The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be converging for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sierra Leone with several players in the team needing to sort out their club future, when the transfer window gets into full swing.

One of the players of the Nigerian team who will surely be playing for a different team next season is the vice captain of the team Moses Simon, who has already started discussion on a possible exit from Nantes.

Simon has a year to go on his contract with the French side, who were keen on extending his stay for another three years but he refused the other and made it clear that he wants to leave and that has put a host of teams on alert.

According to respected French news outlet L’equipe, the exit of the 27 year old has been agreed by all parties involved and permission has been granted to him and his representatives to engage with teams interested in his services.

The same publication went on to quote another French outlet Ouest France saying fellow Ligue 1 side Nice have been in touch with the camp of the Nigerian, who finished last season with five goals and four assists helping his team to beat the drop on the final day of the season.

Daniel Martins

Coach José Santos Peseiro has invited captain Ahmed Musa, goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defender William Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Moses Simon among others for next weekend’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Monrovia.

In-form forward Victor James Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for SSC Napoli this season helped the Italian giants to the semi finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, tops the strikers’ list. Osimhen has also recently been honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Government of Nigeria, and has received a special ball and jersey from world football-ruling body, FIFA for his magnificent season.

Home-based goaltenders Victor Sochima and Olorunleke Ojo are also called, as well as Rivers United defender Ebube Duru and Bendel Insurance FC midfielder Divine Nwachukwu.

Defenders William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel are in, with midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho also in the 23-man roster.

The Super Eagles are top of their qualification group with nine points out of four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs who have seven points. Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day 1 of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points. Sao Tome and Principe, who play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are bottom with only one point.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, 18 June, as Sierra Leone do not have any stadium in their country approved for international matches.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey)

In the wake of reports linking Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze with a surprise move to LaLIga giants Real Madrid, it has emerged that AC Milan are the team that are in talks to sign the 24 year old Nigerian, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

AC Milan main priority in the summer transfer window is to strengthen their attack particularly the right side, where coach Stefano Pioli tried to plug by using the trio of Brahim Diaz, Junior Messias and Alexis Saelemaekers.

That move didn’t work out as planned making the signing of a right sided forward a necessity and despite the departure of the club’s recruitment chiefs Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, talks with summer targets are progressing nicely.

Transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Chukwueze who ended last season with 13 goals and 11 assists tops the list of options for Milan and already talks have started in that direction between all parties involved.

Voted as the best African player in the Serie A last season, the Nigerian has a year to go on his deal at Villarreal and with no talks over an extension he will be allowed to leave the club for a fee in the region of €20m and not the €80m release clause in his contract.

Daniel Martins

Turkish league giants Galatasaray have stepped up plans for the strengthening of their team for next season by identifying players who they believe will be positive addition to the team, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

Galatasaray have been crowned the champions of the Turkish league and ahead of their participation in UEFA Champions League, the midfield is one area that has been marked for improvement by the technical crew of the team.

Their searchlight is beaming towards the way of Nigeria international Joe Aribo whose team Southampton were relegated from the English Premier League at the end of the recently concluded season.

Signed last summer from Scottish side Rangers, Southampton as part of their cost cutting measures ahead of their campaign in the English Championship are open to the idea of letting the left footed midfielder leave the club in  the summer.

The. Proposal from Galatasaray is to have him on loan for next season but with the option of signing him permanently for a fee that will be negotiated at the end of the loan deal. Both Southampton and the camp of the player are yet to respond to the offer.

Daniel Martins

Following the conclusion of the major leagues in Europe, the future of several players will be the centre of attraction when the transfer window officially opens in June, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

One player who will certainly be playing for another team next season is Nigeria international defender Ola Aina, who has left Italian Serie A side Torino following the expiration of his contract.

Aina already posted his farewell message on his social media handle bringing an end his four year stay at the Italian side, where he made a total of 113 appearances with seven assists and two goals to his name from his role as a full back.

The 26 year old is set for a return to England, where he started his career with the youth team of Chelsea. Early reports suggests that Fulham,where he spent time on loan in 2021 are the favourite for his signing.

Another London side Crystal Palace are also said to be interested in having him as part of their squad for next season. Aina is also studying offers from a team in the French Ligue 1 as well.

Daniel Martins

One of the success stories of last season for Nigerian football was the rise of former Remo Stars youth team sensation Ebenezer Akinsanmiro to the first team of Italian giants Inter Milan.

Akinsanmiro only joined the team in January after impressing at the Viareggio youth tournament in Italy, where scouts of the Serie A side spotted him and negotiated for his signing for a fee that is close to €2m.

He was sent to the B team, where he instantly made his mark and was rewarded with a call up to the first team and he has made the matchday squad in their last three games in the league.

As the team get set for the final game of the UEFA Champions League against Inter Milan, Akinsanmiro isn’t going to be involved as he isn’t registered for the tournament. Nonetheless his agent Crescenzo Cecere took out time to explain his rapid rise to the first team in his debut season.

“We are all satisfied”, he was quoted as saying by SportItalia.com –. The boy had some fantastic moments. The membership arrived on February 14 and in a few months he has already been integrated with the first team for training and matches, a satisfying and important experience for him. ”

He went further to explain the qualities that has helped the 18 year old to fit into the picture at Inter Milan from the get go and how it helped him to be noticed by the first team.

“Yes, he arrived in Italy and immediately imposed himself decisively in the Primavera championship. He had great games, in the last few games he has always been in the top 11 of the league. He showed his qualities”, he stated.

“The  boy has grown up: he had and has the great qualities, as well as the room for improvement. Inter decided to take him for these qualities that he showed. Obviously then it takes humility and patience and decision, all qualities that the guy has. Time is on his side as well”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has once again left out Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom from the list of players called up for the AFCON qualifiers game against Sierra Leone, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

27 year old Akpom ended last season as the top scorer in the English Championship after scoring 29 goals. He was also voted as the best player in the English second division despite the failure of his team to gain promotion to the English Premier League.

The former England youth international has been given the all clear by FIFA to play for Nigeria but he is yet to get a call up and it appears he will have to wait a little longer before he will get his chance with the team.

In a statement on the international round of games coming up later this month, Middlesbrough announced the invitation of Akpom’s teammate Kamil Conteh by the coach of the Sierra Leone team but made no mention of Akpom.

It means Akpom won’t be part of the team once again, further cementing Peseiro’s position that although he has mutual respect for what the talent of the former Arsenal prospect but he has faith in other players ahead of him.

Osas Mahawi

The list of players called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the AFCON qualifiers game against Sierra Leone is yet to be made public with just two weeks left before the game, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

We gathered that players who were called up for the game have already received their letter of invitation and have been told to report to the team’s camp in Lagos ahead of the trip to Liberia.

Nigeria will take on Sierra Leone in Monrovia, the adopted ground of the Lone Stars. A win for the Super Eagles of Nigeria on the 18th of June will see them book their spot at next year Africa Cup of Nations.

Ahead on the game, the list of invited players which we exclusively gathered has been submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF by coach of the team Jose Peseiro hasn’t been made public for unknown reasons.

However, sources at the NFF said it will be made public later today with as many as 23 players, which includes 20 foreign based players and three plying their trade in Nigeria on the list.

Osas Mahawi