When Nigeria won the U17 World Cup in 2015, the likes of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Nwakali stole the headline and moved to teams, where they have since made the step up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Others like Orji Okonkwo and Kingsley Michael also made moves to teams in the top league, with the duo joining Bologna. Michael has since gone ahead to play for the Super Eagles.

One player whose development went under the radar completely is Osinachi Ebere, the winger who played six games at the World Cup with a goal to his name took the long road to the top playing for as many as eleven teams before finally finding a permanent home at top division Uruguay side Plaza Colonia.

He scored 11 goals in 23 games, a form that caught the attention of Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona and talks over a deal were held over the summer, the move however broke down due to differences in valuation.

However, the club is expected to return in January with an improved offer for the 25 old left winger, who is also comfortable as a centre forward or playing on the right. A fee of €5m is said to be the amount it will cost to sign him.

Daniel Martins

Tottenham Hotspur have started the new English Premier League season with an unbeaten run in their first five games of the season following a 2-2 draw away at the home of their north London rival Arsenal, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

At the heart of their performance is 20 year old Destiny Udogie, who was signed last summer from Udinese and sent out on loan almost immediately to fellow Serie A side Hellas Verona.

Now back at Spurs, Udogie has cemented the left full back spot, so much that talks over his nationality has once again hit the news as he is eligible for both Nigeria and Italy, where he is presently a player for their U21 team, progressing from the U16 to his present level.

As another international window draws near and  with Italy set to take on Malta and England on the 14th and 17th of October respectively in the Euros qualifiers, Udogie is prime for his first senior call up to the Italian team.

However all that could have changed if he accepted an approach by the then coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr to commit his future to the senior national team of Nigeria, three years ago.

Speaking on the approach, the left full back admitted that he battled the temptations of switching to Nigeria with the chance of an instant shot at senior international football.

” When you are my age and a senior team approaches you. You will definitely be tempted like I was but I have always wanted Italy, so that helped my decision. I think it was a straight forward decision but laced with thoughts of if I should or not”, he said.

Ade Emmanuel

Ahead of the October 13th friendly game against Saudi Arabia in Portugal, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sent out provisional invitation letters to 35 players, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The game will serve as a warm up for the start of the World Cup qualifiers in November where Nigeria will begin their campaign with a home tie against Lesotho, before travelling to take on Zimbabwe in Harare.

Head coach of the team Jose Peseiro usually sends out invitation letters to 35 players from where 24 will be picked in the final list of players for the game.

We gathered, the coach didn’t call up any new players in the list but rather handed recall to some players, who missed out on the last game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, which ended 6-0.

Already the letters have been sent to the players team in obedience to FIFA’s requirements on invitation of players, which should be at least 21 days before the game.

On the provisional invitation of 35 players, we were told that the number is that high in the event that any of the expected final 24 players get injured before the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Despite finishing the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on a high with a 6-0 thrashing of Sao Tome and Principe, the Super Eagles of Nigeria won’t be among the top seeded teams for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next year, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria ended the qualifiers winning all of their games bar the loss at home against Guinea Bissau, and were ranked among the top five teams by FIFA which automatically means a place in pot 1 for the draws. Pot A is for the best teams in Africa via FIFA rankings.

However the recent rankings saw them drop to sixth in Africa hence missed out on a spot and with the host also not in the top six, they took the spot of Super Eagles despite their ranking as 9th on the continent.

Based on the ranking and as per the position of host, the team in Pot 1 are Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt. The seeding and pots are meaning they will avoid each other in the group stages.

Below is how the teams were grouped into different pots ahead of the draws.

Pot 1

Cote d’Ivoire
Morocco
Senegal
Tunisia
Algeria
Egypt

Pot 2

Nigeria
Cameroon
Mali
Burkina Faso
Ghana
DR Congo

Pot 3

South Africa
Cape Verde
Guinea
Zambia
Equatorial Guinea
Mauritania

Pot 4

Guinea-Bissau
Mozambique
Namibia
Angola
Gambia
Tanzania

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria remained static in the recent rankings released by world football governing body FIFA, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Despite hitting six goals in their last game against Sao Tome and Principe, the team still remained sixth ranked in Africa and also 39th in the world.

A ranking that will likely see them drop out of the seeded teams for the next Africa Cup of Nations, unless they improved on it before the draws are held for the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire as only the top five teams will be seeded in the draws.

Morocco maintained their spot as number one in Africa ahead of Senegal in second spot. Tunisia is third and fourth place is where Algeria were placed with Egypt completing the top five teams in Africa.

Globally Argentina still remains number one with France in second position ahead of Brazil who are third. England and Belgium complete the top five in 4th and 5th spot respectively.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

24 year old Cameroonian forward who plays for French Ligue 1 side Nantes Ignatius Kpene Ganago is actually a Nigerian born in Cameroon, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Capped 14 times by Cameroon with the first coming in 2019, when he was handed a call up by former coach Toni Conceicao he narrowly missed out on a spot in the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Now at Ligue 1 side Nantes, where he is teammates with Nigeria international Moses Simon, he caught our attention when he posted his pictures in the colours of fast rising Nigeria football academy Simoiben Football Academy.

He posted the picture on his social media handle in the shirt of the team owned by the wife of Simon, and it led to a shocking discovery when he shared the pictures on our social media handle as well.

” Ganago is a Nigerian and I know his father. They are from the Niger Delta but he left for Cameroon at a very young age. That was where they gave birth to Ganago but the name Ignatius should tell you a thing”, a source posted on the comment section.

” He is among the players Nigeria didn’t get to know at a young age. Still only 24 but I know he sincerely would have loved to play for the Super Eagles. That I know a lot from my interactions with him but it’s impossible now. He doesn’t hide it and it is even on his official page, he speak fluent pidgin English and also follows and support all national teams of Nigeria not just the senior team”, he rounded up saying.

Osas Mahawi

The international future of Maduka Okoye is far from dead with the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro a big fan of the 24 year old , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye recently left English Championship side Watford for Italian Serie A side Udinese after a torrid one year in England. That time coincided with some of his worse performances in a Super Eagles shirt costing him his number one spot.

Peseiro who took over as coach a year ago played Okoye in the test game against the B team of Algeria in a close door friendly game, and his howler led to the goal the team conceded.

He was on the bench in the 0-4 friendly game loss against Portugal in November. It was the last time he was involved with the team with injuries and lack of game time cited as the reason why he wasn’t handed a call up since that game.

However he is back to full fitness and constantly in the matchday squad for Udinese since he joined the team on a four year deal. That appears to have put him back in contention for a return to the team.

” Okoye is now active after a while. You can’t say he isn’t getting games in the Serie A because Francis Uzoho is also not getting games in Cyprus. Okoye is even in a tougher league and Peseiro has faith in him”, a backroom staff member told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Peseiro realized that he is battling with confidence no thanks to the lack of game time at Watford after a two year uninterrupted time as first choice of Sparta Rotterdam. He is certainly in the conversation and he will likely be back in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers. He is at Udinese for a reason”, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

On loan Atletico Madrid forward Samuel Omorodion Aghehowa has provided his opinion on his international future following a breakthrough year in Spain, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 19 year old introduced himself to the football world with a goal for Granada in his first senior game and also first time in the top flight league. Atletico Madrid moved quickly to trigger his buy out clause.

He was immediately loaned out to fellow LaLiga side Alaves, where is sure to get regular run of games to further aid his development ahead of a return to the team next summer.

Born to a Nigerian father and a Spanish mother, the current Spain U21forward was asked about his senior international future and he said he hasn’t made a decision on representing Nigeria or Spain.

“To be honest, I haven’t considered Spain or Nigeria, now I am focused on the U-21 & very happy”, he replied when asked about his senior international ambitions and choice.

“I would be very excited to play for Spain national team. It‘s the dream of any footballer to represent your country. I am going to continue working hard for it”, he said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The decision makers at Italian side Bari believes they have unearthed the next big thing in Nigerian football in Hemsley Akpa-Chukwu, so convinced that he has been tagged the next Victor Osimhen by his Italian agent Domenico Daniele, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

13 minutes into his first game at senior level, the 18 year old showed why he is seen in the same light as the Napoli forward in the nearest future by scoring the help his side draw 1-1 against Pisa in the Serie B.

“Due to the physicality he has, he can already be among the greats – a satisfied coach Michele Mignani said at the final whistle. “I threw him into the mix for this too. He was in the right place and at the right time”. His goal helped the team to avoid a first defeat of the season.

For followers of Bari, the goal won’t come as a surprise considering how lethal he has been for Federico Giampaolo ‘s Primavera team, Akpa-Chukwu has scored 20 goals in 15 games before turning 18 two months ago.

Born to a Nigerian father and a Cameroonian mother, he is eligible for both countries but if the word of his agent is anything to go by, his intention and interest is to play for the senior national team of Nigeria, where he will be hoping to line up alongside his idol Osimhen.

“Model? Easy to spot. ” It’s set for Osimhen – explains Daniele – but now he has to turn the page and think only about what he does on the pitch”, he said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

As the senior national team of Nigeria gear up for their first game in the 2026 World cup qualifiers, one area that has given the coach and fans of the team a reason to be worried is the midfield of the team.

Jose Peseiro is spoilt for choice in almost every department but in midfield he has been forced to rely on just five players in Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika who recently joined the pool.

The coach hasn’t hidden his desire for a midfielder who can orchestrate play from deep, something the present crop can’t provide with most of them very similar in their style and approach.

OwnGoalNigeria.com takes a look at five players who could offer something different to the team based on how well they are performing for their respective teams.

Ifeanyi Matthew (FC Zurich): If there is a player who will instantly make an impact and solve the long standing desire for a playmaker then it’s the former Nigeria U20 midfielder. He has played in all games for table topping FC Zurich from a role just in front of the defence. Matthew can hit passes from deep with precision, a trait which has been his main strength for years.

At 26, he is more refined and discipline to play and execute his role better by knowing when go go long, play short, break up play and also keep possession.

Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) – Another former Nigeria U20 player who hasn’t been lucky with injuries. After two injury hit seasons he has finally find his feet this season. So far he has a goal and an assist and has played in all seven games for far in the English Championship. At 24 he provides a young alternative to the players in the role aside his versatility and creativity.

Michael Folorunsho (Verona) – A sure upgrade on all the options in the team at the moment. Out on loan from Napoli he hasn’t missed a game and has constantly earned the highest ratings in the four games he has played in the Serie A this season.

At 25 his best bet of international football will be with Nigeria but after missing out on a training camp with Italy last season, while he was on loan at Bari. He might probably want to wait a little longer, which might be the only problem having him in the squad as earlier as November.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor) – He made an unpopular choice of moving to Turkey after a highly successful season with Sheffield Wednesday in League one, but that move is paying off handsomely for the 22 year old.

The former Manchester City trainee has played in all of the league games this season and has a very healthy record of three goals and one assist in five games in the Super Lig. No doubt he has what it takes to be in the mix as he will provide something different especially in the final third.

Daniel Daga (One Rocket): That he is 16 means he probably might be one for the future but 15 year old  Amara Diouf is already in the set up of Senegal at senior level, making true the statement that if you are good enough then you are old enough.

His performance at the U20 World Cup against players who are playing top level football shows his talent level and he won’t look out of place in the set up of the senior national team of Nigeria, particularly with the players in the team at the moment.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman