2019 Nigeria U17 star Olakunle Olusegun has written his name in the history books of the Russian Premier League by becoming the player to score the fastest goal in the history of the league.

He scored after just 8.9 seconds in his team FC Krasnodar 2-3 loss against Rostov. His curled effort from just outside the penalty area flew past Sergei Pesyakov for the opening goal of the game to set a new record for fastest goal scored.

His goal broke the record previously set by another Nigerian in Emmanuel Emenike who scored after ten seconds for Spartak Moscow in a win over Alania in 2012. Prior to his feat Alexei Bychkov held the record for scoring in the ninth second of the game against Rotor in 1999.

This season he has played 11 games and scored four goals. The former ABS FC forward has proven to be a shrewd signing since his move to the team from Fremad Anger of Denmark. He also had stints with FDC Vista, Botev Plovdiv and the B team of Krasnodar called Krasnodar 2.

For the Nigeria U17 team he scored three goals in ten games and was voted the best player at the WAFU B championship, where he also finished as the top scorer of the regional tournament. His goals propelled the team to the trophy.

The battle for the international future of 18 year old Rennes midfield sensation Lesley Ugochukwu appears to be far from over despite his status as a France youth international.

The nephew to former Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam, Ugochukwu broke into the scene as a 17 year old and his rise was quickly made known to then coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr. He has since blossomed into one of the best young midfielders in the French Ligue 1.

Rohr didn’t show any interest in having Ugochukwu play for Nigeria as he didn’t follow up on his first meeting with the teenager and hjz father, leaving the now coveted midfielder with no choice but to represent France at U19 level next year.

This season he has played five games for Rennes in Ligue 1 firmly establishing himself as first choice midfielder at the club. It meant his sight should naturally be on progressing to the senior national team of France from the youth team.

However that might not be the case, as his father met with Super Eagles captain Moses Simon after Rennes’s 3-0 win over Nantes. A  result which helped them move to 6th on the log while Nantes dropped to 19th on the 20 team table.

Newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is still in the process of scouting players he plans to build his team around before the start of competitive games next year.

Peseiro will have as many as three international breaks where the team will play at least four friendly matches following the postponement of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations. Already their will play two games in November against Portugal and Costa Rica respectively.

Players who fell out of favour under the previous coaches of the team will be eyeing a return to the set up by performing well for their respective teams with the hope of catching the attention of the Portuguese coach.

One of such players is Josh Maja of French second division side Bordeaux, who has seven goals in eleven games this season, with his team well on track to return to the top division following their relegation due to financial Issues.

His first and only cap for Nigeria came in the 2-2 friendly game against Ukraine on the 10th of September with Gernot Rohr as the coach of the team, he didn’t get another call up after playing just a minute but he is hopeful that with Rohr no longer at the helm, his fortune could change.

” It’s a dream and if I keep scoring goals it will definitely happen. Another chance with the team and this time around staying as a part of the group will be my aim. It starts with scoring for Bordeaux and return to the French Ligue 1″, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Four years ago with Nigeria already through to the World Cup in Russia, the coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr made moves to convince players of Nigerian descent to switch allegiance to the team.

Rohr who is no longer at the helm is presently the coach who was very successful in luring players of Nigerian origin playing for other nations or born abroad to pledge their international future to Nigeria. As many as seven players were capped during his six year stay as coach.

Tyrone Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Kevin Akpoguma and Joe Aribo top the list but he also failed in his bid to lure some players with then Hertha Berlin defender Jordan Torunarigha among those he failed to convince.

Now at Belgium side Genk, the father of the defender who has represented Germany from U17 to U23 level told his son not to play for Nigeria as he is scared of voodoo popularly called Juju in the camp of the Nigerian team.

A teammate of the former youth international told OwnGoalNigeria.com in a chat that his father who had stints with JIB Rocks, IICC now known as Shooting Stars and ACB back in the days told his son to focus on building his international career with Germany.

” I spoke with his father Ojokojo who was my teammate at JIB Rocks and he told me he is scared of his son coming to the camp at that age because of the juju scare in the camp of the team, considering he is very young he might struggle to cope mentally. I think he is grown now and that shouldn’t be an issue”, he said .

The recently released list of players for the Nigeria U23 team of their AFCON Qualifiers against Tanzania has thrown up more questions than answers with as many as nine players above the age limit.

Yesterday coach of the Nigerian team Salisu Yusuf released a list of 32 players who will report to the camp of the team in Ibadan, where they will camp and also play their home games of the qualifiers.

The team is expected to face Tanzania with the first leg holding in Dar es Salaam in the weekend of 21st- 23rd October. The reverse fixture is billed for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan on Saturday, October 29.

However per checks made by OwnGoalNigeria.com senior editor Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman as many as nine players in the team are above the age limit for the tournament.

” We keep doing same mistake and now it’s even more worrisome because the game of less than two weeks away and aside from the fact that players who are involved in continental games with their respective NPFL teams won’t be released, some of the players are above the age limit”, Mowiz said.

” Players born 1 January 2001 or later are the ones eligible to play in the qualifiers and the subsequent tournament but in the list we have nine players that I am sure are above the age limit. It could be more if the list is properly checked. I won’t mention names but the authority involved should do their job correctly”, he rounded up saying.

ALL 32 PLAYERS INVITED TO CAMP:

Goalkeepers: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Edwin Emelan (Calabar Rovers); Amah John (Box-To-Box FC)

Defenders: Bamayi Calocho (Yumyum FC); Bello Babatunde (Akwa United); James Ajako (Akwa United); Yazid Adamu (MY Jamil FC); Tosin Adegbite (Enyimba FC); Christopher Nwenze (Plateau United); Isaiah Ejeh (Kwara United); Anas Hassan (Vandrezzer FC)

Midfielders: Maurice Chukwu (Rivers United); Uche Ogonna (Campos FC); Haggai Katoh (Plateau United); Olamilekan Adebayo (Remo Stars); Suleiman Abdullahi (Gladano FC); Naziru Awwal (Rangers Int’l); Adam Yakubu (Akwa United); Joshua Alechenu (Nasarawa United); Suleiman Garba Kirki (Kebbi United)

Forwards: Kalu Samuel (Enyimba FC); Edwin John (Water FC); Chisom Orji (Colins Edwin FC); Chidiebere Nwobodo (Rangers Int’l); Ogbuehi Nzuebuchi (Campos FC); Jerry Alex (Kano Pillars); Mustapha Jibrin (Abia Warriors); Ademola Adebabam (Ottasolo FC); Abdulsalam Abdulasalam (Shooting Stars); Zulkifilu Mohammed (Plateau United); Jonathan Alukwe (Heartland FC)

In a bid not to lose out on getting a fee for players who will be out of contract, clubs are usually keen on extending their deals to protect their interest, especially if the player ranks among their important players.

Such kind of players are mostly tempted with offers that they can’t refuse and that is the case with French Ligue 1 side Nantes and Super Eagles winger Moses Simon. You can follow Ligue 1 live scores on Flashscore. The wing ace has a year left on his deal at the club after this season.

Nantes have already tabled a contract extension offer of two more years to make Simon who is presently their highest earning player, the highest paid player ever in their history of the club, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The 27 year old is said to be open to just an additional year to his existing deal and that impasse is what is currently hindering the announcement of the deal. He is however keen on staying at the club after snubbing several offers to leave the club during the last summer transfer window.

Simon has over his stay at the club shown to be their most valuable player with a total of 47 goals contributions in 111 games in all competitions. It involves 24 goals and 23 assists, a feat which has seen him win their player of the year award twice.

Go Round FC has reported Rivers United to the FIFA Player Statute Committee for failure to meet up with contractual obligations.

According to the General Manager of Go Round FC, Dr. Soni Uboh, the Port Harcourt based side has not kept to terms of the contract both parties signed regarding the transfer of Nelson Esor.

“We had a clause in the contract with them in the Esor deal that in event of a further transfer, we (Go Round FC) will get thirty-five percent, but since Esor moved to Simba, Rivers United have neither paid us the money nor even responded to any of our correspondence to them,” Uboh said.

According to General Manager of Go Round FC, his club, through its secretary first wrote to Rivers United to confirm Esor had moved but got no response.

“The second letter to them was to confirm how much the deal was worth and ask when we will get our payment and they ignored it,” Soni Uboh continued.

“By the time we wrote a third letter to them, they, rather than reply to it, called a meeting which had their General Manager Okey Kpalikwu, Sports Commissioner, Chris Green, and Secretary, Ahmed Abdulrahman in attendance where they told our secretary that we were not eligible to get the money anymore and they will not pay.

“The meeting was called by Christopher Green under the pretense of resolving the issue, but rather he made a case why Rivers United would not pay our thirty-five percent to us.

“The only thing we can do at this time is to take the case to the FIFA Player statute committee, and that is where we are now.

“I spoke to the General Manager of Rivers United and he told me that only the sports commissioner, Chris Green can approve payment of the money, and this appears to me like interference.

“The sports commissioner has also hijacked the matter because he has suggested that if we don’t mind he can just give something little to help us. I consider this ridiculous and an attempt to shortchange us,” Soni Uboh said.

“Even the player, Nelson Esor had reached out to me, to inform me that payment had been made and he asked if we had gotten our percentage from Rivers United. This further buttresses the agreement between us, the player, and Rivers United,” Uboh said.

Rivers United claim that because Nelson Esor renewed his contract with them after the initial three years, then Go Round FC is not eligible to get their 35% sell-on clause from the deal that took him to Simba FC in Tanzania.

As a club, Go Round FC awaits FIFA’s Player Status Committee decision on Rivers United’s attempt to rip us off our entitlement on our former captain whom we nurtured from our amateur days while he was a student of Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku.

A world cup is a sporting event that only comes around once every four years. Nevertheless, millions of people from all over the globe tune in to watch the best players in the world compete for the title of champion. This year’s tournament will be held in Qatar, and there will surely be some surprises along the way. A betting preview on the world cup odds will be released closer to the event, but you may wonder what to expect from this year’s tournament.

Here are a few things that you can look forward to this coming November:

A New Champion Will Be Crowned

Qatar will host the World Cup for the first time in its history in 2022. It is also the first time in history that they will hold the world cup in November and December due to Qatar’s climate. Because of this, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will come out on top. Will a traditional powerhouse like Brazil or Germany take home the trophy? Or will a dark horse team like Iceland or Senegal shock the world? Only time will tell.

New Venues and Technology

All of Qatar’s stadiums have been specifically designed for the 2022 World Cup. It includes state-of-the-art cooling systems to combat the heat and extensive security measures to keep fans and players safe. In addition, Qatar will be using cutting-edge technology like goal-line sensors and video assistant referees to help officiate the games.

An Exciting Tournament

With so many unknowns heading into the 2022 World Cup, one thing is for sure: it’s going to be an exciting tournament. So clear your schedule and be ready for some world-class soccer action this November and December. More, the thrill of betting world cup odds will also be incomparable, so make sure to check out the latest preview when it’s released.

Who Has Been Qualified?

As of June 2021, the following 32 teams have qualified for the 2022 World Cup. They practice hard to be the best in their game to take home the gold.

• Qatar
• Australia
• Mexico
• Senegal
• Cameroon
• Brazil
• Netherlands
• Iran
• Canada
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Japan
• Ecuador
• France
• Germany
• Morocco
• Saudi Arabia
• Argentina
• Uruguay
• Serbia
• Ghana
• England
• Switzerland
• Poland
• Wales
• Spain
• United States
• South Korea
• Costa Rica
• Portugal
• Croatia
• Tunisia

Their rigorous training and practice will finally pay off when they compete in the World Cup 2022. No matter who you’re rooting for, it’s sure to be an exciting tournament. And if you’re searching to add a little extra excitement, make sure to check out the betting preview when it’s released. Who knows, you might just end up winning big. But how to place a bet? Below are some helpful tips.

How to Place a World Cup Betting Bet

If you’re looking to add a little extra excitement to the World Cup, why not try your hand at betting? Before you place your bets, here are a few things you should know:

• A reputable sportsbook: First and foremost, you’ll need to find a reputable sportsbook. There are many options out there, so take your time and do your research. You may even want to ask if any of your friends have any recommendations.
• The world cup odds: Once you’ve found a sportsbook, take a look at the World Cup odds. These are the chances that each team has of winning the tournament, and they’ll be updated as the tournament goes on. Be sure to check back often to make the most informed bets possible.
• Your betting strategy: You’ll need to develop a betting strategy. It will be up to you, but there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, you may want to bet on the favourite to win it all or focus on placing smaller bets on multiple teams.

Whatever your strategy may be, just remember to have fun and stay safe. Betting can be a great way to add excitement to the World Cup, but it’s important to gamble responsibly.

What Team Will You Be Rooting for?

Now that you know a little bit more about the World Cup and betting, it’s time to choose a team to root for. Will you be cheering on a traditional powerhouse like Brazil or Germany? Or will you throw your support behind an underdog team like Iceland or Senegal? Whoever you end up rooting for, just remember to enjoy the tournament. It’s sure to be a great one.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start placing your bets! The World Cup is just around the corner and will surely be an exciting tournament. Good luck!

Senior players of the senior national team of Nigeria are not comfortable with the November 10th date for the international friendly game against Costa Rica in San Jose.

The game was announced to the public yesterday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as part of the two games the team will play in November, the other game will be against Portugal.

While the game against Portugal is expected to be played few days before the World Cup, that of Costa Rica will be played at a date when most of the players are still active at their clubs. The break date ahead of the World Cup agreed by FIFA with all clubs is 14th of November.

Some senior players of the team took time out to speak with OwnGoalNigeria.comon the game against Costa Rica specially on the proposed date which isn’t convenient for most of the players based abroad.

“Maybe they intend to play the game with home based players because almost every league will still be on. In England, Italy, Netherlands and maybe France where we have the bulk of our players, they have games very close to that date of the friendly game”, he said.

Another one said while it is a welcome development, they should endeavor to reach out to the representatives of the players before agreeing on dates for friendly game to forestall this kind of disagreement.

” The game is much needed because of the new coach. He needs games to pass his ideas and also try new players but it has to be convenient for all. It is why he have the senior players as our representatives. They speak with the federation and get back to us for an agreement. It’s not so hard to make it work”, he concluded.

Udinese defender Kingsley Ehizibue has broken his silence over his international future as he settles down to life in the Italian Serie A following his move during the summer transfer window.

He joined from German side FC Cologne and so far he has made four appearances with the team keen on easing him into the set up. So far he has shown glimpses of the potential that he has.

The 27 year old is eligible to represent Nigeria, Germany and the Netherlands at international level but so far he has only one international cap to his name and it came for the Dutch U21 in 2018.

Ehizibue was however called up twice to the senior national team of Nigeria by erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr but on both occasions he couldn’t honour the call up despite his desire to play for the senior national team of Nigeria.

“Kingsley has administrative problems, Kingsley was born in Germany and then he was a refugee and he had to go to the Netherlands and he got a Dutch passport,” Rohr explained to Elegbete TV Sports last year.

“Now if he takes another passport, for example Nigerian passport, he must leave the Dutch passport. He cannot have double passports, this is the only problem.”

Explaining further Rohr said the defender is keen on playing for Nigeria but it’s impossible for him as he is registered with his Schengen passport and he will lose it if he plays for Nigeria.

“I met him in Cologne, I saw him with his agent and the boy wants to play with us but if he’s playing with us with the Nigerian passport he will lose the Schengen passport and he cannot because in his team he cannot play without the Schengen passport so this is only an administrative problem”.