French Ligue 1 side Nice have added 18 year old Nigerian forward Victor Orakpo to their first team squad for the start of pre season as a reward for his outstanding performance for the youth team following his arrival in January, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Orakpo who came to the attention of most European teams after impressing with the Bayern Munich world star team wasted no time in finding his feet at his new surroundings. He scored an astonishing 7 goals in 8 league games for the B team in just 7 starts.

In test games, he showed no sign of slowing down with another seven goals to take his tally in just six months at the club to 14 goals in 15 games. He has now been offered the chance to stake a claim in the first team starting from pre season.

Already he has resumed training and will be watched closely by the head coach Franck Haise who is said to have closely followed the progress of the lethal forward who has so far surpassed all expectations.

If he impresses he will join senior Nigeria international striker Terem Moffi in the first team of the squad, Moffi has been a part of the team for the past two seasons since his move from Lorient.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria will soon have a new coach following the departure of Finidi George after a poor performance in his first two competitive games in charge of the team.

Finidi was appointed on a one year deal, but with an instant mandate to ensure that the team find their way in the world cup qualifiers with games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.

They forced South Africa to a 1-1 draw before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic. A performance that saw them drop to 5th in the six team group with the team now four points behind group leaders Rwanda.

In reaction the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said they will be hiring an expatriate coach for the team in the coming days with the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching in September.

OwnGoalNigeria.com picks five players who should be worried about their spot in the team when a new coach is appointed, and top of the list is Wilfred Ndidi who is presently out of contract at Leicester City.

Ndidi – It’s more than a coincidence that the team’s best performance at the AFCON came in the absence of Ndidi. Worthy to note that it was his foul late into the game against Algeria that resulted in the goal scored by Riyad Mahrez in the semi final of the 2019 AFCON.

He was also guilty of losing the ball in his half from where Tunisia scored the goal that sent Nigeria out of the 2021 AFCON in the round of 16. Even at Leicester City he now plays higher up the pitch as the rate at which he wins tackles which was his strength has dipped drastically the past two seasons. A decision has to be made on his spot in the team and role.

Kelechi Iheanacho – Like Ndidi he is facing an uncertain future at club level, something that will likely extend to the national team where in major tournaments he hasn’t found his range. A lively character to have around the team and arguably the best finisher in the team but finding the system that suits his skill set is a huge concern, which should put his future in the team up for debate.

Samuel Chukwueze – The way he started his international career in 2018 one would have thought he will by now be one of the senior players in the team. But it hasn’t been the case with two many inconsistent displays especially in key games.

It’s clear that the talent is there, however that hasn’t been sufficient enough for him to nail a permanent spot in the team five years from his debut game.

Francis Uzoho – Since playing the role of first choice goalkeeper at the 2018 world cup, the Omonia Nicosia shot stopper has not been the preferred choice in the subsequent three tournaments. A good shot stopper on a very good day but it’s clear to see that he can’t be the first choice again or not in a position to stake a claim. It’s about time the team look for another option.

Chidozie Awaziem – Since 2017 when he broke into the team he hasn’t been seen as a regular or a starter. Seven years on and he couldn’t shrug off Benjamin Tanimu of Tanzanian side Ihefu for a spot in the last two games.

From all indications, coaches who have handled the team from Gernot Rohr, Austine Eguavoen, Jose Peseiro and Finidi George don’t see him as a starter but a squad player. Safe to say even in that role he hasn’t been trusted enough. It’s time to move on and that could be the case with a new coach.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The recent outburst by the top striker of the senior national team of Nigeria Victor Osimhen aimed at former coach of the team Finidi George has topped the agenda among followers of the team , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen fired back at comments allegedly made by the coach as contained in a report, where his commitment to the team was questioned by the coach after he missed the last two games in the world cup qualifiers due to an injury picked up, while on duty with Napoli.

His outburst didn’t go down well with a lot of people including the hierarchy of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and if not for the intervention of the minister for sports he would have been suspended from the team.

Speaking on indiscipline in the team , a player who was a part of the squad for the recent games against South Africa and Benin Republic, where they drew 1-1 and lost 1-2 respectively said Calvin Bassey should be the one to bear the brunt and not Osimhen.

” Bassey refused to play at left back against Benin Republic. It was after we went 2-1 down that he agreed to switch there. The way we played in the second half was how we intended to start the game but Bassey openly refused to play at left back. That’s the height for me”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” When he didn’t agree to play at left back, the coaches have to draw up a new formation for the game which backfired in the first half. Our original formation was the one we played in the second half and we did a lot better*, he concluded.

The one area the senior national team of Nigeria is well stacked is in attack with as many as six players of the team posting impressive numbers for their respective teams in Europe last season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

It has led to a host of players in top form not getting a look in or not getting enough minutes even when they are called up to the squad. Coaches of the team in recent times have stuck with the quartet of Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Recently the duo of Victor Boniface and Cyriel Dessers have joined the team not forgetting Sadiq Umar who has been around the past two years and played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Dessers who boast of four caps for Nigeria had a fantastic season last time out for Scottish side Rangers with 22 goals to his name in all competitions, a form that has led to interest from teams around Europe with Greek champions PAOK rumoured to be leading the queue for his services.

However his international career took a big hit when he was left out of the squad that prosecuted the last round of games during the international break, where they were beaten by Benin Republic 1-2 after a 1-1 draw at home in Uyo against South Africa.

” It really left me worried because I worked under the coach in the first two games he handled and even scored. I expected to be involved but it’s Nigeria where we have so many options and the latest snub made me feel like it’s curtains down for me”, he said.

Ade Emmanuel

The future of a lot of players in the senior national team of Nigeria is expected to be clear in the coming days with some of them expected to sign new deals at their present team or secure move to a new team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

One player who was widely expected to be on the move following an agreement with his team that he will be allowed to leave this summer is Victor Osimhen, but sources say no single club has tabled a bid to Napoli for his services.

Although he has a buyout clause of around €150m, Napoli have decided to hasten his departure by twice agreeing to lower the agreed fee for his transfer in order to raise funds for new coach Antonio Conte.

Conte is open to Osimhen leaving as he said last week that a decision and an agreement was reached between both parties last season, and he can’t be an obstacle to what has been agreed before he was appointed.

However the club hasn’t received any offer for his services with reported interest from PSG, Arsenal and Chelsea yet to materialize into a firm bid for the 25 year old.

” I think clubs are wary of so many things about Osimhen. Key among them is his fitness record. He has only had one season where he didn’t miss a chunk of games since joining Napoli three years ago. He is 25 and clubs are aware that he is approaching his best years but that record plus his fee is a release clause is a big problem”, Italian based football agent told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” One other thing to consider is his explosive temperament which comes across as arrogance most times. From Gennaro Gattusso to Francesco Calzona there have been one clash or another, that too is a concern. Although I will say majorly it’s the fee that Napoli wants for him”, he concluded.

Daniel Martins

Newly promoted Belgium side Beerschot will prosecute next season without the services of 27 year old Nigeria international Alhassan Ibrahim who is set to join Portuguese side Boavista on a free transfer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Alhassan was key in helping the team gain promotion to the Belgium top flight two years after he joined them from Portuguese side Nacional. His initial two years deal expired yesterday and a failure to reach an agreement on the clause of extending his deal wasn’t reached by both parties.

Reports in Portugal has it that the lanky forward now turned midfielder will join Boavista on a free transfer and will sign a three year deal with the option of another year. He is expected to have his medical within the week.

It means Boavista will have three Nigerians on their books with the duo of Bruno Onyemaechi and Chidozie Awaziem already at the modest side. All three players have all played for the senior national team of Nigeria.

However Alhassan popularly called Muazam had his last cap for Nigeria in 2017 when they defeated Togo 3-0 in a friendly game. His competitive debut came in the 0-2 loss to South Africa in Uyo in the qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Daniel Martins

The minister for sports senator John Enoh has questioned the commitment of the players born abroad playing for the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles of Nigeria currently have around six players who were either born or raised abroad playing for the team led by William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Joe Aribo, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey among others.

Speaking on the composition of the team on Eagle FM, the minister questioned the commitment of some of the players to the Nigerian course due to the fact that they don’t have strong roots here in the country.

“We have in the Super Eagles about 90% of players not born in Nigeria. Do they have the spirit, the fire of a Nigerian player born in Nigeria?,” the Sports Minister asked in an interview with Eagle7 FM.

“There are some players in the team who are not good enough for the Super Eagles. “We talk of the quality of the coach, but what of the quality of the players in the team?”

“Like many Nigerians, I didn’t have much confidence (in the Super Eagles) before the AFCON. “But the god of soccer wanted us to win but we bungled it in the final.

“It was a performance that got us to forget the quality of the team.”

As first reported by Owngoalnigeria.com new Super Eagles number 10 Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has completed his move to Italian Serie A side Lazio from Turkish side Hatayaspor, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Dele-Bashiru who scored the leveler for Super Eagles in the 1-1 draw against South Africa in the World Cup Qualifiers had an impressive first season with the Turkish side, with eight goals and five assists for the modest side.

Lazio won the race for his signature ahead of other European teams with an initial season long loan deal agreed between both parties. At the end of the loan Lazio will be obligated to buy the 23 year old for a fee of six million euros.

He is expected to have his routine medical with the club later this week ahead of his official unveiling and his resumption for pre season training with his new teammates. He will be the first of many signings Lazio are targeting to beef up their team.

Per reports in Italy he was preferred ahead of Michael Folorunsho who was a member of the Italian team that participated at the Euros. A move which shows the faith the club have in the two cap Nigeria international.

Daniel Martins

The representative of the coach of Georgia Willy Sagnol claims the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made contact with his client to take over the vacant managerial role of the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Sagnol led Georgia to a first ever major international tournament by qualifying them for the European Championship, and at the tournament proper they caused a huge stir by beating Portugal in their final group game to seal a spot in the round of 16.

Yesterday they were beaten 4-1 by Spain leading to their exit from the tournament, and they could yet be hit by another exit according to a representative of the coach who had an exclusive chat with our editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman.

” Sagnol applied for the Super Eagles job before his move to Georgia as head coach. I had contact with a certain individual who works with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and he was asking about the potential of an official talks”, he said.

“Nothing is certain yet because he said an approval to make a formal approach has to be accepted by the board. So nothing is happening at the moment”, he concluded.

The call for a foreigner to be handed the job of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria has received backing from a former player of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles have been without a substantive coach since the exit of Finidi George with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also announcing that they will be getting an expatriate coach to tinker the team in a communique issued at the end of their board member after the disappointment of the world cup qualifiers games.

The team were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic, a result that saw them drop to 5th in the 6 team group making qualification for the world cup more difficult than it was before the last round of international games.

Backing the decision of the NFF, ex Super Eagles right back Abbey George said it is what the team need in light of the verbal attack by top striker Victor Osimhen on former coach Finidi George following a report that the coach questioned his commitment to the team.

“I believe this players need to respect the head coach especially the foreign based players,” George said on Brila FM. “I don’t see any local head coach now who would demand the respect as required to lead this team. So I believe it’s the right decision to go and look for a capable Technical Adviser who would steer this team in the right direction, who would enforce discipline, bring the right philosophy and hopefully get this players playing in the right way, wanting to give their all to the national team”.

“A coach who would come and identify the strength and weaknesses of the team and hopefully pick a team that is capable of delivering the result we need.“

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman