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.

The senior national team of Nigeria will later this month take on Guinea Bissau in the race to be at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. The back to back game will see Nigeria play at home first before travelling to play in the reverse tie.

Ahead of the game , the coaches of the Nigerian team led by Jose Peseiro will be excited that one of the players they are counting on to deliver is currently having his best season ever since he turned professional.

That player in question is winger Samuel Chukwueze after his brace of assist yesterday helped his team to a 2-0 win over Almeria in the Spanish LaLiga yesterday. He supplied both balls for the goals scored by Gerard Moreno and Jose Luis Morales respectively.

It takes his assist count for the season in the league to five and in between he also has three goals to his name. His best ever return in a season at the club. In all competitions he now has eight goals as well.

For a player who has long been criticized for his poor decision making in the final half of the pitch, it’s remarkable to see how he is enjoying a turn around since the coming of coach Quique Setién.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro will be hoping to have the 23 year old in the same form when he arrives Nigeria later this month for the AFCON qualifiers.

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During the recently concluded January transfer window several Nigerian players were on the move taking advantage of the mid-season window to sort their club futures. OGN tracked most of the popular moves.

However one that escaped our attention involved forgotten senior Nigeria international goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, who was until January playing in the second division in Malta for Pieta Hotspurs.

The 26 year old made good use of the January transfer window to return to Europe by joining French 5th division side Jura Dolois FC located in Dole, which is very close to the Swiss border. He has already played in a game for his new team.

In the game his team drew 1-1 with Besancon FC . They are currently third in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. For Alampasu this is a new chapter in his bid to get his career which started by winning the best goalkeeper at the U17 World Cup in 2015.

He has constantly failed to nail a spot as first choice at club level and that has stopped him from making the step up to the senior national team although he was called up several times by erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr.

Daniel Martins

The Nigeria U20 team secured passage to the semi final of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations which is currently taking place in Egypt after a 2-1 win over Uganda in yesterday’s quarter final game.

Nigeria secured passage to the World Cup courtesy of that win over Uganda and will now take on Gambia in the semi final but some players have already made a huge impression on the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro.

Peseiro is in Egypt watching the tournament and have already penciled down four players who he intends to add to the training of the senior national team of Nigeria, when they take on Guinea Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers late this month.

One player that wasn’t originally included in the list of four is Benjamin Frederick but the Simoiben Academy graduate has played his way into the heart of the coach and could take one of the spots reserved for Daniel Daga, Daniel Bamaiyi, Onuche Ogbelu and Olamilekan Adams or better still join them in the training camp.

” He has been raving about Frederick. There is no way you will watch us play and not notice him. Peseiro spoke highly about him especially his football intelligence. What most people don’t know is that he has been playing through his pain barrier in all but the opening game”, a backroom staff told OGN.

” To us as the crew on the team, we feel proud that we have unearthed a player who could go on and become a super star in the future. He has played ever games with a consistency of a seasoned pro. He isn’t even a month old in professional football”, he rounded up saying.