The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has left out the duo of William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo from the Super Eagles squad for the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.

We exclusively gathered that both players who were expected to play the role of captain and vice were left out on the account of their fitness levels, as they are both returning from injuries.

Our source said while Omeruo is still in with a slight chance, there is no hope of Ekong making the team despite his return to training which brought about his inclusion in the 35 man provisional list.

Meanwhile we also gathered that Luton Town defender Gabriel Osho is in with another chance to make his senior debut for Nigeria as he is in the list, after missing the friendly games against Ghana and Mali respectively due to injuries.

Benjamin Tanimu of Tanzanian side Ihefu FC who made his debut is also in the team, alongside the duo of Semi Ajayi of West Brom and Calvin Bassey of English Premier League side Fulham. It’s still unclear if Boavista defender Chidozie Awaziem is in the list.

The full squad is expected to be made public after recent alterations due to injury to some players in the final list of 25 players for the games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The hero of Italian Serie A side Atalanta in their 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final Ademola Lookman says playing for the senior national team of Nigeria has made him a better player in a lot of ways, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman hit a hattrick in yesterday’s final to lift his side to the title condemning the German side to their first defeat in all competitions this season. The Nigerian struck in the 12th, 26th and 75th minutes of the game.

The first was a left footed effort from inside the box after he ghosted unmarked from his far post position, the second goal saw him use his quick feet to go past his marker before hitting home a superb effort. The third with 15th minute left to play was more like the second as he left his marker in his dead with quick step overs before thundering home a left foot drive.

Speaking after the game, Lookman who represented England at various youth levels including winning the U20 World Cup in 2017 says his career which appeared to be going down the slope witnessed a revival, after his decision to play for the senior national team of Nigeria.

“It’s unbelievable, I think I said that in some previous interviews. The support I receive at home from my people is incredible, it gives me the motivation and inspiration I need to try to grow in different areas, not only with regard to football but also the person. Unfortunately in January at the AFCON we lost in the final, but the support was incredible.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen were thrashed 3-0 by Italian Serie A side Atalanta with Nigeria international Ademola Lookman stealing the show with a hattrick, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman stole in behind to side foot the opening goal with his left to put his side one goal up in the 12th minute. He was again on hand to put his side two goals up.

The Nigeria international skipped past his marker with his quick feet before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Matěj Kovář in the 26th minute. A lead which they held onto going into the half time break.

He soon ensured that the game is put to bed with his third goal of the game rifling home a rasping drive after using step overs to work the ball into his left foot. Good enough to hand his team the trophy as well as condemn the German side to their first defeat in all competitions this season.

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The newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George says at least seven players in the Nigeria Professional Football League are good enough to play for the team, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

There has been talks about having players in the Nigerian league getting a chance to play for the team, something which didn’t happen during the time of former coach of the team Jose Peseiro with Finidi as one of his assistants.

Ahead of the naming of his squad for the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, the coach hinted that at least seven players in the league are good enough for the team but lamented the fact that it’s not looking possible with the league left with just six rounds of games to go.

“Six, seven (NPFL) players can feature for the Super Eagles. There are talents in the league who are good enough, we only have to scout properly but unfortunately we have just six rounds of games to go so I can’t be sure of doing a good job, but as we progress they will have a chance”, he said during his media tour.

Speaking on the importance of the world cup qualifiers games in June, the coach warned the players in the team, who are mostly foreign based to give their all like they do for their respective teams as both games are must win in their quest to be at the next world cup.

” I will tell the players that playing for Nigeria is bigger than playing for your various clubs. These are must-win games for us to be comfortable in our group. I believe we will win both games,” he said.

“We have to believe we can win, the (2023) AFCON is gone, we now have to put in the effort to win again.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria will take on the Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the squirrels of Benin Republic in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in June, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

It will be the baptism of fire for new coach of the Nigerian team Finidi George, who was appointed as the substantive coach of the team after leading the team in interim capacity during the last international break in games against Ghana and Mali respectively.

Finidi said he is going into the games with the mindset of winning both games in order to help the standing of the team in the group, where they are presently third behind South Africa and surprise group leaders Rwanda.

Reacting to the statement made by the coach , former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr who is now in charge of Benin Republic said they will make sure his words doesn’t come to pass, citing his team’s draw in friendly game against Senegal, and a slim 0-1 loss to AFCON champions Cote d’Ivoire during the last international break as an evidence of their growth as a team.

“Of course, we (Benin) are preparing our list for the game in June,” Rohr told Nationsport days after  taking part in an exhibition  match along with French greats Alain Giresse, Zinedine Zidane, amongst others, in the Centenary celebration of Bordeaux. “It’s normal for  George to say he wants to win his two games, but  everybody wants to win their games. I know South Africa  won’t be easy for Nigeria in Uyo and they will also come to face us (unfortunately for us not in Cotonou) but in Abidjan for their second  match.”

“We did two good friendlies  against Cote d’Ivoire  and  Senegal in March and we should be ready; we are just waiting for the end of the leagues and I’m sure in about two weeks’ time, our definitive list for the two matches will be ready.

“Though we are going to be opponents, it will be another opportunity to see my friends,  because football, first and foremost, is about relationships and friendships.

“There will be emotions but we are professionals; and everybody has to do his job,” Rohr, who will be 71 on June 28, noted.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has doused the expectations of fans of the team who are keen on seeing Victor Osimhen play in attack alongside Victor Boniface, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The duo are by far the most consistent strikers available to the coach owing to their exploits for their respective teams in Europe. Osimhen has found the back of the 15 times in 24 Serie A games for Napoli in what has been a injury hit season for the 25 year old.

Boniface who was also out for three months has found the back of the net 14 times in 23 Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen this season, with his team yet to lose any of their games this season in all competitions.

Speaking earlier today the coach was asked if he feels pairing the duo will be best for the team in the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively in June, and he said it depends on how they approach both games.

” We can play in a way that will see us use both of them at the same time. They are both top strikers so we have to make sure the time is right and the game plan favours them before a decision is made”, the coach said.

Ade Emmanuel

The newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George says he isn’t big on formation as he prepares the team for the 2026 world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.

In an interview with Brila FM monitored by OwnGoalNigeria.com, the former Ajax winger was asked about his philosophy ahead of the game and he went on to describe how he expects his team to play, which to him is more important.

His take although controversial is what he sees as the philosophy of the top teams like Manchester City and Arsenal saying players recognizing when to attack and when to defend is more important than any formation.

“To me my philosophy is to win. To me formation is not that important because if players interpret when they want to attack and when to defend and they do it well.

” There will not be problems because we can play 3-5-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-2, but if the players know when to attack and when to defend I think will not have any problems. That is what Man City, Arsenal every team does but the difference is that players most recognize these moments and if they do they will definitely not have any problems”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The newly appointed head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George took a lot of people by surprise when he named the backroom staff he will work with upon his unveiling as coach of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Finidi who was given a one year deal with the option of a further year if the team makes it to the semi final of the next Africa Cup of Nations will officially begin his reign in June, when they take on South Africa and Benin Republic In the 2026 world cup qualifiers.

He will be expected to lead the team out alongside his assistants and the next to him is the U15 coach of German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim Benjamin James. He will serve as the first assistants to the former Ajax winger.

James has been in the youth team setup of Hoffenheim for 15 years and has won a total of 13 trophies. He worked with the current coach of the senior national team of Germany Julian Nagelsmann at the club as coach of U15 while Nagelsmann handled the U19.

In 2013 , they both guided their respective teams to victory in youth tournaments. When Nagelsmann stepped up to the first team he praised the works of James at the U15 as largely responsible for the growth and development of players coming through the youth system.

He has since moved up to coaching RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich before his recent role as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria. His first assignment will be the upcoming European championship.

” Here we have a culture which we set from youth teams to the top here. James has done a wonderful job there and he is one of the best we have around at that level and the same goes for the rest of the coaches in our youth team setup. It’s a collective thing”, the coach said in 2017.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has revealed what his team need to win their next two games in the 2026 world cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.

Finidi will lead the team out for the first time in a competitive game in June starting with the game against South Africa in Uyo, with the team needing a win to get their campaign back on track after back to back draws in their opening games of the series.

A lot has been made about which tactics will suit the team in the games, but Finidi who has said winning both games is non negotiable insist that tactics alone won’t be enough to get the win in both games.

“Every formation has to do with the players and what they can bring in every given game. Our job is to motivate the players, make sure they are physically okay, and then the tactics don’t really matter because in football, no matter the tactics you come up with, you have to attack and defend. If you can do that properly, you have a big chance of winning games”, he told Afrik Foot.

*If you attack properly and have that balance to defend properly, you have every chance to win games. It doesn’t matter what formation you put up for players. At the end of the day, you can’t attack and not defend. So once you have that balance of attacking and defending, then you are good to go.

“Is it 4-4-2? The players are used to it. 4-3-3? They are used to it in Europe. We will not do anything that is strange or new to them, but rather what they are used to. Let them understand what you are trying to do and ask for commitment from the players, and nothing else. The rest would be the players performing well on the field of play, and we will have the result”.