One of the star performers for Napoli in pre-season is 25 year old Michael Folorunsho, who is back from a season long loan spell at Serie B side Bari, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Folorunsho has impressed the new coach of Napoli Rudi Garcia with his all round play, but he isn’t sure of giving him regular run of games and have spoken with the former Lazio youth teamer to head out on loan.

After last season impressive loan spell in the Serie B, he has all but agreed another loan move but this time around to a Serie A side in Verona. However he has been told he will have to sign an extension before the move will be sanctioned.

Reacting to the reports, a source close to the player told OwnGoalNigeria.com that the move will likely go ahead next week, and will be the first step towards realizing his dream of playing for Nigeria.

He said the goal is to get regular run of games in a top league and make a decision on his future but he is more focused on catching the attention of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria, even though he was last season summoned to a training camp by the coach of Italy Roberto Mancini.

Bayer Leverkusen warmed up for the start of the German Bundesliga season with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of English Premier League side West Ham United in a pre-season game, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The German side took the lead in the 8th minute of play from Jonas Hofmann. His opener was followed by a quick fire brace from their new Nigerian signing Victor Boniface in the 24th and 38th minute to give his side a 3-0 lead going into the half time break.

Signed from Belgium side Union Saint-Gilloise, the 22 year old introduced himself to the home fans of his new side with a smart finish for his first of the game, before hitting an angle drive with force for his second of the game.

He was subbed off to a standing ovation with coach Xabi Alonso all smiles on the touchline as he welcomed him to the substitute bench with a warm handshake. He will be hoping that the brace is the first of many for the Nigerian.

In line for a first call up to the senior national team of Nigeria, Boniface ended last season with 22 goals and 12 assists including a goal against his present team Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League.

Second division Malaysian side T-Team FC have confirmed the death of Nigerian defender David Oniya, who slumped during the course of their friendly game against top division side Kelantan, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The 30 year old slumped three minutes into the test game and was rushed to the hospital, where he eventually gave up the ghost leading to the stoppage of the game in the 60th minute.

“Oniya was sent to the hospital and the doctors tried their best to resuscitate him.
He was pronounced dead at 10.05 p.m. local time,” the club’s chief executive Syahrizan Mohd Zain was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.

He said the manner of the death of the Nigerian came as a shock because the game wasn’t an intensive one, he went further to blame the ambulance driver, whom he accused of being slow to react because he was watching the game instead of staying alert to his job.

“There was no hard running and it was a slow tempo match. It’s only a friendly game,” Syahrizan said.

“The match was called off in the 60th minute when we received a call from the hospital that Oniya had died. He suffered a heart attack but it could have been a different story had the ambulance driver (been) alert. The driver was at the stands watching the game when Oniya suddenly collapsed and he was deprived of oxygen for several minutes”,he lamented.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The destination of red hot Nigerian forward Gift Orban is certainly in England as he arrived in London yesterday alongside his agent to seal a move away from Gent, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Orban became the bride of most teams in Europe after an extraordinary six months spell in Belgium following his January transfer move from second division Norwegian side Stabæk.

He scored 20 goals in 22 games in all competitions and this season picked up from where he stopped last season with two goals in the two games he has played this season.

It is now certain that he won’t continue Gent as we obtained exclusive picture of the 21 year old in England with Emmanuel audial, the executive director of his agency Atta Aneke/PMG , where according to a source he will be finalizing a deal to a top six team for a fee in the region of €30m.

Our source went ahead to say plans have been made for him to have his medical done tomorrow ahead of a possible announcement on Monday. He however didn’t reveal the identity of the team he will be joining.

Reports have been heavy this week about a move to Tottenham Hotspur, who are lining him up as a replacement for Harry Kane, who is a subject of interest to German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Brighton are also looking for a forward and they have also made checks on the Nigerian, who is expected to be a part of the squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for their dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in September. Nigeria are already through to the tournament.

Daniel Martins

The future of the former first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria Maduka Okoye at English Championship side Watford has been thrown into further doubt, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye was signed for a fee in the region of €5m from Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam and after a season on loan, he joined the team last summer but failed to displace first choice goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.

At some point last season he lost the role of second choice to Ben Hamer with his only appearance coming in the cup games last season. In both games he failed to make his mark before his season was brought to an end by a shoulder injury.

Yesterday, the club made public the squad numbers for the season with three Nigerians in Samuel Kalu, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Tobi Adeyemo getting shirt number 28, 24 and 54 respectively.

However Okoye who wore shirt number 35 wasn’t listed on the official list on their site, effectively meaning that he isn’t registered for the season which begins tomorrow.  The 23 year old is in talks over an exit.

A move to Italian Serie A side Udinese appears to have suffered a setback and not much progress has been made about a potential loan move to an unnamed Turkish side.

Damian Waziri

The international future of Chelsea’s midfield star Carney Chukwuemeka was the subject of discussion after his team forced German side Borrusia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw in a pre-season game, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.

Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea last summer from Aston Villa but didn’t quite get going with the team struggling to meet up to expectations. Under new coach Mauricio Pochettino he has been ever present in their pre-season games.

Tipped to play a major role when the season gets underway, the 19 year old was asked about his chances of playing for England at senior level, and if failure to get into the team will make him consider switching to Nigeria.

“I would say it’s been a positive pre-season for us. Five games, unbeaten in all five. We are playing well, playing very good football. I feel like we have taken on board how the gaffer wants us to play”, he said to British journalist Jacob Ben.

A present U20 international for England, he explained that his focus is on progressing to the senior national team of England, but said playing for Nigeria is an option he won’t rule out yet.

“Could you play for Nigeria? “I haven’t really thought about it. I am focused on England, who I have played for at youth level. We will see what the future holds”, he stated.

Nigeria U20 winger Joel Ideho has been told his fate at Dutch side Heerenveen after spending a week on trial at the club following his release from English Premier League side Arsenal, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The 20 year old missed out on a chance of playing for Nigeria at the U20 for the Africa Cup of Nations due to passport issues after impressing coach Ladan Bosso. He got his Nigerian passport in time ahead of the World Cup but injury robbed him off the chance to make the team.

At Arsenal he was released, three years after he joined them from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam without a single first team appearance. After a failed move to Bournemouth, he turned up at Heerenveen for trials last week.

A statement on the official website of the Dutch side confirms, they won’t be signing him after a week of assessment, which was rounded up with giving him minutes in the pre-season game against Huddersfield Town.

The statement read thus:

Joel Ideho was on trial at sc Heerenveen last week. The club has decided not to continue with the transfer-free winger, who participated in the exhibition game with Huddersfield Town for more than twenty minutes on Saturday afternoon. “We thank him for his efforts in recent days and wish him every success in his further career,” said general manager Ferry de Haan.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Napoli will be without the services of Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen for their pre season clash against Girona, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Osimhen won’t be on the bench for the clash against the Spanish side after starring in their previous three games in preparation for the defence of their Italian Serie A title.

His absence is however not connected to reports of interest in his services from Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, who are willing to pay him an offer of around €1m a week but so far their bid has twice been rejected from Napoli.

According to Napoli, Osimhen will sit out the game due to an adductor muscle issue that was triggered by fatigue and was asked to take some rest. He wasn’t listed on the bench as well.

However Napoli still lined up two Nigerians in the starting lineup in the duo of Michael Folorunsho and Edward Obarentin. Both players haven’t played for Italy at any level making them eligible to play for Nigeria as early as when the team play their next game, which is a dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe.

Nigeria have already sealed a spot at the tournament which will be taking place in Cote d’Ivoire next year, making the game in September a formality hence the coach will have the luxury of trying new players.

Obarentin is a 20 year old centre back who is also comfortable as left back. He joined the team last year from AC Milan and made his way from the U19 to the first team in time for pre season. Folorunsho is a central midfielder who has been on their books for three years since his move from Lazio.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Napoli will be without the services of Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen for their pre season clash against Girona, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Osimhen won’t be on the bench for the clash against the Spanish side after starring in their previous three games in preparation for the defence of their Italian Serie A title.

His absence is however not connected to reports of interest in his services from Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, who are willing to pay him an offer of around €1m a week but so far their bid has twice been rejected from Napoli.

According to Napoli, Osimhen will sit out the game due to an adductor muscle issue that was triggered by fatigue and was asked to take some rest. He wasn’t listed on the bench as well.

However Napoli still lined up two Nigerians in the starting lineup in the duo of Michael Folorunsho and Edward Obarentin. Both players haven’t played for Italy at any level making them eligible to play for Nigeria as early as when the team play their next game, which is a dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe.

Nigeria have already sealed a spot at the tournament which will be taking place in Cote d’Ivoire next year, making the game in September a formality hence the coach will have the luxury of trying new players.

Obarentin is a 20 year old centre back who is also comfortable as left back. He joined the team last year from AC Milan and made his way from the U19 to the first team in time for pre season. Folorunsho is a central midfielder who has been on their books for three years since his move from Lazio.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Newly signed West Bromwich Albion striker Josh Maja has once again reiterated his determination to fight his way back into the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 24 year old joined the Baggies on a three year deal yesterday after spending four and half years in France with Bordeaux. He was however in England briefly during his stay in France as he had spells on loan to two English side in Fulham and Stoke City in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Last season he had his most productive time in France while campaigning in Ligue 2 with Bordeaux as he found the back of the net 16 times. A tally that still didn’t help them to promotion to the French top division.

His form wasn’t deemed good enough for him to have another chance with the senior national team of Nigeria after his debut in the 2-2 friendly game against Ukraine in 2019. He played the final one minute of the game that saw Nigeria threw away a 2-0 lead.

He says his move to West Brom will no doubt bring him back into the international discussion particularly with another Super Eagles player Semi Ajayi at the club.

” I have to do my part which is score goals and help the team win. That’s my aim because I have the intention of returning to the Super Eagles. You don’t play a game at senior level and be contented. Ajayi is hear so when they track him, they can see me as well. That’s an advantage to me”, he said.

Osas Mahawi