Relatively unknown Nigerian midfielder Anthony Dennis of Turkish side Göztepe is the subject of a bid from Spanish LaLiga side Villareal, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Dennis who made the preliminary list of the senior national team of Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations, but didn’t make the final 28 man list for the tournament has been turning heads since moving to Turkey in January 2023.

Villarreal see the 21 year old who is valued at €10m as an ideal signing to boost their midfield next season, with doubts lingering over the future of Thomas Party who hasn’t hit the heights expected of him when he joined in the summer on a free transfer from Arsenal.

The Spanish side are however not the only team to have noticed the Nigerian with Turkish side Besiktas also in the running as well as Mainz 05 of Germany.

On a contract till 2027 at Göztepe, the midfielder is said to prefer a move to the LaLiga ahead of others , as it will make it possible for him to achieve his goal of playing for the senior national team of Nigeria.

This season he has played in 24 games with three goals to his name from his position as a deep lying midfielder. He was rumoured to be on his way to Germany in the January transfer window but Göztepe hanged on to him with the hope that they will make more money from his transfer in the summer.

The senior national team of Nigeria yesterday had their first training session ahead of their opening game at the four team invitational tournament against Iran tomorrow, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

In the absence of the injured Calvin Bassey, 21 players took part in the session which was supervised by head coach Eric Chelle and his assistants. It lasted for almost two hours although most of it were light drills.

Attention was more on the three newly invited players in Philip Otele of Hamburg, Yira Sor of Belgium side Genk and Scotland based Emmanuel Fernandez of Rangers.

All three acquitted themselves nicely and blended with the rest of the team for the duration of the session, which also had the goalkeepers getting drilled by their training at one end of the pitch.

The trio of Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye all took part with Uzoho who is expected to start showing very good reflexes and ball distribution.

Later today they will have their final training session, where an idea on how the team will line up for tomorrow’s game will be known.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu is the top option to replace injured Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey in the team for the upcoming friendly tournament in Turkey, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Bassey was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury earlier today leaving the team with just three centre backs heading into games against Iran and Jordan respectively.

Igho Ogbu who was a part of the team to the last AFCON is available to pair Bassey’s regular partner Semi Ajayi, leaving newly invited Emmanuel Fernandez as the only option on the bench.

Head coach Eric Chelle is yet to make a decision, but team sources say in the event that he decides to pick a replacement to provide more cover at centre back, then the former Enyimba defender will be his top pick.

Since moving to Trabzonspor in the January transfer window he has cemented his spot in the heart of the defence for his new side, and with the fact that the tournament will be in Turkey he is top of the list of possible replacement.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey won’t be a part of the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming four team invitational tournament in Turkey, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will be up against Iran and Jordan respectively in the tournament which will run for four days. The team is already in Turkey preparing for their first game on Friday.

They will have to do without one of their leaders in defence in Bassey, who won’t be available for both games due to a back injury. It leaves the team with just one senior centre back in Semi Ajayi, although Igho Ogbu who was a part of the team that finished third at the AFCON in January is available.

The absence of Bassey opens the door for newly invited defender Emmanuel Fernandez of Scottish side Rangers to be handed his debut.

Meanwhile captain of the team Wilfred Ndidi is now in the camp of the team, bringing the number in camp to full capacity.

Full list of 22 players in Camp:

1. Fisayo Bashiru

2. Iwobi Alex

3. Emmanuel Oluwasegun

4. ⁠Yira Sor

5. ⁠Onuachu Paul

6. ⁠Philip Otele

7. ⁠Semi Ajayi

8. ⁠Moses Simon

9. ⁠Uzoho Francis

10. ⁠Bruno Onyemaechi

11. ⁠Bright Osayi

12. ⁠Frank Onyeka

13. ⁠Adebayo Adeleye

14. ⁠Ademola Lookman

15. ⁠Akor Adams

16. ⁠Chidera Ejuke

17. ⁠Raphael Onyedika

18. ⁠Igoh Ogbu

19. ⁠Maduka Okoye

20. ⁠Samuel Chukwueze

21. ⁠Zaidu Sanusi

22. Wilfred Ndidi

Returning Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye had explained the reason behind his decision to shun a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the AFCON, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye declined an invitation to be a part of the team for the tournament, where Nigeria finished third but he is back in the team for the upcoming friendly tournament in Turkey.

Super Eagles will be up against Iran on Friday before taking on Jordan in their final game of the tournament on Tuesday. Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to play Okoye in at least one of the games.

Explaining his absence in an interview with German media outlet Kicker, the Udinese goalkeeper explained that it was important for him to play especially after missing two months with Udinese due to a ban that was betting related.

In his words he told Chelle that since he was not Nigeria’s first choice, it will be good for him to stay back at Udinese and build his fitness, sharpness and also pay the club back for the support during his travails.

Speaking further he lamented the fact that the tournament is in the middle of the season, saying a big tournament like the AFCON should be in the summer.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The first time call up to the senior national team of Nigeria handed to Emmanuel Fernandez of Scottish side Rangers has drawn a reaction from his teammate, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will take part in a four team tournament in Turkey, Involving Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica. It was originally billed to take place in Jordan but was moved due to the escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Fernandez was among the new players handed a first time call up to the team, largely due to his impressive form for Rangers following his move from Peterborough United, where he spent the final six months of his stay there on loan to Barnet.

He is expected to play some part in Friday’s game against Iran or in their final game of the tournament against Jordan on Tuesday.

Reacting to his call up to the national team. His teammate Tochukwu Chukwuani who is also of Nigerian descent commented ” Na so” to his caption where he said ” See you after the break”, with an Eagle attached to his caption.

Chukwuani joined the Scottish side in the January transfer window from Austrian side Sturm Graz and has so far played in eight games, where he has a goal in the league.

At international level he is still eligible for Nigeria despite playing for Denmark from U16-U21 level.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

As many as 19 players are currently in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria in Turkey gearing up for the start of the four team friendly tournament, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will take part in a four team tournament in Turkey, Involving Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica. It was originally billed to take place in Jordan but was moved due to the escalation of violence in the Middle East.

They will open their campaign on Friday against Iran, and ahead of the game they will have their first training session with head coach Eric Chelle having as many as 19 players in camp.

Below is the list of players in the team’s camp according to a release made in the official WhatsApp group of the team.

1. Fisayo Bashiru

2. Iwobi Alex

3. Emmanuel Oluwasegun

4. ⁠Yira Sor

5. ⁠Onuachu Paul

6. ⁠Philip Otele

7. ⁠Semi Ajayi

8. ⁠Moses Simon

9. ⁠Uzoho Francis

10. ⁠Bruno Onyemaechi

11. ⁠Bright Osayi

12. ⁠Frank Onyeka

13. ⁠Adebayo Adeleye

14. ⁠Ademola Lookman

15. ⁠Akor Adams

16. ⁠Chidera Ejuke

17. ⁠Raphael Onyedika

18. ⁠Igoh Ogbu

19. ⁠Maduka Okoye

20. ⁠Samuel Chukwueze

21. ⁠Zaidu Sanusi

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle says fans of the team will have no option but to fall in love with newly invited winger Yira Sor Collins, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The speed ace who was handed his maiden invitation to the Nigerian team for the four team tournament in Turkey has already arrived in the camp of the team.

Quick, strong and full of energy, the 25 year old Genk of Belgium winger will likely make his debut on Friday in their first game of the tournament against World Cup bound Iran.

He comes with just four goals and an assist in 24 matches this season, but Chelle has seen enough to say Nigerians will love him when they get to see him play.

” He is among the players that Chelle said played in less glamorous leagues but are very talented. He is exciting to watch and Chelle is confident about him. He went as far as saying that Nigerians will have no choice but to love him”, a team source said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The decision of the coach of Italy Gennaro Gattuso not to include Brentford defender Michael Kayode in his team for the world cup qualifiers playoff has moved the defender one step closer to playing for Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Born in Italy to parents of Nigerian descent, the 21 year old was hoping he would be included in the Italian squad for the two legged playoff games against Northern Ireland, hoping to be at their first World Cup since 2014.

Kayode would have committed his future to Italy if he was in the team, but following his omission he will go ahead and hold planned talks with the coach of Nigeria Eric Chelle on switching his nationality.

A timeline was set to bring to an an end any discussion on his international future, but that has now been shifted to the summer after the recent decision by Gattuso not to include him in his team for the playoff.

Reports in Italy say he doesn’t fit the playing style of the team under Gattuso, who doesn’t play with a full back rather uses wing backs.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman