Former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Okocha has taken another swipe at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) saying Nigeria football won’t experience any progress under the current board, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In an interview with the Guardian, the famous Super Eagles number 10 gave his reasons by citing the incompetence of the current NFF board led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau as why the Super Eagles won’t be successful until they are gone.

“The Super Eagles may not win any trophy until the current NFF officials are dissolved or reformed,” he said. “Appoint new officials who know more about football, who have interest in football, who loves football, whose lifestyles represent football.

“You can’t appoint politicians to manage football. They will turn it to politics and that’s what is happening today. We have the best players in the world, yet we have no trophy to lay our hands, not because of the players, absolutely not”, he stated.

He went further to say he won’t apologize over his criticism on the appointment of Eric Chelle as coach of the Super Eagles saying his appointment will derial the team in their quest to be at the World Cup 2026.

“When you change a coach, you have changed a dream, a vision, and a mission, in short, you have changed a generation.

“Changing of a coach isn’t just as it sounds to the ear. It’s harmful to the players, they will lose focus, except the players on their own demand for a better coach. Before you consider changing a coach, get some key players and interview them, seek their opinion because most of the players’ performance is based on the good relationship they share with their coach,” he stated.

Okocha further stressed that he is not in anyway going to apologize for his call for the NFF to be reformed, because he only stated the obvious as a stakeholder in Nigerian football.

“If their decision is taking me to the court, so be it. “We can’t continue to keep quiet while things continue to spoil.

“I have received series of messages to apologise to NFF, and my question is, ‘for what? For demanding a better committee?’ No, I can’t apologise while I just made my own personal opinion. Don’t we have right for freedom of speech again in Nigeria?”

“Football is the only ties that keep Nigeria going as one. It is our only source of Joy. If you politicise it what will be our hope tomorrow? We must be free and allowed to express our minds.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is facing the prospect of a lengthy ban from football following an investigation from the authority in Italy over his yellow card against Lazio in a league game, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

With Udinese leading 2-1, Okoye was issued a yellow card for time wasting in the 90th minute, which can be seen as normal, but betting patterns on the goalkeeper receiving a yellow has prompted investigators into sensing it as an anomaly.

According to Messaggero Veneto, the prosecutor office in Udine opened an investigation into the yellow card following reports of a series of bets for significant amounts linked to his yellow card during the match against Lazio played on 11 March 2024.

The house of the Nigerian goalkeeper was searched by investigators alongside that of another suspect, Diego Giordano, owner of a pizzeria frequented by Juventus footballers. Following a complaint by a betting agency Sisal, through an algorithm created to identify anomalies.

The lawyers of the Nigerian dismissed the claims as baseless, but if he is indeed found guilty he could be set for a lengthy ban from football. He is currently out injured and not expected back till at least a month time.

Ade Emmanuel

Coach of LaLiga side Valencia Carlos Corberán has opened up on the possibility of Nigeria international forward Sadiq Umar facing his parent club Real Sociedad, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Sadiq joined Valencia on loan till the end of the season from Real Sociedad for a fee of €1m and an option of making the deal permanent for €10m at the end of the season pending on other variables.

There is also a clause that says Valencia will pay Sociedad €300,000 if they want Sadiq to play against them. The game between both teams will be played this weekend and the coach was asked about Sadiq who opened his goal account for the club in the Copa Del Rey.

Corberán said the option of paying the fine will be discussed with the club’s hierarchy, but they first of all have to be sure of the availability of the 27 year old who he said has some discomfort at the back of his knee.

“He has discomfort in the back of his knee and has not been able to train with the rest of his teammates. First, it is necessary to see his physical availability and then the club’s availability to exercise the clause”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has replied to critics of his appointment which was made official on Monday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Criticism has trailed his appointment in some quarters with the suggestion that he isn’t experienced enough to handle the Nigerian team due to his limited experience as coach, bar the job he had as the coach of Mali and Algerian side MC Oran.

Chelle however feels those criticism are way off the mark insisting that he has been coaching since 2014 when he stopped playing active football. He said he will allow his result do the talking when he takes over as coach.

“Already, there are a lot of people who say that I don’t have much experience. But ultimately, I do have experience. I ended my career in 2014, and I’ve been coaching since that year,” he stated in an interview with RFI as reported by Matin Libre.

“We play football; it’s normal that there is pressure. It’s normal that there is criticism. Today, I will work; I have certainties; I have my game plan in mind, and I will quickly put it in place.

“Now, my results and the team’s results will speak for me. So, we can say what we want, but, at the time we speak, the coach of the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, his name is Eric Chelle.”

Ade Emmanuel

The new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle hugged the headlines at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after his side’s quarter final defeat in the hands of the host Cote d’ Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A video of Chelle having water poured on his head by one of his assistants after his team Mali let slip a 1-0 lead to lose 1-2 in dramatic fashion went viral on the internet.

That video discussion was revisited when he was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria, with a mandate to ensure that the team qualifies for the 2026 world cup.

His first game will be in March when the team takes on group leader Rwanda away from home, before squaring up against Zimbabwe at their home group which is the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.

Explaining the water pouring incident after the game, the new coach of the Super Eagles said he started to feel dizzy after his team conceded the second goal, which eventually led to their exit from the tournament.

“After the Elephants’ second goal, I started to feel dizzy, my blood pressure was rising. Thankfully, my compatriot poured enough water on my head to stabilize my blood pressure,” noted Chelle in the post match conference.

More tense moments will likely be in the offing for the 47 year old with Nigeria, who are currently 5th in their 6 team group in the world cup qualifiers which resumes in March.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

English Championship side leaders Leeds United are searching for reinforcement in attack in the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Coach Daniel Farke wants more option to compliment his current strikers Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford as they continue their push for a return to the English Premier League.

Piroe is their leading scorer with ten goals in 27 games this season, and Farke who understands that they should be doing more in front of goal has set his sights on bolstering his attack.

Nigeria international forward Kelechi Iheanacho who hasn’t found his bearing at Sevilla is top of the club’s list , and talks over a loan move is said to have taken place between all parties involved.

Iheanacho only joined Sevilla in the summer on a free transfer from Leicester City following the expiration of his contract. Farke feels his experience for Leicester City when they gained promotion last season could be crucial for his team in the second half of the season.

The 28 year old is said to be open to the move after failing to nail a permanent spot with just 11 appearances in all competitions and three goals , which all came in the Copa Del Rey against low league opponents.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and West Ham United have also been offered the chance of signing the Nigerian before the close to the January transfer window.

Daniel Martins

Nigeria U20 striker Ahmed Abdullahi has been given the all clear to make his debut for English Championship side Sunderland after return to full fitness after a groin surgery, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Signed from Belgium side Gent on transfer deadline day in the summer, the club decided that surgery will be the best option to bring to an end a long standing groin injury.

He has rejoined his team mates in training over the last week or so and while he will not be involved in the FA Cup tie against Stoke City next weekend, he is making strong progress.

Even if he is not involved at Turf Moor next weekend , the forward who represented Nigeria at the U20 WAFU and AFCON two year ago is now clearly on course to make his debut at some stage this month.

“Salis and Riggy will be available for the Stoke game, for Dan Ballard it will be too soon,” Le bris said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international defender Gabriel Osho has handed a boost to the newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria with his return to full fitness, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Signed by Ligue 1 side Auxerre in the summer on a free transfer from English side Luton, the 26 year old hasn’t look out of place in the team with 12 league appearances, where he has a goal to his name.

That impressive run of form however halted in December when he picked up a muscle injury, which has seen him miss their last two games following the resumption of games after the mid season break.

He was a doubt for the Super Eagles game under new coach Eric Chelle in the world cup qualifiers in March, but the club announced that he is back in training and in contention to play against Angers in the league on Sunday.

Osho who has two caps for Nigeria all coming in the last international round of games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, will no doubt add to his tally in one of the games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe receptively in March.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will this weekend take out time to check on the Ligue 1 duo of Jerome Akor and Hamzat Ojediran, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Akor who plays for Montpellier will be in action later today against Monaco, where he will be hoping to add to his three goals and three assists this season in what has been a really difficult season for his team, who are bottom in Ligue 1.

A member of the Nigeria U20 team to the 2019 World Cup, he isn’t having the kind of season he had in his debut year but Chelle sees him as someone who can be a part of his squad to challenge for the backup striker spot, behind team’s number one forward Victor Osimhen.

Tomorrow, the coach will be at his former club Lens to watch their game against PSG, and also use the chance to check on Ojediran who has been a revelation in the midfield.

Ojediran represented Nigeria at the U17 World Cup in 2019, and after a while in Europe he secured a high profile move to Lens where he made rapid progress through the youth ranks in less than a month.

He has so far played in ten league games this season , making Chelle to see him as a possible option in the midfield where the Super Eagles still have vacuum ahead of the resumption of the world cup qualifiers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman