This list of players invited to the senior national team of Nigeria for the March 24th Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Guinea Bissau will be made public next week.

As many as five new players are expected to be included by head coach of the team Jose Peseiro for the back to back games and we exclusively gathered that the new players have been contacted by the coach.

OGN can exclusively reveal that former England youth international Tosh Adarabiyio has been handed a first time call up to the team, the Fulham defender will be a part of the rebuilding process on the defence of the team.

Although there is still no confirmation on the inclusion of red hot Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom, sources close to the coach believe he is in with a shout of getting his first call up as the coach has talked about him several times.

The duo are about the two new players who are very much in the plans for the game against Guinea Bissau but Udinese forward Isaac Success is also under consideration for a spot. His form in the Serie A hasn’t gone unnoticed by the coach.

Another player who could be rewarded for his fine form with a first time call up is Cremonense forward David Okereke but his inclusion is dependent on the unavailability of some players per what we exclusively gathered.

Union SG of Belgium forward Victor Boniface is another player who is heavily admired by Peseiro but just like Okereke his inclusion is dependent on several variables which includes availability of some players in his position.

Osas Mahawi

The Nigeria U20 team are having a crisis in defence ahead of their U20 Africa Cup of Nations quarter final game against Uganda , OGN can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria will tomorrow tackle the junior Cranes for a spot in the semi final of the tournament, which also means qualification for the U20 World Cup which will take place in Indonesia later in the year.

We exclusively gathered that the team is presently battling to have Benjamin Fredrick fit for the game as he is yet to fully recover from a knock he received in their last group game against Mozambique.

Frederick who has been one of the standout performers in the Nigerian team didn’t train with the rest of the squad as he keeps complaining of pains around where he suffered the knock. His feared absence coincides with the unavailability of his regular partner Daniel Bameyi who is suspended after picking two yellow cards in the group games.

It means goalkeeper Chijioke Anigboso will wear the captain armband with Abel Ogwuche set for his first start of the tournament after two appearances as a substitute. Solomon Agbalaka is the obvious choice to be drafted to the center back position if Benjamin is ruled out of the game.

There are also doubt over the availability of team’s mercurial midfielder Daniel Daga who went off Injured in their first group game against Senegal. He hasn’t trained since then and looks very likely to miss the game against Uganda as well.

Damian Waziri .

The Nigeria U20 team has not hit the height expected of a Nigerian team in an international tournament but they have somehow managed to seal a spot in the quarter final of the tournament.

Coach Ladan Bosso and his boys are one win away from securing a world cup ticket after sealing a spot in the quarter final with yesterday’s 2-0 win over Mozambique. They have won two of their three games losing once to Senegal.

OGN editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz picks the five players who have so far excelled for Nigeria at the tournament which is taking place in Egypt.

1. Benjamin Fredrick – What a tournament he is having. Winning almost everything on the ground and in the air. Playing out nicely from the back and also winning tackles in the cleanest way one can imagine. The Simoiben Academy graduate is a star in the making without a doubt.

2. Onuche Ogbelu – Not many expect him to be comfortable without his regular partner Daniel Daga but he has coped really well. His ball circulation in particular and ability to beat the press has been exceptional. Little wonder that he is among the players head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has picked to train with the senior national team of Nigeria in March.

3. Chijioke Anigboso – It’s rare for a team to change goalkeepers during the course of a tournament hence eyebrows were raised when Bosso decided to drop his regular first choice Nathaniel Nwosu for Chijioke. The decision has proven to be a master stroke so far with his performances. Deals with aerial balls calmly, has a very firm grip even under pressure and commands his defence with the authority of a veteran.

4. Solomon Agbalaka – Back to back man of the match award says a lot about the centre back turned left back. Showed he is a threat from set pieces with a bullet header from a corner kick against Egypt. Solid in duels and also very assured in possession. A big tournament he is having.

5.  Mohammed Beji – Although he isn’t at the level he was at the U20 WAFU tournament in Niger Republic, he however appears to be getting his rhythm back with his display in the last two games. Scored a belter yesterday and looked very lively and dangerous against Egypt.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria secured their spot in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations with a 2-0 win over Mozambique in their final group games.

Spectacular long range goals from Samson Lawal and Mohammed Beji got the goals that saw the Ladan Bosso led team move within one match of qualifying for the U20 World Cup later in the year.

It means they conclude the group stage of the tournament with two wins from three games with their only loss coming in the 0-1 loss to Senegal in the opening game of the tournament.

OGN editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman picks five things to be taken from the three matches they played in the group stages ahead of the start of the quarter finals.

1. Uncoordinated Style Of Attack- One area Ladan Bosso complained about before the start of the tournament was the attack. Despite the team scoring goals for fun in the test games they played ahead of the start of the tournament, the coach maintained that the striking department is his major headache.

It’s clear to see why as their goals have come from wingers and defenders and not from any well worked team move, no thanks to the uncoordinated way which they play in the opponent’s half. No synergy between the wingers and attackers and even the midfield is lacking creativity.

2. Solid Defence – Aside from the goal conceded against Senegal which can easily pass as an offside with proper video review, the team is yet to concede. The back four of Augustine Njoku, Solomon Agbalaka, Benjamin Fredrick and Daniel Bameyi have been solid as a team with Fredrick and Agbalaka the standout performers.

3. Over Reliant On Wingers – Right from the first game it was clear to see that opponents have studied how to make the team ineffective by cutting off the wingers. Senegal and later Egypt did the same to perfection with a formation that sees them double up on the wingers. Mozambique played differently and paid the price. It will only be normal if Bosso thinks of another way to play ahead of the semi final.

4. Misfiring Star Players – Coming into this tournament, the team relied on some players to deliver them in tight moments during test games. Three games into the tournament and their star men Olamilekan Adams, Haliru-Sarki, Jude Sunday and especially Ahmed Abdullahi who was expected to do the damage for the team are yet to get going. Having them firing in the quarter finals will be heavy on Bosso’s mind.

5. Benjamin Fredrick Is Here To Stay – Not very often do defenders stand out in a team especially centre backs but that isn’t the case with this Nigerian team during the group stages of the U20 AFCON. Although left back Solomon Agbalaka has won back to back man man of the match awards. The man who has really prevented them from conceding has been Frederick. Four last ditch tackles to deny opponents an obvious goal chance says a lot about his importance to this team.

The timing of his tackles, ability to win aerial duels and also the comfort he shows on the ball has made him the one who has caught the eyes the most at this tournament for the Nigerian team. The Simoiben Academy graduate is here to stay.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria secured their spot in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations with a 2-0 win over Mozambique in their final group games.

Nigeria started the game on the front foot but had to wait till the 33rd minute before breaking the deadlock with Samson Lawal hitting an unstoppable drive from range.

One became two four minutes before the break when another long range effort from Mohammed Beji left the goalkeeper of Mozambique in no man’s land, minutes after Ayuba Francis wasted a good chance.

Nigeria sealed their spot in the next round courtesy of the win but coach Ladan Bosso will be worried over the wastefulness of his team, as they had chances to score more goals but failed to take it in the second half.

Qualification for the quarters means they are now one win away from sealing a spot at the U20 World Cup. In the other group game host Egypt lost 0-4 to Senegal, who finished with maximum points in the group without conceding a goal.

Mohammed Mowiz

French Ligue 1 side Lens have already started plans for next season by reaching agreements with players who are expected to join the team in the summer, OGN understands.

Currently placed 4th in Ligue 1 and with the chance of playing European football next season, they have started plans in earnest and one of their prime target is ex Nigeria U17 star Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Russian side FC Krasnodar.

The 20 year old has already agreed a deal that will come into effect in the summer and the club have already signed a player in view of his departure in the summer. The 2019 Nigeria U17 forward was widely expected to leave the team during the just concluded January transfer window.

Talks were said to be advanced at some stage but it broke down forcing him to stay at the club, the disappointment led to a change of agent and his present representative have already set the wheel in motion for a deal in the summer with Lens.

This season, Kunle has scored four goals from 13 games with two assists. He joined the team in 2021 and made a quick step up from the B team to the main team after six months where he scored six goals in 19 games.

Osas Mahawi

Former Nigeria international midfielder Seyi Olofinjana was offered the chance to be a part of the coaching crew of the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the crucial world cup playoff against Ghana, OGN understands.

Olofinjana who worked with English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers as Loans Pathway Manager. A job which entails monitoring and also submitting reports of the players out on loan from the club.

In April 2021, he quit the role for the job of the Sporting Director of Switzerland side Grasshoppers, he resigned from the role in June 2022. During his time at the Swiss side he was offered the job of working with the senior national team of Nigeria but he turned it down.

The job was to see him help then interim coach Austine Eguavoen in the world cup playoff against Ghana, a game which Nigeria lost on away goal rule after a 0-0 draw in Ghana was followed by a 1-1 draw in Abuja and it led to missing out on a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Reacting to a story on Apex media, a former chieftain of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it’s true that the former Stoke City, Hull City and Wolves player rejected the job to assist Eguavoen as head coach for the play off.

” Olofinjana was the top choice ahead of Emmanuel Amuneke but it wasn’t to be as he turned it down. That’s the second time he has turned down the chance to be a part of the set up in recent time. Maybe he will in the future but for now he doesn’t seem interested in working here”, he told OGN.

The highest goal scorer in the French Ligue 1 Folarin Balogun has been given three reasons why he should pledge his international allegiance to the United States of America ahead of England and Nigeria.

Balogun who is on loan to Reims of France from Arsenal has scored 15 goals this season for the modest side and currently joint top scorer with the duo of PSG star Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David of Lille.

His international future at senior level has been the hot topic lately as even though he represents England at the moment at youth level , he is still eligible for Nigeria and the United States of America (USA).

Former USA national team star Eric Wynalda has now given him three reasons why he should prioritize playing for the states ahead of the other two nations, when he decides to make his choice of international football public.

He told The Action Network’s Wondergoal Podcast: “If we (USA) get Folarin Balogun we solve a lot of problems. I’m impressed with everything about him. The power that he has, the timing of his runs.”

He added: “If you look at the circumstances that he’s in and the team he’s playing for, they’re mid-table and he’s playing for a manager that’s 30 years old and the club have to pay a £20,000 ($25,000) fine because he doesn’t have a licence to coach at that level.

“We have to appeal to his ego which is the reality of this. We should let him know that he will be a star. An absolute star at a World Cup, in his own country as he was born in New York.”

He affirmed: “We need to lock him in with some sponsors too. He will be a star with us. He won’t necessarily be a star with England.

“It will come down to how important it is for him to be in the spotlight. That’s the only chance we’ve got to get him. Everything from the Mastercards, the Budweisers, the Coca-Cola’s, the big ones that will be sponsors of this World Cup. They have to figure out how to fit him into the budget.”

Mohammed Mowiz