The form of Terem Moffi for the senior national team of Nigeria is nothing close to what he delivers for his French Ligue 1 side Nice according to French journalist Grant Mitchell, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Moffi is presently out injured with an ACL injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season, denying him the chance to add to his international appearances and goals for the senior national team of Nigeria.

Capped 18 times by Nigeria he has only found the back of the net four times, the last of which came in a 3-2 win over Mozambique in an international friendly game last year. Since then he has failed to score in the next ten games for the team.

” People in France and those who follow Ligue 1 will tell you he is one of the feared names here. He has 51 goals and 12 assists in 133 games in the league. You know that’s a huge number for someone who have only played for modest teams here”, Mitchell told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Only once has he failed to score at least ten goals in his four seasons here in France. When I look at his numbers for Nigeria I just can’t understand why he is struggling to replicate his club form for the Super Eagles”.

The agent of highly rated Fiorentina defender Michael Kayode says at no point in time did anyone from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) approached the 20 year old to play for Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Born to parents of Nigerian descent in Italy, Kayode has represented Italy in various youth levels ranging from U18 to U21 is still eligible for Nigeria at senior level.

Reacting to rumours that officials from the NFF approached the defender last year, a member of his management team said the report is inaccurate as they only read about Nigeria’s interest in luring him last year.

He said the former coach of the Super Eagles Jose Peseiro who was said to be keen on Kayode didn’t make any approach to the defender despite reports to the contrary.

On Kayode’s international future he said its firmly with Italy, the country of his birth and his only desire is to step up the ladder and play for the senior national team under current coach Luciano Spalletti who is a huge admirer.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The career of one time Super Eagles invite Gift Orban has been on a free fall since his move to French Ligue 1 side Lyon in the January transfer window early this year.

Signed for €14m from Belgium side Gent, the 22 year old has failed to replicate the form that caught the attention of the entire Europe with just five goals in 21 games, a far cry from his tally of 32 goals in 53 games in Belgium.

Before moving to Belgium for €4.5m he also painted Norway with goals notching up 20 goals in 21 games for Stabaek IF.

In almost a year he has struggled badly and with Lyon in a dire financial crisis he is one of the players that will likely be sacrificed to raise the much needed money to keep the club afloat.

According to information from the portal fichajes.net, four German sides in RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt have been monitoring his situation with the idea of a bid in the January transfer window.

Turkish side Galatasaray are also on his watch as they see him as an ideal temporary replacement for Mauro Icardi who will miss the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. Lyon will be willing to let him leave for around €10m.

Daniel Martins

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will meet with the National Sports Commission (NSC) for a final decision on the position of a substantive coach for the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Austine Eguavoen who is the technical director of the NFF took temporary charge of the team for the AFCON qualifiers, and successfully led them to qualification with two games to spare.

He is expected to return to his role as technical director, but the NFF are yet to secure the funds needed to employ his replacement. Their desire is to get a foreign coach for the team whose bill will be picked up by a private sponsor.

The idea of getting a foreign coach for the team doesn’t sit properly with the NSC according to a report on Complete Sports. They are of the opinion that whoever comes in as new coach won’t have the opportunity of assessing the players in a test game before the world cup qualifiers in March.

Super Eagles next engagement will be in the world’s cup qualifiers in March away to Rwanda , and the NSC have fears that a new coach might struggle to get a favorable result with no test game, hence will prefer Eguavoen to continue in his role.

“It’s a dicey situation at the moment I must confess. The NFF still want to go ahead with the appointment of a foreign coach, but want to sort out the financial aspect before proceeding, ” the source divulged to Completesports.com.

“The feelers from the NSC is that they want the present technical crew led by Eguavoen to stay on. To them, bringing in a new coach would not be ideal for the World Cup qualifiers.

“The thinking is the limited time the new coach will have before the Super Eagles next game against the Amavubi of Rwanda.

“All the stakeholders are expected to come together this week to take a final decision on the issue.”

In Nigeria, sports, particularly football, hold a significant place in the lives of millions. However, recently, the sports fandom has shifted with the rapid growth of sports betting. Betting has transformed the way fans interact with games, turning casual viewership into high-stakes experiences.

In this article, we will discuss how the growth of betting on online casino platforms has influenced Nigerian sports culture.

The Rise of Betting Culture in Nigeria

Mobile betting and easy access to online wagering sites have made it possible for fans to place bets anytime and anywhere. This accessibility and the widespread use of the internet, combined with an increase in sports broadcasting, have created a surge in betting.

Despite the stigma around sports betting in Nigeria, online platforms and betway mobile sites allow people to place wagers discreetly.

Changes in Fan Engagement

With betting now intertwined with sports, Nigerian fans are more invested in games than ever. Placing bets adds a personal stake, increasing emotions and engagement with each match. Fans are shifting from being observers to active participants by studying team stats, player performance, and match odds to inform their decisions.

This involvement has redefined fandom, turning it into an interactive experience where the outcome of every match directly impacts fans. This creates a deeper connection between fans and their favorite teams and creates a more intense sports-watching culture.

Widening of Sports Preferences

Traditionally, Nigerian sports fans focused primarily on soccer, with European leagues like the English Premier League dominating attention. However, the betting industry has helped in expanding the interest in a variety of sports.

Through betting platforms like Betway, fans now have access to various sports, including basketball, tennis, and boxing. This exposure encourages fans to explore and develop an appreciation for different types of games, which ultimately enriches the sports culture.

Strengthening of Online Sports Communities

As more fans participate in sports betting, online communities have grown, especially on social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. These communities discuss betting strategies, share tips, and celebrate wins.

Such platforms have created a forum for playful sports banter and have brought fans together based on shared betting experiences.

Boost to Sports Broadcasting and Coverage

As mentioned earlier, sports betting has increased sports broadcasting. As fan engagement rises, so does the demand for live streaming, better commentary, and in-depth analysis. Platforms like Betway now offer live streaming where you can follow a match as the action unfolds.

Broadcasters and content creators have also responded by offering a different coverage perspective for fans watching from a betting perspective. This growth has benefited fans who enjoy a more immersive viewing experience and sports media companies who gain larger audiences and more advertising opportunities.

Social and Financial Challenges

However, the rise of sports betting has also introduced challenges. For some, betting can lead to financial difficulties when the excitement of wagering becomes a dependency. There is a growing conversation about responsible gambling and the need for stricter restrictions to protect fans from addiction.

Conclusion

Betting has redefined the Nigerian sports fan experience. With responsible practices and supportive regulations, sports betting can continue to contribute positively to Nigeria’s sports culture and economy, enriching the ways fans engage with the games they love.

Super Eagles duo of Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong have been dropped from the FIFPRO World XI in the list of finalist made available by the organizers of the award, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

They were both included in the initial list of players to be considered in the World XI with Lookman getting a look in on account of his performance last season, where he scored a hattrick in the UEFA Europa League final to help Atalanta to a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the final.

Ekong had an outstanding performance for Nigeria at the AFCON where he was voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) despite the Super Eagles losing in the final 1-2 to the host Cote d’ Ivoire.

Despite their achievements their names was conspicuously missing from the list made available by the organizers of the award on their official website.

The FIFPRO World 11 is an annual award that recognizes the best men’s and women’s football teams of the year. It is the only global football award that is decided exclusively by professional footballers. The award was established in 2005 by FIFPRO, but was rebranded as the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 in 2009 when FIFPRO partnered with FIFA. Starting with the 2024 edition, FIFPRO will independently manage the award and return to its original name.

The World 11 is made up of the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards who receive the most votes. The remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes is also selected for the World 11.

Head coach of Italian Serie A side Napoli Antonio Conte has made it clear that he will be looking towards signing another Nigerian in Ademola Lookman if Khvicha Kvaratskhelia leaves the club in the summer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rated as untouchable by Napoli in the summer when PSG came knocking the Georgian is yet to sign a new deal at the club, and it has open the door for his possible exit in the summer when the transfer window opens.

Conte is a huge admirer of Lookman who scored twice for Atalanta in their win over Napoli this season, and has already picked him as the ideal replacement for Kvaratskhelia if he ends up leaving in the summer.

Atalanta will demand a fee in excess of €30m for the 27 year old, who pushed for a move in the summer and is still keen to move elsewhere at the end of the season. So far he has been in top form with seven goals in ten league games this season.

Head coach of Atalanta Gian Piero Gasperini is resigned to losing the Nigerian at the end of the season, and has started experimenting with a formation without him as he aims to ensure that his potential exit doesn’t ruin the team.

Daniel Martins

Head coach of English Premier League side Southampton Russell Martin has been forced into making a u-turn on the future of Nigeria international forward Paul Onuachu, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Onuachu who is presently out injured made an instant impression for the Saints in his first start of the season with a solid performance in their 2-3 loss to league leaders Liverpool.

Martin say the 30 year old almost left the club in the summer, but none of the offers matched their valuation hence his decision to keep him at the club.

“At the time, it was a few clubs interested but none of them were anywhere near serious enough for us to consider and I think Paul was just caught in limbo a bit. I think he thought he was going to leave and it hadn’t quite worked out, last summer he was here for probably five or six weeks before he was going”, the coach explained.

“The whole time it was planned he was going to go because he cost a lot of money and he wanted a challenge at the top level if he could but he was brilliant.

“He was respectful and then so in January I’m sure there will be a few people that are interested in him again,” continued Martin.

He went on to deliver bad news to teams hoping to snatch the Nigerian when the transfer window opens in January.

“I’m sure there will also be a few people kicking themselves that they clearly didn’t quite want him enough in the summer. For me, if Paul is happy, we’re really happy and we want him here as he can help us achieve what we want to achieve this season.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

English Premier League side Nottingham Forest are looking at all possible solutions to end their association with Nigeria international forward Emmanuel Dennis in the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

As we exclusively reveal Dennis who was left out of the team’s squad for their campaign this season was given the option of terminating his contract mutually, but he declined insisting that he wants to fight for a place in the team.

Coach Nuno Espirito Santo has however made up his mind about the Nigerian who was signed for £20m from Watford two seasons ago, and doesn’t see a way back for him in his team.

Wolves are now exploring another loan deal or possibly an outright sale, where they will hope to recoup some of the money spent on bringing the forward to the club. Their idea is to invest whatever they get from his sales to strengthen other areas in their team.

Dennis is said to be a subject of interest from some teams in Saudi Arabia, with teams in Belgium also open to having him on loan until at least next summer when he is expected to have concrete proposal for a permanent move.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will in the coming days announce the appointment of a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Super Eagles prosecuted the entire games of the AFCON qualifiers with the head of technical director of the NFF Austine Eguavoen covering up as the coach in an interim capacity. He successfully led them to qualification with two games to spare.

He is expected to return to his role with the NFF for a new coach to be appointed before the team resume their campaign in the 2026 world cup qualifiers in March. All efforts are geared towards meeting the deadline of the end of December.

Already sponsorship for the payment of the coach, when employed has been sorted out with the NFF now expected to pick a coach from a shortlist of coaches, which sources say is known to just few people in the football house.

The coach will be employed alongside his assistants but will likely keep the current goalkeeper trainer Abideen Baruwa and also the fitness coach Tomaz Zorec .