayer Leverkusen.

Leon Balogun is also in contention for a return to the team largely due to a puacity of options in that role and also the fact that he has been playing regularly for Scottish side Rangers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will return to action in March when the qualifiers for the 2026 world cup returns, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria is still without a win after four games and are currently in 5th position, four points behind group leaders Rwanda. They will be looking to improve their position in the group when they take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively.

South Africa who are joint leaders but second on goal difference has been picked as the main threat to Nigeria’s chances of picking the group’s sole ticket, even though they are on the same number of points with third placed Benin Republic.

Former Germany U20 defender Kevin Akpoguma, who switched to Nigeria and has picked up eight senior caps is of the opinion that no team in the group can stop the Super Eagles from making it to the tournament.

” With all due respect to the other teams,we ( Super Eagles) are the best team in that group and will definitely pick the ticket. The slow start doesn’t matter when you have six more games to go. A lot can still happen because there is a lot to play for”, the 29 year old Hoffenheim defender told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

On his chances of getting an invitation from new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, Akpoguma says he has to continue working hard for his club for the coach to hand him a chance. He however said his goal is to be a part of the squad for the 2026 world cup and also play in it.

” It’s the dream of every player to play at the world cup and my immediate goal is the 2026 edition with Super Eagles. I hope to be a part of the team and also play a role during the tournament”, the defender who last played for Nigeria in 2023 in a 3-2 win award to Sierra Leone concluded.

Ade Emmanuel

The betting allegations against Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been termed as baseless by his legal representative, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye was arrested alongside two others and allegations of giving tips to a friend to place a bet that he will be given a yellow card in the game between Udinese and Lazio in the Serie A.

He was yellow carded for time wasting towards the end of the game with his team leading by a lone goal margin, a sudden spike in betting related to him getting booked rose suspicion among the authorities who used algorithms to track a friend and another associate of the Nigerian who placed bets on him getting booked.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport the house and locker of the Nigerian at Udinese sports center were searched by the police shortly before Christmas.

“They didn’t find anything significant for the investigation, just a pair of gloves and some soccer shoes”, his lawyer Maurizio Conti said. He later added: “What were the chances that Udinese would have been ahead in Rome creating the circumstances for a yellow card to the goalkeeper? In fact, in that role they practically only get a yellow card for wasting time”, he concluded.

The allegations have already cost him his place in the team of Udinese as he has been removed from the list of registered players for the second stanza of the season.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle recently visited players of the senior national team of Nigeria at their various bases ahead of the world cup qualifiers games in March.

Chelle who will be in charge of the team for the first time in the away game against Rwanda and the game at home against Zimbabwe used the opportunity to explain his ideas, plans and tactics to the players.

He also encouraged the players not to lose hope on their chances of making it to the world cup, because they have the quality and what it takes to win all their remaining games in the series.

We sought to hear from a senior player the content of what was said between them. He refused to categorically state what was said in the brief meeting, he rather joked by replying to our inquiry using a picture of Chelle where water was being pour on his head during the last AFCON.

” I told him I can assure you we won’t let them pour water on your head”, he replied with a laugh emoji at the end of the text.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman