In what can be termed as one of the quickest progress ever made by a Nigerian player Vince Osuji who until April last year was playing for Nigerian Football Academy Cardinal is set to join Belgium giants Club Brugge, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A member of the 2020 Nigeria U17 team led by Fatai Amoo, Osuji joined Swedish side Kalmar last year and immediately became the talk of the league in just 15 games. Belgium side KRC Genk immediately made a swoop for him but he was denied visa leading to the collapse of the deal.

The left footed center back is now set to join their rivals Club Brugge after passing a routine medical, and as first reported by Sportbladet, the parties involved in the deal have basically agreed on a transfer and the Belgian club is set to to announce his signing n the coming days.

Sportbladet has previously reported that Kalmar FF’s centre-back Vince Osuji was close to being sold and that Reims was one of four clubs that finalised negotiations with Kalmar.

But Reims could not meet KFF’s price tag and thus the club went instead for Malcolm Jeng, who was completed his move to the Ligue 1 club some time ago.

If the deal goes through, he will be one of the club’s most expensive sales of all time. Kalmar’s most expensive sale of all time is when the club sold Ari Ferreira to AZ Alkmaar in 2007 for 41 million kronor.

The second most expensive is Rasmus Elm when he went to the same club in 2009 for 31 million kronor and the third most expensive sale is Mileta Rajovic to Watford, who paid 24 million kronor for the striker in 2023.

Daniel Martins

The senior national team of Nigeria will be making a return to Africa continental tournament the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco later this year, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria were runners up to the host Cote d’Ivoire at the last AFCON and after securing their spot at this year tournament, their aim will be to go one step better than last term out under new coach Eric Chelle.

Ahead of the tournament the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will have announced next Monday, the 27th of January as the date for the draws with teams listed base on their placement in the FIFA Rankings.

CAF divided the 24 teams into six groups with the top six ranked nations alongside the host seeded meaning they avoid playing each other at the early stage.

Super Eagles of Nigeria ranked 44th in the world will be in pot 1 with Morocco (14th), Senegal ( 17), Egypt ( 33), Algeria ( 37) and Cote d’Ivoire. All teams in the post are the highest ranked African nations by CAF.

Pot 2 will have Cameroon (49), Mali (57), Tunisia (52), South Africa (57), DR Congo (61) and Burkina Faso (66).

Pot 3 will have Gabon (84), Angola (85), Zambia (87), Uganda (88), Equatorial Guinea (93) and Benin Republic (94).

The last Pot will have Mozambique (96), Comoros (103), Tanzania (106), Sudan (113), Zimbabwe (121) and Botswana (136).

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The coach of Benin Republic Gernot Rohr says the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new coach of his former team the Super Eagles of Nigeria is a step in the right direction, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rohr who was in charge of the Nigerian team for almost six years backed the appointment of Chelle, the former coach of Mali who holds French nationality terming it as a positive appointment owing to the reputation of the 47 year old.

” Nigeria have a new coach who is well known in France as a good coach with tactics. So you can say they are not joking with the remaining games in the world cup qualifiers, which will mean my team (Benin Republic) needing to work harder”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Chelle beat Rohr to the position of the coach of Mali two years ago when both men applied for the job, and he will be hoping for another victory by helping Nigeria who are 5th in six team group beat joint leaders Rwanda, South Africa and Benin Republic respectively. They are four points ahead of Nigeria.

But all that could change in the next round of games with Nigeria who are without a win pushing for one in their two games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively in the month of March.

Are Samuel

The father of the 9 year old Nigerian Destiny Kosiso who stole the headline with his astonishing record of 97 goals in 22 games for the Under-9 of Barcelona says he has two other sons at the same club, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Destiny’s scoring capacity has made him very famous within the youth setup of the Spanish giants as he is the among the top scorers in the history of their system.

He scored 20 goals in a tournament which Barcelona won against top teams in Spain, and already seen within the corridors of the club as the next in line to follow in the footsteps of Lamine Yamal.

His father a Nigerian who played football for third division side Montanesa revealed that aside Destiny, his two other sons David and Divine are also in the Barcelona youth teams but reckons that Destiny appears to be the most talented.

” By the grace of God I have three Children with Barcelona. Destiny is well known because of his record at the level where others passed and didn’t make such impact. All three are doing but Destiny to me is a shade better at this level”, he was quoted as saying by Spanish outfit Sport.

Destiny’s elder brother David who is 14 year old plays for the Benjamin C of the club since 2018 and he is the eldest of the trio. He already made the jump to 11 -a-side football and after an earlier wobble he has found his way.

All three are forward players who have shown their goal scoring prowess at various level for Barcelona, who are famed for their culture of bringing players through their youth system into their first first team.

Are Samuel

The criticism made by the former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Okocha on the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria has become a hot topic of discussion, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okocha was clear that the appointment of the Malian as coach isn’t the right step to put the country’s football and qualification for the 2026 world cup back on track. He questioned the credentials of the coach to lead the team who are 5th in their 6 team group for the world cup. Four points behind the leaders Rwanda.

Although he largely blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the woes of the team insisting that not until this present board is sacked, there will be no meaningful progress in Nigerian football.

Responding a member of the technical committee of the NFF said Okocha should keep his spot as a legend in Nigeria, Africa and in the world at large rather than soil it by getting involved in matters that are beyond his understanding and comprehension.

” A coach has been appointed and the normal thing to do is to back the coach, but Okocha did the opposite. As a legend I expect him to taste his words properly before spitting them out. His ranting won’t distract the coach at all and remember Chelle named him among his favourite Super Eagles players of all time. Okocha shouldn’t spoil his reputation in Nigeria, Africa and the world”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com in a chat.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Uche Chrisantus can easily pass as one of the breakthrough stars in the Spanish top flight this season, but the form of the 21 year old still hasn’t earned him a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Signed from third division side Cueta, the midfielder who moved to Europe two years ago from Nigeria has been every present for Getafe in all of their games this season with a goal and assist to his name.

With the coming of new coach Eric Chelle many expect him to finally get a look in, but sources say it isn’t going to be as straightforward as predicted due to certain indices used in calling up players international games.

” Everybody knows Uche and his regular run of games for Getafe is well known. However many say he is a midfielder but he hasn’t played their for once this season at Getafe. Former coach Austine Eguavoen noticed it and decided to leave him out because in his role as a striker this season we have better alternatives”, a backroom staff of the senior national team of Nigeria told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Uche has been playing as a striker this season. His agent approached Eguavoen to make a case and was told the exact thing. As a striker who can you say he is better than? You don’t call players for the sake of it but I believe he will no doubt get his chances soon”, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of Bayer Leverkusen Xavi Alonso has included Nigeria international forward Victor Boniface in his travelling squad for tomorrow’s game against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Boniface have been out injured with a harmstring issue since November 23rd 2024 against VFL Bochum denying him the chance to add to his six goals in ten games this season.

He made his return to full fitness and took part in training today ahead of today’s game, but according to the medical department of the team he won’t be available for the game as he isn’t fit enough.

“Thomas Eichin (Director of Professional Teams): “He’s back in training, but hes not a topic for Tuesday evening.”

His stand was overruled by Alonso while speaking in his pre match conference, he insist that the 24 year old will travel with the team to Madrid, but didn’t mention if he will be involved in any capacity in the game.

“We trained again this morning and then we decided that Victor Boniface can travel to Madrid with the team. He’s getting better and better and will be in the squad [against Atlético] tomorrow. This is very positive news for all of us and of course for him. Boni is feeling good and it’s great that he’s back with us”, Alonso stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The newly appointed coach of AC Milan Sergio Conceiçao has started his rebuilding of the team he inherited a little over a month from Paulo Fonseca, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Conceiçao started on a sound note by leading the team to the Italian Super Cup with wins over Juventus in the semi final and Inter Milan in the final, but he is still searching for his first win in the league after two games.

The coach is reportedly unhappy with the squad, and has decided to start the trimming of the squad in the January transfer window rather than wait till the summer. He is also targeting immediate reinforcement.

Already Kyle Walker is set to complete his move from Manchester City with Emerson Royal set to be sacrificed in his place like Strahinja Pavlovice there are interest in his services from Turkey, whilst Noah Okafor has English suitors.

Today, Sportitalia (via Sportmediaset) revealed that two other players could see their time with the Rossoneri come to an end this month. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze have not received offers yet, but Conceicao ‘would not oppose’ their departures, with neither seemingly having a future under the Portuguese.

Daniel Martins

Despite making his return to training Nigeria international forward Victor Boniface won’t be a part of the Bayer Leverkusen squad for tomorrow’s UEFA Champions League game against Atletico Madrid, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Boniface have been out injured with a harmstring issue since November 23rd 2024 against VFL Bochum denying him the chance to add to his six goals in ten games this season.

In his absence the team has won all of their games with Patrick Shick stepping up with 12 goals, nonetheless the return of Boniface still represents good news to coach Xavi Alonso, however it’s unclear if he will be in the squad for the game.

The 24 year old return to training was delayed by a setback, but it appears that has been sorted now after he joined his teammates in preparation for the trip to Madrid tomorrow.

But recent reports say he still going to be sidelined for a while and will miss tomorrow’s game as well as the game on Saturday against RB Leipzig. The club said although he is back in training he isn’t fit enough yet.

“Thomas Eichin (Director of Professional Teams): “He’s back in training, but hes not a topic for Tuesday evening.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Bayer Leverkusen have received a boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League game against Atletico Madrid with the return of Nigeria international forward Victor Boniface to full training, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Boniface have been out injured with a harmstring issue since November 23rd 2024 against VFL Bochum denying him the chance to add to his six goals in ten games this season.

In his absence the team has won all of their games with Patrick Shick stepping up with 12 goals, nonetheless the return of Boniface still represents good news to coach Xavi Alonso, however it’s unclear if he will be in the squad for the game.

The 24 year old return to training was delayed by a setback, but it appears that has been sorted now and he now has the all clear to join his teammates in preparation for the trip to Madrid tomorrow.

Leverkusen are currently 4th in the UEFA Champions League standings, while their host are placed 11th but both teams are separated by just one point.