The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday made public the list of players called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo.

Nigeria who are already through to the tournament to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire next year will use the game as a dress rehearsal for the start of the World Cup qualifiers in November. A total of 23 players were called up for the game.

In the list, coach of the team Jose Peseiro who recently extended his deal as coach of the Nigerian team handed first time call up to one new defender in Gent of Belgium Jordan Torunarigha and two forwards namely Gift Orban who Gent and Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen.

Former Germany youth international Torunarigha only recently got his switch of nationality approved by FIFA, he will go into the defence, with Peseiro keen on having younger options with all of the present center backs at his disposal bar Calvin Bassey in their 30’s.

He is solid in aerial duels, which he also uses in the opposition half to become a goal threat from set piece. His physical approach also means he will settle down into African football a lot quicker than anticipated.

The duo of Orban and Boniface need no introduction particularly Boniface, who looks the real deal with his ability to play anywhere across the attack and also as the point man a catch. He is solid on the ball , goes past his markers with ease, dealdy in the air and also rapidly quick. Not mentioning his very unique way of celebration.

Orban who is seen as a better finisher with his amazing stat in front of goal is thought of as a finisher, but in hindsight he operates in a role just behind the forward of as an inside forward on the left, similar to the same role Ademola Lookman plays on the right for Atalanta.

His major strength is his ball striking ability especially as he manages to get them on target with force. His pace is also another weapon which is made deadlier by his tricks on the ball in tight spaces.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Gift Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany).

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced that the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has agreed to continue in his role as the coach of the team as exclusively reported by OwnGoalNigeria.com four days ago.

Peseiro’s new deal will see him earn $10,000 less than what he was earning in his previous deal, meaning he will now earn $60,000. An amount which the NFF hopes to meet without stress and also offset his outstanding salary.

He is currently owed seven months of unpaid wages and has been told he will be paid in installments. Aside from that his match allowance was also slashed to a manageable amount.

The Portuguese coach now has a six month deal as opposed to his first contract which ran for one year. This time around he has been handed a mandate of at least getting to the semi final of the next Africa Cup of Nations to automatically trigger a new two years deal.

In his previous deal before the postponement of the AFCON, he was given a mandate of at least getting to the final of the tournament to earn a new two year deal. His new deal will run out in February but will automatically renew when he gets to the semi final of the next AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

Furthermore, he has been asked to prune down his number of foreign assistants from four at the moment to just three even though he pays them from his salary. The NFF however bears the cost of flying them for engagements and also other logistics, which they said is stretching their finances.

Henceforth he will also be saddled with the responsibility of handling the home based team of Nigeria, after getting his wish to remove the clause that says he should call at least three local players in his squad for games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Nigeria Football Federation and Mr. Jose Santos Peseiro have reached an agreement for the latter to continue in his role as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Team of Nigeria, Super Eagles.

As stipulated in the original contract, drawn in May 2022, the Portuguese has been handed the mandate to lead the Super Eagles to, in the minimum, the semi finals of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cote d’Ivoire in a few months.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ supremo has invited on-field captain William Ekong, defender Tyronne Ebuehi and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi, among others, to next weekend’s qualification series final-day encounter against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo.

Peseiro called three goalkeepers (including home-based Olorunleke Ojo), eight defenders, four midfielders and eight forwards for the game, slated for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday, 10 September.

Nigeria, on 12 points from their previous five matches, are already guaranteed a place in the finals, but must earn at least a point to be sure of topping the group ahead of second-placed Guinea Bissau, who are on 10 points and play at home to Sierra Leone in Bissau.

Peseiro has called for the first time, Belgium-based centre-back Jordan Torunarigha who represented Germany from U17 to U23, and forwards Victor Boniface and Gift Orban, and there are recalls for Portugal-based left back Bruno Onyemaechi and defensive midfielder Raphael Onyedika.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Gift Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany)

The Nigeria Football Federation and Mr. Jose Santos Peseiro have reached an agreement for the latter to continue in his role as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Team of Nigeria, Super Eagles.

As stipulated in the original contract, drawn in May 2022, the Portuguese has been handed the mandate to lead the Super Eagles to, in the minimum, the semi finals of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cote d’Ivoire in a few months.

Peseiro has steered the Super Eagles through the qualifiers and to a ticket with a match to spare, including a 10-0 record international win against Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco in June 2022.

He has now agreed to continue in the role after accepting a pay cut on his earlier terms, with the new agreement also putting him in charge of the Super Eagles B – the home-based professionals who contest the biennial African Nations Championship.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ supremo has invited on-field captain William Ekong, defender Tyronne Ebuehi and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi, among others, to next weekend’s qualification series final-day encounter against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo.

Peseiro called three goalkeepers (including home-based Olorunleke Ojo), eight defenders, four midfielders and eight forwards for the game, slated for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday, 10 September.

Nigeria, on 12 points from their previous five matches, are already guaranteed a place in the finals, but must earn at least a point to be sure of topping the group ahead of second-placed Guinea Bissau, who are on 10 points and play at home to Sierra Leone in Bissau.

Peseiro has called for the first time, Belgium-based centre-back Jordan Torunarigha and forwards Victor Boniface and Gift Orban, and there are recalls for Portugal-based left back Bruno Onyemaechi and defensive midfielder Raphael Onyedika.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Gift Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany)

The identity of who will lead the senior national team of Nigeria when they take on Sao Tome and Principe in the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe will be cleared in 48 hours, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Per what we gathered, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will later today hold the final round of contract extension talks with Jose Peseiro later today, following the expiration of his deal as coach of the team two months ago.

Both parties are yet to reach a conclusion on the proposed pay cut alongside other provisions of the contract and as the game against Sao Tome and Principe draws near, a decision has been made on who will lead the team if there is no breakthrough in talks.

Reacting to news about the appointment of Austine Eguavoen as interim coach of the team, a chieftain of the football house said it’s not true just like talks of Salisu Yusuf taking over isn’t factual.

” In 48 hours, we will name an interim coach if we can’t find an agreement with Peseiro. Talks will continue today and tomorrow to that effect. If that doesn’t happen then Finidi George will be the coach in interim capacity not Austine Eguavoen or Salisu Yusuf”, a chieftain of the NFF exclusively told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

He however revealed that the duo did push to be named but the board feel it’s better to have someone who hasn’t been there before, he also said there will be a public backlash if any of them was picked in any capacity.

” Like everyone who have sensed an opening, they both made efforts to get the job but we are aware of how the public will react going by their performances when they last handled a national team. The idea is also to try someone new”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

As first reported by OwnGoalNigeria.com German side Bayer Leverkusen have announced the first time invitation of their new signing Victor Boniface to the senior national team of Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Boniface joined the team in the summer from Belgium side Union Saint-Gilloise and wasted no time in settling down with a grave last weekend after bagging an assist in their opening game of the season.

The 22 year old has in the past made the provisional list of players but this time around, he will go straight into the main squad for the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe.

He is among the three new faces , we exclusively gathered have been given a first time call up to the team, the others are Igho Ogbu of Czech Republic side Slavia Prague and Gift Orban of Belgium side Gent.

The full list of invited players will be made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after this weekend round of games in Europe are concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Reports from sources at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have it that former Nigeria U20 defender Benjamin Fredrick will likely be in the list of players called up to the Super Eagles squad for the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

Fredrick completed a one year loan move to English Premier League side Brentford from Kaduna based academy Simoiben Football Club, a move made possible by his impressive performances for Nigeria at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations and also the World Cup.

We gathered he was already in the list of players from the team that represented Nigeria at the U20 World Cup picked to train with the Super Eagles before his move to Brentford. The idea of picking Fredrick and players from the team is to kickstart their integration and promotion to the senior national team.

” He is in the list of U20 players for the game. We don’t know what will be the decision now following his move. The other players will be informed if there is any change, which will get to know at the end of this weekend”, a source told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

The 18 year old was picked alongside three others in Daniel Daga, Daniel Bameyi and Tochukwu Nnadi to train with the senior national team for the game, which will take place in Uyo.

Ade Emmanuel

The list of players who will represent the senior national team of Nigeria in the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo will be made public after this weekend round of games in Europe, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Super Eagles are already through to the Africa Cup of Nations which will take place in Cote d’Ivoire next year with a game to spare, making their final qualifiers game a mere formality.

We gathered that whoever that will be in charge of the team will likely want to use the game which is the last international break, before the start of the qualifiers for the World Cup in November as a test run for new players.

Although there is still no clarity on who will lead the team with talks over extending the deal of the coach of the team Jose Peseiro yet to yield any fruitful outcome. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as first reported by this portal will consider Austine Eguavoen, the head of the technical department of the NFF or any of Finidi George or Salisu Yusuf if talks don’t progress as expected with the coach by this weekend.

However, invited players have already received their call up letters. 35 players were provisionally invited from which a final list of 23 will be drawn after this weekend game. Among the players is Gent of Belgium forward Gift Orban.

Orban caused a huge splash in Europe last season following his January transfer move to Gent from second division Norwegian side Stabæk. He ended the season with 20 goals in just 22 games in his six months at the club.

His inclusion was made possible and easy with doubts over the availability of Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest, who has carried over his form from last season into this extending his run in front of goal to eight consecutive games.

He had scored in all of the three games they have played this season but reports say he is knocking a slight knock, which will be assessed before a decision will be made on his availability for the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Danish side FC Midtjylland are looking at ways to bolster their options in attack by looking at options who could be of advantage to the team as the season progresses, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Heavy on their radar is 22 year old Nigerian forward Quadri Adediran who plays for Czech Republic side SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice, a player they have been tracking for a while per what we gathered.

Preliminary talks have been held with his camp with a move said to be imminent as they aim to beat the services of other teams, who are also keeping a close watch on the left footed forward who is comfortable as a winger or striker.

This season he has already hit the ground running with a goal from the first six games of the season. Last season he found the back of the net 11 times in 35 games while operating as a centre forward, right winger, left winger and also as a second striker.

His versatility is said to have been the reason why the Danish side are still exploring the possibility of signing him as he will be of use in any position in attack, where the team will do with more options to increase their goal count.

Daniel Martins