The senior national team of Nigeria will likely have a new leader on the pitch when they take on Equatorial Guinea on the 14 of January in their first game of the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro will not start with any of the recognized captains of the team in the first game of the tournament, as all three of them namely Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo have lost their starting spot in the team.

Next in line is Moses Simon, who has a high chance of starting the game but in the event that he doesn’t start, coupled with the absence of Wilfred Ndidi with Kelechi Iheanacho ruled out of the first game. One of the duo of Alex Iwobi or Victor Osimhen will wear the captain armband.

If that happens it will be the first time either of the duo is wearing the band for Nigeria. Peseiro is said to be very comfortable with Iwobi as his captain for the game but handing the armband to Osimhen, the current Africa footballer of the year is one option the coach has spoken about before.

A decision will be made before the game if Moses Simon isn’t in the starting lineup, although it is highly unlikely.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria is the sixth favourite to lift the Africa Cup of Nations which begins on the 13th of January in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Despite boasting a reputation for the strength of their strike force led by Africa footballer of the year Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles weren’t picked as favourite in a poll of likely winners carried out by a super computer and reported by the BBC.

Using Opta’s artificial intelligence prediction model, holders Senegal have emerged as the narrow favourites to lift the trophy this time around. They would become the fourth team to win consecutive Afcons and the first since Egypt won three in a row between 2006 and 2010. None of the past six defending champions have gone beyond the competition’s last 16.

Senegal are the most likely winners according to the model, with a 12.8% chance, just ahead of hosts Ivory Coast (12.1%), who are attempting to win the trophy for a third time, after 1992 and 2015. The last host nation to lift the trophy were Egypt in 2006 – with just two-third place finishes (Ghana in 2008 and Cameroon in 2021) the best result among the past nine countries to host or co-host the competition.

Morocco (11.1%) are given the third-best chance of winning by the predictor model. They are seeking their second Afcon title, having won it in 1976, but they have not got past the quarter-finals in their past seven Afcon appearances, since losing the 2004 final 2-1 to Tunisia.

Algeria (9.7%) are the fourth-most likely winners, with Egypt fifth (8.5%). For Algeria, the chances of victory are boosted potentially by an easier group than some of the other top contenders, giving them the highest probability of reaching the last 16 (91.5%).

Can Egypt – the record seven-time Afcon champions – avenge the heartache they suffered in losing the 2021 final to Senegal on penalties? If so, it will be their first title since 2010.

Mohamed Salah was just a teenager back then – having suffered defeat in the final in both 2017, he will be desperate to win his first Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt have a 16% chance of at least reaching another final this year.

Rounding off the top seven teams in Opta’s predictor model are three-time Afcon winners Nigeria (1980, 1994 and 2013) and five-time champions Cameroon (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017). Nigeria have an 8.1% chance of lifting the trophy, Cameroon 7.5%.

Osas Mahawi

Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar will take part in Super Eagles full training today putting to bed speculations that the is carrying a knock that will rule him out of the game against Equatorial Guinea, which is their first game at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria currently has just two strikers in the build up to their opening game of the tournament and it raised fears and concerns when the forward was pictured in training with a strap around his knee.

The other strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi are yet to arrive in the camp of the team for various reasons with Moffi  who is a late replacement for Victor Boniface held back by his club till after their game against Rennes. Iheanacho is expected on Saturday due to the knock he is recovering from.

A source in the camp told OwnGoalNigeria.com that there is no cause for alarm as the strap around his knee was because of a knock he suffered in the test game against Guinea, which was checked and cleared by the doctors.

” It’s nothing at all. The bandage around his knee is normal even Victor Osimhen wears one. It is  protective and very popular here in camp. Even yesterday Sadiq trained with the rest of the team and not like he was isolated. He wasn’t even limping as said”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” There is no cause for concern because he will train fully with the rest of the team. I understand why people are concerned but take it from me that Sadiq is very fine and carrying knocks is normal. I heard the players joke about how no footballer plays without pain and it’s the truth”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The camp of the senior national team of Nigeria have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their first game at the Africa Cup of Nations which begins this weekend in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Head coach of the team Jose Peseiro is without two players ahead of the opening game with the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi absent for different reasons.

Moffi was called up as a late replacement for Victor Boniface but a truce was reached with his Ligue 1 side Nice to let him play on Saturday against Rennes before linking up with the team on Sunday, effectively ruling him out of their first game against Equatorial Guinea.

Iheanacho was expected to team up with the team in Nigeria before their departure to Cote d’Ivoire yesterday, but that plans has now been rescheduled and he will miss the opening game as well m

He will finish his rehabilitation from  muscle injury at Leicester City before teaming up with the team on the day of the game against Equatorial Guinea, which is on Saturday meaning he is also going to miss the game.

Peseiro will now prosecute the first game with only two of the four strikers in the team with only Victor Osimhen and Sadiq Umar available for selection for the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Dive into the rich and storied past of Juventus Football Club, a journey spanning over a century filled with victories, legends, and moments that defined excellence in the world of football. Explore the iconic moments, legendary players, and enduring legacy of one of Italy’s most successful and beloved football clubs.

The Glorious History of Juventus Football Club

By Michael Smith

Juventus Football Club, often just called Juventus or Juve, is a really famous and good soccer team in the world. They started in 1897, so they’ve been around for a really long time. They’ve won a lot of soccer championships in Italy and Europe. In this article, we’ll talk about the history of Juventus, including how they started, when they were really successful, and how they made a big difference in the world of soccer. And you can make Juventus matches more interesting by enjoying football betting online on 1xbet in India.

Foundation and Early Years

Juventus Football Club was established on November 1, 1897, by a group of young Torinese students. The club’s original name was “Sport Club Juventus,” with the choice of name inspired by the Latin word “juventus,” meaning youth and vitality. From the outset, Juventus aimed to provide the youth of Turin with a platform to enjoy and play football.

The club’s early years were characterized by local success, primarily competing in regional leagues. They had a big win in 1905 when they won the Italian Football Championship. This was just the start of their journey to becoming the most successful club in Italy.

The Post-War Era

After the Second World War, Juventus did really well in soccer. They won many Serie A titles and became one of the top teams in Italy. A player named Giampiero Boniperti was a big part of their success. He scored a lot of goals and is considered a legend for Juventus. His leadership and loyalty to the club inspired future Juventus players.

The Agnelli Family and the Golden Age

In 1923, the Agnelli family, known for their ownership of Fiat, became the majority shareholders of Juventus. Their influence and financial backing played a pivotal role in the club’s growth and development. Under the Agnelli family’s ownership, Juventus experienced a golden age in the 1980s and 1990s.

Some really famous soccer players like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, and Alessandro Del Piero were on the team. Juventus did really well during this time. They won a lot of Italian championships, got trophies in the Coppa Italia, and even made it to the finals of the UEFA Champions League a few times. This made Juventus one of the best teams in Europe.

The Calciopoli Scandal

Even though Juventus was doing really well in soccer, they had a big problem in 2006. There was something called the Calciopoli scandal, which was all about cheating and corruption in Italian soccer. Juventus got caught up in this scandal, and it was a tough time for them. As a result, Juventus was stripped of two Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B for the 2006-2007 season.

Rebuilding and Rebirth

The Calciopoli scandal was a really hard time for Juventus, but they didn’t give up. They worked really hard to get back on track. With the help of important players like Pavel Nedvěd and Alessandro Del Piero, they came back to the top Italian league, Serie A, and started building their team again.

After that, Juventus got a new coach named Antonio Conte. With him leading the team, they started winning a lot. They won three Serie A titles in a row from 2011 to 2014. This showed that Juventus was back on top in Italy.

The Cristiano Ronaldo Era

In 2018, Juventus became really famous by getting Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of the best soccer players ever, from Real Madrid. This showed that Juventus wanted to be the best team in Europe. Even though they haven’t won the UEFA Champions League since 1996, they always have a good chance with Ronaldo on their team.

Legacy and Impact

Throughout its history, Juventus Football Club has left an indelible mark on the world of football. The club’s iconic black and white striped jerseys, passionate fan base, and the famous Allianz Stadium have become symbols of excellence in the sport. Juventus’ commitment to success, both on and off the field, has inspired generations of players and fans alike.

Conclusion

The story of Juventus Football Club shows that hard work, big dreams, and not giving up are really important in soccer. They started in 1897 with not much, and now they are one of the best teams in Italy and Europe. They are known for being really good. Even with ups and downs in their history, people all around the world love and respect Juventus. Their great history will be remembered for a long time.

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Musa Gusau has announced the cancellation of salaries for assistant coaches of the senior national team of Nigeria and those of other national teams under the federation.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Gusau said the move is part of the measures taken by the cash strapped football house to save cost with most of the assistants not that useful based on what he has seen during training.

“I told them (national team coaches) that for us to see that we manage this situation, we are only going to pay the senior coaches salaries, all other assistants will be engaged on invitational allowance, they should go and do other jobs,” Gusau told the press in Lagos.

“Once you employ them they start making noise about their salary for doing nothing but most of the time you visit the teams training, you see the assistants just standing, doing nothing because the head coaches don’t believe in them.

He rounded up by saying he has already told all the head coaches that henceforth they will have free hands to pick whoever they want as their assistants, because he doesn’t want them complaining if the NFF picks for them.

“I told all the head coaches nobody will choose their assistants for them because they are the ones I will hold responsible. If they appoint you as head coach, you must be given the privileged to choose your assistants because I don’t want you to complain to me”, he concluded.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have granted the request made by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to add a new player to the squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

NFF were forced into requesting for a change when Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface picked up a groin injury at their camp in Abu Dhabi, which will see him miss the tournament as he will be out for a period of at least three months.

Terem Moffi of French Ligue 1 side Nice was picked as the replacement for the 23 year old but there were doubts if his club will allow him to join the Super Eagles, that was settled when they agreed to let him team up with the team only after their league game on Saturday against Rennes.

The other hurdle was CAF as it is standard practice for every player selected for the tournament to be on ground for a routine medical before their first game, but Moffi is due to arrive on the day the Super Eagles will take on Equatorial Guinea.

He has now been handed the shirt number of Boniface and will push for a spot in attack as back up to top striker Victor Osimhen alongside Sadiq Umar and also Kelechi Iheanacho who has been passed fit for the tournament.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Continental broadcast giants Multichoice will broadcast the games of the Africa Cup of Nations which will begin this weekend in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

They were initially not going to show the game after a disagreement with CAF over the broadcast right of the tournament, which was sold to emerging Francophone media power house Next World.

Multichoice the owners of the DStv platform earlier made an announcement that they won’t be airing the games of the tournament on their SuperSport channels, but a u-turn has been made by the South Africa based outfit.

According to veteran Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwuna, the company will make a formal announcement on the new development before the end of today, which will no doubt delight a lot of football lovers on the continent.

Already, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) announced earlier today that they will be airing all the games of the tournament after reaching a broadcast agreement with AfroSports.

Ade Emmanuel

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria will earn as high as 42 million naira ($35,000) it they go all the way and lift the Africa Cup of Nations which begins this weekend in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

This was made sure by the recent approval of funds meant for the team to campaign at the tournament, where they will play their first group game on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea.

Each player is entitled to a match winning bonus of $5,000 for a win, and if they go all the way to the final they will play seven matches at the tournament including the final match. The sum could even be higher because the bonus for knock out games is much more than that of the group stages.

It also doesn’t include camp allowances and other benefits like freewill cash and gifts donations, which the team usually gets when they do well at major tournaments like the AFCON.

The motivation and the fact that all their outstanding bonuses have been cleared has lifted the spirit in the camp of the team as they depart for Cote d’Ivoire later today.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

French Ligue 1 side Nice have agreed to allow top striker Terem Moffi to join the senior national team of Nigeria following a late call up as replacement for the injured Victor Boniface, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward will miss the tournament due to a groin injury that will keep him out for almost three months as we exclusively reported yesterday.

Now back in Germany for surgery, his spot was handed to Moffi but it was shrouded in doubts with Nice no longer obligated to release the forward as he wasn’t in the original 25 man list submitted by Nigeria for the tournament.

According to CKD news, they have agreed to release the forward but it will be after their league game on Saturday against Rennes. Meaning the 24 year old will definitely miss the Super Eagles first game of the tournament on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro accepted the condition and Moffi is expected to team up with the rest of the squad in Cote d’Ivoire on the day of their opening game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman