The list of invited players for the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the friendly game against Algeria was made public by the coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro on Saturday.

One name that was missing from the list is that of Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo who was a part of the squad for the first two competitive games of the new coach of the team.

His non inclusion made us sought to know why considering the fact that he is by far one of the most consistent player in the team owing to the fact that he is getting regular run of games at Southampton.

Reacting to why he isn’t in the squad, a member of the technical crew said it was a decision agreed upon with Aribo as he needed to rest after the huge amount of games he has played the past one year.

As a matter of fact ,he played over 70 games last season, a number which no other footballer had last year. He will use the international break to rest and should be back in the Nigerian team for the November friendly game against Portugal.

Meanwhile, feelers from people close to Peseiro has it that the Portuguese coach isn’t favourable disposed to the idea of having Wilfred Nididi play as the defensive midfielder of the team.

Peseiro always set out his team to attack and he feels Ndidi’s passing range could slow the transition from midfield to attack, hence is considering playing him as a centre back alongside Calvin Bassey.

The captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa is likely to miss the team friendly game against Algeria on the 27th of September in Oran.

Musa was subbed off in the first half of Sivasspor’s 1-2 loss against Ankaragücü yesterday in the Turkish Super Lig, where his team is still searching for their first win of the season.

He came off injured with what looked like an injury to his left arm. He received treatment on the pitch with the hope of continuing but had to be taken off and replaced by Clinton N’Jie in the 19th minute. The severity of the injury will be known later today after a scan.

If it turns out to be severe then he will definitely miss the Super Eagles game on the 27th. Which will force the coach of the team Jose Peseiro to once again rejig his squad for the game, he has already been forced into making two changes due to injury.

The duo of Henry Onyekuru and Leon Balogun have been replaced by Emmanuel Dennis and Valentine Ozornwafor respectively after being ruled out due to injury.

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has tweaked his official list of players called up for the upcoming international friendly game against Algeria next weekend.

Peseiro named 25 players for the game but was forced into making a late change with the injured Leon Balogun making way for Valentine Ozornwafor after he was ruled out due to injury.

Earlier today, Nottingham Forest forward Emmanuel Dennis was called up as a replacement for Henry Onyekuru who has also been ruled out of the game with an Injury.

We gathered that might not be the only change made to the list as two players namely Innocent Bonke and Alhassan Yusuf have also been told to be on alert as they are on the provisional list as possible replacement. Already their clubs have been contacted about the arrangement.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Emmanuel Dennis, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria José Peseiro has made one change to the list of players called up to the team ahead of the September 27th friendly game against Algeria.

A 25 man list of invited players was released earlier today but owing to an injury to Leon Balogun, the coach has been forced to call up Sochaux of France defender Valentine Ozornwafor who was earlier called up but wasn’t named in the revised list released earlier today.

Peseiro has opted for Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon and 22 other players to take on former African champions Algeria in an international friendly match in the Algerian town of Oran on Tuesday, 27th September.

Also called are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Ahmed Musa and Cyriel Dessers.

Only Richard Onyedika, of Belgian top team, Club Brugge, is a new face in the group. Germany –based defender Kevin Akpoguma also returns to the fold.

Three –time African champions Nigeria and two-time African champions Algeria clash at the 40,000 Stade Olympique in Oran on Tuesday, 27th September, with the invited players expected to confluence in the city of Constantine on Monday, 19th September.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Valentine Ozornwafor.

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi

The list of players who will represent Nigeria on the 27th of September when they take on Algeria in an international friendly has been made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

In the 25 man list, the name of Lorient’s midfielder Innocent Bonke was missing despite his club confirming on their official website that he has been called up to be a part of the senior national team of Nigeria alongside Terem Moffi.

The situation is the same with Sochaux defender Valentine Ozornwafor whose invitation was also confirmed by his club but his name wasn’t in the list of players made public by the media department of the NFF.

Another name that was missing in the list is that of Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo and so far no explanation has been given for the reason behind his exclusion from the squad. Meanwhile new coach Jose Peseiro handed a first time call up to Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika.

Also Kevin Akpoguma, Maduka Okoye, Taiwo Awoniyi and Henry Onyekuru were all handed a return to the team. Wilfred Ndidi and his Leicester City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho were also included for the first time under the new coach.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi

The four year ban on former Nigeria U17 star Orji Okwonkwo by the Italian Anti doping agency has been extended to a worldwide ban for the next four years by world football governing body FIFA.

Decision on the case for worldwide extension of the ban, brought before it by Italian NADO, Chairperson of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio affirmed that the player had been cited properly, he has had the opportunity to state his case, the decision has been communicated properly, the decision complies with the regulations of FIFA and extending the sanctions does not conflict with public order or with accepted standards of behaviour.

“Consequently, the Committee decided to extend the sanction imposed on the player by the Italian NADO on 20 June 2022. More specifically, the player is sanctioned with a four (4) years suspension from all football-related activities in accordance with the Decision.”

The ban will run from the 25th of February 2022 to the 24th of February 2026. His contract with Italian side Bologna would have run out before the end of the suspension. He only recently returned from a loan spell at Serie B Cittadella.

Head Coach José Santos Peseiro has opted for Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon and 22 other players to take on former African champions Algeria in an international friendly match in the Algerian town of Oran on Tuesday, 27th September.

Also called are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Ahmed Musa and Cyriel Dessers.

Only Richard Onyedika, of Belgian top team, Club Brugge, is a new face in the group. Germany –based defender Kevin Akpoguma also returns to the fold.

Three –time African champions Nigeria and two-time African champions Algeria clash at the 40,000 Stade Olympique in Oran on Tuesday, 27th September, with the invited players expected to confluence in the city of Constantine on Monday, 19th September.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi

Nottingham Forest slumped to yet another defeat in the English Premier League by losing 2-3 to Fulham despite taking the lead in one of the games of the English Premier League scheduled for this weekend.

Taiwo Awoniyi showed good movement in the box to nod his team into the lead and also scored his second goal of the season following his move in the summer to the newly promoted team from German side Union Berlin.

His goal was however cancelled by two quick second half goals from Tosin Adarabiyio and João Palhinha  and any hope of a fight back was laid to rest when Harrison Reed scored the third goal for the visitors.

Lewis O’Brien pulled a goal back for Forest but it wasn’t enough to help them claim at least a point stretching their run of games without a win in the league to five games. It has put the future of the coach of the team Steven Cooper in doubt with some reports speculating that he could be sacked.

The last round of games in the French Ligue 1 before the international break will be played this weekend with all expected to be in action from Friday to Sunday.

In the opening game of round 8 matches, Lorient maintained their strong start to the season with a convincing 3-1 win over Auxerre which saw them move to third on the league standings and level on points with PSG and Marseille who are placed first and second respectively.

Lorient’s Nigerian forward Terem Moffi scored his sixth goal of the season in the 36th minute. He diverted Montassar Talbi’s header across goal to put his team two goals up. Bringing him to just two goals behind his last season tally of 8 goals after just eight games.

Moffi will depart for Algeria by Sunday to be a part of the senior national team of Nigeria for their international friendly game against Algeria in Oran on the 27th. He will be in camp alongside his club teammate Innocent Bonke who was also called up.