The 22nd round of games will be played in the German Bundesliga this weekend with Bayer Leverkusen still leading the pack with a five points gap over reigning champions Bayern Munich, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Bayer Leverkusen opened up the gap after a 3-0 win over the champions last weekend. A game which head coach of the leaders Xavi Alonso took their opponent by suprise in his starting lineup.

Alonso handed a start to Nathan Tella, the one cap Nigeria international who was signed from English Championship side Southampton in the summer for a fee in the region of €20m, a fee that he commanded after his 17 goals helped powered his loan Burnley back to the English Premier the previous season.

It has taken a while for the 24 year old to find his feet, and now a lot of people are beginning to see the reason why he commanded that fee despite playing for a team in the English Championship.

Against Bayern Munich, he was deployed in a rather strange role by Alonso in the sense that it requires him to track back and also be effective upfront. He responded with an assist in the big win. A role which left the Bayern confused.

“When you have a coach as smart and incredible as him,” explains the 24-year-old, “he can do anything.

“The way he conveys his ideas makes it very easy for all of us to understand straight away. We all go into the games with the self-confidence that no matter how we are lined up, we are capable of putting in a good performance and we were capable of it. That’s a good feeling.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

For football enthusiasts, being able to track an ongoing game in real-time in the comfort of your home is quite important. Fortunately, the advent of live score platforms has brought this a reality in the gaming world.

Followers can rely on these platforms to stay updated with the latest developments in certain matches. Whether you are a bettor or just a football enthusiast, finding a reliable platform can significantly enhance your experience.

However, while it may seem a straightforward process, selecting a football live score platform like sportscore.io may require consideration of several factors. When looking for a Football Live Score Platform, getting the best experience and accurate information should be your top priority. 

Consider the Speed of live scores and match events

Another most important to look for in football live score is the speed at which events happen. As mentioned earlier, accuracy should always be your priority. You don’t want a football API a platform that takes eternity to provide updates.

Consider the Coverage and Leagues

When choosing a football live score platform, you should aim at accessing a wide range of football leagues. While there are several football live score platforms on the internet, the majority of them seem to focus only on major football leagues and competitions.

You should aim at having access to a wide range of competitions around the world and not just the major tournaments. Besides, make sure the platform provides timely updates for the teams for the games you are following.

Consider Additional Features

Another important factor to consider is whether or not the platform offers some additional features such as full match statistics and team lineups. Having access to live commentary and video highlights can enrich your experience. It also provides deeper insights into the games you’re following through the live score.

Provide Accurate and Reliable update

As a football enthusiast, you want to rely on something accurate. Ensure that the platform you are using provides nothing but accurate and reliable updates. Ideal live score platforms must provide real-time updates without any form of error.

Choose platforms that have a reputation for accuracy and reliability in reporting live scores. The source information must be credible and verified to avoid receiving misleading information.

Consider the Cost and Pricing

Many footballs live score platforms are free to use. However, as you may know, free things will never be the best alternative. Finding a platform that offers premium features can give a good experience although at a fee.

However, this doesn’t mean you go for something you can’t afford. Consider whether the premium features are worth the cost before subscribing to use the platform. Take advantage of the free trial period to test its features.

Compatibility with your device

You don’t want to face challenges when it comes to the live score platform. Before making the subscription, make sure your device and the platform are compatible and accessible via web browsers.

Conclusion

Tracking live football events is becoming quite a popular cross the world. The end point of a football live score is to know when the game is in, and at which minute someone scored, got substituted, or received a yellow card.

To achieve all these, you need the right platform like sportscore.io to enhance your experience. With these factors, there is no doubt you will find and never regret it.

The Nigeria House of Representatives have reached a resolution for a ban on sports betting in Nigeria following a motion raised by Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at plenary in Abuja on Thursday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwogu in his submission said the absence of strict regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.

Reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has it that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting, while data from National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of 15 dollars daily.

According to the data, Nigerians also spend an estimated 975 million dollars daily on online sports betting, which amounts to about 356 billion dollars annually. A statistic which the rep said has brought about strain or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends and family, financial problems, legal issues, and job loss due to excessive loss or debt.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct a comprehensive nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.

It also mandated the Committee on Inter–Governmental Affairs to conduct a Public Hearing on the dangerous effects of sports betting in Nigeria and urged the committee to report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has drawn up a three man shortlist of coaches to replace Djamel Belmadi who was relieved off his role after a poor showing at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Algeria’s poor performance at the tournament cost the coach who won the title for them in 2019 his spot making the federation to swing into action with plans for his replacement, ahead of the likely resumption of international football in March.

A three man list which had Carlos Queiroz as the top candidate was drawn up, but reports in Algeria has it that talks with the Portuguese coach didn’t yield any breakthrough, making them to switch attention to the other two names on their shortlist.

The present coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is seen as the second option and with his contract extension with Nigeria still not certain despite leading the team to finishing second at the AFCON, Algeria are confident of their chances in luring him.

Peseiro who is on $60,000 a month pay with Nigeria, which wasn’t paid regularly will command around $280,000 a month the same amount the former coach Belmadi was earning before his axing this month.

However if talks with Peseiro fails to progress owing to his commitment to Nigeria, they will switch to the third name on their list which is Vladimir Petkovic, the Bosnian who until recently was the coach of French Ligue 2 side Bordeaux.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has entered into contract extension talks with the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro, whose deal is set to expire at the end of this month, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro met the target of getting to the semi final of the Africa Cup of Nations leading his team to the final where they were beaten 1-2 by tournament’s host Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

He has an option of extending the deal for another two years but the other year is centered on reaching the semi final of the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year.

We exclusively gathered that he now wants a straight two year deal which is tied to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and another option of a deal based on their performance at the World Cup if they qualify.

Furthermore he is demanding for the salary of his first assistant Acacio Santos and also that of the new goalkeeper trainer Nuno Carrapato to be handled by the NFF, unlike the present arrangement where he pays them from his $60,000 a month pay.

Although he isn’t demanding for a pay rise, he has however seek an assurance on the regularity of his pay which wasn’t the case with his soon to expire deal. It is believed the NFF are pushing the minister for sports senator John Enoh to find a way of keeping to the arrangement that brought the coach in, which is for the federal government to pay his salary as agreed by former minister for sports Sunday Dare.

NFF are keen on reaching an agreement ahead of the possible resumption of international football in March and also tie the coach down early, with teams around the African continent also weighing up offering the Portuguese a deal to dump the Nigerian team.

Algeria are said to be the main team keen on him but ambitious Egyptian side Zamalek have stolen the march on other interested parties, by securing the option of first refusal in the event that he fails to reach an agreement on extending his stay as Super Eagles coach.

Osas Mahawi

One of the stars of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations was Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman who scored three goals with an assist to powering Nigeria to the final, where they lost 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 26 year old carried the burden of delivering goals for Nigeria at the tournament making his first international tournament one to remember for a while.

He went into the tournament on the back of just a goal and an assist for the Nigerian team but left with his head held high with his performance also earning him a spot in the tournament’s best XI made public by CAF.

Captain of the Nigerian side William Troost-Ekong and right back Ola Aina were the other two players of the Nigerian team picked in the tournament’s best XI players.  However it is the case of Lookman who scored 13 goal and also had 8 assists in the Serie A last season that has sparked a debate in England.

Lookman represented England at various youth levels and even won the U20 World Cup before deciding to pledge his senior international future to Nigeria, despite pleas from the head coach of England Gareth Southgate.

Speaking on his decision, English journalist Owen Matthew said was one he did in haste as he would have been in the English senior set up with his performances last season and also this season as well, where he has seven goals and three assists.

” He (Lookman) was too much in a hurry. Southgate rates him highly and would have brought him into the set up after his performance last season for Atalanta, even this season he is on fire but he is now for Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Southgate saw all of these qualities earlier and did all he could to stop him but he wasn’t patient. It’s good to see that it’s working for him in the colours of Nigeria”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

French Ligue 1 side Nantes have instructed Super Eagles AFCON Star Moses Simon to report back to base form Nigeria in order to be ready for this weekend game against PSG, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Simon won two man of the match award at the AFCON, more than any other Nigerian player at the tournament where Nigeria lost in the final match to the host Cote d’Ivoire 1-2. He was in Nigeria for the reception held in their honour by the president of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The 28 year old was expected to be in Kaduna to meet with players of his wife’s pet project Simoiben football academy, but had to call off the plans and head back to France immediately.

Nantes want him back in time ahead of this weekend’s game against PSG leaving him with no option than to leave Nigeria yesterday. He is expected to take part in training later this evening.

However before leaving Nigeria, he was hosted by the Kaduna State governor Senator Uba Sani, who praised him for influencing the youths of the state positively with his conduct, performance for the Super Eagles and also charity works.

The governor of Benue State, where he hails from Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia also hosted him in Abuja and thanked him for his numerous pet projects in the state, which includes projects like provision of good water for the community where he comes from, a road and also a football tournament where young footballers were picked for Simoiben football academy.

Caleb Mutfwang the governor of Plateau State, where he started his career with GBS Football Academy also spent time with him and said the state is proud to have played a role in his development, urging youths of the state to emulate his rise from the state as a motivation for their careers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The agent of former golden boy of English Championship Watford Emmanuel Dennis says his decision not to honour the opportunity of playing for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 is largely why he is presently struggling at club level, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In 2021, the 26 year old famously snubbed the chance of playing for Nigeria at the AFCON preferring to stay with his team Watford where he was simply on fire scoring goals for fun, however the goals weren’t sufficient enough to keep them in the English Premier League.

Following their relegation to the Championship he was sold to Nottingham Forest but after a season, a loan to Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir was agreed just before the start of the season but six months later it was terminated.

He rejoined Watford in the January transfer window as he bids to recapture the form that made him a firm fan favourite at the club. His ex agent says he made a huge mistake not representing Nigeria at the tournament in Egypt.

” He (Dennis) was on fire at that time. So some people around him told him to not leave for the AFCON saying it could derail his rise, he believed them but from that time till the end of the season he only scored one goal. I really felt he would have given himself a reputation of an international star if he had gone to that tournament, such kind of reputation protects a player even at club level”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” The move to Forest didn’t work and no one wasted time in asking him to leave on loan, the can’t do that with Taiwo Awoniyi who used his club form to solidify his international reputation. Dennis made a mistake which has set him back”, he further stated.

On reports that the players indiscipline played a part in his recent struggles, the agent said it’s not true as he has turned a whole new leaf at least the past one year. ” We don’t work together but I can tell you the reports about him are positive. He is well loved by ex Forest’s boss Steve Cooper and the boys. Nothing in that report is true”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria have made their biggest jump in a long while in the FIFA Ranking moving from 42nd to 28th in the world, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria went into the AFCON outside the best five countries on the African continent but a run that saw them reached the final of the tournament before losing 1-2 to the host has now catapulted them into third on the continent.

Super Eagles are now just behind Morocco and Senegal on the African continent as they are ranked 12th and 17th globally. Egypt and Africa Cup of Nations champions Côte d’Ivoire completes the top five ranked nations in Africa.

Below is the top ten ranked African countries on the FIFA Ranking table.

The Top 10 FIFA Ranking after AFCON2023:

1. Morocco – 12
2. Senegal – 17
3. Nigeria – 28
4. Egypt – 36
5. Ivory Coast – 39
6. Tunisia – 41
7. Algeria – 43
8. Mali – 47
9. Cameroon – 51
10. South Africa – 59

Brentford defender Benjamin Fredrick was the only player based abroad named by head coach Ladan Bosso in his 30 man list for the football event of the All African Games will which take place in Ghana, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Bosso will be in charge of the Nigerian U20 team after leading them to a quarter final spot at the last U20 World Cup in Argentina, the coach has kept faith in four players who were at the world cup namely Daniel Bameyi, Daniel Daga, Nathaniel Nwosu and the aforementioned Fredrick.

Fredrick has made the substitute bench in four consecutive straight games for Brentford including three in the English Premier League. He is now seen as a squad player for the first team making a debut for the first team a matter of time.

The 19 year old who is on loan from Simioben Football Academy of Kaduna state earned his rise to the first team after his impressive performances for the U23s of three club.

Three players from the Nduka Ugabade led U17 team who failed to make it to the World Cup where also handed a spot in the team with Emmanuel Micheal leading the duo of Danjuma Lawali and Charles Agada.

All invited players are expected to be in the camp of the team by this weekend, even though the camp officially opens tomorrow.

Below is the 30 man list released by head coach Bosso.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS (FLYING EAGLES):

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Andy Ezekiel (Calabar Rovers); James Friday (Mavlon FC); Femi Oriola (36 Lions)

Defenders: Daniel Bameyi (YumYum FC); Benjamin Frederick (Brentford FC, England); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kano Pillars); Emmanuel Michael (Gombe United); Emmanuel Onoja (Heartland FC); Ime Sampson (Dakkada FC); Haruna Aliyu (Doma United)

Midfielders: Daniel Daga (Enyimba FC); Auwal Ibrahim (Akwa United); Yinka Shola (Madiba FC); Farouq Olanrewaju (Beyond Limits FC); Chibueze Izuogu (Enyimba FC); Simon Karshe (Mavlon FC); Ibrahim Adamu (Real Sapphire FC); Ibrahim Idris (Kano Pillars)

Forwards: Kehinde Ibrahim (36 Lions); Danjuma Lawali (Mahaniam FC); Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire FC); Ibrahim Lawal (36 Lions); Charles Agada (Mavlon FC); Nasir Muhammed (Capital City FC); Sunday Joseph (Zamfara United); Olalekan Ibrahim (Central Football Academy); Muhammad Isiaka (Niger Tornadoes); Rabiu Abdullahi; Nathaniel Arierhi (Beyond Limits FC) .

Ade Emmanuel