Albion Rovers of Scotland striker Bright Osemudiamen Prince Okosun has urged the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on the host country Cote d’Ivoire in today’s final game of the tournament, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 18 year old who was born in Spain to parents of Nigerian descent is hoping the Super Eagles bring back the trophy to Nigeria for the first time in ten years , particularly owing to their dramatic semi final win over South Africa.

Bright Okosun praised the determination of the Jose Peseiro led team and in particular top striker Victor Osimhen for his all action play says winning the tournament will be a crown to their efforts so far.

“It will be one of the greatest acts of patriotism that will gladden the hearts of Nigerians and football lovers if you all fight harder to bring the cup to Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

The 18 years old striker who had in the past laced his boot for Yuncos CD, VFR Fischeln,  Fortuna Dusseldorf and others before his present Scottish side, Albion Rovers Fc is presently combining his football with education.

He is a student of Aeronautical Engineering in the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom and he has his sights fixed on having the opportunity to represent Nigeria at international level.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

It’s been one year since Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman announced that world football governing body FiFA has approved his application to switch nationality from England to Nigeria.

Born to parents of Nigerian descent in England, Lookman represented England at various youth level before deciding to pledge his senior international career to the Super Eagles of Nigeria by making a submission to FIFA which was approved.

Lookman made public the announcement on his social media handle one year ago, six years after helping England to win the U20 World Cup and five years after his last cap at youth level for England.

He will later today start for the senior national team of Nigeria in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations against the host country Cote d’Ivoire, and when asked about his year with the team he described it as the best one year of his life.

” It is the best one year of my life and career to have come this far with the Super Eagles in what is my first senior international tournament. Going all the way to lifting the trophy is our aim”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com at the hotel of the team yesterday.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Liverpool midfielder Cutis Jones has backed the Super Eagles of Nigeria to win tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations final match against the host Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 22 year old has stepped up this season for the table toppers following the sale of the midfield duo of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho making a total of 16 appearances with one assists and one goal.

With Nigeria through to the AFCON final, Jones posted his message of goodwill to the Nigerian team telling them to do it for us, referring to himself as a Nigerian confirming reports that he is of Nigerian descent.

From our checks he has been following the team since the start of the tournament and just like many Nigerians posted his relief when they got past South Africa in the semi final via a 4-2 penalty shoot out win.

Jones is of Nigerian descent through his grandmother and has represented England at U21 level. Considering his recent performances, Jones could be called up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for this summer’s Euros.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has leaped to the defence of Victor Osimhen ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations final game against the host Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Osimhen was largely expected to carry the goal scoring burden of the team at the tournament, but he has just one goal and one assist so far, although he has won two vital penalties for the team in key games.

Peseiro was asked about his goal drought and he said it isn’t a problem to the team as he gives them much more than goals, citing the fact that he carries himself like every member of the team and not like that star of the team.

“If you watch the matches, he fights for us, he doesn’t play like a star, works and defends.
“He attacks, fight the opponents, he opens spaces for us. He does maximum sacrifice for the team”, Peseiro said about the current Africa footballer of the year.

“He does the best everyday because he knows he’s an important player, for that he suffers many fouls, pressure and stress but he knows our team, captains, everybody help him. The match is collective, no one can win alone. No one can do everything alone. He knows that, we know that, for that we created a collective team to fight together.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Ahead of the senior national team of Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations final game against Cote d’Ivoire tomorrow head coach of the team Jose Peseiro has highlighted the importance of one of his key players at the tournament, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ademola Lookman has been sighted as the team’s most prolific forward and important player with three goals so far making him the team’s highest goal scorer. He scored in all but one game in the knock out round ahead of tomorrow’s final.

Peseiro reckoned that even though the Atalanta star is key to his team, the main player making the set up work is Napoli’s forward Victor Osimhen even though he hasn’t delivered the goals as expected by many in the build up to the tournament.

“He (Lookman) is a very big figure, but the main figure is Osimhen, who forms a team with collective spirit and believes in what we’re doing”, Peseiro said .

“Our biggest figure is Osimhen, who works hard for the team: attacking, defending, and providing a lot of depth”.

Speaking further he explained the reason behind the explosive form of Lookman, which he said took time because he had to adopt to the culture, style and demand of playing football in Africa.

He’s the son of Nigerians, and he already played for England U-17s, but he came to play with us, as others have,” Peseiro said of Lookman.

“Lookman is having a fantastic tournament, but when he arrived, he had difficulties adapting to African football, as others have. It’s a more physical, open, faster football, less organized. Some players need time, and Lookman is now at his best since joining the Nigerian team.

“Conditions here are different; the food, logistics, everything is different and requires more sacrifice from players who are used to having everything in Europe. It’s a whole different ball game here.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has revealed the importance of captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa despite the fact that he hasn’t played a minute at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will take on the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the tournament tomorrow and ahead of the game, Peseiro was asked at the pre match conference about the role of the captain who is aiming to become the first Nigerian player to win the AFCON twice alongside Kenneth Omeruo.

“Ahmed Musa is much more than a player for us. He advise me, he suggests to me about many things”, the coach said at the presser.

“Since the first moment , that capacity, support and passion, I ask him about everything, he knows better than me some players, he is amazing. I want to win that cup tomorrow so Ahmed Musa can lift it. He is a very very special player.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Chinese sporting authority has cancelled a deal to host the March international friendly game between Argentina and Nigeria after a row with Lionel Messi over his non participation in a friendly game in Hong Kong, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Messi was due to play in a friendly game for his team Inter Miami against Hong Kong XI, but didn’t play in the game due to a groin injury which angered thousands of fans who turned up to catch a glimpse of the reigning best player in the world, who they were told will play in the game.

As a gesture of kindness and sympathy to fans who turned up for the game Hong Kong offered a 50% refund to those who purchased tickets for the game. On average, each ticket cost $624 dollars.

The Argentine released a statement apologizing for the mix up but the organisers and fans who turned up for the game were enraged when he played 30 minutes in another friendly game in Japan against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday showing no sign of a player who is recovering from a groin injury.

In his statement he mentioned China and that didn’t go down well with the football authority making them to pull the plug on the hosting of the friendly game between Argentina and Nigeria.

During the international break from March 18 to 26, the Argentine national team were scheduled to play friendly matches against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing.

“As a commercial event, a company negotiated with the Argentine football team to come to Hangzhou for a friendly match in March this year,” the Hangzhou authorities said in a statement. “In view of the currently well-known reasons, it is understood from the competent authorities that the conditions for holding the event are not mature, and the decision has been made to cancel the event.”

However, the game against Ivory Coast will still go on as planned, while talks over getting an alternative venue for the game with Super Eagles continues.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The interim head coach of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire Emerse Fae says his team made it all the way to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations by using what they noticed as the strength of the Nigerian team, who are their opponent on Sunday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fae was appointed as the coach of the team in interim capacity following the sacking of French coach Jean-Louis Gasset after a very performance in the group stage, where they made it to the round of 16 finishing as the bottom team in the league of the best third placed team after the conclusion of all group games.

He has since turned the fortunes of the team around with victories against Senegal, Mali and Congo Dr in the round of 16, quarter final and semi final respectively. Looking ahead to the tomorrow’s final against Nigeria, Fae said they used what they noticed in the Nigerian team to steady their campaign at the tournament.

“When we look at teams that are still in the competition, like Nigeria, for example, we have learned since their match against us that they have defensive solidity.

“They have a team that has been very united, who defends together and who attacks together, and it’s this solidarity coupled with the individual qualities of the players that they have, as well as their team spirit, which has allowed them to reach the semi-final”, he said after the 1-0 win over Congo Dr in the semi final.

“So we wanted to prepare for the round of 16 to recreate this state of team spirit because I knew personally that I had quality players individually, and if we recreated this collective dynamic we would arrive and manage the steps, one after the other, to regain confidence.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

CAF have appointed Mauritania’s referee Dahane Beida to officiate the Africa Cup of Nations final match between Nigeria and the host country Cote d’Ivoire tomorrow, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria and the host will lock horns for the title with the former looking for their 4th trophy while the latter are hoping to equal the rally of three trophies won by their opponent.

Beida will handle the game as central referee and he will be assisted by Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos of Angola as first assistant with Diana Chikotesha as his second assistant. The fourth official will be Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi.

Their decision to hand the game to the 32 year old appears not to have gone down well with Moroccan refreee Rédouane Jiyed who angrily protested the decision not to award him the game, he was given the honour of handling the third place match between South Africa and Congo Dr.

He however shunned the opportunity and flew back to his country making CAF to appoint Bamlak Tessema Weyesa from Ethiopia as the center referee for today’s encounter.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman