Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has handed a recall to Sadiq Umar of Real Sociedad and Auxerre defender Gabriel Osho ahead of their AFCON qualifiers games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles need a point from the two games to seal a spot at next year’s AFCON following the decision of CAF to hand them all three points after the botched game against Libya.

There was also a first time call up for Nasarawa United defender Victor Collins, who is expected to challenge Bruno Onyemaechi for the left full back squad. Osho replaces the injured Semi Ajayi while Sadiq takes the spot of Taiwo Awoniyi who was left out.

Goalkeepers:

Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema, Ethiopia)

Defenders:

Gabriel Osho (Auxerre, France), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Victor Collins (Nasarawa United, Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), William Troost-Ekong (Al Kholood, Saudi Arabia), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)

Midfielders:

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA), Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany), Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy)

Forwards:

Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla, Spain), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain), Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Itay).

The decision of FC Porto rave of the moment Samuel Omorodion go snub the chance of playing for Nigeria in favour of continuing his rise through the ranks with the Spanish team has been narrowed to the influence of his mother, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Born in the Spanish town of Melila to Nigerian parents, the 20 year old is eligible to play for both nations, but has so far represented Spain at various youth levels and recent reports suggest he could be in line for a first time call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Like we exclusively reported and confirmed by the striker, interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen had a chat with the 20 year old before he was called up to the Spanish U23 team that won gold at the last Olympic gams, but he declined the offer.

Now at FC Porto where he has found the net seven times in as many games, he showed his predatory instincts yesterday for the Spanish U21 by scoring four goals in their 4-1 mauling of Malta yesterday in the Euros qualifiers.

It was stated in the press in Spain that he feels no attachment to Nigeria due to the absence of his father, who wasn’t there for him all through the rough and tough times before his rise to the top, leading to the discussion about his international future.

He granted an interview to Spanish outlet Marca, where he spoke about the role his mother played in his becoming a professional footballer, without making any mention of his Nigerian father.

“My childhood has been quite hard. Many times, my mother didn’t have money for me to go to training and we had to walk, sometimes we didn’t have to eat. It’s hard”, he said.

“I was able to get my mother out of work… I also was able to buy her a house.”

Speaking further he revealed that he has decided to drop his father’s name Omorodion for his mother’s maiden name Aghehowa. “Everything my mom did for me..it doesn’t have a price. I want to honor her by using her last name. People know me as Omorodion, but I want to be known as Agehowa.”

Italian side AC Milan produced one of the upsets in the latest round of games in the UEFA Champions League win a 3-1 win away to the defending champions Real Madrid, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Malick Thiaw headed home the opener from a well delivered corner kick by Christian Pulisic but the lead lasted for just 12 minutes before Vinicius Jnr leveled for Real Madrid from the spot.

Six minutes before the half time break, Alvaro Morata was the quickest to react to a spilled effort from Andrey Lunin who failed to gather a well hit shot from Rafael Leão. The half ended with the Italians leading 2-1.

With Real Madrid pushing to level scores, It was AC Milan who put the game to bed with Tijjani Reijnders finishing off a powerful run from Leão with his left leg in the 73rd minute.

The win was the second consecutive win for AC Milan after losing their first two games of the series in a new format. However there was no spot for Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze who has started the last three games for AC Milan.

Chukwueze who was hoping to get a look in on his return to Spain and at a ground he has scored twice during his time at Villarreal was an unused substitute, despite coach Paulo Fonseca using all of the options in making changes.

Four cap Nigeria international midfielder Kelechi Nwakali showed his frustration following his demotion to the U21 of English League One side Barnsley when he was sent off for punching an opponent in their game against Birmingham City Academy, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwakali who has found it hard to break into the first team setup at the club he joined in the summer on a free transfer from relegated Portuguese side Chavez. So far he has made just three appearances for the team , with only a minute to his name in league football.

The third tier English side demoted the 26 year old to the U21 team, and he showed his frustration by throwing a punch at an opponent in the 78 minute with his team trailing 1-2 in the game. Forcing his team to play the remainder of the gane with ten men.

Signed on a deal that will run till the summer 2027, he will now face a violent conduct charge which could see him face additional suspension aside the mandatory three match ban for red card caused by violent conduct.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has called up 24 players to the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria for their upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria will go into the final two games of the series looking for one point against Benin on the 14th of November at their adopted home ground in Cote d’Ivoire, before rounding up the series four days later at their home ground in Uyo against Rwanda.

The team’s camp will open in Cote d’Ivoire next week and one player who is staging a return to the team is Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar, who haven’t been involved since the friendly games against Ghana and Mali respectively in March.

We exclusively gathered that the lanky forward who has 11 caps for Nigeria is a firm favorite of Eguavoen, who gave him his debut in 2022 at the delayed 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

Now back to his physical best after a year out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, It’s still unclear who he is replacing in the team, but it’s likely for the injured Chidera Ejuke or probably Kelechi Iheanacho.

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Coach of Turkish side Fenerbahce Jose Mourinho has opened up on his failed attempt to sign Nigeria international forward Ademola Lookman during his time at Roma when the Nigeria was made available by RB Leipzig, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports .

According to a report on La Repubblica Mourinho had the chance to sign the Atalanta star in 2022 but Roma vetoed the plans on the advice of their head scout Jose Fontes.

Lookman was offered to Roma a few months before they won the Europa Conference League title, but after an evaluation by the team of the Giallorossi he was stopped from singing Lookman who finished 14th in the recent Ballon d’or, and the firm favorite to be crowned the Africa Player of the year.

The article specifies that then head scout Jose Fontes advised against signing Lookman due to “average positional sense, poor ability to anticipate after evaluating and making decisions after receiving the ball.”

Fontes’ report went on: “In the defensive phase he is elementary in terms of understanding the game. A player I have reservations about about his competitive mentality, his confidence and ability to perform under pressure.”

“He is very inconsistent in his performances. There are better solutions available to us and I would not recommend hiring him.”

The 27-year-old winger then decided to join Atalanta, where he has blossomed under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He boast of a record of 39 goals and 23 assist in 90 games in all competitions, and it includes the hattrick which handed them the Europa League title with a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

One of the players who have taken the English Premier League by storm this season is one cap Super Eagles forward Josh Maja who is presently the second top scorer in the league after 13 rounds of games, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Maja proved his instincts over the weekend with a back heel goal in their 1-1 draw against Luton Town to take his count to 8 goals, a tally only bettered by Borja Sainz of Norwich City who has 11 goals so far.

A teammate to Nigeria international defender Semi Ajayi who has now cemented his spot at the heart of the team’s defence, Maja isn’t sure if he still have a future with the team with his only appearance coming in the 2-2 draw against Ukraine on the 10th of September in 2019.

Since replacing Victor Osimhen in that game, the 25 year old who have struggled at club level haven’t gotten a look in, and despite his recent run in front of goal he isn’t entirely sure if interim coach Austine Eguavoen will hand him another chance.

” I don’t know if I will get another chance. All I have to do is to continue doing well for my club and who knows if another chance will come but for the games in November, I can’t say if I will be in the team or not”, Maja was quoted as saying.

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is prime to play his first game for the senior national team of Nigeria when they play in the AFCON qualifiers on the 14th and 18th of November against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Barring a last minute change of mind, interim coach Austine Eguavoen has concluded plans to field the 25 year old in one of the two games with newly installed number one Stanley Nwabali set to be given a rest in one of the games.

Super Eagles are one point away from sealing a spot at the AFCON with CAF awarding them three points, three goals for the abandoned game against Libya after they were left stranded at the airport 18 hours upon arrival in Libya for the reverse tie of their 1-0 win in Uyo.

They could wrap up their spot with a draw against Benin Republic on the 14th of November, and if they happened Okoye will be in goal for their final game of the series against Rwanda in Uyo, per what we exclusively gathered.

It will be the first time that the former number one will be in goal since the quarter final AFCON defeat in the hands of Tunisia in 2022, more than two years ago.

The subject of harsh criticism on social media, he decided to take a break from the team citing threats to his life as he was roundly blamed for his error in the defeat to Tunisia. A few months ago he confirmed his readiness to return to the team and since then have been involved as back up to Nwabali, but all that could change later this month.

Eguavoen sees it as a way for rewarding him for his fine form for Udinese and also keep Nwabali on his toes as the team in order to spark competition for spots, which he believe will bring out the best in all positions with options available.

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has explained why his team Benin Republic and many other teams are finding it hard to beat the Super Eagles under interim coach Austine Eguavoen, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Since taking over as interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria following the disappointment of German coach Bruno Labbadia turning down the job less than a week to the start of the AFCON qualifiers, Eguavoen has powered the team to two wins and a draw.

His team is now one point away from sealing a spot at the AFCON with CAF awarding them three points, three goals for the abandoned game against Libya after they were left stranded at the airport 18 hours upon arrival in Libya for the reverse tie of their 1-0 win in Uyo.

They could wrap up their spot with a draw against Benin Republic on the 14th of November, and Rohr who was at the helm as coach of the Nigerian team for close to six years has explained the difficulties in beating the team under Eguavoen.

” He (Eguavoen) was there with me and later took over the team. Two other coaches came in and he still kept his spot around the team. So you can say he has been there for a while and knows a lot about his team than most coaches at the moment”, Rohr told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Super Eagles are now hard to beat because he has seen the players over the years during their good and bad times. Now they are flying high and it’s very hard for any team to beat them with that level of continuity with the present coach”.

The decision to let Victor Osimhen leave Napoli in the summer was top of the discussion after Napoli were beaten at home 0-3 by Atalanta inspired by Osimhen’s international teammate Ademola Lookman, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman opened scoring in the 10th minute with a left footed effort to put his team ahead, before firing his second in the 31st minute with a trademark strike which left Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret helpless as it sailed into the net.

It took his goal count for the season to six in eight games, he also boast of four assists but his brace against Napoli who have conceded just twice in previous ten games is so far the major highlight of his season.

Mateo Retegui sealed the shock win with his team’s third goal, which was his 11th in 11 games this season with a right footed finish two minutes into time added on after regulation time.

While Nigerians back home see it as a revenge for the manner of Osimhen’s exit from the team he powered to the league title two seasons ago, the fans of Napoli believe games like this can be easily influenced by the 25 year old, who is presently out in loan to Galatasaray in the Turkish league.

By virtue of the win Atalanta move to second on the log, just three points behind the leaders Napoli who have so far saw their top striker Romelu Lukaku who replaced Osimhen struggle to score at their home ground from open play since the first game of the season.