Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has set out the way he wants the team to play when they regroup for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau.

Nigeria will take on Guinea Bissau in back to back games with the first tie coming up on the 24th of March at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja. A win in both games will see Nigeria secure top spot in their group and also qualification for the AFCON.

Peseiro has repeatedly said his intentions is to win the next Africa Cup of Nations and in his bid to do so, he is prepared to step on the toes of some of the senior players in the team. Already he has started the process of phasing out captain of the team Ahmed Musa.

Another player who is facing a huge battle to keep his spot in the team is Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. Sources close to the coach told OGN that the style the coach wants to play doesn’t suit how Ndidi has operated in the team since becoming an integral player in 2017.

” We were shocked when he took Ndidi out at half time against Portugal. No reason was given but we know it was a tactical switch with Ndidi not applying himself the way the coach wants to play. His idea is a midfielder who helps in building up play from the back but we know he is not that type”, he told OGN.

” Two of his assistants have been very clear to us on how the team should play and it starts with a deep lying playmaker. It’s one area we know they are searching for options. I don’t think they really see Ndidi in that role. We wait still”, he rounded up saying.

Damian Waziri

The form of Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing has brought up talks about his nationality as he is eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level despite playing three games for the senior national team of Denmark.

He qualifies for Nigeria through his father and three years ago when the then coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr sought to have him play for Nigeria, it ended in a controversial way. According to Rohr it was the player’s agent who approached him that his client wants to play for Nigeria.

Rohr said : “Billing’s agent called me and he said that he is interested to come to Nigeria because he is not playing so much in Denmark. So he wanted me to call [Billing]. I said I don’t have his number, so he gave me his number. [When I called Billing] he asked me some questions about the Nigerian team.

“And he said, ‘I am very, very interested to come with you, but give me some time. I think the agent is using this interest to give him more importance or more chances to play in Denmark”, Rohr told ESPN

Billing however granted an interview where he stated that he is still committed to Denmark, the team he has played a combined 45 minutes in two games since his debut in 2020. He was not considered for the World Cup in Qatar as well.

Billing told Danish news outlet BT in 2020: “It would be strange to stand up for Nigeria when I feel 100 percent Danish. Of course, I have Nigerian roots and I am half Nigerian, but I was raised and born in Denmark.

“[Rohr] just said he really wanted me to play for Nigeria because the upcoming World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations will be played soon. I made it pretty clear to him that I wanted to play for Denmark. That’s my big dream.”

Speaking on his goal against Arsenal, which is the second fastest in the history of the English Premier League, former captain of the Super Eagles Mikel revealed he was aware of the move by former coach Rohr and says he feels the time to try again is probably now.

” He was to me the best player on the pitch but I understand why Reiss Nelson was voted man of the match”, Mikel said before he was reminded by the host of the show that Billing could get play for Nigeria. ” I am aware of the effort by the last coach of the team and I think the time to revisit that talk is probably now”, he rounded up saying.

This season Billing has played in all of Bournemouth’s 24 games and presently has five goals plus an assist.

Daniel Martins.

The most talked about player in the English Championship at the moment is Middlesbrough Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom owing to his fantastic run in front of goal at the promotion chasing side.

Akpom has been a thorn in the flesh of defenders in the English Championship this season with 21 goals in 28 games. His amazing turnaround came under the guidance of former Manchester United star and caretaker coach Michael Carrick.

Carrick spoke about the form of the 27 year old who has since completed the switch of nationality process from England making him eligible to play for the senior national team of Nigeria. While making his point on the strengths of the forward he somehow revealed how Akpom can compliment the attack of any team.

The Super Eagles attack is currently headed by Napoli forward Victor Osimhen who has 19 goals this season for the runaway league leaders. Carrick said the fact that Akpom is a team player as seen when he passes on the chance to score a hattrick by handing the ball to his teammate rather than take the penalty shows how much he wants to play for the team ahead of himself.

Carrick said: “I don’t think it’s sacrificing, it’s just being a team player, and credit to him for that. Not many would have done that, but he understands it’s about the squad, all the boys being in a good frame of mind.

“His first penalty was a good one and it would have been easy for him to grab it. But he understands how grateful Marcus was to have a chance to score. A team player is who he is and it’s what most teams love to have”, he rounded up saying.

Osas Mahawi 

The head coach of the Nigeria U23 team Salisu Yusuf is hardly far aways from controversies and his recent list of players invited to the Nigeria U23 camp for the AFCON qualifiers against Guinea is another case study.

Yusuf has once again showed he has little or no knowledge of most players invited to the team and it’s not the first time he is doing this. In his present list at least seven players are well above the age limit. This same mistake he did when he first called up players to the team for the game against Tanzania.

Ahead of the March 22nd game, we take a look at the players he has called up for the game and how he made a mess of what should have been a simple job. Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman takes a look at the invited players.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: John Amah (Sunshine Stars); Nurudeen Badmus (Dakkada FC); Ifeanyi Nchekwube (Akwa United); Oriya Joseph (Lobi Stars)

OGN – A very hilarious pick.  This season only Badmus has tasted action in the NPFL this season. The trio of Joseph, Nchekwube and Amah are third choice at their respective teams. Even Badmus has only kept goal in two games this season. How about the fact that three of the four listed might be above the age limit.

Defenders: Christopher Nwaeze (Plateau United); Desmond Ojietefian (Shooting Stars); Okechukwu Chikason (Enyimba FC); Anthony Anieke (Akwa United); Samuel Olamilekan (Niger Tornadoes); Benjamin Tanimu (Bendel Insurance); Evans Ogbonda (Port Harcourt City); Umar Ahmed Farouk (Gombe United)

OGN- The duo of Chikason and Olamilekan are yet to play any games this season per our records. The same as Desmond of Shooting Stars. Then there is also doubts over the age of Nwaeze and if he is eligible to play for the team. Unless if there is a mix up else there is no way Anieke of Akwa United will be U23 as he was at Bussdor in 2016. Hopefully it isn’t the same player.

Midfielders: Daniel Wotlai (Abia Warriors); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars); Auwalu Naziru (Rangers Int’l); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Enyimba FC); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Taofeek Malomo (Shooting Stars); Samuel Chisom (Kwara United); Samaila Sarki (Bendel Insurance); Kumaga Suur (Lobi Stars); Inye Green (Ibani United).

OGN- Aside from the inclusion of Green from unknown league side Ibani United. Every other player in the list merits a spot in the team. All the players listed can be said to be within the age limit to represent the team. However Malomo has an outstanding issue of age discrepancies while with the U20s. Unless that is sorted then there is no way he can be said to be eligible for this team.

Forwards: Munir Idris (Niger Tornadoes); Ahmed Jimoh (Kwara United); Ezekiel Edidiong (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Ogba (Akwa United); Umar Ibrahim (El-Kanemi Warriors); Alkasin Deji Yusuf (Dakkada FC); Mojereola Suleiman (Sunshine Stars); Akile Monday (Lobi Stars.

OGN- Suleiman hasn’t played a game this season at Sunshine Stars. Ibrahim Umar is another mysterious name in the list with no appearance tied to his name this season in the NPFL. None of the players called up to lead the attack of the team has three goals this season.

The Nigeria U20 team were yesterday pegged back in their quest to reach the final of the ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt following a 1-0 loss to Gambia in the semi final.

OGN editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman takes a look at the good, the bad side and the not too good things he noticed about the Nigerian team at the tournament.

The Good:

The main aim of the tournament is a ticket to the U20 World Cup and they secured that. Aside from that one can easily pick three players in this Nigerian team who can be said to have impressed at the tournament despite their failure to make it to the final.

One area where Nigeria has struggled in recent times when it comes to youth football is in the area of defence and goakeepers. This team is a departure from that trend at least based on what we saw at the AFCON. Chijioke Anigboso stood out in goal with commanding displays.

Benjamin Fredrick and Abel Ogwuche combined at the heart of defence like they have been playing together for ages. In midfield Onuche Ogbelu is one to be tracked for the future, the same as Mohamed Aminu. They showed something to suggest that.

The Bad:

Failure to make it to the final despite playing one of their best football at the tournament against Gambia. Ahmed Abdullahi comes in here as he was the man relied on by Ladan Bosso to deliver the goals but he got himself sent off in the first game. Suspended for the crucial second game, which they won in his absence.

Yesterday, he had the chance of redeeming what has been a poor tournament by his standards but he missed the late vital spot kick that would have dragged the game into extra time. Far from the player who scored two goals at WAFU and hard to believe he currently has 12 goals for the U18 of Gent. He had a very bad tournament.

He wasn’t alone though, the captain of the team Daniel Bamaiyi falls into the group but we will look at his case as a discussion for another day.

The Ugly:

They didn’t play like a typical Nigerian team. Good ball players as individuals but when they try to play collectively as a team it was an eye sore particularly in attack. Never before has a Nigerian team played three games at a tournament at this level and scored five goals with none coming from little intricate passes with runs behind.

First goal was from a corner kick, the second and third goal were spectacular long range efforts. The last goal they scored at the tournament before yesterday was an over the top pass which was recorded as an own goal with Mohammed Beji effort coming off the woodwork to hit a returning player.

Watching the team play in the final third was as ugly as it could get for any Nigerian team. Bosso has time to fix this up and he has to else the team might be an embarrassment at the World Cup.

The coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso has made public the starting lineup for the Nigeria U20 team semi final game against Gambia at the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Bosso whose team defeated Uganda 1-0 in the quarter final to seal a spot in the semi final and also qualification for the U20 World Cup will be hoping his new look defence will keep up with the task of keeping the Gambians at bay.

While goalkeeper Chijioke Anigboso kept his spot in goal, right full back Augustine Njoku was dropped for returning captain of the team Daniel Bamaiyi who was suspended for the quarter final game against Uganda.

However the coach maintained the centre back partnership of Benjamin Fredrick and Abel Ogwuche, who were outstanding in the win over Uganda. Solomon Agbalaka also kept his post as the left back of the team.

For the fourth game running, the coach stuck with the midfield three of Onuche Ogbelu, Samson Lawal and Mohammed Aminu with influential midfielder Daniel Daga now ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

In attack, the trio of Ayuba Francis, Haliru Sarki and Mohammed Beji lead the line as expected with Bosso keeping faith in Sarki who is yet to deliver at the tournament as expected.

Starting XI – Anigboso (GK), Bamaiyi, Benjamin, Ogwuche, Agbalaka, Lawal, Ogbelu, Aminu, Beji, Sarki, Ayuba.

Damian Waziri

The January transfer window ended on the 1st of February with several players making use of the opportunity to switch teams, it didn’t quite work out for all of them.

One of the players who missed out on a big career move is Nigeria international defender Olisa Ndah who plays for Premier South Africa League side Orlando Pirates.

Ndah was linked with a January move to Italian Serie A side Sassuolo but the move didn’t see the light of the day and his agent has taken time to explain why it didn’t happen as widely reported by the South African media.

A stalwart at the heart of defence for Pirates since his move to the PSL side from Akwa United, the defender according to his agent lost out on the chance as he was injured during the January transfer window. His explanation is the same thing OGN reported when the move failed to happen.

His agent Mike Makaab revealed Ndah got injured very early into the interest from the Serie A side and that put a halt to the move. He gave no confirmation on if they will return for the 25 year old in the summer ” “There was an early interest in Olisa Ndah, He [Ndah] sustained an injury at the same time as the interest that came from Italy,” Makaab told FARPost.

The coach of the U20 team of Uganda has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to do something about the Nigerian team, after his team’s 0-1 loss to Nigeria in the quarter finals of the ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt as reported by OGN.

Jackson Mayanja while speaking at the post match conference lamented the fact that his team won’t be at the World Cup following their failure to make it to the semi final of the tournament, but said they lost to a Nigerian team who are older than his team.

It is the second time such an allegation has been  labeled on the Nigerian team with the goalkeeper coach of Egypt Ehab Galal alleging the same thing after his team crashed out of the tournament at the group state despite being the host.

Let’s take a detailed look at the Nigerian team.

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu, Chijioke Anigboso, Saheed Akanbi.

OGN- Akanbi graduated from the last U17 team while Anigboso also trained with the 2019 U17 team. Nwosu plays for local Abuja side Water FC. All three players can’t be said to be above the age limit based on our knowledge.

Defenders: Daniel Bamaiyi, Michael Ologo, Abel Ogwuche, Solomon Agbalaka, Augustine Njoku, Benjamin Frederick.

OGN – Bameyi plays non league football for Yum Yum FC. Agbalaka was at MFM last season in what was his debut season as a professional footballer. Don’t be deceived by his beards as his age has stayed the same way for three years now. There is a story on Frederick  three years ago when he made the breakthrough at Simoiben Football Academy. Age still remains the way it is.

Njoku is a product of the NPFL U15 with Abia Warriors. Ogwuche has no history with any level of league football in Nigeria. He was scouted at Triple 444 Academy by Swedish side Trelleborgs, where he currently plays. Again from what we know none of the defenders can be said to be above the age limit.

Midfielders: Daniel Daga, Onuche Ogbelu, Mohammed Aminu, Jonathan Nicholas, Caleb Ochedikwu, Samson Lawal.

OGN – Daga was originally billed to train with the U17 team but he performed admirably well and was kept with the U20s. Onuche’s case is even more public as he recently wrote his final senior secondary school examination. Aminu is in his first season with Gombe United. At a point this season he was almost dropped for being too young to cope with the physical demands of the NPFL. Lawal had a six months stint with Katsina United last season. His first ever in the NPFL.

Jonathan was at NNL side Ottasolo last season but didn’t get to play games regularly with the coaches not sold out on him on the claims of being too young. He was sent back to Simoiben FC. Caleb hasn’t played any professional football in Nigeria.

Forwards: Jude Sunday, Ahmed Abdullahi, Adams Olamilekan, Haliru Sarki, Emmanuel Uchegbu, Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Ibeji’, Ayuba Francis.

OGN- None of the forward has played more than a season in the NPFL bar Adams Olamilekan whose age has been the same for the past two years. Francis like Uchegbu is in his debut season in the NPFL. Sarki and Abdullahi are both graduate from the last U17 team.

Sunday has no record of playing any level of professional football in Nigeria.

Overall Verdict: The fastest way to know if a player is over the age in Nigeria is by looking at how long they have been around the professional teams in Nigeria. From the above it’s clear to see that this team is probably among the youngest ever presented by Nigeria at this level.

Mohammed Mowiz.

The list of players who will represent Nigeria in the back to back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau will be made public later in the week.

OGN takes a look at what the list will likely be like using the last call ups for the game against Portugal as our guide. We will take a look at the goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and defenders expected to be in list ans those likey to miss out and also their possible replacement.

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Watford FC, England); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel).

OGN- Okoye will likely miss out of the squad for the game primarily because of his lack of game time at Watford. A goalkeeper from the NPFL is said to be his likely replacement but that could change if the move to get two new goalkeepers prove successful.

The likely new goalkeepers are Ovie Ejeheri of Arsenal who is on loan to Finnish side SJK and Arthur Okonkwo who is also on loan from Arsenal to Austrian side Sturm Graz. Peseiro is an admirer of both shot stoppers.

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey).

OGN- Duru will likely make way for Ola Aina who will be back in the squad if he is certified fit by Torino. The other defenders will keep their place unless the switch of allegiance process for Tosin Adarabiyio comes through.

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece).

OGN- No new name is expected to be in the team even though this is far from the ideal kind of players Peseiro wants. Raphael Onyedika might be given another chance. The same as Innocent Bonke. David Ozoh of Crystal Palace os a wild shot at this point.

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Terem Moffi (Lorient FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest, England).

OGN: Emmanuel Dennis is the only one who isn’t sure of his spot in the squad. Onuachu might also be sacrificed with Chuba Akpom, Isaac Success and David Okereke all in contention to take the spot of the aforementioned duo.

Mohammed Mowiz.