Head coach of Juventus Luciano Spalleti says he is well aware of the threat of Galatasaray duo of Victor Osimhen and Mauro Icardi ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA Champions League round of 32 clash.

Both teams will look horns in Istanbul in the first leg of the playoff for a spot in the round of 16 with Spalleti coming up against two players he has coached in the past in Osimhen and Icardi.

The coach worked with Osimhen at Napoli for three seasons, the height of which was winning the league title three seasons ago. While he worked with Icardi during his time as coach of Inter Milan.

Looking ahead of the game, Spalleti described coming up against the duo as something that any team will be wary about describing them as the encyclopedia of number 9.

” Let me explain Osimhen and Icardi to you like this. Two footballers who will create the encyclopaedia of the number 9″, he said at the pre match conference.

” Both Osimhen and Icardi are extremely strong players. As strikers they know how to behave in the penalty area. One creates chaos, the other knows how to take advantage of that chaos well”.

There is currently no decision yet on the to the protest filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the eligibility of some players of DR Congo, who defeated Super Eagles in the final of the world cup qualifiers playoff in November.

Nigeria protested to FIFA questioning the eligibility of some players of the team who hold dual citizenship, contravening the constitution of DR Congo that forbids it.

While Nigeria wait on the he decision, a chieftain of the NFF revealed that it’s not looking good at the moment per what they are hearing.

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Estrela Amadora midfielder Marcus Abraham has emerged as one of the top players for the modest side this season in the Portuguese top division, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The 26 year old has three goals and three assists this season in 19 games. A remarkable tally for a player who was playing majorly in the second division last season for the B team of FC Porto.

Capped twice by Nigeria at senior level by former coach Gernot Rohr in 2021, he was nominated for the player of the week after his assist in their 1-2 defeat against Vitoria SC.

His performances for the 11th placed team has put him under the watch of head coach Eric Chelle, who is a huge fan of his ability to play in any offensive role in attack or midfielder.

He will no doubt be in the conversation for a chance if he continues in his present form, especially with the team set to play in many test games this year.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Rangers of Scotland defender Emmanuel Fernandez has said yes to playing for the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Fernandez has been a revelation in the Scottish League this season following his move in the summer, and reports say he was close to joining German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window.

The 24 year old was born in London to parents of Nigerian descent making him eligible for Nigeria and England, but he has decided to pledge his international future to Nigeria.

He is expected to be a part of the plans of head coach Eric Chelle for the March international window, which will be the first step toward their preparation for the 2027 AFCON.

This season he has excelled not just the way he has done his primary job in defence, but also contribution in the other end where he has four goals from 17 games. A remarkable tally for a centre back in his first full season in the top flight.

The senior national team of Nigeria will be back in action in the March international window with a friendly game against Asian side Jordan in their capital city Amman, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

It will be the first time, the team will be in action since finishing third at the recently concluded AFCON in Morocco, but the game is dependent on a decision by world football governing body FIFA on their protest against DR Congo.

Nigeria protested to FIFA on the eligibility of some players in the Congo Dr team, that defeated them in the final of the world cup qualifiers playoff to pick the ticket to represent Africa at the Intercontinental playoff next month.

If the ruling goes in favour of Nigeria, then they will take the place of DR Congo and forfeit the friendly game, but if otherwise the game will go ahead with head coach Eric Chelle expected to hand a first time call up to couple of players.

A host of countries like Iran are also lining up to play the Nigerian team as part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

The chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Alhaji Shehu Dikko has reveal how they will handle any decision taken by FIFA on the protest lodged by Nigeria on th eligibility of some players in the team of DR Congo that defeated Nigeria in the final of the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria protested against seven players in the team that will represent Africa in next month’s intercontinental playoff for a ticket to the world cup. A decision is expected later today according to viral reports.

While responding to the mood of the football governing family of Nigeria ahead of the decision on the protest, which is hinged on the constitution of DR Congo on not recognising citizens with dual nationality.

‘The Commission and the NFF are working hand in hand on that, everything the NFF is doing it’s in collaborating with the NSC, as our agency,’ the NSC boss said in an interview with Brila FM.

‘We have done what we have to do, it’s not that we are sore losers, it’s all about the rules. If the rules are breached then we have to present it to the relevant bodies that will examine it.

At the end of the day we wait for the decision.’

‘We have already put the world cup behind us, but if at the end of the day our petition is found to be correct which I believe it should be, then we have another lifeline and we can take it on from there.’

‘So let us wait and let the relevant bodies deal with it”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Hamburg summer signing Philip Otele is in the list of new players who will be a part of the Super Eagles team when they resume in March , OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

While still at Swiss side FC Basel Otele made the provisional list for the AFCON, but was dropped from the final list of 28 players picked for the tournament by head coach Eric Chelle.

At that time Chelle felt they were some players ahead of him notably Chidera Ejuke of Sevilla, but after his not too impressive performance at the AFCON, Chelle has decided to give Otele a chance.

Signed by Bundesliga side Hamburg in the January transfer window, the 26 year old has started in the two games he is eligible to play and have an assist to his name.

Primarily a winger, Otele has also shown his other side by playing in attack as a lone striker or behind the main forward since his move to Germany.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has taken the initiative towards becoming the new coach of French Ligue 1 side Marseille, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Chelle who is presently the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria is among the names touted to be the coach of the Ligue 1 side, following the exit of Roberto De Zerbi as coach.

Yesterday the Malian who lives in Marseille reached out to the president of the French side Pablo Longoria to formally signify his intention for the job. A decision is not expected to be taken in the immediate following the departure of Mehdi Benatia as sporting director.

However if Chelle is offered the role, he will quit his position as the coach of Nigeria and he is willing to pay the termination clause in his deal which still has a year to run. He did the same when he took over the Super Eagles job by paying a compensation to MC Oran of Algeria.

It is also worthy to note that he isn’t the only coach in the running for the job with Pierre Aristouy, the former coach of Nantes also pushing for the job.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle says many players born abroad who are eligible to play for Super Eagles are showing interest in playing for the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle who led the team to a third place finish at the recently concluded AFCON in Morocco has already succeeded in luring the duo of Felix Agu and Ryan Alebiosu from Germany and England respectively.

The coach also successfully convinced Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to also commit to Nigeria, and there are reports that he is in talks with five others to improve the depth in the team.

In the Super Eagles that were at the AFCON six players in Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Ryan Alebiosu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru all have dual nationality.

More players will likely join the team according to Chelle. ” We have a couple of players who were born abroad, who wants to play for the team and we are looking at how they will fit in. We can’t bring all of them into the team. We will however pick those that we know can bring competion to the team, improve the team and also fit our game project”, the coach said in an interview monitored by our editorial team.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman