Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says he is open to the idea of leaving his role with the Nigerian team when his contract expires on the 29th of this month, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The Portuguese led the Super Eagles to a second place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final. He however met the target of getting to the semi final, which will guarantee an extension of his contract with the team.

However it appears he isn’t keen on taking up that option yet with other teams also showing interest in him owing to the Super Eagles run to the final of the tournament. Hence he said he won’t make a decision until he is done listening to what is on the table from other interested teams.

“My contract ends in two days (editor’s note, February 29). I received a lot of options, a lot of contacts from national teams or clubs. I would say 5, 6 or 7. I let them all know that I need to rest and that when my contract expires I will talk about it and start thinking about other projects. And decide my future. For now, I need to take a break and be calm. But I listen to the proposals and projects that are offered to me. And I evaluate whether I like it or not”, he said in an interview with GoalFrance.

Pressed on if the AFCON will be the last time he will be in the dugout with the Super Eagles as coach or otherwise he insisted that their is a possibility of one of the two happening. “All possibilities are on the table”, he said about his future as coach of Super Eagles.

On reports linking him with the vacant managerial position of Algeria, he refused to confirm if he is interested in taking up the job but said like every other offer on his table he will decide by the end of the month, when his contract expires with the national team of Nigeria.

“I can’t confirm anything. On the 29th, I will decide on my future or start to decide. I can listen to what is offered to me of course, but I continue to rest. I told everyone to come back at the end of the month. What is certain is that I want to continue coaching and I need to choose wisely. At this moment, I repeat, all options remain possible”, he concluded

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has opened up on three reasons why the team were defeated by Cote d’Ivoire 1-2 in the final game of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Despite taking a first half lead through captain William Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles failed to hand on to the lead with goals from Franck Kessie and Sebastian Haller ensuring that the Ivorians emerged as champions.

Looking back at the final in an interview with GoalFrance, Peseiro listed four things that worked against his team on that day leading to the defeat, which denied them a fourth AFCON trophy.

“There are two things. First there is the fact that Cote d’Ivoire reached the final of the competition having avoided the worst each time. They were almost eliminated three times. In the final, they were more liberated. They weren’t under as much pressure as at the start of the competition. Second thing, I think the energy there was that day in the stadium touched us”, he explained.

”If I had to rate our performance, it was perhaps our worst game. In previous matches, we have always been in control and we have created a lot of opportunities. But in this match, even at 1-0 for us, we were feverish. The atmosphere penalized my players.

“We didn’t have the same abilities. There were too many lost balls. If I had to analyze, I would say that 2 or 3 of my players played at their true level. They wanted to do their best, but they couldn’t”, he further added.

On the reason behind the nervousness of some of the players during the course of the final game, he said it was due to inexperience as they couldn’t react positively to the atmosphere in the stadium which was in favor of the host.

“I’m sure if another final was played a week later, we would have won it. Because many players have never had the experience of a CAN final. 14 of our players have never played in a CAN final phase. While the Ivorians had experienced players. We tried to play down the event, trying to forget the pressure and the responsibilities that weighed on our shoulders, but it wasn’t enough”, he said.

”Yes, the final is about winning and we must seize this opportunity. But we still felt nervous, including in the semi-final against South Africa. Once again, the atmosphere made the environment not conducive to a great performance from us. And it’s also my responsibility, I should have made sure that they were more liberated. And I am still very happy with them and very proud. They did a great job. And no one can blame them. This new final will perhaps take place next year in Morocco”, he concluded.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says he is open to the idea of leaving his role with the Nigerian team when his contract expires on the 29th of this month, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The Portuguese led the Super Eagles to a second place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final. He however met the target of getting to the semi final, which will guarantee an extension of his contract with the team.

However it appears he isn’t keen on taking up that option yet with other teams also showing interest in him owing to the Super Eagles run to the final of the tournament. Hence he said he won’t make a decision until he is done listening to what is on the table from other interested teams.

“My contract ends in two days (editor’s note, February 29). I received a lot of options, a lot of contacts from national teams or clubs. I would say 5, 6 or 7. I let them all know that I need to rest and that when my contract expires I will talk about it and start thinking about other projects. And decide my future. For now, I need to take a break and be calm. But I listen to the proposals and projects that are offered to me. And I evaluate whether I like it or not”, he said in an interview with GoalFrance.

Pressed on if the AFCON will be the last time he will be in the dugout with the Super Eagles as coach or otherwise he insisted that their is a possibility of one of the two happening. “All possibilities are on the table”, he said about his future as coach of Super Eagles.

On reports linking him with the vacant managerial position of Algeria, he refused to confirm if he is interested in taking up the job but said like every other offer on his table he will decide by the end of the month, when his contract expires with the national team of Nigeria.

“I can’t confirm anything. On the 29th, I will decide on my future or start to decide. I can listen to what is offered to me of course, but I continue to rest. I told everyone to come back at the end of the month. What is certain is that I want to continue coaching and I need to choose wisely. At this moment, I repeat, all options remain possible”, he concluded.

The captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa has terminated his contract with Turkish side Sivasspor, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Musa who led Nigeria to a second spot finish at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations joined the club on a free transfer in 2022 on a two year deal after the mutual termination of his contract at fellow Turkish side Fatih Karagümrük.

Contrary to reports in the Turkish media claiming that Musa’s contract was terminated, we can exclusively reveal that it was the Super Eagles captain who requested for his contract to be terminated three weeks ago.

The reason behind his decision to terminate his contract with the 6th place team wasn’t made known , but sources say it is likely connected to the financial situation at the club which has also see three other regular players depart from the club in January.

Clubs in Turkey are notorious for not paying the salaries of players and in recent times have been sanctioned over the act. A lot of players have left over their poor attitude when it comes to regular payments of wages.

Most notably is the vice captain of the Super Eagles William Troost-Ekong, who spent a season in Turkey with Bursaspor before moving to Udinese. He cited the delays and non payment of salary and other wages as the reason behind his departure.

Reports from Turkey has it that the club was recently dragged to FIFA in October by one of the players who left the club over the issue of unpaid wages, but it wasn’t stated if it was Musa.

This season he suffered an injury setback suffered in the opening day of the season restricted Musa to just two games in the league, the same number of games he played in the Cup where he scored his only goal of the season.

The name Michael Kayode dominated discussion yesterday in the Nigerian football space after his goal for Fiorentina in the 2-1 win over Lazio in the Italian Serie A, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

He levelled scores for Fiorentina in the 61st minute before Giacomo Bonaventura scored what ended as the winner in the 69th minute to send Fiorentina up on the log standing to 6th.

19 year old Kayode is a right full back who is enjoying his breakthrough season with Fiorentina this season with 17 games under his belt. His performances has sparked talks about his international future as he qualifies to represent either Italy or Nigeria.

Born in Italy to parents of Nigerian descent, he appears to have already made his choice at senior level, which is sticking with Italy where he has been a youth international at two different levels. In July 2023, he decided the final of the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, which Italy won 1–0 to Portugal.

On 17 October 2023 he made his debut with the Italy U21, in the qualifying match won 2–0 against Norway in Bolzano. According to head coach of the Italian national team Luciano Spalletti he has already received his first call up to the senior national team and it was injury that prevented him from teaming up with the team.

He made this known while discussing the dual nationality status of the young defender who is seen as one of the brightest prospects in Italian football at the moment. The coach also said he has his sights on Burnley winger Luca Koleosho who is also eligible for Nigeria.

“On Kayode I had already called him up personally but he sustained an injury which ruled him out for that window. Now we’ll assess him again. Luca Koleosho of Burnley is another pretty interesting profile”, he said in January.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

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The former first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Maduka Okoye has declared his readiness to return to the team as first reported by OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Okoye has established himself as the undisputed first choice of Italian Serie A side Udinese and recently made the team of the week for his performance against Juventus two weeks ago. It was his third clean sheet of the season in nine games.

Okoye who declined an invitation to be part of the Super Eagles squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire owing to the cyber insults and threats he received after the team crashed out of the 2021 tournament losing 0-1 to Tunisia. He was largely blamed for the goal that led to the defeat.

At the recently concluded AFCON, Stanley Nwabali displaced Francis Uzoho to become the new number one of the team, and Okoye has now declared his readiness to fight for the spot saying it was hurting watching the tournament from his house.

“I’m very well now. I feel 100%. The national team is an important thing for me and I want to return as soon as possible. It was hard watching the Africa Cup of Nations from home, but this is football”, he told the official website of Udinese.

Ade Emmanuel

Greek side PAOK will demand compensation from world football governing body over the injury suffered by the captain of the senior national team of Nigeria William Troost-Ekong during the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Ekong was injured in the Super Eagles second group game at the tournament but played on till the final where Nigeria were beaten 1-2 by the host. He scored three goals during the tournament and was voted the most valuable player (MVP).

He however aggravated the injury by playing on and it has now proved costly to his club PAOK, who will likely be without the 30 year old for the rest of the season prompting them to seek compensation using the newly introduced insurance scheme for players on international duty introduced by FIFA.

FIFA pay out to clubs who lose players for longer than 28 days because of their involvement with their countries. PAOK will claim €20,548 (£18,008) per day for the length of time Ekong will be out, with FIFA’s compensation cutting out at €7.5m (£6.57m) for each player.

However they can only make claim to the payment after the first 28 days without the player.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is looking for more options to bolster his team ahead of the resumption of hostilities in the race to be at the 2026 World Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

One area which the coach is keen on strengthening is the right side of the team’s attack, which presently has just one dependable player in Moses Simon with Samuel Chukwueze failing to impress particularly in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Chukwueze started in the 1-2 loss to Cote d’Ivoire and yet again failed to make the most of the chance leading to the introduction of Simon, who ended the tournament with two man of the match awards more than any player in the Nigerian team.

Peseiro sees him as the only dependable option on that flank and has set the wheel in motion for more options. The first step was to watch Benfica against Portimonense in his homeland in Portugal where he is presently on holiday after the Africa Cup of Nations.

The game afforded him the chance to watch 22 year old wnger Sylvester Jasper who was on from start to finish for his team, who were trashed 4-0 by the league leaders. It was his 21st league game of the season and he presently boast of two goals and two assists.

Born in England to parents of Nigerian descent and raised in Bulgaria, he has already represented England and Bulgaria at different youth levels but he is still eligible for Nigeria at senior level. Although any of such move will require an approval from world football governing body FIFA.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Not so many people are aware about a certain 26 year old Nigerian named Oladapo Afolayan who is at the center of the title push of St. Pauli in the German Bundesliga 2, which will see them get automatic promotion to the Bundesliga.

The winger has scored ten competitive goals for St. Pauli since January 2023 when he joined the team from English side Bolton Wanderers. In all of the nine games he scored were won.

“I heard about it, but I frankly have no explanation for it. When I left Bolton my goal was to score important goals for my team that really meant something. Of course, I’m even happier to score goals that also lead to victories”, he said.

He has been a revelation since joining the team and over the weekend he showed his usefulness with a brace in their top of the table clash with Holstein Kiel. A game which they won 4-2 to extend their lead over the second place team to six points.

The brace took his goal count for the season to six in the league with two assists as well. Much to the delight of his coach Fabian Hürzeler who was instrumental in the decision to sign the forward who has been deployed on either flanks this season.

“Dapo brings flexibility into our attack. He dribbles well, often tries to get one-on-one, has really good passing, he can cross well and has very good timing. He is very sturdy and uses his body well”, the coach said upon his signing in January 2023.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, he spent some part of his teenage years in Canada where he started his football career. However it was at Bolton Wanderers that he really got going firing them to promotion with 14 goals to emerge as the club’s top scorer and Player of the year. In the process he was nicknamed the new Okocha.

Austine Okocha was a former captain of Bolton and also the senior national team of Nigeria and Dapo in appreciation of being compared to the legend celebrated one of his goals against AFC Wimbledon in the same manner Okocha used to during his playing days.

His next step will likely be in the German Bundesliga and probably a senior national team chance and he feels he is more inclined to playing for Nigeria than England. That sentiment was made known to us by a source who brought our attention to his exploits this season.

” Yes it is his dream and he will jump at the chance to wear the Super Eagles shirt. But at the moment it’s promotion to the Bundesliga that is the main thing on his mind. We will see how that (playing for Super Eagles) will work out in the future”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman