The senior national team of Nigeria under instructions from coach of the team Jose Peseiro had what can be described as their first real training session ahead of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

All 23 players invited for the dead rubber tie in Uyo took part in the almost two hours session, which started at around 4:30pm Nigerian team with the visitors training earlier.

It started with the traditional warm up drills with the goalkeepers having their own session separately with the trainer Abideen Baruwa. The players were later involved in a drill that was centered around building from the back.

That was soon followed with a shooting exercise, where the players were left face to face with the shot stoppers, who were took turns to face the players on the instructions of the coach.

Olorunleke Ojo was the first to go between the sticks and tried as he could, he failed to stop any effort from notably Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, Gift Orban, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Boniface.

Ojo was replaced by Francis Uzoho, who also failed to stop the sharp shooting forwards from finding the back of the net. Adebayo Adeleye also suffered the same fate when he took his chance in goal.

During the drills, Bayer Leverkusen forward Boniface scored the most with six of his efforts hitting the back of the net while Kelechi Iheanacho came second with four strikes, Victor Osimhen and Gift Orban both found the back of the net three times.

That session was halted after 30 minutes and the players were divided into two teams of 11 each for a practice match which lasted close to an hour and ended in a 1-1 draw with Awoniyi efforts canceled by Samuel Chukwueze.

Ade Emmanuel

The controversy surrounding the international future of newly invited Super Eagles forward Gift Orban was once again opened for discussion when he turned up in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Eligible for Togo through his mother, Orban was among the 23 players called up for the senior national team of Nigeria dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo on Sunday. He was called up on the back of an impressive season with Gent last term and even this season.

Since joining Gent in January from second division Norwegian side Stabæk, he has scored an astonishing 26 goals in 31 games, and it includes 20 in 22 games last season.

No sooner has he arrived in the camp of the Nigerian team the media in Togo labelled him as a traitor, who has turned his back on the country that helped him actualize his dream of playing professional football.

Reacting, the 21 year old said at no point was he approached to play for the Togolese team and even if they did , he would have turned it down because he only wanted to play for Nigeria, the country of his father.

” 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.

Ade Emmanuel

The senior national team of Nigeria under instructions from coach of the team Jose Peseiro had what can be described as their first real training session ahead of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

All 23 players invited for the dead rubber tie in Uyo took part in the almost two hours session, which started at around 4:30pm Nigerian team with the visitors training earlier.

It started with the traditional warm up drills with the goalkeepers having their own session separately with the trainer Abideen Baruwa. The players were later involved in a drill that was centered around building from the back.

That was soon followed with a shooting exercise, where the players were left face to face with the shot stoppers, who were took turns to face the players on the instructions of the coach.

That session was halted after 30 minutes and the players were divided into two teams of 11 each for a practice match which lasted close to an hour and ended in a 1-1 draw with Awoniyi efforts canceled by Samuel Chukwueze.

Below is how the players where lines up during the practice game with Awoniyi switching places with Boniface for the final minutes of the session.

*Team on Green*

Ojo Olorunleke
Semi Ajayi
Calvin Bassey
Ola Aina
Bruno Onyemaechi
Wilfred Ndidi
Franck Onyeka
Ademola Lookman
Kelechi Iheanacho
Taiwo Awoniyi
Victor Osimhen

*Team on Red Bibs*

Francis Uzoho
William Troost-Ekong
Jordan Torunarigha
Tyronne Ebuehi
Jamilu Collins
Raphael Onyedika
Joe Aribo
Moses Simon
Gift Orban
Victor Boniface
Samuel Chukwueze

Ade Emmanuel

The senior national team of Nigeria under instructions from coach of the team Jose Peseiro had what can be described as their first real training session ahead of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

All 23 players invited for the dead rubber tie in Uyo took part in the almost two hours session, which started at around 4:30pm Nigerian team with the visitors training earlier.

It started with the traditional warm up drills with the goalkeepers having their own session separately with the trainer Abideen Baruwa. The players were later involved in a drill that was centered around building from the back.

That was soon followed with a shooting exercise, where the players were left face to face with the shot stoppers, who were took turns to face the players on the instructions of the coach.

Olorunleke Ojo was the first to go between the sticks and tried as he could, he failed to stop any effort from notably Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, Gift Orban, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Boniface.

Ojo was replaced by Francis Uzoho, who also failed to stop the sharp shooting forwards from finding the back of the net. Adebayo Adeleye also suffered the same fate when he took his chance in goal.

During the drills, Bayer Leverkusen forward Boniface scored the most with six of his efforts hitting the back of the net while Kelechi Iheanacho came second with four strikes, Victor Osimhen and Gift Orban both found the back of the net three times.

That session was halted after 30 minutes and the players were divided into two teams of 11 each for a practice match which lasted close to an hour and ended in a 1-1 draw with Awoniyi efforts canceled by Samuel Chukwueze.

Ade Emmanuel

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will later today have another training session as they step up preparation for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Already they have had two sessions in preparation for the game making our editorial team to pick the players who have so far impressed and those who are yet to show their worth.

In goal , Francis Uzoho has been really fired up in his quest to reclaim his spot from Adebayo Adeleye, who stood in for him while he was suspended in the last round of game away to Benin Republic. Despite his limited game time he has so far displayed very good ball handling and reflexes.

Higher up the pitch, Victor Boniface has caught the eyes with his power playing all action style. Blessed with pace, skills and finishing abilities he hasn’t look out of place despite getting involved for the first time with the team. The Bayer Leverkusen forward will most definitely play some part on Sunday.

Bruno Onyemaechi has been a revelation at left back with the way he is winning duels and initiating attacks, the Boavista man can be said to be leading the battle for who will start in the absence of Zaidu Sanusi.

Moses Simon was too much to handle for his friend Jamilu Collins, who is returning to the team for the first time since 2020. Simon tormented the Cardiff City left back and twice set up easy finish for Kelechi Iheanacho.

As expected Victor Osimhen has been on fire in what can be said to be a deadly combo with Samuel Chukwueze, the duo who have been teammates since their days with the Nigeria U17 team are proving to be a handful for defenders.

Meanwhile, some other players are yet to hit it off as at the time of this report.

Osas Mahawi

Seven times winners of the Turkish Super Lig Trabzonspor have left the discussion over the signing of Nigeria international forward Emmanuel Dennis, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Trabzonspor were said to have won the race for the signing of the 26 year old who has been told he has no future at English Premier League Nottingham Forest. A medical was reportedly planned for today.

But in a bizarre twist of fate, the team who were last crowned Turkish champions in 2022 opt against proceeding with the deal, and went for Dennis international colleague Paul Onuachu, who is also deemed as surplus to requirements at English Championship side Southampton.

A deal in the region of €5-6m was reached between both teams for the 29 year old, who only moved to the English team in January for a fee of £18.5m, but failed to justify the price tag with no goal or assist in the 12 games he played for the team.

The deal is said to involve another player joining the Turkish side as well from Southampton. It is expected to be made official in the next 48 hours. Although the transfer window of the major league is shut, that of Turkey will still be on till the 15th of this month.

Daniel Martins

Former Germany youth international Jordan Torunarigha has expressed the difference he has noticed in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria and that of Germany following his maiden call up to the Nigerian team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

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.

Asked on how he has been received so far, he had nothing but kind words to say “It’s really nice to meet the players, I think all of them are really nice people, they accept me and it’s nice to train with big players like Osimhen or Chukwueze. It’s nice to see them in training”, he told the official broadcast channel of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

When asked on the difference he has noticed in the camp of the team with that of Germany, which he was involved with for five years, he said there is only a little difference in the Super Eagles camp with that of Germany.

“It’s a little bit different, like in Germany everything is really strict. For example you can not go for meeting in flip flops you have to wear a normal shoes something like that.

“Here it’s a little bit easier you can go in flip flops and everybody is having fun. Germany like all the people know, German people are more organized and more strict here it’s a little bit more relaxed”, he concluded.

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.

While speaking on his readiness for the game of the Super Eagles on Sunday, the left footed defender says he is hoping to put up an impressive performance if he gets to play to win over people who questioned his call up to the team. He also denied turning his back on Nigeria when he was first approached in 2018 but he didn’t give details of what transpired.

“It’s my first call up and get some playing times maybe and show the fans who are criticizing me for denying Nigeria which is not true make them feel happy and give them something back”, he said in a video interview with the official broadcast channel of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“They should expect a hungry young guy who wants to show the world what he can do. I am not that young a player but I am still a young player. I want to show anybody who criticize me before I am here to help the team, here to give everything to the country and make Nigerians proud”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The head coach of the senior national team of Sao Tome and Principe Adriano Eusébio says his team won’t suffer the same fate like they did in Morocco when they lost 0-10 to the senior national team of Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria thrashed Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 in June last year with Eusébio on the touchline as coach and ahead of the reverse tie on Sunday, the coach says there is no chance of his team losing with a such a high margin in Uyo.

Despite naming a squad dominated with players plying their trade in the domestic league, the coach upon arrival in Nigeria said they will use the game to learn vital lessons but will do all they can to avoid another whitewash using the lesson learnt from the previous game.

” We are here to play and give our best. We don’t have anything to lose from this game, so we will use it to learn and also try new players but most importantly we don’t want to lose 0-10 like it happened in June. The lessons we learnt from that game is why we will work hard for it not to happen again”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

They will have their first training session later today at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo ahead of the game, which will take place in the mainbowl.

Osas Mahawi

Newly invited Nigeria international defender Jordan Torunarigha says he is fired up to shut all those who criticized his invitation to the senior national team of Nigeria for their dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe.

Some section of the fans and media questioned the decision to call the 26 year old Gent defender, who represented Germany from U15 to U21 before deciding to switch nationality to Nigeria.

He was courted by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr prior to the 2018 World Cup while he was at German side Hertha Berlin, but he turned down the approach and that has been the line that many have used in questioning his call up to the team.

Speaking ahead of the game, the son of former Nigeria junior international Ojokojo said he is keen on showing what he can do , and hopefully win over those who have doubts over his commitment following his inclusion in the team.

“It’s my first call up and get some playing times maybe and show the fans who are criticizing me for denying Nigeria which is not true make them feel happy and give them something back”, he told the official broadcast channel of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“They should expect a hungry young guy who wants to show the world what he can do. I am not that young a player but I am still a young player. I want to show anybody who criticize me before I am here to help the team, here to give everything to the country and make Nigerians proud”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman