German top division side Bayer Leverkusen has granted permission to forward Victor Boniface to be with the Super Eagles when they take on Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Injury made Boniface to miss out on a spot in the team making the coaches to replace him with Terem Moffi. He underwent surgery and he is presently stepping up his recovery with rehabilitation by the medics of the German side.

Boniface has long communicated his desire to join the team if they make it to the final of the tournament and following their penalty shoot out win over South Africa, he is now set to join the team in Abidjan.

He has been granted permission to make the trip by his club as it will not pose any threat or set back to his recovery, which will see him return back to the pitch in the next two months according to the earlier diagnosis.

His presence will boost the morale of the squad because he has showed total attachment to them during the course of the tournament via social media and video calls, as they progress in the tournament.

Ade Emmanuel

Former Nigeria international goalkeeper Peterside Idah has raised alarm on the safety of Stanley Nwabali following threats that has been sent his way since his heroics lifted Nigeria past South Africa in t the semi final of the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwabali stopped two penalties to help Super Eagles to a 4-3 win over South Africa with both teams locked at 1-1 after extra time. His performance hasn’t gone down well with a section of people from the country where he plys his trade for Chippa United.

According to Idah, he is aware of threats that has been sent the way of the 27 year old telling him not to return to South Africa after stopping them from reaching the final of the AFCON in Ivory Coast.

“We have gotten some reports of people sending messages to the goalkeeper, threatening him. I hear some saying ‘Don’t come back to South Africa since you didn’t want us to score when your team was playing. Stay back”, Idah said on Channels TV.

“This is unacceptable. We have not heard of any violence, but just threats. They have been threatening him and others.”

He called on the authority involved to track those who sent the threats to the shot stopper and also seek for understanding from football fans in the country, where he is based not to take results of football game to a violent level as the game is about winning some and losing some.

Idah who is now a pastor in South Africa following his retirement from football has been living in the country for over twenty years.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Stanley Nwabali was the hero for the senior national team of Nigeria in their penalty shoot out win over South Africa in the semi final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwabali stopped two penalties during the shoot out to power the Super Eagles to a 4-3 penalty shoot out win after both teams stayed tied at 1-1after 30 minutes of extra time.

One scene that escaped the sight of many was the handing of a face towel to the 27 year old by the goalkeeper trainer of the team shortly before the start of the shoot out.

We can exclusively reveal that the towel was used to wrap a water bottle which has information on where players of South Africa are expected to place their kicks from 12 yards out. Nwabali takes time to spy on the information on the bottle before facing any spot kick.

No doubt, the information helped his case of ensuring that the Super Eagles book a spot in the final, where they will take on the host country on Sunday.

Ade Emmanuel

The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a spot in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-3 penalty shoot out win over South Africa in the semi final after both teams stayed tied at 1-1 after extra time, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Stanley Nwabali was the hero for the Nigerian team stopping two penalties during the shoot out, but the manner which the Nigerian players took their kicks bar Ola Aina who missed also played a huge role in the win.

One of the players who stood out was Kenneth Omeruo who was introduced in the final seconds of extra time. He left Ronwen Williams the hero of South Africa who stopped four penalty kicks in the quarter final stranded.

Speaking after the game, the Kasimpasa of Turkey defender who will likely be playing in his second Africa Cup of Nations final game, after taking part in the 2013 edition revealed how the decision for him to come on was reached and explained why he took his penalty the way he did.

*It’s the way I take my penalty. Right from when we made it to the second round we have been practicing everyday in training and I am one of the guys who always score. So the coach put me in and said are you going to take the penalty or not? I said I will take, I will take and to God be the glory I didn’t disappoint”, he said at the mixed zone.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The man who took the match winning kick for Nigeria during the penalty shoot out against South Africa in the AFCON semi final Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed why he had to take the kick, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Iheanacho played his first game of the tournament in the semi final and showed no nerves when he took the decisive spot kick that sealed a final spot for the Super Eagles for the first time since 2013.

South Africa forced Nigeria into penalty kicks after both teams stayed tied at 1-1 after extra time. Nigeria however sealed a spot in the final with a 4-3 win with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerging as the hero for the Super Eagles.

After Nwabali has stopped two kicks it was up to the players to make it count and the responsibility to take the decisive spot kick went the way of Iheanacho. He dispatched it authority and afterwards explained why he had to shoulder the responsibility.

” It’s done now and I am telling you it’s a lot of pressure there. That one is a make or break penalty. So you either save us or we lose it. So I thank God for that, God made it possible”, he said at the mixed zone.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Stanley Nwabali has lifted the lid on the secret behind his impressive performances for Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will take on the host in the final of the tournament on Sunday after defeating South Africa 4-3 on penalties in the semi final played yesterday after both teams remained locked at 1-1 after extra time.

Nwabali was the hero for the Super Eagles as he stopped two penalties backing up his impressive five saves during the course of the game. A feat which earned him the man of the match award and also place him in pole position to claim the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Speaking on his performance in the tournament so far, the 27 year old who was made number one at the start of the tournament and has eight caps revealed it is down to the motivation he is getting from the rest of the team.

“These guys have really guided me a lot throughout this tournament, and I feel so happy”, he said while speaking on the sidelines after he was awarded the man of the match award.

“When the coach [Jose Peseiro] informed me he was coming to visit [at Chippa], for me it was one of the biggest things. A coach to come visit was a motivation. When he said he was coming I was really pleased.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Brentford and Nigeria international midfielder Frank Onyeka has been given the all clear to play for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final match against Ivory Coast despite picking up his second yellow card of the tournament yesterday.

Onyeka was booked in the final group game against Guinea-Bissau making his booking yesterday in the 4-3 semi final win over South Africa his second of the tournament, leading to reports that he will be suspended for the final.

However, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively report that the 26 year old won’t be suspended for the final on Sunday per the amended tournament rules by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) two years ago.

The rules says all bookings picked up in the group stages will be wiped off before going into the knock out rounds of the tournament.

Below is an extract from CAF’s website clearing Onyeka who has played in every game for Nigeria at the AFCON to play against the host in the final game of the tournament.

‘’ Article 42.2: The cautions received during the matches qualifying phase shall not be taken into account for the matches of the final tournament. At the end of the first phase of the final tournament (group matches), all cautions received shall be cancelled for the rest of the competition. Nevertheless, a player having collected two yellow cards will sustain the one match suspension.’’

“The waiver however does not apply to Players who have been expelled during the Group stages as they will serve their punishment and cannot take advantage of Article 42.2 of Chapter 17 of the AFCON Regulations”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has explained why his team struggled to breeze past South Africa in regular time in the semi final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Peseiro’s team lost their 1-0 lead moments after they thought they have made it 2-0. South Africa dragged the game into extra time and scores remained tied at 1-1 leading into penalty kicks to decide the game.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero for Nigeria stopping two spot kicks to hand Nigeria a 4-3 win with Ola Aina the only Nigerian player to miss his effort. After the game Peseiro explained why the game went all the way to spot kicks.

” Yesterday I said here and I don’t know if it’s true or not true but the best organization belong to this team (South Africa) in my opinion. Why? Because they play together many times. They play for Sundowns so for that they create more problems for us than the other teams”, the Portuguese coach said at the pre match conference.

” They defended well, they push , they pressured, they manage the ball well with quality. They have players with good quality. This team ( South Africa) like I expect it was difficult to beat them, difficult to beat them. For that I say congratulations to my team and to them as well.

” It’s true this team played nine players from Sundowns but I have to give my congratulations to the coach and I told him on the pitch. Because today they deserve to go through and Nigeria deserve also. But today in penalties our team was stronger”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The goalkeeper of South Africa Ronwen Williams was the hero of the team in their quarter final win over Cape Verde stopping four penalties to help them book a spot in the semi final against Nigeria.

Yesterday he was however unable to stop even one of the kicks from Nigeria with the game going into penalty kicks after both teams stay tied at 1-1 after extra time.

Explaining the situation, a South African journalist Mark Adams said it was clear that the 32 year old Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper carried a knock on his shoulders into the shoot out, hence restricting his movement and diving abilities.

” Williams was injured in the second half when he stopped that one on one situation with Ademola Lookman. He landed badly on his shoulders and during the shoot out it was clear that he wasn’t at his best”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” After each kick he was holding his shoulders and it’s clear to see that he was in some discomfort. However you also have to credit the Nigerian players they played very good kicks. Williams was very frustrated at the end with the result but this is football. Congratulations to Nigeria”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman