Second division Belgium side Lommel SK pulled a massive transfer coup with the signing of one cap Nigeria international defender Dominion Ohaka, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 18-year-old joined the club on loan from Nigeria based side Water FC for a period of 12 months, with an option of signing him permanently also included in the terms of the deal.

Capped by the senior national team of Nigeria in 2022, he played the entire duration of the 0-2 friendly loss against Costa Rica, which was the first game under the then coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro.

Sporting director James McCarron gave his opinion about his signing to the club’s website. “Dominion is known in his own country as a great talent. Making your debut for your national team at such a young age is something that is not possible for many players. Unfortunately, Dominion still has to recover from an injury he sustained earlier. He will therefore not be able to play for the time being. We will do everything we can to get him fit as soon as possible.”

Ohaka himself is also happy that he will be able to play in Europe: “Playing in Europe has always been a big dream. This dream is now coming true. I am very grateful to Lommel SK for the opportunity and I am really looking forward to playing in the Soeverein Stadium for the first time! Unfortunately, my debut will have to wait a while, but I will do everything I can to recover as soon as possible!”

Daniel Martins

Top division Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam bolstered their squad during the January transfer window with the addition of 21 year old winger Joel Ideho from fellow Dutch side ADO Den Haag, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ideho was a part of the Nigeria U20 team preparation for the U20 World Cup, but an injury picked up while on duty with Arsenal his former club robbed him of the chance of making the team.

He left Arsenal after three seasons with their youth team for ADO Den Haag, where he spent the last two seasons scoring nine goals with 11 assists in 53 games.

Speaking on the signing who started his football career with Willem II and also spent time with Ajax, technical director of the team Gerard Nijkamp said they have been following him for a long time, and had to move for him following the departure of Camiel Neghli.

“‘We have been following Joel for a long time and due to the departure of Camiel Neghli, attracting a new winger is a priority for us. He can get out of his way on both flanks and is ready for the step to the highest level”, he told the club’s website.

Daniel Martins

Newly signed Hellas Verona defender Daniel Oyegoke is open to the idea of switching his nationality to the senior national team of Nigeria if he is handed a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Oyegoke joined the Serie A from Scootish side Hearts during the January transfer window, with coach Paolo Zanetti identifying the 22 year old as one who will give them another option in the right back role.

Born in England to parents of Nigerian descent, he has represented the country of his birth 32 times at various youth levels, but he is still eligible for Nigeria at senior level.

Although his main priority is to seal a spot in starting lineup of the Serie A side his immediate senior international future lies with Nigeria, and he hasn’t made any secret about it.

Sources close to the defender revealed that it’s just a matter of time before he will openly apply for a switch, but will be forced into doing it early if he is formally approached by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) or the present coach of the team Eric Chelle.

He is said to be keen on following the footsteps of the likes of Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman and  Alex Iwobi who all represented England at various youth levels, before switching to Nigeria at senior level.

Ade Emmanuel

Nigeria U20 defender Benjamin Fredrick has taken a huge step toward making his first team debut for English Premier League side Brentford after wearing the captain armband for the B team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fredrick who was signed permanently in the summer after a year on loan from foremost Nigeria football academy Simoiben was tipped to make his first team bow this season, after impressing in pre season games.

He suffered an injury setback that saw him miss around two months, meaning he has to work his way to full fitness before he could be considered for a spot in the first team. He has made progress to suggest that it isn’t far off anymore.

The Nigerian was rewarded for his consistent performance the past three months with the captain armband in their 2-0 defeat to the U23 of Portuguese side Mafra in the Atlantic Cup.

Now playing primarily as a right back as opposed to his well known role as a center back for the U20 team of Nigeria, the 19 year old is part of the back four of the B team that is currently powering the team to a run of just one loss in their last six games in the Premier League Cup.

Upeh Waziri

The newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will head into the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively with just three center backs available for selection, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle will in March handle the Super Eagles for the first time when they take on Rwanda in Kigali, before having his baptism of fire at home when they play against Zimbabwe in Uyo . Both games are crucial to the chances of Nigeria making it to the 2026 World Cup.

Ahead of the game, Chelle have one major headache in defence with just three senior center backs in William Troost-Ekong, Gabriel Osho and Calvin Bassey available for selection. Three others are currently out injured or inactive.

All three available center backs could be on the pitch at the same time if the coach decides to play a back three. Leaving no senior defender on the bench for both games.

Vice captain Kenneth Omeruo tops the list of center backs who won’t be available due to lack of match fitness, after he recently left Turkish side Kasimpasa following the mutual termination of his contract. He has sparingly played since his move to the club due to injuries and fitness concerns.

Semi Ajayi who has played in all but two of the team’s games the past 18 months is also unavailable due to injury. English Championship side West Bromwich Albion expects him to be back in March, but not fully match fit.

The situation has now potentially open the door for a recall for the trio of either Leon Balogun, Jordan Torunarigha or Kevin Akpoguma. There is also the possibility of calling a new defender as back up.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Southampton picked up only their third win of the season with a 2-1 win over fellow newly promoted side Ipswich Town to breathe life into their battle to remain in the English Premier League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigerian duo Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu scored the goals that handed the Saints their first win under new coach Ivan Juric, and also lifted the mood around the team especially as it came against fellow relegation battlers.

However in the second half , the coach made a strange decision to move Aribo from his traditional role in the midfield to the defence, putting him as the left centre back in a three man center defence setup.

The decision sparked lot of debate after the game, but the coach while speaking on the win explained his decision by praising the adaptability of the Nigeria international to several roles.

“Joe [Aribo] for me is a great guy; everything for the team. He doesn’t care if he is a forward, at the back or in the middle. Today he played left centre-back and I think he did a great second half. We worked really hard, really well, and Joe today was great”, the coach said.

Ade Emmanuel

Head coach of the senior national team of South Africa Hugo Broos has laid out how he thinks his team will beat all comers in their group to the 2026 world cup ticket, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

South Africa are currently joint leaders in the group on seven points, but in second position behind Rwanda who have a superior goal difference. They are also level on points with Benin Republic their next opponent when the qualifiers resumes in March.

Analyzing his team’s chances with Nigeria still seen by many as a threat despite their poor start to the series with just three points and still without a win and also four points behind the leaders, Broos outlined what his team need to do which will negates whatever the Nigerian team under new coach Eric Chelle do in the remaining games of the qualifiers.

“All the teams are still in the running. Therefore, March can be a key month, and things will be a little bit clearer. We now have seven points, and then I count six (in March), it’s 13. And then we have four games, which tally up to 12 points. I think if you have 16/17 points, you have qualified,” the coach explained.

“And then after that, we can say, for example, Rwanda is out. Again, that’s why it’s very important to win the two games (against Lesotho and Benin).”

Fresh from signing for French Ligue 1 side Lens relatively unknown Nigerian winger Jeremy Agbonifo wasted no time in introducing himself to fans of the club with a goal on his debut.

Born and raised in Sweden by parents of Nigerian descent, the 19 year old who is on loan to the club from Sweden top division side BK Hacken rounded up scoring for his team with the second goal of their 2-0 win over Montpellier. A result that saw them move up to 6th on the league table.

Agbonifo’s goal will no doubt catch the attention of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle, who was a former player of the league one side and still keeps in touch with happening around the club.

However any decision on a potential call up to the national team of Nigeria will have to go through a process and also approval by FIFA as he has represented Sweden at various youth levels.

Sweden still rate him highly and will no doubt put up a fight for his senior international future when the time arises. He is presently a teammate of former Nigeria U17 midfielder Hamzat Ojediran who is also on the radar of Chelle.

Ade Emmanuel

Southampton picked up only their third win of the season with a 2-1 win over fellow newly promoted side Ipswich Town to breathe life into their battle to remain in the English Premier League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigerian duo Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu scored the goals that handed the Saints their first win under new coach Ivan Juric, and also lifted the mood around the team especially as it came against fellow relegation battlers.

However in the second half , the coach made a strange decision to move Aribo from his traditional role in the midfield to the defence, putting him as the left centre back in a three man center defence setup.

The decision sparked lot of debate after the game, but the coach while speaking on the win explained his decision by praising the adaptability of the Nigeria international to several roles.

“Joe [Aribo] for me is a great guy; everything for the team. He doesn’t care if he is a forward, at the back or in the middle. Today he played left centre-back and I think he did a great second half. We worked really hard, really well, and Joe today was great”, the coach said.

Ade Emmanuel

Fans of English Championship side Middlesbrough have taken to social media to criticize the decision of the club to sign Nigeria international forward Kelechi Iheanacho on loan from Sevilla, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Iheanacho was presented by the club to the fans yesterday in their game against Sunderland which they lost 2-3 and dropped out of the Championship promotion play off spot.

Fans were critical of the signing of the 28 year old Nigerian citing his decline in the past one year as why he isn’t the ideal signing as they aim to seal a return to the English Premier League.

The fact that Iheanacho didn’t play a single minute in the second half of last season for Leicester City when they returned to the Premier League was part of their bias against his signing, also in Spain his stay was cut short after failing to nail down a permanent shirt and hasn’t scored in nine league games.

His three goals during his stay at the club he joined in the summer on a free transfer came in the Copa Del Rey against teams in the lower division. Coach of the team Michael Carrick had to defend his choice of the Nigerian.

“Obviously delighted Kelechi is joining us. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to be in time for tonight but he’d be an important player for us, have a big impact.

“We have got some good attacking players. We’ll have a good week’s training and settle everyone down again before we go again.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman