Emmanuel Fernandez says playing for the senior national team of Nigeria at the recently concluded four team invitational tournament in Turkey ranks as the peak of his career so far, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fernandez made his debut in the first game of the tournament against Iran coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 win. He capped his first start with a goal in the 2-2 draw against Jordan.

He finished with the calmness of a seasoned pro to give Nigeria the lead, but they lost it to draw 2-2 in their final game of the tournament. He was largely rated as the best player for Nigeria in the game.

Reacting after the game, the 24 year old said it’s only natural for him to be unhappy because they didn’t win and he was a part of the defence that conceded twice in the game.

” While it’s a great moment for me and my family. It wasn’t quite how I expect it to go because we didn’t win and conceded twice. As a defender you can’t be happy to be a part of it”, he said in an exclusive interview.

” I can do better and it’s my goal to improve continuously for the good of my club and country. That’s the aim anytime I get to play. I can say this is the peak moment of my career so far”, he concluded.

Nigeria international forward Victor Boniface has not had the best of time with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The forward joined the team on a season-long loan deal from fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, but a knee injury kept him out of the team for a prolonged period.

Now back in training with the rest of his teammates, he is yet to get the all clear to feature in games, and his teammate Felix Agu says he still has what it takes to play at this level.

“I’m very happy to see him back here because I get along well with him. I think he still needs a little time to get back into his rhythm,” Agu told Deichstube.

“But we all know his quality. He may have only displayed glimpses of it in matches, but you see it repeatedly in training. When he drops deep, turns, and plays passes – with such timing, such vision! That’s simply an absolute quality!”

“He wasn’t a key player in Leverkusen’s championship-winning team for nothing,” he further stated before concluding that he could play some part in their season ending desire to beat the drop.

“If Victor can even come close to that level ( at Bayer Leverkusen), then he can help us. The important thing is that he returns to the fitness level necessary to assist us on the field.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of French Ligue 1 side Marseille Habib Beye has told Nigeria international midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi what he needs to add to his game, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nnadi joined the Ligue 1 side in the January transfer window from Belgium side Zulte Waregem after representing Nigeria at the AFCON.

He failed to make his debut for the team under then coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has now left the club.

De Zerbi’s replacement Beye gave him his debut at the club, but has so far sparingly used him in games, and he explained why in an interview ahead of this weekend’s game against Metz.

“No, Nnadi makes a very good impression on me,” but it’s in this area where we have the most players; we have seven or eight midfielders. So, in this situation, rotation isn’t necessarily frequent for them.

“I’m very satisfied with his contribution, especially defensively and his ability to press four or five metres.

“Having spoken with him, I’d also like to see him work on that offensively. He needs to be able to inject some dynamism; in a two-man midfield, you need players who can also contribute in the second line.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The agent of Udinese defender Kingsley Ehizibue says his client hasn’t been considered for the senior national team of Nigeria due to his dual nationality status, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ehizibue was first called up to the senior national team of Nigeria ten years ago by former coach Gernot Rohr, while he was at Dutch side PEC Zwolle and a first teamer at the age of 20.

However his nationality status in the Netherlands, where he arrived with his father as a refugee from Germany means he can’t have dual nationality, even though it is permitted for citizens to hold other nationalities.

Now at the age of 30 and dropping consistent performances for Udinese in the Serie A he still has just one U20 cap for the Netherlands to his name, but can’t be eligible for Nigeria due to the issue of his nationality.

” I have addressed this before with some media platforms in Nigeria. Let me repeat it here that Kingsley’s desire is to play for Nigeria but the law in the Netherlands bar his kind of citizens from having another nationality. It’s sad but he has to accept it and move on with his career”, his representative said.

One of the first name on the Super Eagles starting lineup these days is that of Sevilla forward Jerome Akor Adams, after winning the trust of head coach Eric Chelle.

A year ago from now not even Adams who was doing very well at Montpellier in France could envisage a breakthrough into the Super Eagles starting lineup.

Back then the favourite options of Chelle in his well loved 4-4-2 diamond was either Victor Boniface or Tolu Arokodare. Boniface for instance was seen as a vastly talented forward who could play many roles for the team.

However in Chelle’s first competitive game at home against Zimbabwe which ended in a 1-1 draw, he didn’t do enough when he was introduced as a second half substitute. The last straw was his laid back, lackadaisical performance against Russia almost a year ago.

After the game he announced his international retirement on social media, but later deleted it. Chelle as unimpressed with his antics and subsequently decided to bin him, although the fitness and injuries didn’t help.

Arokodare became Chelle’s main man after his heroics against Rwanda in Uyo, where he scored a late winner and was once again an impact substitute in the 1-1 draw away to South Africa three days later.

He made the team to the Unity Cup and cemented his spot, but lost it in November at the world cup qualifiers playoff following the emergence of Akor. Although he was also said to have had issues off the pitch which has so far denied him further invitation.

On his part Akor has stayed committed in training, a willing runner, hard worker and also a perfect fit for the method of Chelle.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Tosin Adarabioyo won’t be handed an automatic shirt in the senior national team of Nigeria after deciding to pursue his international career with the Super Eagles, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

A long term target of the Nigerian team, the former England youth international has maintained that his dream is to make the step up to the senior national team of England, but he suggested a change of mind during an interview with Tribuna on Saturday.

He said sequel to his visit to Nigeria in the summer, he followed the team at the AFCON and after his experience with England at various youth levels he is now looking forward to representing Nigeria at senior level, and said it will be a great honour to dorn the green white green of Nigeria.

“I have been through the English youth national teams. I was born in London, but I also feel very connected to my Nigerian roots. Last summer I spent my vacation in Nigeria, it’s a wonderful country with a fascinating culture. I followed the Nigerian national team intensively at the last Africa Cup of Nations, they have a fantastic team. It would be a great honour for me to wear the green jersey, but currently my focus is entirely on my goals with Chelsea FC”, he was quoted as saying by Tribuna.

Following his declaration, a member of the technical crew of Eric Chelle in an exclusive chat said the 28 year old will no doubt be a positive addition, but he won’t be an automatic shirt.

” Like every other player he has to fight for a shirt. Chelle showed it when he dropped the former captain William Troost-Ekong for Benjamin Fredrick. It’s about who works the header and fits the team’s dynamics not big name”, he said.

” However I must say Tosin’s experience at club level will no doubt give him an edge. He has been at the top since he was 18 and that’s the kind of player you want in your team”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The recent clearance given to Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to switch to the senior national team of Nigeria has sparked a debate on who he will likely replace in the current team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okonkwo who is currently the first choice of Wrexham who are pushing to secure a playoff spot, that could lead to promotion to the English Premier League will add to the options available to head coach Eric Chelle.

Highly rated by Chelle, his inclusion will cost one of the trio of Adebayo Adeleye, Amas Obasogie or Francis Uzoho their spot in the squad,per what we exclusively gathered.

However it all depends on how soon regular first choice Stanley Nwabali gets a new club after leaving South Africa side Chippa United by mutual consent. In his absence Uzoho stays.

Maduka Okoye is said to be Chelle’s top pick as first choice now with Okonkwo seen as his deputy. Although Uzoho is well loved by the technical crew for his maturity, excellent spirit and good attitude to training.

It means Chelle will always want him around, but it all will depend on how Okonkwo settles into the team with sources saying he could be involved in the Unity Cup in May.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has been accused of not paying attention to Nigerian players playing in top African Leagues regardless of how well they are playing, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Since taking over as coach of the Nigerian team over a year ago, the coach has only called the goalkeeping duo of Stanley Nwabali formerly of Chippa United of South Africa and Amas Obasogie of Tanzanian side Singida.

The coach is yet to call any outfield player from leagues in Africa, and top football agent Michael Stanley says it is not fair because every African country give opportunities to players based in Africa.

” I don’t think it’s fair to only scout for players in Europe. We have Onuche Ogbelu doing very well in Tunisia for Esperance and Emmanuel Ogbole is seen as as the best player in the Tunisian league at the moment”, he said.

” There is Sodiq Awujoola of Cleopatra in Egypt and also Etiosa Ighodaro of Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa. All these players are from leagues that have players in the national team.

” To me there is a touch of bias in the way he is operating at the moment and his scouts have not been fair to him”, he concluded.

The first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Stanley Nwabali is not in the plans of head coach Eric Chelle for their upcoming friendly games in the month of May and June respectively.

Nwabali has been without a club after terminating his deal with South Africa side Chippa United, shortly after returning from the AFCON with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

He was subsequently left out of the team that prosecuted the recently concluded four team invitational tournament in Turkey. Chelle handed a recall to the duo of Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye.

Okoye started the first game against Iran with Nwabali’s deputy Francis Uzoho keeping goal in the second game, before getting subbed off in the second half picking up a knock which led to his substitution for Adeleye.

Ahead of the upcoming games at the Unity Cup in May which will take place in London with Nigeria up against Zimbabwe, and the high profile friendly games against Poland and Portugal respectively Chelle has started preparations.

OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal that Nwabali is not going to be in the squad with newly cleared goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo coming into the frame. Adeleye will also not be handed another chance after failing to impress Chelle.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The chances of Millwall winger Femi Azeez getting a first time call up to the senior national team of Nigeria got a huge boost yesterday when he was confirmed as a nominee for the English Championship player of the season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 24 year old who has four goals and four assists this season for Millwall who are chasing a play off spot has proven himself as one of the top stars in the English second division. He is already linked to teams in the English Premier League.

Top of the chasing pack is Aston Villa with Leeds United also monitoring discussion around his future. His form has also caught the attention of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle.

Azeez who is eligible for both England and Nigeria is yet to be capped at any level, but sources say he is more inclined to playing for the Super Eagles leaving the decision to Chelle.

Chelle we reliably gathered is still gathering information on the winger and will make a decision, ahead of their return to England in the summer for the Unity Cup friendly tournament.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman