The head coach of the senior national team of Saudi Arabia Roberto Mancini says the scary nature of the attack of the Super Eagles of Nigeria was largely responsible for the 2-2 draw on Friday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Mancini saw his team snatch a late draw in Friday friendly game against the AFCON bound senior national team of Nigeria. Aside taking positives from the game, he said Nigeria could have scored more.

” We ended the game the better side but we could have lost because of the number of chances we gave away. Nigeria have very quick attackers and they play to their strength. Even when the ones who started were subbed off, the new guys are almost the same level . That attack is scary” , the coach told the country’s media.

His statement will come as a timely warning to teams ahead of next year Africa Cup of Nations, which the head coach of Nigeria said his team is capable of winning. A semi final spot will also see his contract extended for another two years.

Nigeria will begin the quest to win the tournament by first of all trying to get out of their group, where they will face host Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The first choice goalkeeper of top division Swedish side IFK Varnamo Jonathan Ayola Rasheed says he will willingly accept an invitation to be a part of the senior national team of Nigeria, if handed a call up by head coach Jose Peseiro, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria is facing a crisis in the area of goalkeepers with the current goalkeeper Francis Uzoho error prone. He made another blunder by diverting the ball into his own net in the 2-2 friendly draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday.

That error reignited the calls for a new option in goal for the team with Maduka Okoye, the immediate past first choice also losing his spot due to a costly error made at the last AFCON in the round of 16 game against Tunisia.

We contacted the management team of the 31 year old shot stopper on the possiblity of having him play for Nigeria, and he said it’s a no brainer as he will gladly accept the invitation even though he can play for Sweden as well.

” I don’t think the Super Eagles have bad goalkeepers. They have just been unfortunate which is part of the game. Rasheed is an option if he is called up. He is among the best in Sweden at the moment with six clean sheets”, his representative told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Born in Sweden to a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother, Rasheed who is also eligible for Norway was contacted on social media about the option of playing for Super Eagles and he said he hopes so. ” I hope”, he replied when he was asked about playing for Nigeria as early as the next AFCON.

This season he has conceded 19 goals in 18 games but more importantly he has kept six clean sheets for his team who are placed eight in the 11 team league.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has been warned about the chances of Nigeria winning the Africa Cup of Nations if he keeps Francis Uzoho as first choice goalkeeper of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Uzoho made a costly blunder against Saudi Arabia in the 2-2 friendly draw on Friday. It was the third time in over a year that he has made errors that are unacceptable at this level of football.

His errors have drawn the attention of former Nigeria U23 defeder Mobi Oparaku, who was a part of the team that won the Atlanta 96 Olympic football gold and also played eight games for the Super Eagles, which includes making the team to the 1998 World Cup in France.

” I sounded out this warning in 2019 before the AFCON and it’s sad to see that he is still the same goalkeeper, if not worse. You can’t rely on a goalkeeper who makes basic errors to win a tournament like the AFCON. Uzoho hasn’t improved from 2018 when he made his debut”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Goalkeepers get better with more games and exposure but his case is different. He is regressing, the errors are too basic and I don’t think the other guy ( Maduka Okoye) made as many errors like Uzoho before he was axed. With him in goal, it will be hard if not impossible for Nigeria to win the AFCON next year”.

Osas Mahawi

The one name that stood out when the list of players invited to the senior national team of Nigeria for the friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively was that of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The Hatayspor of Turkey midfielder was handed his first time call up to the team, four years after his elder brother Tom Dele-Bashiru was preferred ahead of him in the Nigeria U20 team for the 2019 World Cup.

A former trainee at Manchester City, he left the club without a single first team appearance two years ago and after a spell with English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, he is now in Turkey where he has four goals and three assists in eight games.

But what kind of player is the 22 year old, OwnGoalNigeria.com editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman breaks it down.

He is a technically able and dynamic central player who works box-to-box, offering a well-rounded skill set of defensive robustness and creative vision. Manchester City coach Guardiola was said to have been impressed by Dele-Bashiru’s work-rate and attitude after he first joined up with senior team training three years ago, which is not something to be taken for granted.

Dele-Bashiru looks to be a mobile central midfielder with good reading of the game and link-up play around the edge of the box.

Creatively, he appears to be at his most effective on the right side of central midfield as he combines with either City’s wingers or strikers. He is not afraid to advance beyond the striker as he runs into the channel and plays a one-two with the winger.

Dele-Bashiru is also a player who likes to be available and keep the ball moving by spreading the play, as shown below as he picks up possession with his back to goal and drives forward before passing out to his right.

He is also not one who is shy of taking responsibility when around the edge of the box and it explains why he has found the back of the net four times already this season.

The head coach of Atalanta Gian Piero Gasperini says Italian Serie A champions Napoli will lose the services of Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen was top scorer in the league last season firing Napoli to their first league title in 33 years, but he is yet to sign an extension to his deal at the club with two years left to run on his current contract.

His relationship with the club is also strained following a video on social media platform TikTok where he was mocked by the official handle of the club over the penalty he missed against Bologna in the league.

Also the future of head coach Rudi Garcia, who replaced Luciano Spalletti who guided them to the league title has always been a hot topic of discussion, with some reports claiming that he has been fired already.

Speaking on the race for the Scuddetto, Gasperini analysed the chances of the top teams but cast doubts over Napoli retaining the title because they will lose Osimhen in January , when the transfer window opens.

“Inter (Milan) have two extra gears thanks to the strength of the Champions League final. But (AC) Milan, apart from the derby, were exceptional. Juve (Juventus) are strong but has a few less certainties, Napoli has problems and will lose Osimhen in January. Roma will play with the top teams if Dybala and Lukaku are well”, he told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria will tomorrow take on Mozambique in their second friendly game in Portugal after Friday’s 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ahead of the game, head coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro will be without two players in Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho, both of them played a role in the game against Saudi Arabia, with Iheanacho scoring after his introduction while Osimhen started the game but was subbed off due to injury.

Peseiro has notably made some changes in defence with Bright Osayi-Samuel picked ahead of Tyronne Ebuehi, who started the last game. Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey will likely keep their place in defence but Jordan Torunarigha will be given a run out for his debut. Also Kenneth Omeruo could get a nod to start ahead of one of the duo of Ajayi or Bassey.

The former Germany youth international defender has been on the bench in two straight games but he is now certain to play some part against Mozambique. A decision is yet to be made on who will start in goal after the howler by Francis Uzoho in the first test game.

For now three goalkeepers in Leke Ojo, Adebayo Adeleye and Maduka Okoye are pushing to take the spot of Uzoho, who could yet start in goal with Peseiro still having faith in him despite the blunder that proved costly in the end.

Terem Moffi will lead the attack of the team in the absence of Osimhen with Victor Boniface keeping his spot behind him. Moses Simon will start on the left side after his impressive performance off the bench on Friday. Ademola Lookman will be on the other flank per what we exclusively gathered.

There is no report of a possible change in the midfield of the team with the duo of Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi keeping their spot. The latter will play higher up the pitch, the same role he now plays for his English Championship side Leicester City.

Ade Emmanuel

As Nigeria continue the search for players born abroad who are eligible to represent the team one name has been added to a list that is already very lengthy, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

At AC Milan, Nigeria are familiar with the two established stars in the first team in Samuel Chukwueze, who is a full international for Nigeria and Noah Okafor who plays for the Swiss national team despite his Nigerian roots.

In the B team , Victor Eletu is the most recognized name as he was a part of the Ladan Bosso led U20 team that went to the U20 World Cup in Argentina. He is also one of the captain of the B team.

But on the verge of a breakthrough into the first team is the highly rated Kevin Zeroli , who is the substantive captain of the B team and boast of four goals and two assists in the first six games of the new season.

In an interview with  Calciomercato.com, the 18 year old spoke about his Nigerian origin and how his uncle who played for Nigeria inspired him to take football as a career. A revelation which is shocking considering the fact that he has always been seen and talked about as a full Italian.

Calciomercato: Can you tell us a little about your origins?

Zeroli: “I’m an Italian-Nigerian boy. I started playing when I was little thanks to my uncle, who is Italian and represents his country, which is also mine, and this makes it special.”

The camp of the senior national team of Nigeria will be two players short when they take on Mozambique in tomorrow’s friendly game in Portugal, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

All the invited 25 players were in the camp before the 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia in their first friendly game. However Victor Osimhen who picked up an Injury during the game will be allowed to travel back to Italy for urgent medical attention.

While his departure is clearly spelt out, there are different reports over the departure of Kelechi Iheanacho. The Leicester City forward who scored in the 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia has also left the camp citing personal reasons.

But another source in the camp said, he had a slight knock that doesn’t require any form of medical attention. Saying he was urged to take a rest and that is the reason why the coaches allowed him to return back to his base.

The remaining 24 players took part in yesterday’s light training ahead of today, when they will have a full session in preparation for tomorrow’s game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says the goalkeepers of the senior national team of Nigeria are having a crisis of confidence when they keep goal for the team due to the barrage of attacks from Nigerians, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Yesterday the Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 2-2 draw by Saudi Arabia with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho inexplicably diverting an aimless free kick into his own net for the game’s opening goal.

Nigeria rallied back and even took a 2-1 lead before a late free kick in time added on ensure that the game against need in a draw. The coach was asked about Uzoho’s error , which is the latest in a series of error prone display he has had for the team.

“I like our players, when they make mistakes it is my responsibility.  The goalkeepers never play free or calm because of the people. I don’t know why they attack the goalkeepers every time.

“Why don’t they attack the strikers when they lose the ball or miss a goal, why?”, he queried.

“When  I arrived here, I remember I was told to change the goalkeeper. I spoke with all of them, No one feels comfortable because everybody attacked them. They could make mistakes, it is my responsibility. Next time I need to train him (Uzoho) better.

Francis Uzoho is currently facing backlash after another school boy error during the course of Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia in yesterday’s friendly game, which took place in Portugal.

In his bid to divert a free kick over the bar, Uzoho turned the ball into his net. It was the third time he has cost the team a goal since he was reinstated as the first choice goalkeeper of the team.

It was his gaffe that cost the team a spot at the last World Cup in Qatar, as he allowed a weak shot by Thomas Partey sailed through his body fot the goal that gave Ghana the edge to qualify ahead of Nigeria on away goals rule during the playoff.

After defending him for yesterday’s error, the coach was asked about his decision to hand a recall to Maduka Okoye, who lost his spot to Uzoho after his error at the last AFCON against Tunisia which led to their elimination from the tournament.

He said he has always had faith in Okoye, but kept him out of the team because he didn’t get to play when he was at Watford. He said his quality is not in doubt just like the other goalkeepers in the team.

“Maduka didn’t play a lot since last season he doesn’t play a lot. Maduka comes It’s better I see for everybody he knows because Adeleye and Ojo didn’t come at the right time he knows but he has quality, I believe in him even I called him when he doesn’t play. He stays on the bench every time I think he has capacity like Uzoho, like Adeleye and the other but he needs to play”, he stated.