At around the same time Victor Osimhen was tearing Juventus apart in the Italian Serie A top of the table clash. A relatively unknown Nigerian was also grabbing the headline in France.

Osimhen’s brace trended on the Nigeria’s social media space as Napoli secure a 5-1 win over Juventus courtesy of his brace and assist. In France there was George Ilenikhena who wrote his name in the record books.

George like he called, scored the leveled for Amiens to help them draw 1-1 against Bordeaux, where another Nigerian in one cap Super Eagles forward Josh Maja scored his 11th goal of the Ligue 2 campaign.

Maja’s goal was on course for the title of match winner until two minutes into time added on when the 16 year old Ilenikhena struck to help his team steal a point at the home of the second placed team in the league.

In so doing he became the first player born in 2006 to score in one of the top two leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain courtesy of that stoppage time equaliser for Amiens against Bordeaux. He was born after the retirement of legendary France star Zinedine Zidane.

His goal scoring prowess in the N3- Hauts-de-France league this season has been phenomenal as he has six goals in six games this season. Born in Lagos Nigeria, he is eligible for France as well after migrating to the country at a very young age.

The coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso has in the past admitted that his team needs a proper striker as they stepped up preparation for next month Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Bosso’s team are presently at their camp in Abuja for the final phase of preparation for the tournament with only players based in Nigeria. The players based abroad are expected to arrive at the camp from today.

One of the invited players is Crystal Palace forward Ademola Ola-Adebomi. The 19 year old is expected to carry the burden of the team in attack, where a proper number nine is still one of the priorities of the coaches.

Ola-Adebomi was born in England and joined the Crystal Palace Academy ten years ago. He made quick progress through the ranks and signed his first professional deal in October 2022, after scoring an astonishing 14 goals from 22 appearances for the U18s in the period leading to his deal.

This season he has scored three goals in nine Premier League Two games. He only recently returned to full fitness and adjusting to the demands of playing in the English Youth League but Bosso feels he is worth the gamble.

He still has to win the heart of the coaches in training before he will be given a spot in the team and it all begins for the well built teenager this week in Abuja.

The drive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) towards convincing players born abroad to pledge their allegiance to the senior national team of Nigeria suffered a set back recently.

Technical director of the NFF Austine Eguavoen was in England recently where he met and had talks with seven players of Nigerian descent. He was in England on the invitation of Fulham defender Tosin Adarabiyio.

Adarabiyio played for England at youth level but has now decided to switch to Nigeria. Not sooner had Eguavoen left, the head coach of the team Jose Peseiro also visited England and afterwards revealed he had talks with several Nigerian players.

Their drive however met a brick wall in Croatia according to Osijek defender Alexander Uwem. The 19 year old is born to a Croatian mother and a Nigerian father making him eligible for both countries but he has already made his choice.

Uwem said he snubbed an approach from the NFF with head coach Peseiro keen on having young players particularly in the defence of the team, where three of his favorite are approaching or already in their 30’s. Uwem somehow ruled himself out as a possible option.

“They called my manager, asked what the situation was, about the papers… – reveals the young footballer of the White and Blues.

” I haven’t received anything in writing yet. Honestly, I feel like a Croat, Croatia is my country and I want to play for Croatia one day”, he rounded up saying.

Napoli showed why they are the top team in the Italian Serie A with a convincing 5-1 win over second place Juventus in the first game of the weekend.

Red hot Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen opened the floodgate of goals with the opener after just 14 minutes. His partner in attack Kvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled their advantage in the 39th minute before Angel Di Maria reduced the deficit to 1-2 heading into the half time break.

Ten minutes after the restart Amir Rrahmani made it 3-1 before the irrepressible Osimhen made it 4-1 just two minutes after a criminal miss. The goal took his goal count for the season to 12 goals, just two goals shy of his entire tally for last season.

Elif Elmas piled more misery on the visitors with the fifth goal in the 72nd minute, seven minutes before Osimhen was subbed off to a standing ovation from the fans at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The win means Napoli have now stretched their lead at the top of the table to ten points after 18 games. Juventus dropped to second spot with AC Milan overtaking them, due to a superior goal difference despite not playing until tomorrow when they take on Lecce.

As many as ten players based in Europe turned up in the camp of the Nigeria U20 team in Abuja for their second phase of preparation ahead of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Head coach of the team Ladan Bosso found a way of accommodating the players even though they were not in his original list of players called up for the camping exercise. The invited foreign based players will start arriving the camp by next week.

Not to lose track of what he is doing, Bosso made the uninvited players to train among themselves from where he made a decision on who should not return for further assessment. So far he has dropped six of them.

” I have to let them try out because we haven’t start serious build up. From next week, no player will be allowed to train with us or open to be accessed unless you are part of our initial plan. About ten players came from Europe and six have been told not to return”, Bosso told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” The idea is to see one if we can get one or two of them who will push the main players in the list for a spot. So far six have survived and if they continue to impress. We will use the elimination by substitution method to bring them in”, he concluded.

The performances of players of the senior national team of Nigeria hasn’t been the best lately and it has no doubt raised a whole lot of concerns, especially as they are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the spot at the recently concluded World Cup in Qatar.

Nigeria suffered a heavy 0-4 loss to Portugal in their last friendly game before the World Cup. That results means they have lost all four of their friendly games they have played under new coach Jose Peseiro. They have won just two of the games he has handled the team.

The wins came against Sierra Leone (2-1) and Sao Tome and Principe (10-0) respectively in the AFCON qualifiers. Ironically the both games are the only competitive games they have played under Peseiro. They will be back in action in March.

Ahead of the return, former Nigeria international Sunday Mba, who scored the lone goal against Burkina Faso that handed the AFCON 2013 title to Nigeria has launched a scathing attack on the players presently in the team.

Mba made his feeling known during an interview session with another ex Nigeria international in Ifeanyi Udeze who now works as a radio presenter for Brila FM. He called out the players lackluster attitude and even said some of them are not in the team on merit. The interview was conducted in pidgin English, below is the quote as translated by our editorial team.

“Our Super Eagles are not making us happy. This team is playing like they don’t care about the national team. Some of them do not deserve to be in the team and some do not merit the games they are playing”, he stated.

“I doubt how they get selected. They don’t play entertaining or captivating football and they get you disappointed when you watch them”, he rounded up saying.