The coach of Sao Tome and Principe Ricardo Cardoso has blamed the 0-6 thrashing his team received in the hands of Nigeria yesterday on the decision of the Super Eagles coach to use the country’s best player in a dead rubber game, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria already have a spot in next year Africa Cup of Nations at hand before yesterday’s game, but still named a very strong lineup with the likes of Victor Osimhen who scored a hattrick leading the line alongside Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi.

They achieved a comprehensive scoreline with Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Awoniyi completing the scores. The decision to unleash the best players on his team didn’t go down well with the coach of Sao Tome, but he said they have learnt a vital lesson from the heavy defeat.

“Last time we played Nigeria we had some problems, we couldn’t get our best players and had to use new players and I can promise that at the long run we will be better,” Cardoso explained after the game.

“We know each other now and I think we were better than the last time, we showed you guys we can play as well. Nigeria is a big team with top players who feature in top clubs unlike us, we only have one player in a first division and you play them today, which is not fair with the scoreline you see.

“We are working because we are a young team and I think next time we will be better and in the future we will be a big team.“

Ade Emmanuel

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has rubbished reports that Gent forward Gift Orban didn’t make his debut for Nigeria in yesterday’s 6-0 win due to threats from Togo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Orban is born to a Nigerian father and a Togolese mother and spent the best part of his growing years and football development playing in Togo, from where he moved to second division Norwegian side Stabæk.

He joined Gent of Belgium in January and immediately hit the ground running with 20 goals in 22 games. His form earned him a call up to the Nigerian team much to the dismay of the football populace in Togo.

The 21 year old was branded a traitor by some online publication and radio programs in Togo after he granted an interview, confirming that he has always wanted to play for Nigeria and never at anytime considered the choice of playing for Togo.

” I don’t like Nigeria, I love it, this country has good players, good talents I love it. It is false, I never played for Benin Republic or Togo. Not at any time was I approached to play for any of them. Togo needs players but I don’t want to play for Togo. My mum is from Togo while my father is from Nigeria, Takum in Benue state”, he stated in the interview that didn’t go down well with a section of the media in Togo.

It was said in some quarters the reaction from the media in Togo was why he didn’t get to play yesterday, but Peseiro explained the reason behind his absence in the post match press conference, which he said was purely fitness related.

“Orban felt something in his muscles, he cannot play with an injury of course because we need to show responsibility as a team. For the club we have a good connection with the clubs and we can not play injury player for nothing”,he explained.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has revealed why Jordan Torunarigha wasn’t capped in the Super Eagles 6-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo yesterday, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Torunarigha was called up to the Super Eagles squad for the first time after his nationality swap from Germany, where he was a youth international to Nigeria was approved by FiFA. The Gent defender was on the bench for the entire duration of the game.

Speaking on why he didn’t play the 26 year old , Peseiro said there is still time for him to be capped, saying the five substitutes he used are players who have been called up in the past and didn’t get to play.

“About Jordan, I can only pick 11 and bring in five substitutes. I made the decision that stopped him from playing. Onyedika has been here two times this is the first time he is playing. Tyronne Ebuehi also. Jordan is his first time and he has time”, he explained.

“It  was me who spoke with him last season and asked him if he wants to play with us he said okay he will do anything possible to play with us. He didn’t play today, he can play in the future”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria wrapped up their AFCON qualifiers game with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, OwmGoalNigeria.com.

Already through to next year Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles rounded up the series in style and will now shift attention to the World Cup qualifiers, which will begin in November.

We rate the players on parade for Nigeria in the game.

Francis Uzoho – Had literally nothing to worry about as Sao Tome didn’t mount any meaningful threats. He was on holiday hence deserves no rating…..

Ola Aina – Looked really comfortable on the ball and moved the ball confidently. He has really given the coach a lot to ponder when Bright Osayi-Samuel returns for the World Cup qualifiers…..7/10

Bruno Onyemaechi – Didn’t look to have any understanding with Ademola Lookman on the left, but stuck to his task of defending nicely but could have ventured forward more often especially with Sao Tome not posing any significant threat…..7/10

Calvin Bassey – Strong in duels and won almost all he was in. Wasteful in possession with wayward passes from comfortable positions. Should have done better…..7/10

Semi Ajayi – Switched play comfortably to instigate attacks. He was very commanding. Has really stamped his feet in the team…..8/10

Wilfred Ndidi – Easily his best game in a Super Eagles shirt for a while. Broke up play easily and claimed the assist for the second goal of the game scored by Lookman… 8.5/10

Frank Onyeka – Some real question marks over his usage of the ball but has enough legs to make up for it. Full of energy and drive on and off the ball….. 6.5/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – Twice thread passes that sliced Sao Tome open but was also guilty of trying some efforts from range which were wayward. Did redeem himself with a clever chip for the assist for Awoniyi’s goal….. 7/10

Ademola Lookman – Took his goal really well minutes after setting up Osimhen from a corner kick for the opener. Hardly on the same wavelength with the duo of Awoniyi and Osimhen….. 7/10

Taiwo Awoniyi – Finished off his goal really well. Showed good strength on the ball. However his partnership with Osimhen didn’t quite work even though they bought got on the score sheet….. 7/10

Victor Osimhen – Fine header to open scoring. His desire to win the ball back and how he fights for every ball in a dead rubber game is a testament to his commitment to the team. Got a well deserved hattrick helping him end the title of the top scorer in the series with ten goals. 9/10.

Substitutes:

Victor Boniface – Made a telling contribution with the assist for Samuel Chukwueze to score the sixth goal of the game….. 6/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Got a goal and an assist as part of his contribution to the heavy scoreline….. 6.5/10

Joe Aribo – Didn’t get involved enough to earn a rating.

Tyronne Ebuehi – Not enough time for him to get involved.

Raphael Onyedika – Another who didn’t do anything worthy to earn a rating.

The senior national team of Nigeria wrapped up their AFCON qualifiers game with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, OwmGoalNigeria.com.

Already through to next year Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles rounded up the series in style and will now shift attention to the World Cup qualifiers, which will begin in November.

Victor Osimhen opened the floodgate of goals with a powerful header from a well delivered corner kick from Ademola Lookman in the 13th minute. Lookman turned goal scorer in the 27th minute with a low finish off a pass from Wilfred Ndidi.

Sao Tome held on to keep the scores at 2-0 going into the half time break but they couldn’t hold on for long after the break by conceding six minutes after the restart.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s clever chip was met with an acrobatic finish from Taiwo Awoniyi to stretch scores to 3-0. It later became four when Osimhen was fouled in the box as he ran onto a through ball from Wilfred Ndidi.

Osimhen picked himself up and dispatched the penalty by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. He was soon back in the mix for his third of the game to go home with the match ball.

His tenth goal of the series was made possible by substitute Samuel Chukwueze, who played him in with a well weighted pass. Seven of his ten goals came against Sao Tome.

Chukwueze got himself on the score sheet five minutes later by finishing off a smart ball from his fellow substitute Victor Boniface. The goal sealed the win in front of a capacity crowd at the Godswill Akpabio stadium.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has lined up the Super Eagles in an all attacking 4-4-2 formation against Sao Tome and Principe, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The coach who is a strong advocate of the 4-3-3 formation this time around has decided to vary his approach against the whipping boys of the group. In the reverse tie Nigeria hammered the visitors 10-0.

Leading the charge for goals is the duo of  Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi which Kelechi Iheanacho just behind them. Cover will be provided by a double pivot of Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyedika.

The back line will see Francis Uzoho in goal taking his number one spot from Adebayo Adeleke, who kept goal in his absence due to suspension. Ola Aina returns at right back , Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi as the centre back while Bruno Onyemaechi gets his debut at left back.

Uzoho – Aina, Semi , Bassey, Bruno – Onyeka, Ndidi- Iheanacho, Awoniyi, Osimhen. Lookman.

Ade Emmanuel

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has explained why he called up 22 foreign based players for the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria has already booked a spot at next year Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire making the game against Sao Tome a formality, hence questions were asked when the Portuguese coach of the team called up all of his regulars for the game.

Reacting to questions during the pre match conference, the 63 year old defended his decision, explaining that he wants only the best players in the team at all time help forge a strong team, that will power them to the goal of winning the AFCON and also the first two games of the World Cup qualifiers which begins in November.

He said he is however open to calling more new players in the team like he did with the opportunity given to the trio of Jordan Torunarigha, Gift Orban and Victor Boniface, who are line for their debut tomorrow.

“We have three new players here; Orban, Jordan and Victor Boniface. They are all good players and who done well for their clubs. We have a lot of good players that I and staff have follow all the time. Weekend at times, we monitored like 40 games.

“So, now we are thinking about building a more cohesive team. Of course, there is always a chance for new players to come in.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

A hint on who will likely pair Victor Osimhen in attack when the senior national team of Nigeria take on Sao Tome and Principe in a dead rubber AFCON qualifiers has been made known by head of the coach Jose Peseiro, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The team had their last training session today at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo in preparation for the game, which is more of a dress rehearsal with Nigeria already through to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next year.

Peseiro had the players up against themselves in a test game with the biggest puzzle about who will join Osimhen in the attack of the team in the coach’s favorite 4-4-2 system. Three players in Kelechi Iheanacho, Gift Orban and Taiwo Awoniyi are pushing for the chance with injury ruling Gift Orban out.

Per what we gathered from the close door session, Awoniyi appears to have won the race with Boniface likely to be introduced as a substitute. Iheanacho operated mainly in a midfield role in tandem with the duo of Joe Aribo and Wilfred Ndidi.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria rounded up preparations for tomorrow’s game against Sao Tome and Principe with their final training session at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, the venue of tomorrow’s game.

Nigeria is using the game as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming world cup qualifiers in November after securing a spot at next year AFCON following a late win over Benin Republic during the last round of games.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro listed a host of his regulars with only three new players in Gift Orban, Victor Boniface and Jordan Torunarigha. At least two of them will be hopeful of making their debut tomorrow.

Orban will have to wait for his Super Eagles bow after picking up a knock in training that will see him miss the game, the forward who caught the eyes last season with 20 goals in 22 games for Gent will now be looking forward to the game against Lesotho in November.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Germany youth international Jordan Torunarigha has played down reports that he snubbed a call up to be a part of the senior national team of Nigeria to represent Germany in the past, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Born in Germany to parents of Nigerian descent with his father Ojokojo representing Nigeria at youth level, the Gent of Belgium defender is hoping for his first taste of senior national team football when Nigeria takes on Sao Tome and Principe in a dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game in Uyo.

He was handed a call up to the team by coach Jose Peseiro following FIFA’s approval of his switch of nationality from Germany to Nigeria. He played over 30 games for Germany at different youth levels.

26 year old Torunarigha rose through the youth ranks of the German team playing a combined total of twelve games for the U15, U16 and U17 team. He made the step up to the U19 and played in six games before joining the U20 team where he played in eight games.

He stepped up to the U21 and excelled in four games prompting a quick invitation to the U23 team for the Olympic games in Tokyo. He played in all three of their games at the tournament.

That was his last involvement with Germany at youth level with his last game coming in the 1-1 draw against Cote d’Ivoire in their final group game. He played the entire duration of the game after playing 45 minutes in the first game against Brazil and 21 minutes in their second game against Saudi Arabia.

Speaking on the key moment he decided to play for Nigeria, he said the visit by the coach of Nigeria Jose Peseiro made him to say now is the time to commit his international future to Nigeria.

“When the coach came to visit me in Belgium, I never heard it before that a coach visit a player to play for Nigeria so I said yes, it’s about time I play for Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat. Asked on if he will convince other players born abroad to commit their future, he said it’s up to them. “I  cannot speak for them, they have to decide themselves and I am not their parents or advisers, so it’s up to them to decide for themselves”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman