The most talked about Nigerian player the past one week is relatively unknown winger Zadok Yohanna of Swedish side AIK after his impressive debut in the Allsvenskan.

We exclusively reported his transfer eight months ago , and also his impressive performance in pre season and Cup games in the build up to his debut over the weekend in the league.

Zadok who was spotted from Kaduna where he represented Ikon Allah Football Academy wasted no time in showing what he is all about. He netted the winner to hand his team a 2-1 win over Halmstad.

Aside his goal he was a thorn in the defence of Halmstad operating from the right. He struck the ball twice and completed all his attempted dribble in the course of the game.

His performance has already alerted the whole of Europe and Scout Herish Sadi, who discovered Zadok Yohanna in Nigeria while playing for Ikon Allah FC has now revealed how it all went.

“I was really impressed when I watched him play as a number 10 and on the wing. There were a lot of scouts there, and we had to move fast. I called AIK’s CEO and said; How would a hundred million Krona (10 million Euros) feel? You need to close this deal right away. If he doesn’t turn out well, fire me. Fire me without compensation, I said.

“I negotiated with the president and managers there. I actually closed the deal that same evening, and he officially became an AIK player”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Newly confirmed goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Arthur Okonkwo had a day to forget in the English Championship after his team were thrashed 5-1 by Southampton.

Southampton leapfrogged Wrexham into sixth place in the Championship with an emphatic victory over their play-off rivals at Stok Cae Ras with Okonkwo, who got the all clear to play for the senior national team of Nigeria by FIFA in goal.

Kuryu Matsuki and Flynn Downes both netted early goals for the visitors, who dominated from the outset. Having been second best in the opening 30 minutes, the hosts grew into the contest and responded through Josh Windass’ composed finish.

But Cyle Larin took advantage of a loose pass after the hour mark to rifle home – with Ross Stewart and Finn Azaz adding further efforts late on as the Saints sealed a fifth successive win.

Southampton – who boast a game in hand over each of their top-six rivals – move up one place and two points above the Red Dragons, who drop to seventh.

It’s obviously not the best way the 24 year old would have loved to celebrate his viral switch of nationality from England to Nigeria.

The real reason why head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is demanding a new deal has been revealed to OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Chelle still has a year to go on his current deal as coach of the team. Talks over an extension started after leading the team to a third place finish at the AFCON in January, but no much progress has been made.

We gathered the deadlock is in the region of his wages with the Malian demanding around $150,000 a month. A significant rise from his current pay of around $75,000.

Sources say the coach is pushing for a new deal because he wants to lead the team to the next major tournament, and feels with the upcoming Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election a new president could affect his desire to achieve the feat.

He wants a deal that will secure his future even if there is a regime change in the NFF with current president Ibrahim Musa Gusua struggling to hold on to his position, after failing to qualify the team for the world cup for the second consecutive edition.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international forward Moses Simon was honoured by top division Belgium side Gent over the weekend for his contributions during his time at the club, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Simon joined Gent in the January transfer window of 2015 from Slovakian side AS Trenčín and immediately became a key player in coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s formation and helped Gent win their first ever national Championship title in May 2015.

Two months later, Simon assisted Laurent Depoitre’s winning goal in the 2015 Belgian Super Cup against cup winners Club Brugge. It was the first time that the club has won the double in their existence. A record that remains till date.

Now at French Ligue 1 side Paris FC, he left Gent for a record fee after three years to Spanish side Levante in 2018. He was honoured for his contributions to the team during his time at the club in front of the fans before their game at the weekend against Mechelen.

Fans of the club held banner with his name and chanted songs of praise for the 30 year old who left the club with 21 goals and 16 assists in 136 games across all competitions.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

World football governing body FIFA has confirmed the completion of the switch of nationality of Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo from England to Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Reports emerged this week that the 24 year old is yet to commit to Nigeria despite wide spread reports, and also statements from the Super Eagles camp and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

FIFA on their official website confirmed that the goalkeeper has successfully switched to Nigeria after receiving the mandatory clearance from England, the team he represented at various youth levels.

It brings to an end debates around his international future, and automatically means he is available for the Super Eagles for their upcoming friendly games in the Unity Cup in May and the games against Poland and Portugal respectively.

Okonkwo who has been key to the promotion push of Wrexham will now battle with Maduka Okoye of Udinese for the number one spot with Stanley Nwabali not active at the moment.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international defender defender Benjamin Fredrick has given a timeline on his expected return from the injury that saw him missed the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Fredrick has been out injured with a meniscus injury since November, forcing him to return to his parent club Brentford from Belgium side FC Dender where he is on loan.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, the Simoiben Football Academy graduate said he will return to full first team training by the end of this month after completing his rehabilitation.

” I am hoping to get the all clear to be back in training by the end of this month. So far there has been no setback and I thank God for how well I am progressing after the surgery”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

On if his return will mean an instant recall to the Super Eagles for the May or June friendly games, the 20 year old said he is only focus on his return from injury and not the Super Eagles for now.

” I miss wearing the national team jersey, but it’s not my focus for now. I just want to get back playing and every other thing will follow. It’s one step at a time”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Zadok Show was the latest Swedish’s new season’s movie that premiered last night featuring a Nigerian youngster on the lead cast.

He was none other than the 18-year old Nigerian striker Yohanna Zadok whose season’s debut was greeted with admiration, ecstasy and sweet victory.

Signed from Kaduna based Ikon Allah Football Academy, six months ago he carried his pre season and cup form into the league and made an instant impact.

AIK Solna’s Strawberry Arena hosting the premiere, the youngster left fans in awe of what the kid was made of. His gold trading could attract Sheikhs in the near future.

Halmstad came calling, and went crashing 2-1 with the kid sealing the game with a “kiss” to send the 50,000 spectators into delirium.

AIK fans thronged the stadium to catch the glimpse of the youngster who showed promises on his senior starts last season. Zadok returned no goals in his six games last season for the senior side, a far cry from his fiery smoking form in the junior side.

Zadok refused to look like an upstart to prove he could be the machine that produces goals. He did produce one last night and the fans believe he will deliver more as the season wears on.

But he was game-ready as well as goal-made as his goals in the Svenka Cup were reminders he could slay Halmstad.

Goals, assists and overall breathtaking performance headlined the media on his smoking Svenka Cup games going into the new season’s opener.

The big occasion looked the same as the Svenka Cup’s for Zadok as he agreed with the fans to pepper the visitors’ defence.

Many times he was denied a goal but with seven minutes remaining on the clock he changed the story.

Guiding the ball closely to his deadly left with two Halmstad defenders aggressively entertaining him and almost losing the ball straying out of reach, brilliantly forcing the ball back to his foot, and smashing the ball into the top left corner. Sheer brilliance!

Impressive from the skilful kid and the winning goal assured as AIK opened the new season with maximum points.

Fast, intelligent, eel-like slippery, Zadok Show was an A-lister for the youngster.

Reaching the stars was the superlative movie role interpreted on the “premiere” by the youngster.

He even ever impressed on his role casting by turning the Arena into a circus show while the fans enjoyed.

With the ball closely strapped to his left foot, defenders were invited with defiance, dismissed almost in one moment so poetic as Halmstad defenders were thoroughly thinned out.

He seemed to enjoy more of it as all balls suddenly were flighted into his path as AIK ferociously attacked.

It appears he will attract more roles in the coming movies, Zadok has come to stay.

What else did he not do in the game? He actually reached the stars, a whooping 9.2 star rating, Man of the match winner and the game winner.

AIK have unleashed a brand new star waiting to be courted by top spenders.

The coming years will definitely see Zadok get bigger movie roles in France, Italy or Spain should be coming his spotless debut.

Is he the new Kanu?

Languidly Kanu-like, princely 1.81m height, Zadok has been variously described in the Sweden press as possessing a deadly, refined left foot.

He almost boxed all the legendary Kanu possessed but it remains to be seen where he will land in the coming years.

Perhaps, Arsenal, like Kanu?

AIK coach Jose Riveiro, a strong believer in the youngster, wasted no time in establishing him into his team this season in his 4-3-3 formation.

Reserved a “permanent” place on the right wing, Zadok, a brilliant left footer, brings his left foot to the party to kill. He did last night to leave Halmstad defenders remembering him for a long time as well as watering the mouths of the AIK fans.

Nigeria should be on a keen watch, will it cadet team first before the Super Eagles?

Or straight up to the Eagles?

Whichever Eagle he will first be, smart money’s on him to soar highest.

Meanwhile, welcome to first team football in Sweden, Yohanna Zadok!

IKENWA ASHIBUOGWU NNABUOGOR

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says his team that finished second at the AFCON two years ago did better than the one that finished third at the tournament in January, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Peseiro led the team to their first AFCON final since 2013, a game they lost 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire. It was their best finish in 11 years.

At the recently concluded AFCON under new coach Eric Chelle, the team finished third but were roundly praised for how they performed in the tournament. Particularly their style of play.

Reacting to their third placed finish at the tournament in Morocco, Peseiro said Nigeria as one of the giants in Africa is always expected to win the AFCON.

” Nigeria is a big football country in Africa and every tournament comes with expectations. You are expected to get to the final of the AFCON and we did that two years ago. Best finish in a while. I see the team finished third at the last tournament”, he said in an interview in Portugal.

Hot on the heels of the success of Emmanuel Fernandez and three others in Chibuike Nwaiwu, Yira Sor and Philip Otele who made their debut in the recently concluded four team tournament in Turkey, Super Eagles coach Chelle has his sights on five new players.

Chelle has shown over time that he isn’t scared of handing new players a spot in his team capping as many as ten players in competitive or high profile friendly games, since his appointment as coach a little over a year ago.

Ahead of the Unity Cup tournament in England in May, where they will face Zimbabwe, India and Jamaica in a the four team tournament some set of players will also be getting their baptism.

Super Eagles will also take on Poland and Portugal respectively in June, another game where new players will also be assessed by the Malian in his second phase of building the team.

” Chelle is keeping close watch on five players at the moment for the Unity Cup in May and also the friendly games in June. It’s a continuous process and the window is perfect to try new players”, a close source to the coach said.

We gathered that players like Kareem Tunde of Levante, Femi Azeez of Millwall, Marcus Abraham of Estrela , Anthony Dennis of Göztepe and Arthur Okonkwo of Wrexham.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman