Newly signed Monaco forward George Ilenikhena grabbed the headline with the winner of Monaco in their shock 2-1 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ilenikhena who gain global attention last season with a goal for Belgium side Antwerp against Barcelona in a famous win in the same tournament repeated the trick again in the 71st minute to put his team 2-1 up.

Barcelona who were reduced to ten men as early as the 10th minute of play failed to break the French side down bringing their 100 percent start to the season to an end, no thanks to the winner from Ilenikhena.

Born in Lagos to Nigerian striker, he moved to France with his parents at a young age, and he presently holds the passport of both countries making him eligible to play for them.

However he hasn’t been capped by any of the country at any level, which could spark a tug for his senior international future in the nearest future.

The senior national team of Libya have stepped up their plans to have a new coach in place ahead of their back to back AFCON 2025 qualifiers games against the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević left his role as coach following the expiration of his contract after the last round of games in the qualifiers, where they were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Rwanda before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic.

His exit has opened the door for a new coach to be in place before the October round of games against group leaders Nigeria on the 7th and 15th of October respectively.

According to Times Sport , talks are advanced with 65 year old Frenchman Hubert Velud who previously coached Togo and Sudan. He left his role as coach of Burkina Faso in February after the AFCON where he led them to the second round.

The coach who led Burkina Faso form April 2023 to February 2024 is expected to conclude all talks on the deal, and will put pen to paper on a one year contract with his immediate task coming against the Super Eagles in the group, where they are currently bottom.

Former Nigeria international defender Celestine Babayaro has praised the performance of the new left back of the senior national team of Nigeria Bruno Onyemaechi in the AFCON qualifiers games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively.

Onyemaechi was a surprise selection to start in both games owing to the fact that he hasn’t been actively involved in the team since his debut almost two years ago. The defender also didn’t play a minute at the AFCON where the team finished second after losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

The Boavista defender gave a good account of himself in both games, combining his defensive duties with forays upfront to join the attack where he combined effortlessly with Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.

Reacting to the performance of the 24 year old, Babayaro who had 27 caps for Nigeria at senior level, but fondly remembered for his exploits at Chelsea said he saw a bit of himself in Bruno especially his comfortability with the ball at his feet and his ability to defend on the front foot , without getting exposed or beaten.

” We share very similar characteristics in the way that we defend on the front foot and also use the ball when in possession. He (Bruno) plays a bit like me and I wish he continues to grow in that way. There is a football in there if properly harnessed and he also need to work hard as well”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

The immediate past head coach of the senior national team of Libya Milutin Sredojevic popularly known as Micho has explained why he left his role as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria after the last round of games in the AFCON qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Libya started their campaign in the series with a 1-1 draw at home to Rwanda before losing 1-2 away to Benin Republic. Micho it was reported was fired after the game but the coach says that isn’t the true picture behind his exit from the team.

In an exclusive interview with Babafemi Raji on the TOPMOST SPORTS SHOW on LASGIDI 90.1FM. The coach cleared the air on his exit stating clearly that his contract will run out at the end of this month and he isn’t open to renewing it, hence his exit.

“First of all I need to tell that last year in October,  I signed a one year contract and it was to take charge of the national team that played 32 matches and won only 8”, he told the fast rising radio show anchored by the former media officer of the Super Eagles.

“In rebuilding the team, In one year of my stay in Libya we played 16 matches winning 9. So in one year I won more matches than Libya did in 4 years.  I lost only two matches however I shall be offered in July extension of the contract, but it will be conditioned to the league and calendar being set in order for the team to be ready”.

He added that failure for the league to start as expected and with the back to back games coming up against Nigeria in October, he decided to walk away from his role and not like he was sacked as widely reported.

“We are the only team in Africa that has gone in preparations in the matches for the qualifiers and without being fit and ready.  Even all our clubs they have gone out of the African club tournament. So after playing first two matches with unprepared team, League was supposed to start and due to the fact that my contract is expiring, I was refusing to extend the contract because of the league not starting and i cannot face Nigeria unprepared when you play equal matches in competitive way”.

Micho maintained that he still remains the only coach to have completed his tenure as coach of Libya in their history, which in his words is a very difficult team to manage owing to the fact that the country is segmented into two divisions in governance, with one faction loyal to the West while the other pledge its allegiance to Russia leaving him with a huge responsibility of bringing unity to the team.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Arsenal legend Ian Wright says Atalanta won’t be the final destination of Nigeria international striker Ademola Lookman as he get set for tonight’s showdown against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman was the subject of an offer from PSG in the summer but the asking price of the Italian side made the move impossible. The hattrick hero in the Europa League 3-0 final win over Bayer Leverkusen has really grown in leaps and bounds since his move to Italy two years ago.

He is presently the only African player who made the final 30 man shortlist for the Ballon d’or. A nomination made possible not just for his hattrick in the final of the Europa League, but also his performance at the AFCON where Nigeria went all the way to the final before losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire.

At the tournament, Lookman was key to the progress of the Nigerian team scoring three goals including a brace in the round of 16 win over Cameroon, and the lone goal in the quarter final 1-0 win over Angola.

Looking back at his rise, Lookman who represented England at various youth levels, before switching allegiance to Nigeria was praised by Wright who says the 26 year old is on a journey which doesn’t look like stopping at Atalanta.

“I’m pleased for him. His journey, from Charlton to now, shows his growth. I don’t think Atalanta is his final destination, as much as it’s been a great fit for him. It wouldn’t surprise me if a big move happens soon,” Wright said during his preview of today’s game.