Gent of Belgium rave of the moment Gift Orban has been handed his first call up to the senior national team of Nigeria, OGN can exclusively reveal.

20 year old Orban has emerged as one of the most sought after property in European football after scoring 19 goals in 19 games for Gent, the team he joined in January from Norwegian second division side Stabæk.

We exclusively gathered that head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro told him of his inclusion in the team when the pair met in Belgium, when the coach visited two months ago.

He cleared the air on why he snubbed a call up to the Nigeria U23 team for the U23 AFCON qualifiers and his explanation was taken by the coach. He was set to be disciplined by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the act.

His invitation will be for the final round of qualifiers games for the AFCON 2023, where Nigeria will take on Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe respectively for a spot in the tournament, which will be hosted by Cote D’Ivoire.

The list of players for the games is expected to be made public in around two weeks time. Orban who is wanted by a host of teams in Europe is expected to take the spot of Paul Onuachu, who will likely miss out after a barren run since his move to relegated English Premier League side Southampton.

Damian Waziri

The coach of the 2019 Nigeria U17 team Manu Garba has predicted that Akinsola Babatunde Jimoh who recently made his senior debut for Real Valladolid in the Spanish LaLiga will in the nearest future play for the Super Eagles.

Akinsola was introduced in the 80th minute with Valladolid losing 0-2 in a game which later ended with the visitors scoring a third goal to clinch a 3-0 win, further compounding the relegation worries of the home team.

For the Nigerian, it has been a remarkable rise to the first team and his career as a whole, which all started from the 2019 WAFU tournament where he represented the U17 team of Nigeria under coach Manu Garba.

He joined the Spanish side in the summer from Nigeria League One side Valiant FC and made the step up to the first team after impressing with the B team in the Segunda Federacion- Group 1 league.

Speaking on his rise to the top in just a year, Garba said he isn’t surprised and predicted that in not less than one year, He will be in the senior national team of Nigeria because he has that technical edge every teams needs.

” Akin’s rise isn’t surprising to me. There is now way he won’t be appreciated by a coach who knows what he wants. He is quick and also very technical, that’s an edge he has that every team needs. Like the 13 of my former players who have played for the U17 team of Nigeria, he will join them very soon. He just need to have a steady club career”, he told OGN.

Mohammed Mowiz

The Nigeria U20 team played their last test game ahead of the start of the U20 World Cup yesterday and it ended in a 2-2 draw against fellow World Cup side Colombia, OGN reports.

Nigeria came twice from behind including when they were 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with goals from Jude Sunday, Mohammed Beji and Emmanuel Umeh. A member of the backroom staff picked the five players who made a mark in the game.

Jude Sunday: The way he scored the first goal can be said to be out of nothing. He picked up a loose ball, went past two players with ease before curling the ball into the net. So effortlessly and I think if he plays at his level, we have a gem on our hands.

Tochukwu Nnadi – Among the new players added to the team he is the one that I can say has no issue in settling down. He controlled everything yesterday and his partnership with Daniel Daga has blossomed in such a short time. In the second half, when Dafa was subbed on they dictated the game.

Benjamin Fredrick – He keeps improving everyday in training and test games. He didn’t put a foot wrong yesterday. I’m not sure anyone in the back four can say the same. So much at home when on the ball to the extent that he was getting fouled by the Colombians.

Mohammed Beji – His energy is different. He ran at the Colombians non stop. Took his goal well and did a very good job defensively for the team.

Daniel Daga- His introduction was the catalyst for the comeback. The way he wants the ball even when he is under pressure unsettled the Colombians. He is one player who can slot into any team with ease.

Mohammed Mowiz

The former coach of Egyptian giants Al Ahly Pitso Mosimane is among the five names favored to be the next Super Eagles coach when the contract of the current coach Jose Peseiro runs out, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro’s deal will be running out in June and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) isn’t keen on extending the deal, hence have started making moves towards engaging another coach as soon as possible.

We gathered, already it has been unanimously agreed by the board members of the football house that the coach shouldn’t be given an extension even on reduced wages. Also they have already start receiving applications from coaches interest in the job.

Among the coaches who have contacted the NFF is South African coach Mosimane, whose current at Saudi Arabia side Al-Ahli has ended after guiding the team back to the top division. His representative has already taken the first step regarding his interest.

” We (NFF) have been receiving applications from coaches and some have been offered to us by their representatives. Since you asked I will be tell you that Pitso Mosimane is among the top names offered to us by a Nigerian who has a very close relationship with him”, a source at the NFF told OGN.

” His case is very much like a continuation of what was started before he went to Saudi Arabia. In his final year at Al Ahly he was offered to us by the same person. Around that time Peseiro was the anointed choice. So it didn’t work, let’s wait and see what will happen in the coming days.

” He (Mosimane) is not the only one even Peseiro wants to continue in his role beyond the expiration of his deal. For now we are not looking at firing him but no talks over an extension of his deal. I’m sorry I can’t tell you the other names. Five of them are really top options for now*, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has warned the club against signing of Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window, OGN reports.

Osimhen is reportedly among the players wanted by coach of the team Erik ten Hag to boost his attack at the end of the season. The attack has been one of the problems of the team relying almost entirely on Marcus Rashford for goals.

In the summer , they are said to be faced with the option of either going for Osimhen or Tottenham Hotspur captain Harry Kane who will be entering the final year of his contract at Spurs by the end of the season.

Both players will likely cost them in excess of £100m but Stam believes Kane will be much more value for money than the Nigerian, who could struggle in England while getting used to the tempo, pace and demands of the league.

As per Full Circle with Bet365, Stam said it was ‘difficult’ to say which forward would suit Erik ten Hag’s side more.

‘Kane knows the Premier League very well, he’s proven himself at Spurs and he’s one of the best goalscorers in the world, he knows the level of play and what’s been expected from him, and what he can bring,’ Stam told the newspaper.

‘So you can bring in a player like Kane and of course you would be doing a very, very good deal for United in bringing him in. I think Osimhen, he’s a different type of player.

‘For him, he needs to get acquainted with the Premier League at first. It can go fast, but it can also be a struggle at times as well.’

Daniel Martins

The U20 team of Nigeria played their final test game ahead of the start of the U20 World Cup and it ended as an entertaining six goals thriller, OGN reports.

Colombia took the lead through an own goal frol Sweden based defender Abel Ogwuche but Jude Sunday restored parity for Nigeria almost immediately with a sublime strike from outside the box. Few minutes before the half time break, the Nigerian team fell behind again.

A foul in the box of Nigeria resulted in a penalty for the South American side and it was duly dispatched beyond the reach of Chijioke Anigboso leaving Nigeria trailing 1-2 as both teams head into the break.

Upon the restart, the Nigerian side fell further behind when Colombia extended scores to 3-1. Mohammed Beji reduced the deficit ten minutes later with a well worked goal. Emmanuel Umeh blasted wide a good chance to draw Nigeria level minutes later.

He made atonement for his error by scoring the third goal which completed the comeback for the Ladan Bosso tutored lads and set them on a high ahead of their opening game of tournament against Dominican Republic on Sunday.

Mohammed Mowiz

Out of favour Nigeria international midfielder Kelechi Nwakali bagged an assist as his team SD Ponferradina forced his former team Huesca to a 1-1 draw in the Spanish second division.

Ponferradina needed a win to keep their hope of staying in the division alive but started on the wrong foot by conceding in the 69th minute, before Nwakali picked up his second assist of the season with the pass to Ale Diaz in the 75th minute to bring scores to 1-1.

It wasn’t enough however as they were confirmed relegated leaving the future of the 24 year old Nigeria uncertain with one year left on his deal at the club. A clear picture of his stay at the club will be known in the summer.

He joined the team in the summer of last year after falling out with Huesca over his late return from the Africa Cup of Nations, where he represented Nigeria who were knocked out in the round of 16.

Signed on a free transfer, he has played his highest amount of games of his club career which started in 2016 after leading Nigeria to the U17 World Cup trophy, where he was also voted the most valuable player of the tournament.

Waziri Damian

The decision of Folarin Balogun to pick the United States of America ahead of Nigeria after deciding to dump his dream of making the senior national team of England has left his mother excited.

Balogun narrowed his choice to either Nigeria or the United States of America at senior level with England where he was a junior international having no space for him at the top. He picked France and it was confirmed by FIFA today.

The 21-year-old forward, on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims from Arsenal, was born to Nigerian parents in New York City and emigrated to England at the age of two. Balogun had represented both the US and England at the youth level, scoring seven goals in 13 caps for the latter’s Under-21 side.

A FIFA spokesperson told CBS Sports: “The change of association of the player Folarin Jolaoluwa Balogun from England to the USA has been approved.”

Reacting to the reports, the forward who has 19 goals in 34 Ligue 1 game this season said his mother was over the moon with his choice of nationality saying she asked him why it took him that long to make up his mind.

” When I broke the news to my family. They were all just over the moon. Especially my mom. She said. What took you so long? “, he was quoted as saying by CBS Sports.

Daniel Martins