Former Nigeria international midfielder John Ogu says Victor Osimhen has apologized to former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George over his outburst on Instagram, where he called out the coach with negative words, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen went live on his Instagram page to call out the coach following reports that his commitment was questioned by the coach, following his decision to skip the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively due to a knock he picked up while playing for his Serie A side Napoli.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were stopped from slamming a fine and a ban on the Napoli forward by the minister for sports senator John Enoh, but privately told Osimhen to apologize which he has done according to Ogu.

“I know Osimhen, even in his under-17s days I know the boy as a good boy, a boy that is respectful, regardless of who you are,” Ogu said in a video posted on Instagram.

” At that moment when someone accuses you of something, you may lose control. Some people need to speak what is on their minds or they can’t sleep. He (Osimhen) did that. Has he apologised? I am sure he has.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The chances of Nigeria getting two times AFCON winning coach Herve Renard to take over as the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria has taken a huge hit with the United States of America interested in the French coach, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

USA are on the lookout for a new coach after dismissing Gregg Berhalter following a disastrous campaign at the Copa America where they crashed out of the group stages.

Renard who will leave his job as the coach of the women’s team of France after the Olympics is high on their list of options to replace Berhalter, the coach who won the AFCON with Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire respectively is a target for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as replacement for Finidi George.

Report from France has it that he has received a €2m a year contract proposal from the NFF and also from the football federation of Egypt, but it appears that of the USA sits atop both proposals from the African countries.

He is expected to make public his next destination after studying the project of each nations, but reports also has it that he is keen on working in Africa again and money won’t be much of a factor when he makes his decision.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen felt the full effect of the rigours of the training methods of the new coach of Napoli Antonio Conte after their first training session at their preparatory camp ahead of the start of next season.

Conte who was appointed a month ago is famed for his punishing training sessions during pre season, with lot of players notably legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chellini, who revealed that players were usually left gasping for breath and nauseous by the strain.

Yesterday was his first session with Napoli and the effect was evident on the players as they were scattered around the turf at the end of the session, especially winger Cyril Ngonge. However it seems Osimhen felt the heat the more.

Despite the fact that he might leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window, Conte ensured that the Nigerian took part in all of the physical demanding drills the team had yesterday.

Osimhen left the training pitch with a large strapping and ice pack on his ankle. He looked very uncomfortable as he walked off with a water can, which was the third  he was having after the session.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken a bold step towards getting a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the next international break, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria have been without a coach since the exit of Finidi George following a poor performance in the last world cup qualifiers games, where they were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic. It meant they slipped to 5th in the six team group.

In a communique made available to the public, the NFF made it clear that they are going for an expatriate coach to handle the team before the start of the qualifiers for the AFCON, which begins in September.

According to Footmercato.net, the NFF have identified French coach Herve Renard as the man to lead the team and have submitted a contract proposal to the representative of the two time Africa Cup of Nations winning coach.

Renard who won the AFCON with Zambia before doing the same with Cote d’Ivoire will leave his role as the coach of the women’s team of France after the Olympics, and he has his sight on a return to Africa where he made his mark before moving to Saudi Arabia.

However Nigeria are not the only country interested in hiring the coach with Egypt also in the mix despite having Hossam Hassan as their present head coach. Both teams have tabled an offer in the region of €2m a year to the coach, with another country also said to be monitoring development.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Newly signed Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru says the Super Eagles of Nigeria will make it to the 2026 world cup despite the fact that they are still without a win in the first four games of the qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles are presently 5th in their group, four points behind leaders Rwanda after drawing 1-1 with South Africa and losing 1-2 to Benin Republic in the last round of games in the qualifiers.

Dele-Bashiru who scored the leveler against South Africa in Uyo said while their present position doesn’t seems like going to the world cup is possible, he is confident that the team will turn it around and make it to the world cup.

“Of course, I think next year we will have a whole year to work together, and we have some friendly games as well. And when we have the full team back, I am confident we will get on track”, he told the online edition of Punch.

Eligible to represent England at senior level, the 23 year old revealed why he picked the Super Eagles rather than wait for his time with the Three Lions of England.

“ I was born in Nigeria. I left Nigeria when I was two years old, so, I really don’t remember much about Nigeria. The decision to play for Nigeria is because it’s the country of my parents, and playing for Nigeria will make them proud. I have a lot of family here in Nigeria, so I just want to make everyone proud and that gives me motivation as well”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Newly signed Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru says the Super Eagles of Nigeria will make it to the 2026 world cup despite the fact that they are still without a win in the first four games of the qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles are presently 5th in their group, four points behind leaders Rwanda after drawing 1-1 with South Africa and losing 1-2 to Benin Republic in the last round of games in the qualifiers.

Dele-Bashiru who scored the leveler against South Africa in Uyo said while their present position doesn’t seems like going to the world cup is possible, he is confident that the team will turn it around and make it to the world cup.

“Of course, I think next year we will have a whole year to work together, and we have some friendly games as well. And when we have the full team back, I am confident we will get on track”, he told the online edition of Punch.

Eligible to represent England at senior level, the 23 year old revealed why he picked the Super Eagles rather than wait for his time with the Three Lions of England.

“ I was born in Nigeria. I left Nigeria when I was two years old, so, I really don’t remember much about Nigeria. The decision to play for Nigeria is because it’s the country of my parents, and playing for Nigeria will make them proud. I have a lot of family here in Nigeria, so I just want to make everyone proud and that gives me motivation as well”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Italian Serie A side Cagliari have identified 29 year old Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers as one of the options to bolster their attack ahead of the start of next season, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

They have reportedly made an approach to bring the forward back to the Serie A , but Rangers asking price of €5m is making the deal to stall, as they want the same amount they signed him from relegated Serie A side Cremonense last summer.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Sardinians are now looking at the possibility of having the forward who scored 22 goals last season in all competitions on loan, with an obligation to buy at the end of next season.

In his only season in the Italian top division he scored six goals in 26 games. A senior international for Nigeria he presently has two goals from six caps, the last of which came in the 2-1 win over Ghana in a friendly game in March.

Greek side PAOK are also in the running for the forward with Rangers open to his exit as they seek funds to strengthen other areas of the team that requires pressing attention.

Daniel Martins

The new coach of newly promoted English Premier League side Steve Cooper has been told to do whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria international midfielder Wilfred Ndidi extends his contract at the club, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ndidi is now a free agent following the expiration of his contract at the end of last month, and talks over an extension haven’t progressed as expected with the 27 year old who has been at the club since 2017.

Reports emerged that he is considering other options as the talks drag on, but in the words of ex Leicester City defender Robert Huth  who was a key player in the team that shock the world to win the league in 2015, the club should be keen on keeping Ndidi.

Recent reports suggest that he will sign a fresh three year deal at the club. Huth believe it will be the right move to take even though it could cost the club more money than they think.

He stated: “I love Wilf, I think he’s a fantastic player. He came in when I was in my last two years at Leicester, as a young kid, and I’ve seen him develop into what I would call a proper midfielder. Box to box, really talented. He kind of links the attack to the defence, he’s so important for us.”

“I would definitely re-sign him because he’s still only 27, he knows the club and he’s played in the Premier League before.

“It’s going to be a cost thing – but how much is it going to be to replace him? He’s valuable not only on the pitch, but also a fantastic character off it. He fits in, he’s one of those bubbly guys that mingles with everyone. I think he’s so important to have in the club.

“Hopefully Leicester can get something done with him, but money talks at the end of the day. If there’s something better on the table for Wilf then fair play to him and we wish him all the best. But at the moment there’s still hope.”

Huth was speaking to www.gambling.com.

Fans of former champions of the Italian Serie A gathered at the team’s training camp to make a passionate plea to want away top striker Victor Osimhen not to leave the club following reports of his possible exit before the close of this summer transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Led by new coach Antonio Conte the team arrived at their Dimaro camp in Val di Sole around 11:05am to the welcome embrace of fans of the club who were gathered to catch a glimpse of their new coach and also the club’s new signing.

The team will use the training camp to fine tune preparation for the start of next season, with the aim of bettering their last season performance of finishing outside the European places from their role as champions the previous season.

One player whose future still remains unresolved is that of top striker Victor Osimhen and the fans wasted no time in letting him know their preference by chanting his name and begging him not to leave the club. Osimhen scored 26 goals to power them to their first league title in 33 years two seasons ago.

He was the most anticipated man and as soon as he was sighted, the fans roared ” Victor stay with us”. He responded by waving at the crowd and drew a huge applause. His presence overshadowed new signings Leonardo Spinazzola and Rafa Marin who were meeting the fans for the first time.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

One of the stars of the senior national team of Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations have been told he can leave the club before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Nigeria went all the way to the final of the tournament before losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire, it was their best performance at the tournament since they last won it in 2013.

One of the players who was key in that run to the final playing in all games of the tournament was Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka. Who has 25 caps for the senior national team of Nigeria.

At Brentford the door has been left open for his exit according to The Athletic saying that though the club still see him as an important squad member, they are aware that the limited game time he endured in the second half of last season makes an alternative option appealing.

Brentford will want a fee in the region of £8.5m, the same amount they paid to Danish side FC Midtjylland for his signing in 2021. He presently has a contract until 2027 with an extra year option according to Adam Leventhal who wrote the story.

Last season he made a total of 26 appearances in the league with 11 starts but upon his return from a largely impressive tournament with Nigeria at the AFCON he struggled to get back into the team.

Daniel Martins