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

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle says Wrexham’s goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has committed to the team after representing England at youth level, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

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).

” Who is saying these things is not saying the truth. We couldn’t call him for the friendly games , because the clearance from the English FA didn’t arrive maybe that is what they mean to say, and If he has decided not to continue with the process then he should tell us first”, Chelle was quoted as saying by a very close source.

The source further said the coach now has his sights on five players ahead of the upcoming friendly games in May and also in June. The idea is to use both windows to blood in new players.

” 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”, he said.

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

At least two of them will be in the team.

The Nigeria senior national team duo of Paul Onuachu and Chibuike Nwaiwu were the hero for Trabzonspor in their 2-1 win over Galatasaray in the Turkish League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Back from international duty with Nigeria, the duo were handed a start in the top of the table clash and league top scorer Onuachu wasted no time in making his mark.

He powered home a bullet header in the 4th minute to put his team ahead. His 22nd goal in 25 games further extending his advantage as the top scorer in the League.

Nwaiwu who made his international bow for Nigeria during the international break was on hand to grab his third goal in the season, with a firm header two minutes after the hour mark and it was good enough to hand his team all three points.

The win moved them to second on the league table , just a point behind Galatasaray although they have played a game more.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The duo of Semi Ajayi and Maduka Okoye who were absent from the Super Eagles friendly game against Jordan due to fitness issues are back in full training, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria ended their campaign at the four nation invitational tournament drawing 2-2 with Jordan without the aforementioned duo, who were excused from the camp after picking up knocks.

Ajayi was allowed to leave the team’s camp after the 2-1 win over Iran. He was subbed off in the game after picking up a knock, but he has now gotten the all clear from the medical staff of Hull City to play in tomorrow’s game against Oxford United.

Okoye was said to have suffered a set back in training hence the decision to grant him permission to leave before the last game. The Udinese man who was making his comeback to the team after snubbing the AFCON is however fit to play in the Serie A against Como on Monday.

It shows the decision of head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle to let them leave was done to not aggravate the knock they picked up.

The senior national team of Nigeria will play two high profile friendly games in the month of June according to the team’s communication department.

Super Eagles won’t be at the world cup after failing to qualify for the second consecutive edition, keeping them available for games against teams going to the world cup.

They will be up against Poland on the 3rd of June before trading tackles with world cup bound Portugal on the 10th of June. Like Nigeria Poland also failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle will use the games to access some new players, and also enhance the second stage of his game project after leading the team to a bronze medal finish at the AFCON in January.

Newly capped South African defender Ime Okon is still eligible to play for the senior national team of Nigeria despite making his debut for South Africa in the recent friendly games against Panama.

Okon played in both games against Panama as he bid to force his way into the plans of coach Hugo Broos, who is putting finishing touches to his 26 man list for the world cup in June.

Born to a South African mother and a Nigerian father, the Hannover 96 defender still divides opinion in South Africa with many not comfortable with his Nigerian roots.

He could however still play for Nigeria because in FIFA’s eligibility rules, which were amended in September 2020 at their 70th annual congress, the former SuperSport defender has not been tied yet to South Africa and can still change national teams as a dual national, even though he played an official game for Bafana.

In making exceptions to the eligibility of players with dual nationalities, FIFA does not consider international friendly matches when it comes to a player being tied to one particular nation over the other.

Generally, players under the age of 21 are allowed to switch allegiances, provided they have not played more than three competitive matches for that senior national team (games in official continental tournaments or the World Cup), although Okon turned 22 last month.

What would tie the former Matsatsantsa centre-back to Bafana is if he features at the World Cup or had featured at the previous AFCON, although FIFA has made another exception that such a dual national player can still switch to another country, if three years have passed since his last appearance for the country concerned.

Ade Emmanuel