In recent years, the practice of introducing young players to professional mens football has gained significant traction. However, this trend is not without its challenges and pitfalls. Some players simply lack the requisite maturity to shoulder such responsibilities at a tender age. Adams Yakubu exemplifies the potential drawbacks of such promotion of young players prematurely, which can lead to career setbacks.

Popularly known as Kolade, Adams Yakubu experienced accelerated physical development at a very young age, enabling him to compete with older players at just 14 years old and standing at six feet. By the age of 16, the lanky midfielder had already secured a place in the main team of Adamawa FC, owing to his exceptional passing abilities and goal-scoring prowess.

Despite his talent, it became evident that Yakubu was not yet fully equipped for the rigours of elite mens football. Although he received call-ups to Nigeria’s U20 national team and subsequently the Olympic Eagles training camp in 2022, he unfortunately faced elimination during the final stages of team selection.

Yakubu, a native of Jos, received his early football training at the popular GBS academy grassroots club. Coach Bros, the head of operations at the academy, played a pivotal role in Yakubu’s development. When Coach Bros was later appointed as the technical director of Plateau United, he facilitated a new opportunity for Yakubu. Recognizing Yakubu’s potential, Coach Bros went on to transition him to the position of defensive midfielder.

As usual, Yakubu displayed promising passing abilities as he adapted to this new role, he however lacked the requisite physical strength to excel in such a demanding position. He concluded the season with two goals and three assists, notably scoring against Rivers United and Enyimba FC, respectively, in January 2024.

Yakubu’s potential transfer to AS Trencin in Slovakia presents a noteworthy opportunity for his ongoing football development, though official confirmation is still pending. While it remains uncertain if he can recapture the potential he displayed earlier in his career, implementing a tailored training regimen with a specific focus on strength training could potentially yield a player comparable to Yaya Toure in terms of performance and skill.

English Premier League side Southampton ended their preparation ahead of the start of a new season by playing a highly entertaining 0-0 draw against Spanish LaLiga side Getafe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Back in the English Premier League after a season in the Championship, the game was their 7th game of pre season as they shape up for their first game next weekend against Newcastle United.

With four wins so far, they were hoping to bounce back from the last game which was a 1-1 draw against Lazio, however they had to settle for a 0-0 draw, but coach of the team Russell Martins has a whole new reason to be excited.

Nigeria international midfielder Joe Aribo who had an underwhelming season last time out showed the form that made him an instant hit at the club, with a solid performance in the entire duration of the game.

Picked as the man of the match by many media outlets that covered the game, Aribo used his strength to good effect in duels, and also kept possession in tight areas against a Getafe side who couldn’t handle his lethal mix.

The performance has no doubt put him in a good steed to make the squad for their opening game of the season as they bid to go one step better than the last time they were in the English top flight.

For Aribo he will be hoping for a good enough season to help him claw his way back into the squad of the senior national team of Nigeria, after a poor showing at the AFCON saw him dropped from the team’s last four games including the world cup 2026 qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

French Ligue 1 side Nice rounded up their preparation for the start of a new season in Ligue 1 on a low by losing 0-1 to newly promoted English Premier League side Ipswich Town, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fresh from winning their first game of pre season 3-2 against Italian side Lecce, Nice started the game on the front foot and had chances to take the lead, which they failed to convert and it proved costly in the second half.

Totally against the run of play , Ipswich scored what ended as the match winner via a goal mouth scramble leaving coach of the French side Franck Haise disappointed, but he was however pleased with the contribution of relatively unknown Nigerian forward Victor Orakpo.

Orakpo was signed six months ago and immediately hit the ground running for the B team leading to his inclusion in the first team pre season training camp. He was made an official member of the first team following the unfortunate injury to his fellow Nigerian Terem Moffi.

Moffi ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will be out for the rest of next season, and rather than go out and sign a replacement Haise handed the spot to Orakpo, a stunning rise for the Nigerian who only arrived in France six months ago.

Haise has all reasons to be excited Orakpo stole the show in a 30 minutes game played among the players, who didn’t get enough time in the game proper against Ipswich. He scored the only goal of the game with a firm header.

“At the end of the 90 minutes, part of the contingent of the two teams “extended” for half an hour, with a rejuvenated team on the #OGCNice side. This 30 minutes ended with the score 1-0 for the Gym, thanks to a header from Orakpo on a cross from Brahimi”, a statement on the club’s social media handle reads.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Fulham rounded up their pre season training with a high profile friendly game against German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim ahead of their league opener against Manchester United next weekend, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

They started their pre season games with a 1-0 win over Benfica before losing 1-2 to Sevilla. Yesterday they rounded it up with a 2-0 win over the Germans courtesy of goals from new signing Emile Smith-Rowe and Adama Traore.

However the star of the show was Nigeria international midfielder Alex Iwobi who supplied the assist for both of goals, in what was a complete performance from the 28 year old.

Already coach Marco Silva has predicted that the Nigerian is set for a big display next season and his third assist in pre season showed he is likely going to prove right the statement made by the manager.

He wasn’t the only Nigerian who was on show for Fulham as his international teammate Calvin Bassey also played the entire duration of the game holding it down in his favorite role as a centre back.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The future of Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen lies out of Italian Serie A side Napoli according to the director of the team Giovanni Manna, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen was sent home from the training camp of the team ahead of their Coppa Italia game against Modena, a game which they ended up winning 4-3 on penalties to hand manager Antonio Conte his first competitive win as coach of the team.

All parties are working on his exit this summer as agreed last year when he signed a new deal, but Napoli are insisting that it must be on their terms which is the full value of €130m. A fee that no club has been able to match so far except a team in Saudi Arabia, which was flatly rejected by the camp of the player.

Despite the impasse, Osimhen is still keen on an exit with PSG rumoured to be his favorite destination, there seems to be a total breakdown in his relationship with Napoli at the moment according to Manna, who took out time to explain why the 25 year old was sent home from the camp and also asked from the matchday squad for the Coppa Italia.

“Victor is a player who wants to leave. He has asked to go. Last year there was already a situation in place, we are calm because we have guys in the squad to replace him. Osimhen is a strong player but we want to give integrity to the group and we prefer to protect the creation of the team group. Then we will see what happens in the next 20 days”, Manna said.

Famed for firing the team to their first league title in 33 years, and also becoming the first African to win the top scorer award two years ago when he smashed 26 goals. Last season the wasn’t at his best no thanks to injuries and fitness issues.

Daniel Martins

The erstwhile first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Maduka Okoye pressed his case to reclaim the number one spot of the team from Stanley Nwabali with his first clean sheet of the season yesterday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye who rose to the role of first choice at Udinese in the second half of last season ended it with five clean sheets in 22 games, and in just his first game of this season he has taken a step towards bettering his tally for last season.

Yesterday he was behind the sticks as his team started their season on a high with a 4-0 win over Avellino. He was behind the stick for the entire duration of the game although he wasn’t tested.

24 year Okoye was the first choice of the Nigerian team until he decided to take a break from the team, after his error in the round of 16 game of the Africa Cup of Nations against Tunisia proved costly with Nigeria losing 0-1.

He was subjected to several online criticism and it made him to take a break from the team, but he recently confirmed his readiness to return to the team, however he face a huge battle to displace Nwabali who is the new first choice shot stopper after rising to the role at the AFCON.

Napoli are facing a difficult time deciding the future of Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen as doubts around his future continue to grow without any solution in sight, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen is keen on leaving the team before the close of the summer transfer window, but PSG who are rumored to be his favorite destination are not willing to pay Napoli’s asking price of €130m and it has led to an impasse that is hampering the team’s preparation for next season.

Head coach Antonio Conte has already drawn up a replacement plan for the 25 year old Nigerian by making the club agree a three year deal with Romelu Lukaku to join them from Chelsea, but the transfer is pending because it is hinged on the exit of Osimhen.

That statement has seen Conte keep the Nigerian out of his tactical, technical and also pre season games so far and ahead of their Coppa Italia game against Modena later today, the coach excused the Nigerian from their training camp yesterday.

He left the camp in a taxi , while the rest of the team stayed behind to perfect tactics for the game today which is the first stage of the Italian Cup tournament, and usually open the football season in Italy. Osimhen will however not be involved in the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Football has always been something more than a game, and that is a global phenomenon finding its way into various forms of entertainment, including gaming. With every new day, new technological change strikes in this digital football playing field. Starting from classic football video games like FIFA to football-themed casino games, their continuous evolution brought innovation to the fan experience of their favorite sport.

A Brief History of Football Gaming

The journey of football gaming began with simple, arcade-style games that allowed players to enjoy a basic simulation of the sport. Games like “Pele’s Soccer” and “International Soccer” had very simple gameplay and minimal graphics in the infancy of the gaming industry. Then, as years passed by and the gaming industry grew bigger, the realism in football gaming became increasingly complex. Series like “Sensible Soccer” and “Kick Off” made more refined mechanics and tactics for the game, moving toward fully immersing the gamer in the game.

It was an era of revolution, the beginning of 3D graphics, and huge franchises like “FIFA” and “Pro Evolution Soccer.” They ushered in a level of realism not seen hitherto in the genre—a time when detailed player animations, along with tactics that simulated teams, became possible and licensed leagues existed. The rivalry that grew between FIFA and PES is one of continuous one-upmanship with respect to graphics and gameplay developments, coupled with online features.

Moving to the 2000s and 2010s, football games were stillrelevant by introducing newer play modes such as FIFA’s “Ultimate Team” and PES’s “Master League,” which go deeper into football management and team building. The growth of esports also added to the competitive scene by providing professional tournaments and a dedicated fan base.

Football-Themed Games Reloaded

FIFA 2K is going to take the football gaming world by storm. Advanced AI, enhancements in graphics, and rather thrilling game modes are integrated into the game. Such features include game machine learning algorithms that result in dynamic and quite unpredictable gameplay. No two games are the same with this feature, which gives a player a fresh new challenge with each game.

Besides FIFA 2K, football-themed games used to be an evolving part connected to casinos that brought a different kind of fan excitement. These games emulate the feel of football with colorful graphics, exciting game mechanics, and football-related themes. For example, bonus rounds in football-themed slot machines are usually made to look like penalty shootouts or free kicks in order to deliver extra levels of thrill. A really exciting and at the same time unique game comes out of propitious syncretism between football and elements of casino games, making it ideal for both football enthusiasts and gamers.

For those who want to get into the midst of this evolving genre, Spin Casino games brings a plethora of titles that put the soul of football into a unique game. All these new developments in traditional football games and casino football games are going to redefine the way fans get involved in the sport, opening up newer avenues of entertainment and fun.

Ultimately, what is at the very core of the evolution of football gaming, spearheaded by FIFA 2K and other football-themed casino games, is going to change the genre in a good way. These new developments have really come to mark an exciting experience for football fans by marrying realistic simulations with the feel of casino gaming. For the fan base that comprises more avid gamers down to casual fans, this is a promising future in the world of football-themed games.

A few weeks after the transfer of Chidozie Awaziem to MLS side FC Cincinnati from Portuguese side Boavista, another player of the senior national team of Nigeria is close to moving to the MLS.

One player who caught the eyes of all at the AFCON playing for the Super Eagles was Alhassan Yusuf, who was a late call up for the injured Wilfred Ndidi but ended up starting the first game of the tournament.

Yusuf has now taken his trade from Belgium side Antwerp to the MLS where he will join New England Revolution in a deal reportedly worth $3m in transfer fee and will also sign a three and half year deal.

According to Belgium transfer news expert Sacha Tavolieri , Yusuf who has seven caps for Nigeria will undergo a routine medical in Europe before flying out to the USA to complete the rest of the deal and resume training.

One of the candidates for the job of the senior national team of Nigeria Tom Saintfeit has already started picking his backroom staff according to sources close to the Belgian, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Saintfeit is highly favored by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Musa Gusau, but the technical committee of the football house recommended Eric Chelle, who was recently sacked as the coach of the senior national team of Mali.

In order not to leave any stone unturned and a bid to hit the ground running if he gets the job, the 51 year old has already started the process of picking his backroom staff and have established contact with a former Super Eagles star to be his first assistant.

The coach has also debunked news of the fact that he demanded for a monthly salary of $100,000 via his source, who said the news came to him as a surprise because his motivation to coach the Super Eagles isn’t financially driven.

Nigeria will be back in action in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they take on Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively in September.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman