The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen for a random drug test after his all action display for Nigeria in their 2-0 win over Cameroon in the round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwmGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen was the driving force in the win for the Super Eagles with his desperation to get on the ball leading to him snatching possession before laying the assist for Ademola Lookman to score the opener.

He chased down every single ball putting the defence of Cameroon under pressure until he was substituted with around five minutes left to play in the game. His energetic display has now led to CAF picking him for a random drug test.

Usually players are picked by drawing of lots for all players on the match day squad, but they can also picked players randomly if they noticed any unusual behavior during and after the game. Kelechi Iheanacho was the other player picked for a drug test despite not getting on the pitch.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has provided an update on goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali who was subbed off due to injury in the Super Eagles AFCON round of 16 2-0 win over Cameroon, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwabali has risen to the role of first choice at the tournament keeping regular first choice Francis Uzoho on the bench by starting all of the four games they have played at the tournament so far.

Georges-Kévin N’Koudou caused the 27 year old to be subbed off with a rash tackle in his bid to reach a high ball in the 72nd minute. Nwabali was stretchered off and latreplaced by Uzoho.

Speaking on the injury during the post match conference, Peseiro said a proper diagnosis will be done on him in the next 24 to 48 hours but said he hope to have him fit for their next game against Angola in the quarter final.

“We will assess the state of the injury in the next 24 to 48 hours. It’s difficult to assess his condition, while we were in the match. But I am hoping that he will be fit for the next match. I want him to play. And the players want him to play”, he said before revealing how they intend to approach the game against Angola on Friday.

He praised his team for their performance in the round of 16 saying they deserve to win and another performance this quality will be okay for them to progress to the semi final.

“See, I want to just win every game, I don’t know what Nigerians think about names in football but if we must defeat Angola, we must play like today”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has given the team three key tips that will be necessary for them to beat Cameroon in today’s Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will today take on Cameroon in what will be a repeat of the 2019 AFCON round of 16 game, which Nigeria won with Rohr in charge of the team. They went all the way to pick up on a bronze medal.

Looking at today’s game, the coach reflected on the times he faced the Indomitable Lions as coach of the Nigerian team which was three times and he won two and drew one. He rounded up by giving tips to the present coach and players of the team.

“We (Nigeria) beat (4-0)  in  the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo and drew 1-1  in Yaounde, and, of course, we were happy because we  eliminated them from the  Russia 2018,” Rohr told NationSport in Cote d’Ivoire where he is working as a television pundit for Ivory TV.

“The secret was having the same fighting spirit they have because they are a team capable of playing good football too like they did today (in their AFCON 2023 last Group C match) against Gambia, where they were down at  2-1 but eventually won at 3-2.

“They (Cameroon) have such a good spirit, and they did same at the last AFCON  bronze medal match when they were down 3-0 against  Burkina Faso, but they still won it via penalty shootout  at the end of the match.

“So, the secret for the Super Eagles would be to do hard work and press them from the midfield and the secret  also would be to take advantage of their goalkeeping crisis because (Vincent) Onana is giving them a lot of headache.

“But the biggest secret for the Super Eagles will be to maintain their solidarity and that could make the difference for them (Nigeria) against Cameroon.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Top division Belgium side Gent have completed the signing of Nigeria U17 star striker Abubakar Abdullahi as a potential replacement for Gift Orban who has joined French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Abubakar scored a brace against Burkina Faso to hand Nigeria the WAFU B trophy which sealed their spot at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, he didn’t however match his feat at the tournament with Nigeria crashing out in the quarter finals.

However he did enough to convince the technical setup of Gent to hand him a chance to train with the youth team and he excelled leading to the decision to hand him a five year deal. His signing is coming hot on the heels of the departure of another Nigerian in Orban to Lyon.

Orban was the surprise star of the team last season after scoring 22 goals in 22 games following his move in the January transfer window from second division Norwegian side Stabaek.

“Abu has joined Gent and the hope is that he will be another Orban. He has already played in a game for the youth team. They showed they wanted him the most ahead of FC Porto who were keen on signing him and even had him in training”, a source close to the player told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Built with a much better physical attribute than Orban, Abu will be hoping to not just follow in the footsteps of Orban but also that of Moses Simon, the Super Eagles vice captain who played a role in convincing the youngster to join the team he led to their first ever league title in 2015.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

One of the players who have stood out for the senior national team of Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations has been Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, who has played in all of the three games so far at the tournament.

He started the last two games after playing as a substitute in their first game of the tournament. His performances has been largely why the team hasn’t conceded in their last two games at the tournament. Games he started as a matter of fact.

While his performances has make so many followers of the team happy, the same can’t be said about his father who is unhappy over the fact that his son doesn’t want to talk to him anymore since becoming a star in not just the national team but also at club level.

“I had Issues with the mum, out of wickedness she denied me access to my children and changed my son’s surname to her maiden name,” Kingsley Ughelumba told www.totorinews.com exclusively.

“I tried my best to settle with her. We went to court in London for me to have access to my children, but she vehemently opposed me seeing my children.

“This very issue happened in 2008. The judge told us to go home and settle the matter as a family, but she denied me and that is the reason that I have not been able to have access to my children”.

He said the last time he saw his children who are four in number with Calvin as the second of them all was in 2016. Since then he hasn’t been able to have access to them not even when he visited Calvin while he was at Rangers of Scotland.

“The club officials allowed me to speak to my son. through the club’s telephone. We did speak. He said I should come to his house.

“Getting to his house, he was on call with his mother. He immediately he saw me, he became very upset, that he doesn’t want to see or talk to me. He said he was going to the gym to train.

“I had to go back to Italy dejected and since then I never had access to Calvin and my other three sons. I just want to reconcile with my four boys.

“To be candid, i don’t know the offence I committed against the mother that she should take such drastic action against me, to deprieve me access with my children,” he concluded.

However in a different interview, Calvin who has dropped his both surnames Ughelumba and Bassey at the tournament said his father abandoned them with his mother who raised them all by herself in England.

Speaking in an exclusive interview in December, Bassey was asked about his estranged father, and told The Athletic, “He’s just not in my life — we lived with him but that was when I was really young. Since I was six, it has been Mum and us boys.

“I knew that if I got the chance to put my name on the back of a shirt I wanted it to be my mum’s name — my way of saying thank you.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has made his starting lineup for today’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 clash against Cameroon, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

As we reported yesterday, the Portuguese has stuck with the 3-4-3 system that the team has used in their last two games but has altered the starting lineup from the team that defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their final group game.

In his bid to reinstate some players who were key in the 1-0 win over the host Ivory Coast, the coach made five changes to the lineup for today’s game by bringing back the quartet of William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman back into the starting lineup.

He also made a change in the flanks with Moses Simon coming in for Samuel Chukwueze who has started the last two games. Simon will start on the right where he will be tasked with defensive duties in the hope that he will match his man of the match award picked up in the previous game.

Barring a late minute change of mind , below is how the Super Eagles will lineup for the game.

Starting lineup:

Stanley Nwabali
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi
Calvin Bassey
William Troost-Ekong
Semi Ajayi
Frank Onyeka
Alex Iwobi
Ademola Lookman
Moses Simon
Victor Osimhen

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has hinted at a potential act of indiscipline as why Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho hasn’t played a game for the team at the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Iheanacho joined the team late due to a thigh injury but he has since recovered from it and has been exceptional in training the past few days. He was passed fit for their final two games of the group stage but didn’t get to play.

Ahead of the round of 16 game against Cameroon tomorrow, the Portuguese was asked about the absence of the left footed forward and he confirmed that he is fit, but other issues is why he hasn’t played yet, he however said he will get to play.

“You know Kelechi just recovered from injury, there is a reason why he is not playing. I am the coach and you can’t understand. I believe in Iheanacho and he will play in the tournament”, Tobi Adepoju who was at the pre match conference posted on X.

His statement is coming in the wake of reports that the 27 year old acted disrespectfully to the coach during their World cup 2026 qualifiers game against Lesotho, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The reliable bookmaker 1xBet announces the Africa Cup of Nations 1/8 finals matches, which will be held from January 27 to 30.

Angola v Namibia

Both teams are not among the top 100 in the FIFA rankings, so theirqualification for the Afcon playoffs came as a big surprise to allexperts. Angola drew with Algeria, and victories over Mauritania (3-2) and Burkina Faso (2-0) brought them first place in Group D. The Black Antelopes played efficiently and effectively even withoutFiorentina forward M’Bala Nzola, who refused to go to thetournament and probably regrets his decision. Now, Angola has everychance to repeat its best result and reach the quarter-finals for the firsttime since 2010.

Namibia has never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations playoffstage before, and they managed to do this with an astonishing 1-4 goal difference. It is the worst result among the tournament’s top 16 participants. Still, having failed the match against South Africa (0-4), the Brave Warriors played against Tunisia (1-0) and Mali (0-0) without mistakes in defense.

The current stage is already a success for both neighboring countries, but why not aim for more? Angola is considered the favorite bybookmakers, but the Black Antelopes are more comfortable playingon counterattacks. As for Namibia, this squad has a historic chance, which it will hold on to with all its might.

Nigeria v Cameroon

We will see the classic struggle between the African giants in theplayoffs 1st round. Nigeria and Cameroon finished second in theirgroups, but the Super Eagles pragmatically scored 7 points with a 3-1 goal difference, while the Indomitable Lions were on the brink ofdisaster. Only Christopher Wooh’s saving goal in the 91st minute ofthe 3rd round match with Gambia brought the team victory and took itto the playoffs.

Nigeria is rightly considered one of the main Afcon favorites. The Super Eagles are not playing spectacularly yet. Still, they havefearsome attacking potential represented by some of the world’s bestforwards: Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and AdemolaLookman. At the same time, Jose Peseiro has given the team balancedfootball and relies on foolproof defense, while Cameroon hasproblems with it. The team conceded 3 goals after 3 shots on targetfrom Senegal and, in total, allowed their group opponents to score sixtimes.

Cameroon relies on standards and crosses in attack but is often lost inpositional play. The last time the Indomitable Lions beat the Super Eagles was at the Afcon 2000 final, and they did it only in a penaltyshootout. It won’t be any easier to win this time.

Equatorial Guinea v Guinea

Equatorial Guinea was the highest-scoring team in the group stage, having 9 goals despite their opponents being the powerful Nigeriansand the host Ivorians. Emilio Nsue leads the Afcon scoring race with5 goals, and only four squads in the tournament have better resultsthan the 34-year-old forward, who plays in the Spanish third division.

The Elephants are confident in their abilities and want to continue a pleasant tradition. The team takes part in the Africa Cup of Nations for the 4th time, and in each of the 3 previous cases, it reached at leastthe quarter-finals.

It will be difficult for Guinea to contain the opponent’s attack andenter the top 8 for the first time since 2015. The squad did not keep a clean sheet in the matches against Cameroon (1-1) and Senegal (0-2), beating only the group outsider Gambia. The team’s main hopes aretied to better play from Serhou Guirassy and Naby Keïta, who havenot yet shined in the tournament.

Egypt v DR Congo

The group stage two most “peaceful” teams will meet in the 1/8 finals. Egypt and DR Congo ended all their AFCON matches in a draw, so no one will be surprised if, on January 28, they bring thematter to a penalty shootout.

Egypt has lost its main star and is undergoing an emotionally difficulttournament. In the first round, Mohamed Salah scored a saving goalfor the Pharaohs in the compensated time against Mozambique butwas seriously injured during the next game with Ghana. Now, theforward is under the specialists‘ supervision in Liverpool and, according to their forecasts, has only a theoretical chance of helpinghis team in the final. So, Mo’s partners will fight not only for theirhomeland and title but also for their captain.

DR Congo lost 4 official matches in a row to Egypt and is consideredthe struggle’s underdog. Still, the Leopards managed to secure a drawwith the formidable Moroccans in the group. Will they break theseries of Egyptian failures?

Cape Verde v Mauritania

The only victory in the group over Algeria was Mauritania’s first everat the Afcon, which allowed it to qualify for the playoffs with 3 points. The Lions of Chinguetti have already completed the main task, but the appetite comes with eating – after all, the opponent is notconsidered an African grand. Mauritania plays thoughtful andorganized football and still can surprise.

According to 1xBet, Cape Verde is the match favorite. The Blue Sharks flaunted in the group stage and showed the magic of numbers: they scored 7 points and 7 goals thanks to 7 different players winningGroup B. Their head coach, Bubista, relies on disciplined football, and the team is ready to at least repeat its success in 2013 when theyreached the tournament 1/4.

Senegal v Côte d’Ivoire

The reigning Africa Cup of Nations champion Senegal began theirtitle defense with convincing victories in all three group stage gameswith a total 8-1 score. The Lions of Teranga delight with their teamplay, which does not depend critically on Sadio Mane’s actions. One of the main tournament stars, representing Saudi Al Nassr, has 1 goaland 2 assists, but the squad scored more than half of the goals withoutits leader. Now, it is the opportune moment for powerful Senegal tobeat Côte d’Ivoire for the first time at the Afcon.

The tournament hosts, considered one of the favorites, cannot bear theburden of responsibility and pressure from their own stands. Côted’Ivoire made it into the playoffs with great difficulty, beating onlyoutright outsider Guinea-Bissau. The local federation fired theircoach, Jean-Louis Gasset, after a terrible match in the 3rd roundagainst Equatorial Guinea (0-4) and did not change their mind evenwhen the team qualified for the 1/8 finals. Didier Drogba’s footballheirs are poorly prepared for the tournament, and in the game withSenegal, they can only hope for a miracle and the loyal fans’ support.

Mali v Burkina Faso

Without a doubt, this is one of the most unpredictable pairings at the1/8 stage! The Mali national team won Group E with one goalconceded, although, during the tournament, Yves Bissouma fromTottenham and Moussa Diarra from Toulouse got sick with malaria. The Eagles have shown resilience and are looking to enter the Afcontop eight for the first time since 2013.

Burkina Faso knows how to prepare for the main competition on thecontinent like no one else – over the past 11 years, the squad has madeit to the Afcon semifinals three times. The Stallions conceded 4 goalsin the group but defended well in key matches. There are few chancesto see many goals in this struggle – both teams are unlikely to takerisks.

Morocco v South Africa

After the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, the Moroccans want to buildon their success and win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first timesince 1976. One of the main competition favorites easily won Group F with 7 points and saved its main trump cards for the playoffs. The Moroccan national team’s favorite status looks obvious, but do not beso quick to give victory to the Atlas Lions. Morocco has never beatenSouth Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations final and lost to the BafanaBafana in qualifying for the tournament in June 2023.

The South African national team’s best results are now a thing of thepast – today, they rely on players from the local championship, but atthe same time, they can defeat any favorite. For example, at the Afconin 2019, they managed to sensationally eliminate Egypt with Salah.

Watch the Africa Cup of Nations 1/8 finals hot matches, and don’tmiss the chance to win big money with the most favorable odds from1xBet!