Players of the senior national team of Nigeria are finding it hard to cope with the demand of new coach Jose Peseiro, who has shown so far that he is a coach who want his team to always attack.

His approach is in sharp contrast with the style of former coach Gernot Rohr, who is very conservative in his approach insisting on the team keeping their shape defensively more than they do in the opposition half.

Although Peseiro’s approach has seen the team score in all but one of the games under the Portuguese, the players are uncomfortable with the way he wants them to work both on and off the ball. “It’s too demanding”,a player said in the wake of the 1-2 loss to Algeria.

” We play with a two man midfield and he expects the player behind the striker to drop deep alongside the wingers when we are without the ball. Then move in numbers to crowd the opposition’s box the moment we get the ball”, he explained.

” It’s asking a lot of the players to be honest and the complains have been there as a lot of us are not comfortable especially the defenders. They feel exposed. We are not even allowed to keep the ball in our half, it must be in the opponent’s half. You know how hard that can be”, he rounded up saying.

Modern day football has placed demands on wingers to not just create goals but also get among goals. When the goals don’t come many expect the winger to at least assist others to score.

It’s even worse for new signings especially if they come with a reputation as the difference maker for teams, who are struggling or pushing for the title and are handed regular run of games upon their arrival. It can sometimes put the player under pressure with fans expecting them to hit the ground running.

Hertha Berlin Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke falls within the category described above as since his move from Russian side CSKA Moscow where he suspended his contract due to the war. He hasn’t quite set the German Bundesliga on fire as widely expected.

However it’s safe to say he has shown tremendous improvement in the area of his final balls which is what frustrates many in his game. He bagged his third consecutive assist helping his team to a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim. He laid the pass for Dodi Lukebakio for the leveler in the 37th minute.

Before yesterday’s game he has picked up assist against Bayern Leverkusen and also Mainz 05. An improvement which his coach admitted came after several works on the training ground in the wake of criticism about his end products. It’s nothing close to his dribbling abilities.

” You see he (Ejuke) can do that with ease and also for a while for the team. It’s part of what we sought to change in his game and he is showing massive improvement in that regard. It’s still a work in process and we will continue to work on it”, coach Sandro Schwarz said after the game.

Not so often do you see pundits say a particular player is above the level of the league he is playing in and for that to happen, the player in question must have shown quality on a consistent level.

It’s normal for strikers to score goals that will make jaw drops because they are mostly tasked with getting the goals. However when a defender does same in two consecutive games then it becomes hot topics owing to the fact that stopping goals is what they are mainly expected to do.

Nigeria international defender Chidozie Awaziem has however made goal scoring look easy with his second goal of the season for Croatian side Hadjuk Split in their 1-0 win over Rijeka. He is on loan to the team from Portuguese side Boavista.

The 25 year old showed quick feet, good movement and precise finishing to hand his team the winner, the second time he is scoring a goal that will make many strikers to be envious of his ability in the box. He scored a similar goal against NK Lokomotiva.

Already there are talks on the fact that the former FC Porto defender is not just the best player in his team, he is also seen as one of the few players who deserve to be playing at a level higher than the Croatian League. It was roundly talked about on Twitter immediately after the game.

The battle for which team will end the round of games in the Serie A was one of the highlight going into the eight round of games with as many as three teams in prime position to be league leaders.

Napoli’s 3-1 win over Torino ensure that they will finish top of the league after the games unless Atalanta score seven unreplied goals against Fiorentina. That didn’t happen but they were able to go level on points with the early season pace setters.

Ademola Lookman ensured they went level on points with the leaders with his second goal of the season in the 59th minute. It ended as the match winner handing his team a 1-0 win preserving their unbeaten start to the season.

The Nigerian has been a revelation since his move to the team in the summer from RB Leipzig upon his return from a loan spell in England with Leicester City. So good is his form that he has kept the highly rated Jeremie Boga out of the team.

In 8 matches this season he has two goals and one assist. It could easily have been three if his goal against Monza wasn’t given as an own goal. The ball came off defender Marlon in the box denying the 24 year old the honour of claiming the goal.

There have been clamour for new players to be called up to the senior national team of Nigeria since Jose Peseiro was appointed as coach of the team in the wake of their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Peseiro somehow heed to that call by calling up three new players in Ebube Duru, Saviour Godwin and Raphael Onyedika for the friendly games against the B team of Algeria and also the main team in the just concluded international break.

Nigeria drew 2-2 with the B team before losing 0-1 to the main team with all new players called up making their debut during the course of both games, which were played in Algeria. One of the players Saviour Godwin spoke with OwnGoalNigeria.com on the experience.

” It’s totally different. You really can’t explain but you just feel an unusual kind of pressure. It hits differently when you step on the pitch. I felt it the moment I was introduced but after a while, it felt very normal but even at that it’s still not easy “, the Casa Pia winger who made his debut in the 2-2 draw against the B team of Algeria said.

” Back at my club. The aim is to continue to do better and stay in the team because it’s what most players will tell you makes them happy. I have to improve on my club form and I know if I do then I will have another chance to prove myself”, he explained.

The agent of Tottenham Hotspur bound defender Destiny Udogie has pour cold waters on speculations that the defender could dump Italy for Nigeria.

Signed in the summer, Udogie who is born to a father of Nigerian descent is spending this season on loan to Udinese and so far he ranks among the top performing defenders in the Italian Serie A. However his form couldn’t get him into the senior national team.

Yet to be capped by Italy at senior level, the door towards switching to Nigeria is wide open, something the 19 year old admitted is tempting when he spoke about it in April. Back then he was at Hellas Verona.

“I was born in Italy, so I feel more Italian. I grew up playing with the young players in Italy. I hope to reach the first team. It’s ambition, I just have to give more, to do my best every game, show my quality and it’s a big ambition”, he said in April.

“I have been in Nigeria but I was very small. I was like two years old so I don’t remember much but I’ve been there. My favorite player of course is Okocha, every Nigerian player knows him. It’s am option I must admit”, he rounded up saying when asked on his choice for international football.

His agent Ferdinando Guarino has however squashed any chance of a possible switch to Nigeria insisting that his client is focused on representing Italy, where he is already a youth international and was involved in the latest round of international games.

“Udogie is a player monitored by the senior national team. This time, we were hoping for a call-up but he was called up anyway with the U-21, really showing a particular attachment to the national team.

“He had a physical problem due to a clash on the pitch and despite not being at 100%, he gave his contribution, tightening his teeth and playing important matches against England and Japan. He has a great attachment to the Azzurri shirt and there will still be time for the senior national team. The goal is that he is Italian, born in Italy, who feels the blue shirt and is proving it.”

The local coaches appointed to the senior national team of Nigeria as part of the technical crew of new coach Jose Peseiro are not finding it easy to cope financially. OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro came with three of his assistants but he is responsible for their pay hence they don’t have such issues but that isn’t the case with the quartet of Finidi George, Salisu Yusuf, Usman Abdallah and Ike Shorunmu. All four local coaches presently don’t have signed contracts.

We gathered they presently have no idea how much they will be earning or how they will be paid as they have not heard a word from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The situation is the same for the backroom staff who were recently appointed as well.

” My brother, we beg players for money. That’s a fact. It’s the only way we can survive esle how do we explain to our families that we are travelling abroad with a national team and returning with nothing to show? You know they won’t take it”, a member of the backroom team told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

” The players haven’t been paid their allowances for the last 12 or 13 matches. Even the last game we played against Algeria, they just played and go and I am not sure they have received match allowance for any friendly game the past two years”, he concluded.

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro had finally admitted that the goalkeeping department of the team is indeed a cause of concern after two costly error in their last games.

Maduka Okoye was between the sticks in the 2-2 draw against the B team of Algeria and his error led to the opening goal of the game. In the second half Adebayo Adeleye was introduced and he didn’t quite inspire confidence flapping at crosses and also punching balls back into danger areas.

Peseiro picked Francis Uzoho to start in the main friendly game against Algeria main team just like he has done in his past four games as coach. Uzoho was largely at fault for the goal which handed Algeria a 2-1 win.

Although Peseiro defended the duo after the errors, privately he told his technical crew that the major area of concern is with goakeepers especially the fact that they are very essential in the way he wants his team to play. He love goalkeepers who are good with their feet.

The idea is to have them build attack from the rear and help the team to control games. None of the goalkeepers in the team at the moment can be said to be comfortable with the ball at their feet.

The last international break saw the senior national team of Nigeria play two international friendly games in Algeria, first with the B team of the north African side before playing the main team four days later.

They drew 2-2 with Algeria B and lost 1-2 to the main team. They navigated both games without the services of some players who were billed to play some parts during the course of both games.

OwnGoalNigeria.com takes a look at the players who have now fit enough to represent their respective teams when club football returns this weekend all around Europe.

Samuel Chukwueze – He was among the first to withdraw from the game citing a knock he picked up in Villarreal’s 1-1 draw against Sevilla. A game which he started and played for an hour before he was subbed off. Reports indicate that he is fit for the game against Cadiz on Saturday.

Our Findings: His medical report was sent to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and it showed he was indeed carrying a knock which required a ten day rest. Hence he is fit to play some role on Saturday

Henry Onyekuru – His case is very straightforward as in the game for Adana Demirspor against Antalyaspor he picked up a knock in the first half that led to his substitution one minute after the restart. There is still no report if he will be fit for this weekend game.

Leon Balogun – Reported as injured but recent reports suggest otherwise as we reliably gathered that he took permission to use the break in the United Kingdom following the death of the queen to move his belongings from Scotland, where he played for Rangers. He is now with QPR and isn’t listed among the injured players.

Emmanuel Dennis – Called up as a replacement for the injured Onyekuru. His decision to skip the game on the grounds of picking up a knock was confirmed by his team Nottingham Forest. However we gathered it wasn’t backed by any medical document unlike the case of Chukwueze.

Our Findings – Decided not to honour the game as he feels aggrieved that he was called up as a replacement when the final list was released. He was on the provisional list and felt slighted that he was only considered when Onyekuru pulled out. He is fit for the weekend game against Leicester City.

Wilfred Ndidi – His decision to skip the games came hot on the heels of reports that he will be played as a center back and not as a defensive midfielder. News which was first made public by OwnGoalNigeria.com, we can however confirm that it wasn’t the case. That he is fit for the game against Nottingham Forest made many to doubt the authenticity of the injury clams.

Our Findings: He came to the camp with a note from the medical team of Leicester City. Day two of training he felt something in his hamstring during warm up. He missed the entire session for that day and was taken for a scan, where it was confirmed that he has a strain which requires a minimum of five days to heal.

A decision was reached that he should return to England for proper treatment because risking it could see him miss a longer period of the season if the injury is aggravated.

William Troost Ekong – He left after the first game. Although he wasn’t expected to play the second game. Scans showed he is injured hence the decision to let him leave.

The World Cup is brewing hot, and there are teams raring to show that they can come up with a strong finish in the 2022 run. So far, fans are keen to see which teams will fare well in the competition with the hopes of bringing the FIFA World Cup trophy home.

There are teams that have staged their claim in the top spot of the World Cup, but only a few of them are seen as contenders who actually have the chance of making history in the tournament. After all, the World Cup is where the kings of football are named.

With the World Cup closing in, punters are making their claims and are betting on which team will come out on top. Every FIFA betting site with Bitcoin available has seen a wave of punters making their guesses on various teams who have a chance at the final. Here are the top teams who could pull off a World Cup 2022 win:

Brazil

Frustrations will be the main story for Brazil en route to the World Cup games. In Neymar’s years of leadership, the squad has failed to come up with a title win, and this has set the frustrations for the team as they are still hoping to overcome the tough challenges ahead, and this says a lot about how they are going for a deeper push in the campaign.

Brazil’s short runs in the past few editions have been disappointing. The team aims to show that they can come up with a bigger finish with a revamped squad. Real Madrid rising star Vinicius Junior is also set to join the squad, which means more firepower for the greatest football team in the world.

France

The defending champions of the FIFA World Cup are set to make waves in the competition once more as favourites to win the trophy. So far, the French squad is looking more dangerous than before. Kylian Mbappe is in good form, and the rest of the team has kept the same core that won the 2018 World Cup for them. This just shows that France is ready to roll for another title.

What makes them more dangerous is the fact that Karim Benzema is already back on the roster after years of absence. The Real Madrid lead striker is dangerous as he was back then, and now rolling with the defending champions is going to be a serious threat to all teams in the World Cup. This is their best chance to go for a back-to-back title win now more than ever.

Argentina

Argentina may be looking at the end of an era as soon as the World Cup is over. This is Lionel Messi’s last shot at the World Cup title as he is expected to put up his shoes at the international level. This says a lot about how Argentina aims to score their third World Cup title and the first under Messi’s lead, and it will bring the best out of the whole squad now more than ever.

Messi’s last dance will be the main focus of Argentina’s campaign, which further makes this run more dramatic than ever. The likes of Lautaro Martinez, Pablo Dybala, and Angel Di Maria are ready to give their best shot and make history now more than ever. This is their last chance to prove that Argentina is a football nation that can compete at the highest level.

England

England is making its way into the big stage once more with the hopes of proving that they can actually be a contender in the World Cup. After falling short in their Euro 2020 campaign in the final, the Three Lions are keen to make some noise in an effort to bring the best of their games to the biggest stage. This is a chance for the English squad to bring a title home for the first time.

Harry Kane’s scoring galore should also continue at this point. The star won the Golden Shoe in the 2018 edition, and this time, it is going to be all about how he can keep the same pace to propel England to the final. Who knows, maybe he can go for back-to-back Golden Shoe wins while also making history for his country with a FIFA World Cup win.

What to expect in the World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is here to bring the biggest action in football. Intense games and hyped performances from the best teams and players in the world are all expected, and you should not miss it all. One way to spice up your World Cup experience is by trying to place wagers at any FIFA betting site with Bitcoin for a huge chance to win awesome prizes.