As the senior national team of Nigeria step up preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations, some players are struggling to fit into the plans of the head coach of the team Jose Peseiro, OwnGoalNigeria.com reveals.

The coach has been given a target of getting to at least the semi final of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire next year in order for his short term deal to be extended to cover the period of the qualifiers for the World Cup 2026.

It has made the coach to be ruthless in taking certain decisions ahead of the tournament, particularly with players who haven’t quite impressed or have fallen behind in the pecking order.

While he is sure of sticking with captain of the team Ahmed Musa as long as he is fit, the same can’t be said for the vice captain of the team William Troost-Ekong who has fallen out of favour in recent times.

Ekong who is enjoying regular run of games at Greek Side PAOK hasn’t played for the senior national team of Nigeria since the 0-4 drubbing in the hands of Portugal almost a year ago.

He wants included in the sqaud that recently engaged Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively in two high profile test games. Prior to the games he was an unused substitute twice during the final round of games for the AFCON qualifiers.

Another player who has heavy doubts on his spot in the team is Chidozie Awaziem of Boavista. The 26 year old who was given his big breakthrough at Porto by Peseiro isn’t seen as an option by the coach. His last call up was a late one coming in for the injured Jamilu Collins for the recent friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively.

Awaziem was a second half substitute in the 3-2 win over Mozambique playing the final 29 minutes. It was his first involvement with the team since the 0-1 loss to Ecuador on the 6th of March in 2022.

The duo add not the only defenders battling to win back the faith of the manager with TSG Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma also facing the same threat. He hasn’t been involved since the 3-2 win over Sierra Leone, where he was subbed on for the final 19 minutes of the game.

Since then, he hasn’t been involved in the team and has further fallen down the pecking order with the recent invitation of Jordan Torunarigha and also the faith of the coach in the duo of Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey. His chances of making the team for the AFCON is very slim.

Empoli defender Tyronne Ebuehi is well loved by Peseiro but he hasn’t done enough to nail a spot in recent games, particularly the recent friendly game against Saudi Arabia which he started.

For now the duo of Ola Aina who is now back to full fitness and Bright Osayi-Samuel are the favorite to be on the plane to Cote d’Ivoire next year as the right backs of the team.

The last name on our list is Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu. Admired and loved by the coach for the fact that he is of a different profile from the rest of the attackers in the team, the emergence of Victor Boniface has seen him drop out of consideration.

Onuachu is also now behind Taiwo Awoniyi, who is having a good run in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest. There is little or no way back for him in the team before the start of the AFCON.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The search for more options in the area of goalkeepers is one of the major concerns of the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro hasn’t been entirely convinced by the three senior goalkeepers in the team at the moment, and even though he has publicly backed under fire first choice Francis Uzoho after two blunders leading to goal in consecutive games, he is keen on having more options.

He feels the duo of Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye haven’t convinced him enough to drop Uzoho, hence his decision to look for more options one of which is Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

He has also moved a step further by also making contact with on loan Arsenal shot stopper Arthur Okonkwo. A player he has been tracking for a while.

Now at English League two side Wrexham after a highly successful time on loan to Austrian side Sturm Graz for the second half of last season, the 22 year old has indicated his willingness to begin the switch of nationality process from England.

The hope is that he will be cleared to be a part of the set up for the Africa Cup of Nations and not the world cup qualifiers which begins in November. We also gathered that former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick put in a word for him.

Okonkwo who will be out of contract at Arsenal at the end of this season has made seven appearances in all competitions and has three clean sheets. So far he has conceded seven goals.

Osas Mahawi

In a bid to arrest the confidence crisis among the goalkeepers of the senior national team of Nigeria, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has started moves to bring back former national team captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama back to the team, OwnGoalNigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.

First choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho hasn’t covered himself in glory lately with two high profile errors in their recent friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively.

The  coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro has bemoaned the lack of confidence his goalkeepers suffer while on duty, saying it is the reason why they are making errors that has proved costly to the team in recent games.

Ahead of next year Africa Cup of Nations, where the aim is to win the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, the NFF are exploring ways to bring back Enyeama who left the team in 2015 for the assignment of winning the tournament for the first time in ten years.

41 year old Enyeama was in goal for the team at the tournament in South Africa, when they last won the AFCON and the idea per what we exclusively gathered is to hand him a backroom role of some sort to help the confidence of the goalkeepers.

” For eight straight years , Enyeama was the first choice goalkeeper of the Super Eagles and faced lot of criticism even up to his last game. His experience will be needed at the AFCON to help the current goalkeepers deal with the pressure that comes with such a task”, a board member of the NFF told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

” In the past , the idea has been mooted but we now want to bring it to light. His experience is badly needed as he is role model to lot of these goalkeepers during their formative years, hopefully talks will end well because his experience is part of what we need at the AFCON”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

This is not the best of times for KAA Gent Nigerian striker Gift Orban who seems to have forgotten his scoring boots momentarily, not returning the favours he served steaming hot to his new side when he switched from Norway’s Stabaek last year summer.

Orban has recently gone from phenomenal to struggling as his range in front of him seems to have been too far for him, going a whooping nine games both in Belgium and in Europe, firing blanks much to the surprise of fans, including yours’ truly.

The former Stabaek former going  uncharacteristically whooping nine games without scoring, is quite unusual for a striker whose knack for scoring is highly impressive.

What could have gone wrong for the “golden goose” that laid priceless eggs for the city known for their medieval monasteries and the Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market)?

Could the embattled striker have been badly hit psychologically that he didn’t make the transfer move and record for the modest Belgian side despite attracting huge interests from bigger clubs in England, France and Spain?

Much to add to this including his unfortunate red card against AS Eupen last month may have negatively affected this gift of a marksman and adding to his goal banging set back.

A string of injuries he also suffered coupled with the ownership squabbles between Nigeria and Togo, where he spent his formative years, may also have affected his precision in front of goal.

Typically, as a striker, Orban could be consoling himself attributing his sudden and surprise goal lull to passing out a phase that could soon be dumped to where it belongs and back to his goal scoring business that made him one of the most feared marksmen in Belgium and in Europe.

Recently toppled by Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren as the most expensive player in the Transfermarkt ratings in the Belgian League, on the worth of €25 million, leaving Orban tying on second place with Nigerian-born Norwegian star Antonio Nusa, is indeed not a cheering news for a striker who took Belgium by storm.

Scoring a paltry two goals in nine league appearances for his club, is an indication that all is not well for the striker, who has incredibly scored a mouthwatering 33 goals in 39 league appearances thus far since he stormed Europe just a year ago.

With such an incredible record, it’s baffling he’s gone a “century” of nine games without finding the back of the net fuelling fears that all may not be well after all.

Is he saving his gifts for last? Definitely, it could appear so if his qualifies are to be taken into recognition, his hiatus may well be a phase.

Lacking in inches, Orban is a defenders’ neck pain, compactly build with a low centre of gravity, quick off the mark, intelligent, this Gift isn’t a Greek one.

Gent may well be preparing the Friday Market and laying the pathways with petals and roses for a triumphant entry of their hero who’s seriously eyeing a comeback and the comeback may not be too far.

What about Europe?

Is he saving his hat tricks for last?

His last hurray in the UEFA Conference League was against Polish side MKS Pogon Szczecin in August and has gone surprisingly gone four games without scoring.

The resurgence may have start in their Thursday visit to Iceland to engage Breidablik UBK in the UEFA Conference League group game, Orban may be back again with a bagful of hat trick to sing new song for his embattled self and Gent.

Who knows?

Ikenwa Nnabuogor

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro handed a debut to Hatayspor of Turkey midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the team’s 3-2 friendly win over Mozambique in Portugal.

The 22 year old started on the right side of Nigeria’s attack as opposed to his preferred role in the middle of the pitch, yet he provided the assist for the goal that drew Nigeria level.

He now has five assists this season with four coming for his club. He also has four goals as well despite not getting in on the act in their 2-4 loss to Fenerbahçe, a game that he was on for the entire duration.

Rated as one of the best summer signings in the Turkish league so far, his decision to leave Manchester City three years ago appears to have paid off based on the fact that he left in search of regular first team football.

” When he (Fisayo Dele-Bashiru) made the decision to leave Manchester City three years ago it left Pep Guardiola unhappy because at that stage he was getting into the first team picture at the club, so he never wanted him to leave”, his representative told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” But footballers get to a stage where they want to play first team football and develop further. At that time we had to be honest with his chances at getting into the first team of City, so a decision was reached and here we are today saying it has paid off. He probably wouldn’t have played for the senior national team of Nigeria if he didn’t take that step”.

Osas Mahawi

IFK Varnamo secured a 3-1 comeback win over Goteborg in a Swedish top division game with Super Eagles goalkeeper hopeful Jonathan Rasheed in goal for the winners, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.

Varnamo dominated the early exchange but failed to make their possession count in the first half while the visitors took the only real chance that came their way to hold a 1-0 lead going into the half time break.

They made sure their dominance counted in the second half with three goals in 25 minutes. The result saw them move to 7th on the league table after 27 games in the 16 team Allsvenskan, the top division in Belgium.

After the game, Rasheed who has been bombarded with messages from Nigeria on the need to have him in the Super Eagles, in the wake of two high profile errors by the first choice goalkeeper of the Nigerian team Francis Uzoho posted a message of gratitude on the teeming calls from Nigeria.

” To my Naija people. Thanks for all the love”, the 31 year old goalkeeper who was born in Sweden to parents of Nigerian descent posted on his Instagram account shortly after the game, which was his 19th game of the season.

He has kept six clean sheets despite conceding 19 goals. Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has been made aware of his presence but he is yet to make a decision on handing him a call up to fight for a spot in the team ahead of the start of the world cup qualifiers and also next year Africa Cup of Nations.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Luton Town scored twice late on, including an injury-time effort from Elijah Adebayo, to come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Nottingham Forest, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A double from Chris Woods was set to be the match winner for Forest, who are still without Nigeria international forward Taiwo Awoniyi, but when Chidozie Ogbene pulled a goal back for the visitors with seven minutes remaining, it set up a frenetic finish to the game.

Adebayo ensured the newly promoted side pick a point when he drew them level two minutes into time added on after regulation time. The result see them move up to 17th on the league table as they bid to stay in the English Premier League.

Speaking on his international future just before the start of the season, 25 year old Adebayo who now has two goals in the English Premier League from nine games said he isn’t thinking of a senior national team call up from Nigeria or England.

He is eligible for both countries and he has kept his options open, but insist that his main focus is on enjoying and improving his game in what he sees as the toughest league in the world.

” I am not thinking about playing for Nigeria or England. My aim is to do well in this league which is one of the toughest and you never know what the future holds. It’s the dream of every player to play international football but it’s not what is on my mind at the moment”, he said.

Damian Waziri

Legendary Cote d’Ivoire forward Didier Drogba says the Super Eagles are among the favourites to win next year Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by his country, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Drogba said although the Super Eagles are in the same group with the host, they will make it out of the group alongside the host and be in contention for the trophy, which the coach of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says is their target going into the tournament.

“I think that Côte d’Ivoire has every chance of getting out of this group. It’s indeed tough with the Super Eagles of Nigeria who are still the favourites of the competition”, he said.

“We have Guinea and Guinea Bissau which will sell their skin dearly. It’s going to be a tough field but it’s the Ivory Coast which hosts, which organizes, the Ivorian public will be there to galvanize the team”, he concluded.

His statement is coming hot on the hells of that of former Nigeria international defender Rueben Agboola who said the team isn’t among the top teams for the title next year.

“We are so patriotic as a country, we forget to check the present weather forecast… This current team is not as strong as our 2013 squad and in my opinion that team overachieved based on the teams they were up against. Even if we magically produced a prime Vincent and put him behind this team, I still wouldn’t back us to win the AFCON. I hope they prove me wrong but I doubt they will. God bless Nigeria”, he concluded on the chances of the team.

Damian Waziri

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has explained why Francis Uzoho is still the first choice goalkeeper of the Super Eagles despite his recent spate of errors, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Uzoho’s position has come under serious scrutiny in the wake of his back to back errors for the team’s friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively.

Many have called for the goalkeeper who is yet to make a single appearance for Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia to be dropped from the starting lineup, with Adebayo Adeleye who is enjoying a constant run of games at Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem viewed as a better option.

Some are even calling for the return of Maduka Okoye as first choice even though he is yet to make an appearance for Serie A side Udinese, the thinking is that he is at a top league and a tougher place than Uzoho, Peseiro is however adamant.

He said the blame shouldn’t be on the goalkeepers alone as even the striker’s are guilty of missing chances, but don’t get criticized like the shot stoppers. He went further to explain why Uzoho is still finding favours with him.

“In Nigeria, every time they attack the goalkeepers,” Peseiro told BBC Sport Africa.

“Why don’t they attack the strikers who miss goals? It is the same.”

” If I change them every time, or punish them when they make mistakes, one day I won’t have any players, because every player makes mistakes,” he said.

“We understand and accept that the fans are free to shout or speak. It is normal.

“Me, Uzoho and the players accept that. It is my obligation and my responsibility to keep the confidence and support our players.”

Ade Emmanuel

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has decided to extend an invitation to a new goalkeeper ahead of the start of the world cup qualifiers and also next year Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro hasn’t been sufficiently impressed with the options available to him l, with first choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who has kept in majorly all of the game when available under the new coach guilty of one error after another.

His latest gaffe came in the recent two friendly games played by the team against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively. It has led the coach into looking for other options even though he has publicly backed the Omonia Nicosia shot stopper.

He believes the shot stopper is the best and even better than the duo of Adebayo Adeleye and Maduka Okoye, but when he plays for Nigeria his nerves get the better of him. So a new goalkeeper will no doubt have a positive effect on his morale because it will be a fresh competition.

That idea is the reason behind the plan to invite Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who has kept six clean sheets in 12 games this season making him one of the best in South Africa.

Nwabali a former Enyimba goalkeeper is expected to be involved with the team next month barring any unforeseen circumstances. He is also expected to be handed a spot in the team for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Peseiro was sufficiently impressed with his development and performances this season and sees the 27 year old as one with a different profile and ability from the rest of the shot stoppers in the team.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman