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You Can Go – Three Super Eagles Players Axed By English Teams

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Three players of the senior national team of Nigeria have been told to look elsewhere at the end of the season by English teams, who are preparing for a summer of rebuild.

Top of the list of Tolu Arokodare of relegated English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, after failing to be a hit following his €23m signing from Belgium side Genk in the summer.

He had a dressing room fallout with his teammate Mateus Mane after their 0-4 defeat to West Ham and it has led to his lack of minutes in the last two games, and also part of why he is deemed surplus to requirements in the summer.

Spanish LaLiga side Getafe have been informed about the decision not to sign Uche Chrisantus permanently by Crystal Palace, leaving him free to either return to the club or go somewhere else after failing to make a mark.

In the English Championship Joe Aribo who is on loan to relegation threatened Leicester City from Southampton will be allowed to leave for free in the summer, when his contract runs out.

 

 

Barcelona Sporting Director Deco Keen On Signing Osimhen From Galatasaray

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The future of Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen at Turkish side Galatasaray is not guaranteed beyond this summer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Victor Osimhen is widely expected to leave the club this summer, with several teams interested in signing him following his outstanding performances in the UEFA Champions League. According to Softfootball , Barcelona are one of the clubs reportedly monitoring the situation and could move for Osimhen if a deal for Julián Álvarez falls through.

 

It is said that his high salary is a stumbling block to many teams around Europe, but that hasn’t deterred the Sporting Director of Barcelona Deco, who is a huge admirer of Osimhen and wants him.

Although Atlético Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is their top target for the summer, they are looking at Osimhen as a possible ‘plan B’ signing.

He is very highly rated by Deco, but he will have to reduce his salary if he wants to join Barça. The club is ready to spend upto €100M to sign him according to Catalunyaradio. A respected voice when it comes to issues around Barcelona.

Zadok Yohanna – Dropped By Nigeria U17, U20 Coaches Now Most Wanted In Europe

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Reports from Sweden say 18 year old Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna is a target for the German Bundesliga trio of Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.

Yohanna has emerged as one of the most wanted teen in Europe at the moment after a whirlwind start to his career with Swedish side AIK.

He has three assists and four goals in just five top flight games, but beyond the number is the potential that he exhibits while on the ball and how he has developed so rapidly, less than a year after arriving from Nigerian Academy Ikon Allah FC.

What many didn’t know is that he was dropped from the U17 team of Nigeria and later the U20 team, the same year that scouts in Sweden came for him.

” Yohanna was dropped from the U17 team and one year later the U20 team. That same year after he was dropped by coach Aliyu Zubairu he was picked by scouts from AIK. It was a huge battle for his signature but they won because they had a better plan for him”, a member of Ikon Allah FC told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

Explaining the decision to drop the 18 year old from the Nigerian U17 team two years ago, one of the coaches said he was very young at that time and not physically ready like the other players picked ahead of him.

” Yes they ( Zadok Yohanna and Mubarak Suleiman of Salvia Prague) were a part of our U17 team three years ago, but they didn’t make the team due to two factors that is common with players at that level’, a backroom staff of the team revealed in an exclusive chat.

” First and foremost they were really young around that time. They were like babies but the talent was there for all to see just that physically they weren’t there. Then we had other players who were ahead of them in their positions”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

John Otomewo: Best U20 Midfielder In Europe Excites Super Eagles Coach

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18 year old Nigerian John Otomewo of Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem has been rated by CIES Football Observatory as the best U20 midfielder in European Leagues outside the top five leagues in Europe.

The International Centre for Sports Studies, commonly known as the CIES is an independent research and education centre located in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It has a research group named the CIES Football Observatory that studies and researches the statistics of football.

Otomewo who is in his first season as a professional footballer after he was scouted from Bauchi by Israeli agent David Ouziel, was picked by the organisation as the best U20 midfielder in Europe excluding the best five leagues in Europe.

” I was the one who scouted him while in Nigeria. He didn’t even play professional football in Nigeria, because no one believed in him, but I knew he has something. So in my scouting program last year April in Bauchi he was picked”, David revealed to OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

Now a target of teams around Europe notably from France, Belgium and Italy, he is also on the radar of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle.

” Yes we are aware of him, but it’s a bit too early. It’s better for him to build from the U20 or U23. That’s where he will grow for the demands of senior international football. Chelle is excited that we have so many young players coming through’, a coach in the Super Eagles setup revealed.

Super Eagles – Ligue 1 Striker Lined Up By Chelle As Alternative To Osimhen

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Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has his sights on luring 18 year old Angers forward Peter Prosper to the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Chelle is a huge fan of the 18 year old who has 5 goals in 26 Ligue 1 games this season, and he is presently a member of the U19 team of France but still remains eligible for Nigeria through his father.

We sought to hear from the player’s camp, and was told that preliminary contacts have taken place about the possibility of playing for Nigeria, with Chelle explaining to him via his scout that he sees him as an alternative to Victor Osimhen in the team’s attack.

All efforts to get sources close to Chelle to speak on the claims proved abortive, but one trusted source said Chelle is active in the area of recruiting young players for Nigeria but didn’t state clearly if the Angers forward is part of the plans.

A source at the NFF said there have not initiated any switch of nationality process as well, but emphasised that such issues are the sole responsibility of Chelle.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Why Two Of Nigeria’s Brightest Prospects In Europe Were Dropped From U17

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Two of Nigeria’s most enterprising youngsters in Zadok Yohanna and Mubarak Suleiman were dropped from the U17 team of Nigeria by former coach Nduka Ugbade, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Yohanna has become the toast of top European teams after just four top flight games for Swedish side AIK. A host of teams which includes Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are among the teams on his case at the moment.

As a matter of facts scouts from 32 teams in Europe where in Sweden last week to watch the Ikon Allah prospect, in view of a move in the summer transfer window.

For Suleiman he has been a revelation at Slavia Prague although he hasn’t seen much game time lately. There are talks about the 18 year old suffering from fatigue but he already made a huge impression before the forced rest.

” Yes they were a part of our U17 team three years ago, but they didn’t make the team due to two factors that is common with players at that level’, a backroom staff of the team revealed in an exclusive chat.

” First and foremost they were really young around that time. They were like babies but the talent was there for all to see just that physically they weren’t there. Then we had other players who were ahead of them in their positions”, he stated.

RB Leipzig Signed Nigeria U20 Winger As Replacement For Hot In Demand Diomande

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RB Leipzig have already picked a replacement Yan Diomande who is linked with a summer move to Liverpool after his explosive season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The Ivory Coast international has scored 11 goals and assisted seven times in just 27 appearances across all competitions this season. Leipzig are claimed to value Diomande at roughly $116.5million.

According to reports, the Liverpool hierarchy is willing to make an early move for the 19-year-old in an attempt to beat its rivals to his signature. The report states that the Reds are discussing the possibility of making a push to sign Diomande this summer, while the move isn’t dependent on Mohamed Salah’s future.

On their part Leipzig have already signed his replacement in Sani Suleiman, who joined in the summer from AS Trenčín of Slovakia for a club record fee.

Suleiman suffered a setback in training which has delayed his potential debut, but he is now back in training and expected to make his debut before the end of the season.

In the summer he is expected to be fully integrated into the team’s pre season training, and will begin the season pushing for a spot in the team’s starting lineup for next season.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Invitation To Super Eagles Draws Near For Ozoh After Contact With Chelle

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Derby County midfielder David Ozoh is close to a first time invitation to the senior national team of Nigeria after contact with coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The 20 year old was is on loan to English Championship side Derby County from Crystal Palace, and has so far proven to be a good addition to the squad of the Rams.

Born in Spain to parents of Nigerian descent and raised in England, he made it clear three years ago when he made his breakthrough at Palace that he is open to the idea of playing for Nigeria even for the U20s.

We can exclusively reveal that Chelle has now opened talks with the midfielder for a possible invitation to the team for the upcoming friendly games against Poland and Portugal respectively, or probably the Unity Cup in England next month.

This season he has played in 29 games in the English Championship with a goal to his name from his deep role in front of the defence.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Simeone Defends Decision To Substitute Lookman In Copa Del Rey Final

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Head coach of Atlético Madrid Diego Simeone had defended his decision to substitute Ademola Lookman in their penalty shootout defeat to Real Sociedad in the final of the Copa del Rey, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman drew his side level after they went behind in the game that ended in a 2-2 draw in normal time. He was by far their most threatening forward but was substituted after 62 minutes more to the surprise of many watching the game.

Simeone was subjected to attack by the club’s faithful who have long have an issue with the coach for constantly taking off the Nigerian around that time mark, regardless of how well he is playing.

However it has now emerged that the decision to replace the 28 year old was because of an abductor Injury, which they didn’t want to aggravate with the UEFA Champions League semi final game against Arsenal on the horizon.

He will undergo further scans tomorrow for the sharp pain he felt that led to the decision to take him out.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Benching Ekong For Fredrick Bravest Decision Of Chelle’s Coaching Career

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The decision by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has termed his decision to hand Benjamin Fredrick his competitive debut in the world cup qualifiers at the expense of team’s captain William Troost-Ekong as the bravest move of his coaching career so far, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In May last year Chelle stumbled on Fredrick who was a player of the U23 of English Premier League side Brentford during the Unity Cup, which took place at his club’s stadium.

Fredrick fresh from being voted as the club’s U23 player’s player of the season was handed a call up to the Nigerian team, after captain Ahmed Musa left the camp for Nigeria.

The 20 year old acquitted himself perfectly in the final game against Jamaica, but many were surprised when Chelle threw him in from the start in the world cup qualifiers against Rwanda in Uyo.

Chelle started the young defender who around that time joined Belgium side FC Dender on loan at the expense of Ekong. A move he termed as the bravest considering Nigeria had to win that game to keep their qualification hope alive.

” We spoke about it and he termed it the bravest decision of his career because it was a game that Nigeria can’t afford to lose. Imagine if it had gone wrong with Fredrick at fault for the result. It could have ended his reign as coach of Nigeria and probably destroy the boy”, a source close to the coach said.

” He (Chelle) was sure of his conviction even when senior players in the team felt otherwise and protested the decision. He stood by his decision believing that it was the best for the game”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman