Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro was in Belgium over the weekend to run the rule on players who are eligible to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Peseiro watched the striking duo of Gift Orban and Victor Boniface in action for Gent and Union Saint-Gilloise respectively. He also watched Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge in action as well as Antwerp holding midfielder Alhassan Yusuf.

On Friday he was at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne to watch the game between Standard Liege and Charleroi with fringe Super Eagles defender Valentine Ozornwafor fingered as the player the Portuguese coach wanted to watch at close quarters.

However, he wasn’t the only one the coach had his eyes on as he also watched 20 year old striker Noah Ohio who scored the first goal for Standard Liege in the 3-1 win. The goal was his fifth of the season, he also has three assists this season.

Noah Chidiebere Junior Anyanwu Ohio was born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and an English mother making him eligible for all three
countries. He has since gone ahead to represent England at U16 level after playing for the U15 of the Netherlands. Since playing for England he appears to have settled for the Netherlands.

From 2018 till date he played for their U16 and U19 respectively making seven appearances and scoring four goals in the process. It appears Nigeria have now joined the list of his admirers with the visit of coach Peseiro.

As at the time of filing of this report, there is no evidence to suggest that the coach met the forward who has in the past played for clubs like  Manchester United, Manchester City, RB Leipzig and Austria Vienna.

Daniel Martins.

The camp of the Nigeria U20 team has officially opened today for the U20 World Cup which will take place in Argentina from 20 May – 11 June, according to world football governing body FIFA.

FIFA stripped Indonesia off the hosting right of the tournament over a row on the participation of Israel in the tournament on their soil. The decision didn’t affect the date for the tournament as it will hold as earlier planned.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Ladan Bosso has picked 39 players from the Nigerian local football scene for a training camp in Abuja, with the foreign based players expected to join the team next month.

In the list, the coach handed a chance to Nasarawa United forward Aliyu Adamu popularly called Aguero by friends and admirers. Injuries and administrative issues made him miss out on a spot to the WAFU tournament as well as the AFCON.

The Flying Eagles, who finished third at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt last month, are one of four teams that will fly Africa’s flag at the finals, with the others being Senegal, The Gambia and Tunisia.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Chijioke Aniagboso (Giant Brillars); Saheed Jimoh (B. E. Arena Academy); John Otomblon (Mavlon FC)

Defenders: Augustine Njoku (Abia Warriors); Ezekiel Bala; Muhammad Abdulsalam (Rising Stars); Solomon Agbalaka (Broad City FC); Israel Domingo (Family Worship FC): Benjamin Frederick (Nasarawa United); Femi Abubakar (Madiba FC); Daniel Bameyi (Yum Yum FC); Wisdom Udoh (Akwa United); Akinwale Akanbi (Lionheart FC)

Midfielders: Caleb Uchedikwu (Mavlon FC); Ogbelu Onuche (Nasarawa United); Daniel Daga (Dakkada FC): Samson Lawal (Pro-Success Academy); Bilyaminu Musa (Mailafia FC); Hitler Eniye (36 Lion FC); Muhammad Aminu (Gombe United); John Joshua (Nasarawa United); Musa Usman (Mailantarki FC); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Samba FC)

Forwards: Haliru Sarki (Mahaniam FC); Kehinde Ibrahim (Green Light FC): Shettima Abubakar (Central Academy); Jude Sunday (Real Sapphire FC): Obiaku Ifesinachi (36 Lion FC); Abdullahi Usman (Samba FC); Salem Fago (Mavlon FC); Godwin Ositgbami (Kwara United); Babangida Abubakar (Mailantarki FC); Nurudeen Bala (Maikunkele FC); Olaitan Fabode (3SC); Adams Olubi; Adamu Aliyu (Nasarawa United); Ibrahim Beji (Cartegina FC); Ayatollah Usman (Niger Tornadoes).

Mohammed Mowiz

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has arrived Belgium as part of his trips to countries where players eligible for the senior national team of Nigeria are doing well, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro has visited, Italy, England and Germany and has a visit to France on his travelling list as well with the final round of games for the Africa Cup of Nations around the corner. Nigeria will take on Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe respectively in their final two games of the qualifiers.

Ahead of the game, the coach has taken the first step towards growing his options with his trip to Belgium, where he will run the rule on the duo of Victor Boniface and Gift Orban. They have accounted for a combined goal of 27.

Orban has hit 14 goals in 13 games for Gent while Boniface who is the joint highest goal scorer in the Europa League with six goals in nine games. He also has seven goals and six assists in the Belgium League.

The coach will watch and access the duo at close quarters in view of handing them a call up. He will also take out time to see two midfielders in Alhassan Yusuf of Antwerp and Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge.  The duo have earned rave reviews by followers of the league in Belgium.

Damian Waziri

The Nigeria U17 team will in the coming days roundup preparation for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations with the final step expected to be a camp in Germany as first reported by OGN.

Coach Nduka Ugabde has been drilling the lads in Abuja for the past two months in his bid to ensure that they pick one of the four tickets available for African teams at the World Cup from the tournament, which is the qualifiers for the World Cup.

In test games, the team has blown away all opposition that has come their way and the manner they have gone about it is what has been the talking points as they build up to the tournament, which will take place in Algeria.

So far in test games, they have scored a total of 60 goals and conceded just 14. A sign that they have some sort of balance between defence and attack. Who are the players responsible for this goal scoring feat.

Ironically, the team doesn’t seem to depend on just the attackers for goals with the midfielders and defenders also get in on the act. The trio of Yahaya Lawali, Light Eke and free kick specialist Emmanuel Michael have all weighed in with couple of goals.

The attack of the team defines potency with the quartet of Precious Williams, Charles Agada, Abubakar Abdullahi and Umar Abubakar. They have accounted for 65 percent of the goal, so good that Umar has been listed in the Nigeria U20 preliminary list for the U20 World Cup. All eyes will no doubt be centered on them.

They will play their opening group game against Zambia on the 30th of April before taking on Morocco on the 3rd of May, their campaign in the group will end with a game against South Africa on the 6th of May.

Mohammed Mowiz

Top teams around Europe are already lining up players they will sign in the summer to boost their team ahead of the challenges of next season particularly teams who are going to be involved in European competitions, OGN reports.

Also players who they sensed are wanted by other teams will be their focus as they aim to beat other competitors. Such is the story of the five Nigerian players who will be the focus of this report by OGN editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman.

Victor Osimhen – On the verge of powering Napoli to their first league titles since the 90’s. His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by top teams around Europe. Bayern Munich are said to be the favourite for his signature but it will take a fee of around €120m to price him from the soon to be Serie A champions.

Samuel Chukwueze – He will be in the final year of his contract at the end of this season and with no talks of an extension, he is likey to be on his way out of the team.

Enjoying his most prolific season ever with 13 goals and 11 assists, his deal has a buyout clause of €80m and for teams like Napoli, AC Milan who have been credited with interest in signing him, a fee in the region of €60m is seen as something that Villarreal won’t reject considering his contract situation.

Victor Boniface – Currently the joint top scorer in the Europa League with six goals alongside Marcus Rashford. The 22 year old who has seven league goals for Union Saint-Gilloise is on the radar of a host of teams in Europe. A fee in excess of 30-35m euros is what his team are believe he is worth.

Gift Orban – At Gent he is seen as one of the best piece of business they have done in recent times. Signed from Norwegian side Stabæk for 3 million euros, the speed with which he has settled down at his new surroundings has alerted top teams in Europe.

The back to back player of the winner of the Belgium player to the month award with 14 goals in 13 games since February. A fee of around €40m is what his Belgium side are hoping he will fetch them.

Folarin Balogun – The on loan Arsenal forward is  yet to be confirmed as a player who is keen on playing for Nigeria as he mulls over continuing with England or switching to the USA. His form at Ligue 1 side Reims, where he is the top scorer in the league with 19 goals has made it hard for Arsenal to keep hold of him especially as he is not sure of regular game time.

A move is set to appeal to his camp and RB Leipzig, the team credited to be heavily keen on him will pay a fee of around €50m to land him ahead of other suitors.

Former Nigeria U17 forward Kunle Olusegun says the current war going on between Russia and Ukraine is partly the reason why he hasn’t been considered for a spot in the senior national team of Nigeria.

Kunle plays for Russian side FK Krasnodar and has been one of their standout players for two seasons since his move to the team from Danish second division side Fremad Amager. He spent time on loan to Bulgarian side Botev Plodiv before his permanent transfer.

His rise in stock coincided with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and according to the 20 year old that move by his host country has affected his career to a large extent, including denying him a potential call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

“Staying in Russia has really affected my career,” Olusegun told Shina Okeleji in a report for BBC Sport Africa.

‘In my first season, I scored some fantastic goals which would have led to a call-up to the Super Eagles or Under-23s, but due to the sanction no one is watching the Russian League.

“My dream is to play for Nigeria again. But with where I am, maybe it’s a dream that has to wait. That is one of the disadvantages of me staying back in Russia.”

He gave an instance when he was called up to be a part of the Nigeria U20 team but he couldn’t honour the call up, which would have seen him make the step up from U17, where he was a part of the team to the 2019 World Cup. At the WAFU tournament where Nigeria emerged winner he picked up the top scorer award.

“I was called to the Nigeria Under-20s last year but with the sanction of Russia – including flights in and out of the country – I could not meet up.

“I contacted the coach and reminded him that maybe next time I might be able to come if he invites me. That was the only call up I had”, he recounted.

On if he has entertained the thought of leaving Russia for another league, Kunle explained that he had offers from teams outside Russia but decided to remain with Krasnodar but with some clauses inserted into his deal.

“These past winter and summer windows, I got some interesting offers from some top leagues in Europe,” he revealed.

The option of terminating his contract using FIFA ‘s special dispensation clause or pausing his contract as approved by the football governing body due to the war is one idea that he doesn’t entertain because of how much he is loved at the club.

“But if they (Krasnodar) like your performance, and your dedication to the team, they will surely want you to stay. So they won my heart with that. We had a review of my contract and I decided to continue at Krasnodar, but with certain conditions and clauses.

“Maybe if I had accepted one of the offers elsewhere my career would have taken a different direction. I am loved at this club, they take care of me quite well and I feel at home.

“Maybe I am paying a heavy price for my decision but then again I am growing here and will continue to fight for the club”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz

The race for the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League is shaping up to be a two horse race between Nigerian striker Victor Boniface and England international forward Marcus Rashford, OGN reports.

Rashford was missing today as Manchester United crumble at the death to draw 2-2 against Sevilla, a game they were leading 2-0 with three minutes left to play. In his absence Union Saint-Gilloise Boniface drew level with him on the scorers chart.

Boniface struck in the 51st minute of the game for his sixth goal of the campaign but it wasn’t enough for his team to claim a first leg quarter final win over Bayern Leverkusen, who drew level with just eight minutes of regulation time left to play in the game.

22 year old forward made the provisional list of players for the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the back to back AFCON qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau but wasn’t selected in the final 20 man list with coach Jose Peseiro going for the trio of Paul Onuachu, Victor Osimhen and Terem Moffi.

Both teams will be up against each other next week and with Rashford still expected to be missing for the return leg of the Sevilla game, Boniface will fancy his chances of pulling clear off the English man in the race to be top scorer in the tournament.

However both players should be wary of Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez who is on five goals as well. The Mexican fired blanks  against Roma and will hope to be on target in the second leg next week.

Mohammed Mowiz

Nigerian international forward Terem Moffi stole the show for his French side Nice in the first league of the quarter final of the Europa Conference League with a brace in a 2-2 draw against Basle, OGN reports.

Nice went behind in the 26th minute with Zeki Amdouni giving them the lead from the spot. Moffi stuck twice with his first coming in the 38th minute, when he produced a spectacular overhead kick to draw his side level.

He ensured his side went into the break in the lead when he scored his second goal of the game one minute into added time before the half time break. Basle drew level once again through Amdouni with around 30 minutes left to play.

For the Nigerian, the brace took his goal count since his move to Nice from Lorient in January to six in eleven games.

Moffi scored 12 in 18 Ligue 1 games for Lorient before his move in January. He is having his best goal scoring season since his breakthrough at the top stage with Belgium side Kortrijk. 16 was his best ever tally and it came around three seasons ago when he just moved to Lorient.

Mohammed Mowiz

The coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso is close to finalizing the last details on the players who will be in his preliminary list for the U20 World Cup, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Bosso’s ward qualified for the U20 World Cup by finishing third at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations but the coach isn’t satisfied with certain areas in his team and has decided to plug the gap with players based abroad.

Although the coach is going to prosecute the World Cup with 75% of the players who were at the AFCON, he however wants to bring competition to his team, hence his decision to call up new players, he has also dropped some players from the AFCON team.

In goal, the coach will stick with the three goalkeepers he took to the AFCON but he will bring another left back and also a center back to the team. Both players who were made to believe will come from teams in Nigeria.

However in midfield, Bosso has three names lined up with doubts over the availability of Daniel Daga, who is still recuperating from the Injury he picked up in the opening game of the AFCON. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro of Inter Milan tops the list.

Talks have started with Victor Eletu of AC Milan but it’s still at a very early stage, so one can’t categorically say he is in the list. The same can be said of Basit Ojediran, who was with the team but dropped before the AFCON.

On the flanks, Joel Ideho of Arsenal is one who has won the heart of the coach, he did so after two training sessions in Abuja. Bar his passport issues he will no doubt be in the list. Newly signed Rangers of Scotland winger Thompson Ishaka is also in the list. He was with the team at their camp in Abuja.

Where the coach has bigger concerns is in attack and he has made his pick already with Crystal Palace Ademola Ola-Adebomi, Segun Otusanya of Norwegian side FK Haugesund who have both trained with the team handed a spot in the list.

Nathan Coker of Norwich City is also handed another chance by Bosso while reports have it that a striker recommended by ex Super Eagles striker Aiyegbeni is also in the list. Egypt based Charles Ekpeyong of Ghazi El Mahalla is also under consideration for a spot.

Mohammed Mowiz

The future of Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze at Spanish side Villarreal isn’t certain as he enters the final year of his deal with the club, OGN reports.

Chukwueze will have a year left on his deal at the end of the season and with no talks of an extension, it’s likely that he will leave the club in the summer. Villarreal are also open to letting the 23 year old leave as they will struggle to renew his deal due to the LaLiga strict financial control regulations.

His representatives could demand a salary that could stretch the budget of the team particularly with the kind of season he is having at the moment. Presently he has 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions including a brace against league giants Real Madrid.

For now AC Milan are the team to have sounded out the representatives of the Nigerian but any deal will be done in the region of his release clause, which presently stands at €80m unless Villarreal agrees to negotiate it down.

AC Milan will be hoping they will be open to a deal for a fee less than what is in his deal with a year on his deal and also with the fact that he could agree to a pre contract with a team abroad by January 2024. Aside from AC Milan, Napoli are also said to be interested in bringing him to the Diego Maradona Stadium.

Napoli sees his potential signing as one of the likely means to get Victor Osimhen to extend his deal at the club due to their very close relationship, which dates back to 2015 when they met in the camp of the Nigeria U17 team.

Daniel Martins