Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has identified the one player who will be key to the team when they take on Cameroon in the round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rohr who led the team to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished 3rd faced Cameroon three times in competitive games during his time as coach of the Nigerian team. The team won two of the games and drew one, they sent Cameroon packing from the 2019! AFCON.

Speaking ahead of the game against the arch rivals of the Nigerian team, Rohr said it is a game that will test the mental strength of both teams more than the tactical or technical side. He said players with monster personality will play a role in the game.

” The game has always been there as one that will always be top in Africa. So it’s not about tactics all the time, you need players who can also stand up to the moment. It is really tense in these games against Cameroon for Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

He recalled how he picked his team for the games against Cameroon during his reign as coach of the Nigerian team. ” I go for players with big character and personality in big games. It is why I always have Moses Simon in my team for the game. He is a player for the big occasion because he works really hard for the team. He can be decisive on Saturday for Nigeria”, he rounded up saying.

Ade Emmanuel

The senior national team of Nigeria will tomorrow take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria have stepped up preparation for the game and per what we exclusively gathered, the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has decided to stick with the 3-4-3 formation that was used in the last two group games.

As a matter of fact he is leaning towards using the same starting lineup that was used in the game against Ivory Coast, which they won 1-0 for their first win of the tournament.

It means a return to the starting lineup for the quartet of William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi. They all didn’t start in the last game which was the 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.

His decision to stick with the same team like in the game against the host means back to fitness Alhassan Yusuf misses out as well as Kelechi Iheanacho, who is yet to play a minute at the tournament.

Yusuf will likely play some part tomorrow but for Iheanacho it is still not certain that he will play with reports of a broken relationship with the coach growing strong. He was said to have acted in a disrespectful manner to Peseiro during their world cup 2026 qualifiers game against Lesotho.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria had their first tactical training session ahead of the round of 16 game of the Africa Cup of Nations against Cameroon on Saturday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Led by head coach Jose Peseiro, the team had a one hour session with all players taking part including Victor Osimhen who missed their session a day before yesterday owing to a stomach bug.

His return to full training enabled the coaches to try out something new going by the fact that he has been guilty of uncharacteristic misses in the first three games of the tournament.

Osimhen was made to play deep with Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman taking turns to play in the number 9 role, vacated when he drops to the midfield to help the duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi.

It is believed the move is meant to reduce the dependency on the Napoli forward to score for the team. Peseiro wants all attacking players to share moments in the box unlike in the group games where it was all for Osimhen.

A decision will be made on maintaining the structure when they have their final training session today ahead of the 9pm clash.

Osas Mahawi

25 year old Guinea-Bissau defender Houboulang Mendes says Nigeria international winger Moses Simon ranks among the most difficult opponents he has faced in his career, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Mendes was up against the Nantes man as Nigeria claim a 1-0 win after a cross from Simon was deflected into the net by a defender attempting to clear the ball. The own goal decided the game in favour of the Super Eagles.

It also seals Nigeria’s spot in the round of 16 while also confirming the exit of Guinea-Bissau from the tournament. Mendes however hold fond memories of their stay at the tournament despite the fact that it was shortlived.

” We had a good experience for the entire team and we are proud of wearing our nation’s color. Not the best way we would have want to exit the tournament but we were not disgraced”, he was quoted as saying by the country’s press.

On the opposition he found hard to deal with in the three games the played at the tournament, he picked Simon as the most difficult not just at the tournament but in his career as a whole.

” He (Simon) keeps coming and trying. Always open to running at you making it hard for you to take up advanced positions high up the pitch. To be honest he ranks among the most difficult I have faced in my career not just at the tournament”, he rounded up saying.

Ade Emmanuel

Hot on the heels of claims by the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro that he turned down the chance of signing an extension of his deal as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria, a board member of the football body in Nigeria backed the coach, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Speaking to his country media, the Portuguese coach said he has been offered a new deal to stay on as the coach but declined to sign it as he weighs his options.

Am I going to continue leading the national team? I have a contract until the end of the CAN. They have already offered me a renewal, but I didn’t want to.” José Peseiro said in a statement to sporttvportugal.

Reacting to his claims, a chieftain of the football house who spoke on the conditions of anonymity says he wonder why Nigerians are in a hurry to see the coach leave because the football house isn’t looking at potential options to replace him.

” No we (NFF) are not looking at any option. He (Peseiro )has the job let him do it. He is doing well at the tournament and we are happy with him. So why should we be looking at replacing him?, Let the man focus on his job” he said in a chat with OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” If he decides to walk away then we can now start looking at replacements. Nigerians shouldn’t be desperate to see him leave because we are not looking at any option as his replacement”.

On the talks of the coach rejecting an offer to extend his stay, he said he is not in the know about that because it is between the representative of the coach and the technical department of the NFF.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria returned to training ahead of their round of 16 game against Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Led by coach Jose Peseiro, the team had a close door session which lasted for around an hour with all but one player taking part. It was their first since the last group game against Guinea-Bissau.

William Troost-Ekong who missed the game due to a thigh issue was back in training with Alhassan Yusuf who hasn’t played since the opening game against Equatorial Guinea, where he picked up a knock that ruled him out of their remaining group games.

However one major absentee was top striker Victor Osimhen. He sat out the session leading to fears about a possible injury to the current Africa footballer of the year, but we gatherer that it isn’t the case.

Osimhen like right back Bright Osayi-Samuel is suffering from food poisoning, which has caused him to lose lot of fluids hence the decision for him to sit out the session. He should be ready for today’s session.

A member of the technical crew also said he will definitely be available for the round of 16 game against Cameroon on Saturday, saying his absence in yesterday’s training isn’t a source of any concern.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has defended his team’s poor form in front of goal at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Blessed with the reigning Africa footballer of the year Victor Osimhen who powered Napoli to the Italian league title with 26 goals last season, Peseiro’s side were expected to be a high scoring side but that hasn’t been the case so far.

The Nigerian team have scored just three goals in the tournament, but only one from open play with the other coming from spot and an own goal against Guinea-Bissau in their final group game.

This is coming on the back of the fact that they have created more chances than any other team, with Osimhen guilty of missing more big chances (4) than any other forward in the team so far.

Ahead of the round of 16 game against Cameroon, the Portuguese coach was quizzed on if his tactics is behind the low scoring nature of the team so far, and if he is worried about it as they head into the crucial part of the tournament.

“I have the obligation to do what is right for my team, pick the best formation and how best we can win games,” he told reporters.

“The most important thing is for my players to believe in our strategy. They believe in what we are doing and have done well so far.

“If you remember at the last AFCON, Senegal didn’t score too many goals in the group stage.

“We are not scoring too many goals but we are winning. I prefer to continue like this and reach the final.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has offered him fresh terms to continue in his role as coach of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Peseiro who is currently in Cote d’Ivoire with the team campaigning in the Africa Cup of Nations, where they are through to the round of 16 and will play Cameroon on Saturday has a contract that is due to expire immediately after the tournament.

The coach who only signed an extension on reduced terms to cover the period of the tournament when his initial contract expired said the NFF have offered him an extension to his contract, but that he doesn’t want to .

“Am I going to continue leading the national team? I have a contract until the end of the CAN. They have already offered me a renewal, but I didn’t want to.” José Peseiro in statements to @sporttvportugal

It means he will probably walk away from the team when his current contract expires unless he has a change of mind. For now his immediate focus will be to lead the team to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says the new first choice goalkeeper of the team Stanley Nwabali is better than previous number one Francis Uzoho, OwngoalNigeria.com reports.

Nwabali was installed by Jose Peseiro as the new first choice for the games at the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of Uzoho who has kept goal in all but one of the competitive games under the Portuguese since his appointment.

Rohr who gave Uzoho his big breakthrough in 2018 and picked him as first choice for the 2018 World Cup has backed the decision to drop the Omonia Nicosia shot stopper, who has been guilty of a lot of high profile errors in the recent games for the team.

Rohr explained why he feels the 27 year old Nwabali is an upgrade on Uzoho in an interview with respected Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwuna at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

“I have to say that Stanley Nwabali is better than Francis Uzoho”,  former SuperEagles Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr tells me on Wednesday.
“He is calm and has very good control of his area”, Osasu posted on social media platform X formerly known as Twitter.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

A member of CAF decision making body says the senior national team of Nigeria will be disqualified from the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire if news about the sacking of the board of NFF by a court is true, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

According to a Nigerian online site Insideglasshouse.com, An Appeal Court panel led by Justice Barika together with Justices Okon Abang and Justice Banjoko sacked the NFF Executive Committee  led by Ibrahim Gisau by setting aside and striking out all dubious orders obtained by deceit on September 29, 2022, to conduct the purported NFF illegal election of September 30 in Benin City.

The court struck out all processes concerning the NFF appeal No CA/ABJ/CV/1006/2022 and further ordered that the processes be deleted from all systems of the court forthwith.

Parties in the matter were represented by the following counsels-NFF by Chief Okutepa SAN represented by Peace Omiri and Barrister Arnold from his chambers, while PFAN Task Force was represented by Dr.Celsus Ukpong, Chief Rumson Baribote and Mary Waribo.

The judgement was said to have been passed two days ago and it says all executive board members of the football body led by President Ibrahim Musa Gusau will cease to function in their present capacity after the AFCON.

” Mowiz I saw the link shared on that group on a judgement sacking the NFF board. That amounts to third party interference and saying no action will be taken till after the AFCON isn’t in the power of any one. CAF can decide to throw the Super Eagles out and nothing will happen”, a member of a committee in CAF told OwnGoalNigeria.com‘s editor in chief.

Meanwhile, a board member of the NFF termed the issue as null and void saying it has nothing to do with the legality of the board, rather some aggrieved parties feeding lies to the court in search of relevance.

He said this isn’t the first time something like this has been said of an existing board of the NFF and it won’t be the last before this tenure elapses.

Attached below is the case document that led to the sacking of the NFF board, which is likely going to lead to the disqualification of Super Eagles from the AFCON.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman