The race for the signing of former Nigeria U20 forward Jerome Adams Akor has been expanded with French Ligue 1 side Montpellier also joining in his hunt, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Akor has been on fire for Norwegian side Lillestrom with 15 goals in 15 games, which makes him the highest goal scorer not just for his team but also in the league. A remarkable feat for the 2019 Nigeria U20 forward.

Montpellier are in the market for a forward and according to  Mohamed Toubache-Ter, the 23 year old fits the profile of what Michel Der Zakarian wants in his striker, especially the fact that he is available for a transfer fee of around €4m.

His agent Atta Aneke is said to be keen on the forward taking the next step in his career by leaving Norway for a more competive league  and he favours a move to the Ligue 1, but he also hasn’t ruled out other options.

Despite the preference for a move to France, Montpellier are facing stiff competition from an unnamed Ligue 1 side, who are believed to be in the driving seat for his signing. Belgium side Union Saint-Gilloise are also among his admirers following the departure of his fellow Nigerian Victor Boniface.

Daniel Martins

As the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro continues his drive to get players born abroad pledge their allegiance to the senior national team of Nigeria, he is particularly keen on getting more options in defence, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Peseiro has his sights on Atalanta defender Caleb Okoli and he openly admitted last year that he will meet with the 22 year old, who is presently a junior international for the Italian team.

Still eligible for Nigeria because he hasn’t made his senior international bow for the Italian senior team, the agent of the U21 of Italy defender says the temptation of switching to Nigeria is heavy on the mind of the defender.

” When a young player is talked about by the senior national team coach of a country like Nigeria, then it’s only natural that it gets to the player in question. Yes the temptation is there but for now the idea is to continue doing what has brought him thus far”, his representative told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Last season, Okoli made 17 league appearances for Atalanta in the Serie A and going into this season, he will be pushing to nail a permanent spot in the team. At national level his last game came for the U21 of Italy when they lost 0-1 to Norway in the UEFA U21 European Championship.

Osas Mahawi

The top striker of the Women team of Nigeria Asisat Oshoala says her father is unhappy with her decision to take off her dress, while celebrating her goal for the Super Falcons in their 3-2 win over Australia at the ongoing Women’s World Cup.

Asisat came off the bench to put Nigeria 3-1 up and in the process became the first African to score in three different Women’s World Cups, and took off her dress as she celebrates the milestone.

That decision to take off her dress didn’t particularly go down well with her father, who is a practicing Muslim and a Facebook post on a handle allegedly belonging to the Barcelona Femeni star made this known.

“My dad is definitely not happy with my choice of celebration but then again, Life is a collection of MOMENTS.” – Asisat Oshoala

She will be hoping all the dust raised by the decision goes down on time for her to focus on the team’s last game against the Republic of Ireland, where a win will secure their spot in the knock out round of the tournament.

Damian Waziri

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria have not been left out of the summer transfer window but as many as five of them, who are key members or aiming to break into the team either by reclaiming their spot or get invitations are yet to move.

Already the duo of Kenneth Omeruo and Samuel Chukwueze have secured their futures by moving to Kasimpasa and AC Milan respectively. OwnGoalNigeria.com editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman picks five Nigerian players who could do with a move to get their career back on track.

Maduka Okoye- The move to Watford hasn’t worked out in anyway. A move away to Udinese is now hanging on the balance and talks about the option of going to Turkey has also stalled. With the first month of the window coming to an end, it’s clear to see and understand why he will be desperate for a move.

Oghenekaro Etebo – He hasn’t had the best club career the past three seasons and last season’s loan to Greek side Aris Thessaloniki ended without the club taking the option of signing him permanently. With reports that he has a year to go on his deal at Stoke City still in the wave, break free by getting a permanent move will no doubt top the lost list of the things he wants desperately.

Paul Onuachu – His case is complicated by the asking price of Southampton and what Genk, the club he left six months ago for the English side are willing to pay. That he is keen on a move is an understatement however he isn’t in the position to help things at the moment. It’s indeed a desperate situation to be in.

Wilfred Ndidi & Kelechi Iheanacho – Both players have a year to go on their current deals with relegated English Premier League side Leicester City. Sources say they both want out but inquiries by interested teams haven’t developed to the extent of a bid. For now their sight is focused on any club matching Leicester’s valuation as leaving the club is something they desperately want to happen.

Daniel Martins

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The jersey of the senior national team of Nigeria that is supposed to be unique in design and color as designed by the kit manufacturers has lost its uniqueness, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria recently launched a new jersey with a design that has a touch of Nigerian culture and style but the kit manufactured by Nike isn’t unique to the Super Eagles only. Ukrainian side FC Vorskla Poltava use the same kind of design and colour.

Yesterday, the team were in action in the Europa Conference League qualifiers where they ran out with a 2-1 win over Georgian side Dila. They were dressed in the same color and design like the senior national team of Nigeria.

FC Vorskla Poltava is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Poltava that competes in the Ukrainian Premier League, the top flight of Ukrainian football. Last season they finished 5th in the league.

It is not the first time they have wore the same jersey design and color with Nigeria as they also did the same with the old kits of the senior national team of Nigeria and other national team of the West Africa country.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international defender Calvin Bassey is few details away from concluding a move to English Premier League side Fulham from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, OwnGoalnigeria.com reports.

Bassey joined the Dutch side last summer from Scottish side Rangers after excelling in their run to the Europa League final. The move however failed to work as plan with the Nigerian getting dropped from the team for most part of the season.

He was subjected to heavy criticism by the press, club legends and television pundits with most pointing out to the fee he was bought for, which was a club record for a defender at the club. Despite his bit part role he was majorly blamed for their poor season, which saw them lost the league title.

” They didn’t treat him well. He was the target even in games he didn’t play . A team that lost five regular players in one transfer window should struggle but the former players ignored that part. The coaches were put under pressure and they lost faith in him”, a source close to the 23 year old told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” When you hear them (pundits) speak they make excuses for the likes of Jurrien Timber and co but Bassey who was still settling down was made to take the blame.  In the newspapers you see the same thing written about him like even in games he didn’t play. It got so bad that even in games where it’s a pure case of poor finishing, they will find a way to blame Bassey. It was like an all out assault.

” He was literally pushed out of the club by the Dutch press, club legends and television pundits. A decision that I am sure will hunt them because wherever he ends up, he will definitely show why he was worth that much money”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former defender of the senior national team of Nigeria Efe Ambrose has taken another step into management by joining Scottish second division side Queen of the South on a short term deal, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Ambrose will function in a role similar to the one he held at Livingston under Marvin Bartley, where aside from his role as a player on the pitch he also helped in the development of young players coming through.

On his signing Marvin said “With the injuries and suspensions we have just now we needed to add to the squad and I’m grateful Efe has joined on a short deal. He is someone I have known for a long time so I know what he brings and what we will get. We have a lot of talented young players, but we are currently short of senior heads. Efe will give us that experience. He is also a great character to have around the dressing room.”

At 34, he has started the process of moving into coaching and has already gotten his first license as a coach but he showed he still has it in him by playing the entire duration of their 0-0 draw against East Fife in the Scottish League Cup.

Capped 47 times by Nigeria at senior level, the major highlight of his national team career was helping the country to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. He was voted in the team of the tournament, a year later he played in all of their games at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have opened discussions with 22nd ranked Iran over a friendly game, which will serve as part of the preparation for the senior national team of Nigeria for the start of the World Cup qualifiers.

Already through to the Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare against Sao Tome and Principe. The game will likely see the head coach of the team Jose Peseiro rest some of his regulars.

That likely scenario has prompted the NFF to line up a friendly game against Iran in September. The Iranians will also use the game to fine tune preparations for the start of the World Cup qualifiers in the Asia zone.

Both countries last met at the group stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the game ended in a barren draw. The venue for the proposed game is among the many issues still been discussed by the parties involved.

The former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr who is now occupying the same role with the national team of Benin Republic has once again aired his views about the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rohr’s team are in the same group with the Super Eagles, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and South Africa for a spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.

Explaining what will be an emotional clash against Nigeria, the Franco-German coach said players of both teams will no doubt treat the game as a derby game, aside the fact that it could also decide who makes it to the world soccer fiesta.

” Players of the two teams know what the game is all about because of the closeness of both countries. It’s a derby game which can also decide the ticket to the world cup for either team. It is that sort of game that you don’t need to say much to the players other than ask them to fight”, the coach told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Speaking on his knowledge of the Nigerian team given that he was at the helm for five years and led them to the 2018 World Cup, before his controversial departure just before the World Cup playoff defeat against Ghana, Rohr said big games answers to players with strong mentality.

” All the games in the qualifiers are big games. You need a strong mentality to prosecute them. Nigeria have got players with qualities, who are always there in the big games. Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen and Kenneth Omeruo. The three players are very strong character, then there is Balogun (Leon)”, he rounded up saying.

Osas Mahawi