The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Ladan Bosso had a chat with OGN after his team sealed a spot at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations semi final by beating Uganda 1-0 in yesterday’s quarter final game.

It means Nigeria are through to the U20 World Cup in Indonesia in May but the coach still has his eyes on achieving more from the tournament which includes winning the tournament. He said it was part of their goals before the start of the tournament.

Bosso also fired back at the goalkeeper coach of the Egyptian team who said some of the Nigerian and Senegalese players are older than their ages citing the bearded number 3 jersey of Nigeria Solomon Agbalaka.

Below is the full interview.

OGN – Congratulations on qualifying for the semi final and also the  World Cup but how far do you think this team can go?

Bosso- Thanks a lot. We are a lot more comfortable now after securing a ticket to the World Cup which is essentially the aim of this tournament. We will play a lot better now and we can now focus on winning our next game. One game at a time.

OGN- Do you real think your team can go all the way and lift the trophy?

Bosso-  All the four teams left in the tournament can win it. We can but like I said it’s one game at a time. Semi-final first and then we can talk about the final and possibly winning the tournament  . I repeat one game at a time.

OGN – A lot of Nigerians are still not happy with the team’s performance despite qualification for the World Cup. What’s your reaction to that?

Bosso – Performamce is relative. We have conceded just once and won there of our four games. Only Senegal have a better record than us. We came to this tournament with players who have never played at this level. You can tell they are nervous from the first game.

Against Senegal, we were up against a better experience team with six players from their team that won the CHAN tournament. Egypt were were the host and when we played them in our second game they have the crowd behind them and it energized them and it had an effect on my players.

In our last group game, we had to play with our hands on the break because the game has a direct bearing on our qualification for the semi final. In the semi final we had to also make sure we don’t get over excited because the world cup ticket is at stake. So we played four games with huge significance to our aim at the tournament. Now it’s the semi final and we are more relaxed to play our game.

OGN- The goalkeeper coach of Egypt said Nigeria and Senegal played with older players. What’s your reaction to that?

Bosso- Losers will always look for excuses. He mentioned Agbalaka having beards but all his players bar two also have beards. So by his statement they are all above the age. I beat my chest to say we have the youngest U20 team ever in the history of Nigerian football.

OGN – Which area of the team are you looking to improve ahead of the World Cup?

Bosso- Almost everywhere but especially in attack. We could do with three new players in that department. The World Cup is a bigger stage hence we have to approach it with our best available legs.

OGN – Any plans to invite foreign based players?

Bosso – Why not? We have some who came to the camp but left due to one or two Issues. When that times comes we will take a look at them again but 75% of these players will form the base of my team for the World Cup.

OGN – Thank you very much coach.

Bosso – Thank you for the support.

Mohammed Mowiz.

Nigeria international forward Kelechi Iheanacho has been nominated for the award of the player of the month in the English Premier League, the organizers have announced.

He is nominated alongside Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Tottenham Hotspur Emerson Royal, Manor Solomon of Fulham and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa. His nomination is coming on the back of a successful display in the month under review.

The Nigerian’s five goal involvements came in a devastating two-match spell. He got a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win at Aston Villa and followed that up with a goal and an assist in Leicester City’s impressive 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Within that same period fellow nominees Manor, Watkins and Rashford scored three, four and five goals respectively while Royal had a goal and assist to his name. Leno kept three clean sheets in four games.

The decision of Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen to not drop the protective mask he was given as protection after facial surgery has generated lot of talks as he was expected to wear the mask for a while.

However he hasn’t let go off it after over a year with the mask and it has coincided with his first real consistent run in front of goal with 19 goals to his name as Napoli close in on a first league title since the 80’s.

Dr. Gianpaolo Tartaro who performed the surgery stated why the current Serie A top scorer is finding it hard to let go off the mask as it affords him more security after almost going blind before he was operated upon.

“The orbital bone stopped just in time because Osimhen could even have lost his sight,” Tartaro said to Radio CRC.

“That bone could indeed have caused other problems, but fortunately some factors helped us and the eye was able to go back into its socket.

“The plaques do not need to be removed unless there is an urgent need; for example if they develop an infection. The titanium could alter an X-ray, but I don’t think Osimhen wants them removed.

“When we performed the surgery, we used the best quality plaques in the world and had to study very carefully where to place them, so there was protection should the player have to head the ball.”

Explaining further he said the mask has become a source of assurance to the 23 year old that he is safe while on the bench after wearing it for a while and it has made him world class. ““He seems to play even better than he did before, it gives him security. He has become world-class.”

Daniel Martins 

Captain of the Uganda U20 team has boasted that his team will use today’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations quarter final game against Nigeria to write a new chapter in the history of football in the country.

Nigeria will later today battle the Junior Cranes in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with the winner not only qualifying for the semi final but also a ticket to be at the U20 World Cup which will take place in Indonesia.

Isma Mugulusi said they will head into the game with the intention of picking up a win which will guarantee them a spot at the World Cup. He said they have come this far and don’t see any way the Nigerian team can stop them from making history.

“We are ready, everyone is in shape, we’re mentally good. We’ve tried to put what the coach wants in practice. I think we can overcome Nigeria in the quarter-finals,” the Makedonikos FC attacker said during the pre match presser.

“We are told and we have been assisted by the coaches and other players who visited our camp like former Cranes goalkeeper and captain Dennis Onyango and former Hippos captain Gavin Kizito to eat the grass so I think tomorrow we will eat the grass.

“In this team everyone is a captain. It’s not only me so it’s not something big though I am the one who wears the armband but everyone is a leader in our team.”

Damian Waziri

The recent report by OGN editor in chief focused on the issues around the defence of the senior national team of Nigeria with all but one of the senior players of the team getting regular run of games in Europe.

Today we take a look at five Nigerian defenders who are doing really well for Nigeria in top leagues around Europe and eligible to play for the senior national team of Nigeria. However they appear not to be in the plans of the handlers of the team.

Aji Alese (Sunderland) – Real name Ajibola Joshua Odunayo Afolarin Alese, the 22 year old has emerged as one of the best players of Sunderland as they continue their hunt for a spot in the English Premier League playoff. So far he has shown he is very comfortable at left back or at the heart of the defence.

An English youth international at several levels but his last call up came in 2020 making him a player that Nigeria can easily approach to commit his future to the Super Eagles. The former West Ham trainee has played a total of 19 games this season and it could have been more if not for injuries and fitness issues .

Emmanuel Aiwu ( Cremonense) – Signed from Austrian side Rapid Vienna, the 22 year old played in 22 Italian Serie A games this season. A huge number of game when you consider where he is coming from. An Austrian youth international he is yet to be capped at senior level and as at 2019 he was approached by then Nigeria U20 coach Paul Aigbogun. Maybe the time to revisit him on the same issue of commiting to Nigeria is now.

Moritz Jenz (Schalke 04) – The on loan Lorient defender doesn’t come across like someone with a Nigerian connection when you judge with his name. He however confessed that he has Nigerian roots even though he carries a German passport. Although he said he is focused on representing Germany he still left the door open on representing Nigeria.

Since moving to Schalke 04 from Celtic in January his second consecutive loan spell this season. The 23 year old has looked tha part.  Comfortable as a centre back or right back. Schalke are yet to lose in the five games he has played for them. The loan deal has an obligation to buy effectively making him a player of the team by the end of the season. At national level, he hasn’t been capped by Germany at any level making him available for an immediate invitation.

Shawn Adewoye ( Waalwijk) – Born in Belgium to a father of Nigerian descent. The 22 year old has earned rave reviews for his performances in the Dutch Eredivisie. This season he has played in all 23 games this season and picked up two man of the match awards. He also has a goal to his name.

Although he has represented Belgium from U15 to U19, the last of which came in 2018. He appears to be someone who will jump at the chance of playing for Nigeria.

Jonas David – Self confessed Super Eagles wannabe. The Hamburg defender was on the radar ahead of a potential call up to the senior national team of Nigeria under former coach Gernot Rohr. Unlike the aforementioned quartet, he appears to be one who has been contacted but a decision on his inclusion in the team is yet to be made.

His performances for promotion chasing Hamburg should no doubt accelerate a call up especially with the issues around the defence of Nigeria.

Mohammed Mowiz

The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is worried over the lack of playing time all of the four senior center backs of the Nigerian team are presently facing at their respective teams.

Ahead of the team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau only William Troost Ekong is enjoying a regular run of games at his new side Salernitana and to complicate things he is now injured meaning he is in a race against time to be for the game.

Ekong has missed the last two games of his team in the Italian Serie A. Prior to joining the Serie A side he was on the fringes at English Championship side Watford. He made only 12 appearances with three coming as a substitute.

The other senior defender Kenneth Omeruo who has 59 caps for Nigeria has played in 12 games this season like Ekong at Watford, but he hasn’t been involved for second division Spanish side Leganes in their last six games since going off injured against Albacete.

It even worse for Semi Ajayi at English Championship side West Brom as he has only played in ten game this season and has played just eleven minutes in three games since returning from the ligament injury which he sustained in February and kept him out for three months.

His case isn’t better than another senior defender in the team Leon Balogun , the 34 year old has never really had a solid club career but has remained invaluable to the national team when called upon. At QPR he hasn’t played in their last 15 matches. His last game was on the 8th of November.

One would have thought playing in Croatia will guarantee Chidozie Awaziem a guarantee run of games but that isn’t the case with the former FC Porto defender. The 26 year old has played in 14 games this season but he has missed three of their last five games. Although it’s also worthy to note that he has scored four goals this season as well.

Mohammed Mowiz

The senior national team of Nigeria are battling a mini crisis in the goalkeeper department with only one of of the three options available to coach Jose Peseiro enjoying regular run of games at club level, OGN reports.

First choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who appeared to have reclaimed his spot at Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia is back on the bench following the return of 35 year old Brazilian goalkeeper Fabiano.

Since his return from injury he has kept goal in five straight games with Uzoho who was in goal for 14 consecutive games dropping to the bench despite the fact that he didn’t do too badly as he picked up 8 clean sheets.

However the fact that Fabiano has the trust of the coach and also that of his teammates means he returns to his role as first choice with the team presently 7th in the league. Uzoho might not taste action until the 24th of March when he will likely be in goal for Nigeria against Guinea Bissau.

For now among the trio battling to be first choice of the senior national team of Nigeria only Adebayo Adeleye of Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem with 18 games under his belt this season. Second choice Maduka Okoye has only been in goal twice for Watford, both coming in cup games since the start of the English Championship season. He is yet to play a league game for the team he joined in the summer.

Mohammed Mowiz

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 .