The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has settled for a new foreign coach for the senior national team of Nigeria as they get set for the resumption of games in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Technical director of the football house Austine Eguavoen handled the team all through the successful qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON. He is expected to return back to his role with a new coach expected to be announced later this month.

Eguavoen who will be a part of the new crew will play a leading role in the search for the new coach, who will handle the team in the world cup qualifiers games in March.

Super Eagles are currently 5th in their 6 team group for the world cup qualifiers, four points behind Rwanda who will be their next opponent when the games resumes.

” The ideal candidate has a good level of experience in African football and it will be handy in the quest of the Super Eagles to be at the next world cup. Not taking anything away from Eguavoen or our indigenous coaches, the situation that we are in requires an expatriate and we have resolved to get one”, a chieftain of the NFF revealed.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international forward Sadiq Umar is happy to see the end of 2024 after failing to get regular game time at Spanish side Real Sociedad during the course of the year, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Since returning to full fitness from the ACL injury which kept him out for over a year, the 27 year old has failed to force his way into the plans of coach Imanol Alguacil with just seven games to his name this season, and he has also failed to find the back of the net.

Heavily tipped to depart the team in the January transfer window, the former Almeria goal king hinted at a possible exit by expressing his frustration in a new year message posted on his Instagram account.

“Which tank u 2024. Lol. Make you do finish I don tire to dey chop bench hahahaha. Thank god 2024″, he posted in pidgin English which translates to ” What is thank you 2024. Pls round up on time I am tired of sitting on the bench. Thank God 2024″.

He heads the list of Nigerian players expected to be on the move in the January transfer window, which has officially opened and will run for a month.

Daniel Martins

Barring a late minute change of plans, four players from the Nigeria B team that secured qualification for the Africa Nations Championship popularly known as CHAN will be a part of the Super Eagles team for the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The team led by coach Daniel Ogunmodede thrashed Ghana 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to book a spot at the tournament, which will begin in February 2025 with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as joint host.

Certain players played their way into the plans of the main team of the Super Eagles according to a member of the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He said their names will be forwarded to whoever gets the nod to lead the Super Eagles when the world cup qualifiers resumes in March.

” Henry Ozoemena who was in goal for both games is surely going to be a part of the team. His spot is locked not just because of his performance in both games generally he has been really good for Enyimba in the league and also in the CAF Confederation Cup”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

“The Enugu Rangers center back Ifeanyi Onyebuchi was really impressive over both games and he will also join the main team when they resume in March. Then there is the Remo Stars midfielder Jide Fatokun who controlled the second leg game really well and Musa Zayyad who was particularly impressive in the first leg. Both of them have a chance of joining the main team in March”, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will meet to decide on a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria in the first week of next year just like we exclusively reported one month ago.

Super Eagles navigated the AFCON qualifiers with the Technical Director (TD) of the football house Austine Eguavoen in interim capacity as coach of the team. He is expected to revert to his main role after helping the team to qualification for the AFCON.

Eguavoen is expected to play a huge role in the search for a substantive coach for the team, expected to be announced before the resumption of the qualifiers for the 2026 world cup.

However while he has made it clear that he will prefer an indigenous coach with a large backroom staff, the NFF are opposed to the idea with president Ibrahim Musa Gusau already neck deep in talks with prospective sponsors who will foot the bill of a foreign coach.

“We should stay at home (for choice of head coach), but the technical crew has to be enlarged. The head coach should be home-grown because we know the situation and we feel the pulse of the people”, he said in a Christmas eve interview aired on Kennis Radio.

His take is in sharp contrast with the idea of Gusau who was clear about the identity of the proposed coach of the team, saying talks are already on to sort out the payment of a new coach for the team to bring to an end the struggle to pay the monthly due of foreign coaches by the NFF in the past.

“We are currently in discussion with Dangote Group, BUA, MTN, Baba Ijebu and others on the payment of foreign coach,” Gusau said.

“Though, Eguavoen is doing well, but if we must engage a coach, we must make sure that the issue of payment is sorted.”

Ade Emmanuel

The quest of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has been taken away from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with the proposed Presidential Support Group (PSG) expected to be inaugurated soon, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles are currently 5th in their six team group in the world cup qualifiers, four points behind leaders Rwanda who are tied on the same point as South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, but with a superior goal difference.

Ahead of the resumption of the games in March, the Federal Government (FG) has decided to set up a committee which will work with the NFF to help bring the Super Eagles campaign back on track. Early report suggests that it will be led by the governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Sanwo-Olu will head the group, which will have the president of the NFF, top wigs of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and also some influential members of the ruling government in Nigeria.

We gathered they will be given the sum of around 3 Billion Naira as take off grant to prosecute the games of next year, starting with the away trip to Rwanda and the subsequent home game against Zimbabwe.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The head coach of the senior national team of Zimbabwe Michael Nees says his team will be aiming to turn around their fortune in the world cup qualifiers when it resumes in March, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In the same world cup group with Rwanda, Lesotho, South Africa, Benin Republic and Nigeria. They have not been able to match other teams in the group after four games.

Zimbabwe are bottom of the group with just two points, and they will resume their campaign with a game at home to Benin Republic, before traveling to take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in March.

Nees who successfully guided his team to qualification for the AFCON is confident of his team’s chances ahead of both games, insisting that his team can still make it to the world cup.

“Honestly, it’s not yet all lost in the World Cup qualifiers. We have to do everything to turn the shape around in our matches against Benin and Nigeria in March,” Nees told FARPost.

He went ahead to reveal the team in the group that they will like to emulate as South Africa, pointing out their qualities which he said has been key to their rise so far in football, especially under Hugo Broos.

“But right now, Bafana Bafana is the model. We need to at least copy what they do and study how they do it. Their courage and fighting spirit is what we all want to have.

“At best, we have to believe in ourselves, which is exactly what they have been doing since their coach took over. We don’t know yet when the players are going to be available for us. December has a lot of uncertainty,” explained the German tactician.

On his team not having the same quality players like fellow group rivals , the coach said his team just need to be able to work with the players available to pick results that will aid their chances of picking the world cup ticket.

“Basically, we have three groups of players: those outside of Africa, players in South Africa, and players here in Zimbabwe. We need to know in order to plan. When are these players available? But it can only be done if we know,” he added.

“Clearly, we must all pull in one direction to try and turn the ship around in the World Cup qualification. We are in the last position. When we select players, we need players who are match fit. We need them to have played at least three or four league matches.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

English Premier League side Nottingham Forest are desperate to take Emmanuel Dennis out of their wage bill in the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The high flying side who are prime to end the year in the top 4 position have plans to strengthen their squad when the transfer window opens in a few days time, but need to create space on their wage bill.

One of the players deemed as surplus to requirements is Dennis who wasn’t registered by coach Nuno Espirito Santo for their campaign this season. The 27 year old has failed to match the form that made them splash over £20m to sign him from Watford two seasons ago.

Dennis has been offered to teams in the Gulf region by Forest notably to teams in Qatar. They are open to a loan deal which will see the other team paying a significant amount of his monthly wage.

The club attempted to reach a mutual termination of his contract in the summer, but Dennis refused the terms of the termination and it played a huge role in the decision to axe him from the registered players for the season.

Daniel Martins

It appears Nigeria’s top footballer could be heading to England.

Manchester United has submitted an offer to Napoli for striker Victor Osimhen. The 25-year-old is currently out on loan to Galatasaray during the final year of his contract with the Serie A club. While they are the first club to submit an offer, it is far from certain that the young forward will be on the move quite yet.

The biggest obstacle to a deal is Osimhen’s €75 million release clause. Napoli has insisted that, despite just months remaining on his contract, they will not accept any offer that does not include that being paid in full. It has not been revealed if Manchester United agreed to pay the entire amount in their recently submitted offer.

United Desperate for Scoring Help

While the Red Devils are just one of many major European clubs that express interest in Victor Osimhen, they will be the most motivated.

Manchester United had one of its worst seasons last year, and things have been even worse to start this one. The club currently sits in thirteenth in the English Premier League table and has already made a move at manager, bringing in Portuguese national Ruben Amorim. The new boss is slated to take over next week, though sports betting sites still don’t like the club’s odds to turn things around.

United’s biggest problem has been their struggle to generate goals. The current squad lacks the firepower to compete with the EPL’s top teams. That has led old and new sportsbooks alike to put their odds outside of the top six in the EPL, causing them to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League appearances for the second season in a row.

EPL Rivals Also Looking at Osimhen

United is not the only EPL club looking to add the Nigerian star. Arsenal and Chelsea have been rumored to be planning on aggressively pursuing Osimhen after the season. Both clubs are currently in the top four of the league, allowing them to avoid the massive release clause to add him this season.

Those rumors are likely why United is willing to overpay for what could be just a few months. If they wait, they’ll have to compete with their rivals for the star’s services. Given the club’s struggles, it would be hard to imagine that they could win a battle with Arsenal and Chelsea.

While the three EPL clubs are the most prominent to be linked to Osimhen, expect other top European clubs to reach out to Napoli. \

Could Osimhen Save the Red Devils?

Victor Osimhen is not the kind of star that can carry a club, but he could be precisely what Manchester United needs.

While just 25, the young striker has already made significant contributions to the clubs he has played for. That was never clearer than the 2022/23 season with Napoli. Osimhen led the league with 26 goals during over 32 matches, leading the Italian club to its first Serie A title since the 1989/90 season.

The following season saw the striker’s number fall off, scoring 15 goals over 25 games. He still led Napoli in goals, but the club could not defend their championship.

As disappointing as last season’s campaign was, a change of scenery has helped Osimhen regain his form. He has registered six goals across his first six games with Galatasaray, adding another two assists.

United has already brought in an exciting young boss hoping to kick off a new era. Bringing in a player with the potential of Osimhen could allow the pair to grow together, giving the club a solid core to build around.

National Team Could Benefit From Signing

An EPL club signing Osimhen could also be good news for the Nigerian national team. The striker has been solid early in his career with the Super Eagles, but a stint with an EPL club could help ensure his game continues to grow.

Nigeria could use the help after dropping a stunning match to Rwanda in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. If the national team wants a chance to qualify and compete for a World Cup, they will need their star striker to develop. England is a perfect place to do that, allowing the star to develop alongside the world’s top talent.

Africa is no stranger to great football, and Nigeria is a testament to this. Their national team, the Super Eagles, have won countless tournaments proving severally that they are a force to be reckoned with.

This article will review their history and discuss some of their achievements. Let’s get into it straight away.

The Beginning

June 26th, 1949, marks an important time stamp in Nigerian culture as it was the day the Super Eagles were born. This team, formerly known as the International Group and then the UK Tourists, has participated in numerous contests throughout its history.

Perhaps their most remarkable period was when they beat Guinea, securing one of the 24 spots and advancing past the group stage in the AFCON, Africa’s biggest soccer tournament.

The Journey

As is normal in football, they have had their spell and repeatedly experienced failure. Their most recent participation was in the 2024 AFCON tournament, where they displayed fierce final tenacity.

They pushed through to the final, where they lost narrowly to Ivory Coast in a 2-1 fiesta. Despite this performance, Nigeria has won the cup three times, in 1980, 1994, and 2013. These games are usually a spectacle to watch and even more to wager on. Sites like Bet9ja Nigeria offer all the action, so be sure to check it out.

Aspirations and Goals

Despite their recent failure, the Super Eagles are gearing up to take the 35th edition of the AFCON by surprise. After coming so close to victory, it would be understandable why the drive is huge. With key players like Victor Oshimen in the lineup, their dream is within reach.

They beat Sudan to qualify for the tournament and now have to maintain the same pace. The Eagles are also eyeing the 2026 World Cup tournament. A record of 9 teams will qualify from Africa, giving the country a chance to show what it is made of. Don’t get it twisted though; they are no strangers to the World Cup.

In 1994, they made their debut in the tournament but didn’t participate for too long. It has been a rather worrying trend since 2021 of not winning their qualifier matches; however, this time, with the quality of players, they just might get through.

Final Thoughts

Nigeria has produced quality talent in the past, and their national team, the Super Eagles, is proof enough that they can play soccer. This team, formed in 1949, has displayed resilience even in the face of adversity, making them a worthwhile contender.

We will just have to wait and see how they dust themselves from the 2024 AFCON and perform in future events.

MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA is excited to announce a new partnership with 1xBet, who has been appointed as the Federation’s exclusive Global Betting Partner through December 2027.

During the three-year partnership, 1xBet will leverage basketball’s global reach and growth to enhance its brand visibility worldwide by supporting all FIBA National Team Competitions, both Basketball and 3×3 Basketball.

1xBet, a leading player in the betting industry and an established sponsor for elite sports organizations globally, joins FIBA in a partnership that reflects both entities’ commitment to our sport.

The agreement covers all major senior FIBA National Team events, for both men and women, with 1xBet enjoying exclusivity in the Sports Betting and Online Betting categories.

Beyond its core rights under the Global Partner package, 1xBet will also have a digital presence on FIBA’s platforms and will offer a Game Predictor, for global fan engagement.
Additionally, the objectives of both parties are to integrate digital advertising at key FIBA events, enabling 1xBet to explore extensive opportunities in dedicated markets worldwide. FIBA is testing several innovative solutions which will support 1xBet’s strategic plans and offer additional opportunities to 1xBet and its Global Partners.

Protecting the integrity of basketball is a top priority for FIBA, with strong efforts in educating basketball stakeholders and rigorously pursuing breaches to the game’s integrity. Thanks to this partnership, 1xBet’s joins FIBA’s efforts by way of financial contributions, directed to address match-manipulation and illegal betting in basketball, and aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the sport worldwide. Additionally, as part of the partnership , 1xBet will appoint a Single Point of Contact for integrity , who will collaborate closely with FIBA, assisting in integrity-related investigations and intelligence gathering efforts.

1xBet is well-known among sports fans, already sponsoring several global entities such as FC Barcelona, ​​Paris Saint-Germain, LOSC Lille, Italian Serie A, CAF, esports tournament operator ESL and has partnerships with other reputable sports and esports tournament organizations.

“We are on the threshold of a new stage in the history of 1xBet. Signing an agreement with FIBA is a strategic step that opens up very significant opportunities for promoting our brand. The partnership will increase fan engagement and help create exclusive content. We love this game and are ready to actively promote basketball on all continents,” said Valerii Kharitonov, 1xBet Chief Gaming Officer.

Frank Leenders, FIBA’s Director General of Media and Marketing Services, added: “We are thrilled to welcome 1xBet as our newest Global Partner and look forward to developing our collaboration over the next three years. It’s incredibly exciting to have a Partner supporting both basketball and 3×3.

“With both organisations sharing a passion for innovation, technology, and the global growth of our sport, we are confident that this Partnership will be game-changing.”

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About FIBA

FIBA (fiba.basketball) – the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

For further information about FIBA, visit fiba.basketball and about.fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on Facebook, X,  Instagram, Linkedin and YouTube.

About 1xBet

1xBet is a world-famous company with 17 years of experience in the betting and gambling industry. The brand’s clients place bets on thousands of sporting events and play popular games from the best providers in the online casino, while the company’s website and app are available in 70 languages. The 1xBet official partners‘ list includes FC Barcelona, ​​Paris Saint-Germain, LOSC Lille, Italian Serie A, CAF, Volleyball World, esports tournament operator ESL and other world-famous sports brands and organizations. The company has repeatedly become a nominee and winner of prestigious professional awards , and its platform is visited monthly by over 3 million players worldwide.