The newly announced coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has officially resumed as the head coach of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro will be on the sidelines for the first time when Nigeria take on Mexico and Ecuador respectively in two high profile international friendly games in the United States of America.

Ahead of the game, a 30 man list of players have been released but it is expected to be trimmed to 25 with Peseiro saddled with the task of picking the players for the game. Already some foreign based players have pulled out of the game.

The new coach will be looking out to call more foreign based players as he expects to have more players withdraw from the sqaud as the game draws near. Particularly as it concerns the issue of visa for the trip.

He will have a mixture of locally based players and foreign based players for the games which will serve as part of the preparations for the upcoming AFCON 2023 qualifiers game.

Mr. Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, asked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to strengthen the country’s domestic leagues on Monday. Dare made the decision after hosting the ‘Flying Eagles’, the U-20 men’s national team, in Abuja after their triumph in the WAFU B zone tournament in Niamey, Niger Republic.

The minister stated that the performance demonstrated the NFF board’s dedication to improving the game in the country. He said: “I want you to maintain the same level of discipline on all sides. The future of football is in the hands of these young ones and we must do all to ensure it remains the same”.

He added that one way is to ensure that is the rebirth of their leagues and giving it the quality it desires. He sees it as the only way Nigeria can have players who’ll go on to play for ‘Super Eagles’ as well as top clubs in Europe.

In the Direction of a Functional Nigerian Football League

In Nigeria, sports, particularly football, continue to provide many benefits, such as entertainment, employment, career opportunities, youth development, and a rallying point for national unity and togetherness. Football possesses enormous potential for the most populous black nation, with over 200 million people and around 65 percent of them being young. According to available data, some 10,000 corporations compete for the attention of an estimated 80 million active and latent youth fans who watch foreign football.

While many Nigerians, particularly youths, yearn for international football matches because of the high level of play, enthralling commentators, glamorous players, spectacular goal-scoring displays, and interactive fan participation, the same can’t be said of the local league’s followers and passion. Foreign football is tempting because of its skillful dribbles, outstanding goals, incredible saves, and accurate kicks, but the local league can step up.

Compared to 30 Years Ago, Nigerian Club Football Has Deteriorated

In truth, Nigerian football has deteriorated over the years from what it was three decades ago, but the outlook appears brighter if genuine actors’ cries for transformation are welcomed and reinforced with the necessary building stones. The possibilities are virtually limitless, but the government must improve the enabling climate for football and the sports business, in general, to prosper and grow more quickly. Improved security and amenities would be beneficial, while club management and administrators can rapidly see to recruiting a large number of new fans with exciting side attractions and other incentives.

The British government paid £200 million to the Premier League to improve infrastructure nearly 30 years ago, and the EPL was already worth over £18 billion in May 2021. According to Sportico, the average valuation of a Premier League team is currently $1.29 billion, with the 20 clubs in English soccer’s top flight together worth more than $25 billion. In a six-year contract worth £1.9 billion, NBC recently obtained the Premier League television rights to exclusively broadcast all 380 games per season in the United States until the summer of 2028.

The deal is nearly quadruple the $1 billion premium NBC paid for Premier League television rights in 2015, making it the English top-flight league’s largest-ever international television deal. This indicates that, if properly harnessed and managed, Nigerian football could become a key revenue generator for the country. And, if the gambling industry, ranging from local casinos to, for instance, the best online casinos in Liechtenstein, finds their interest here, the rise of Nigerian football would skyrocket.  

The Assistance of a Few Patriotic Firms Crucial to Re-Growth of Nigerian Football

Indeed, the Nigerian local league is gradually gathering up speed, thanks to the assistance of a few patriotic firms that believe in the growth of the Nigerian brand and are gradually breathing new life into the league. Despite the desire for overseas football, their patriotic efforts are assisting the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to expand at its current rate.

The NPFL has had its own magical moments, producing home-grown champions who have gone on to become international stars, such as Ahmed Musa, Daniel Akpeyi, and Junior Lokosa, who are all doing well in their own right and continue to dazzle global football fans. The NPFL can achieve enviable status with ongoing backing from companies that aren’t drawn to the wild rush. Eunisell Limited has been one of the rare and steadfast supporters of Nigeria’s domestic football league.

The specialized chemicals and engineering manufacturing solutions corporation began sponsoring Nigeria’s domestic Premier League in 2015, and as the Rivers United FC sponsor, went on to become the first club sponsor in Nigeria to do so for four consecutive seasons. The corporation has stated that it would continue to support the team and that it has exciting ideas for fans in the upcoming season.

The “Eunisell Boot Award”, which acknowledges and compensates players with monetary prizes at the conclusion of the NPFL season, with a ₦200,000 per goal premium, was introduced in 2018. This has heightened interest in the league. Year each year, top goal scorers in the Nigerian league express their gratitude for the initiative and their determination to work better, score more goals, and win the yearly award. Junior Lokosa of the Kano Pillars won the inaugural edition with 19 goals and was awarded ₦3.8 million for the 2017/2018 NPFL season. Silas Nwankwo of Nasarawa United and Charles Atshimene of Akwa United were named joint winners of the Eunisell Boot award with a monetary prize of ₦7.6 million after scoring 19 goals in the 2020/21 season.

Chika Ikenga, the Eunisell Managing Director, reiterated the Eunisell Boot as a catalyst for fostering excellence in local top-flight players and celebrating their success story before the NPFL began preparations on December 17. He emphasized that the gesture demonstrates Eunisell’s dedication to Nigerian football development.

The Example of Lekki United

With Oloye Akin Alabi, a prominent football enthusiast, entrepreneur, and politician, owning one of the emerging clubs, Lekki United, the Nationwide League One (NLO) has seen an increase in private involvement. There have been definite signs of growth for the reconstituted team as it starts its maiden season at the NLO in search of a day in the sun of Nigeria’s Division 2 games. For a while, the owner Oloye Akin Alabi has been anticipating a significant campaign for the NPFL. For the time being, he hopes that his squad continues to win the games in front of them.

Thousands of individuals, families, and businesses live and thrive in Lekki United, which is probably Lagos’ most vibrant commercial hub. Other businesspeople have indicated interest in the league, notably Shola Akinlade, CEO of Paystack, theNigeria’s major payment platform, and Kunle Soname, a veteran football manager.Akinlade had previously revealed his ownership of Sporting Lagos, a Nigerian league club in the second division, and urged other Nigerians to participate in a widely publicized stock purchase hosted by Paystack in 2021.

Also, despite finishing 15th in the NPFL and having not made the league back-to-back appearances since their first season in 2016, Remo Stars, the club led by experienced football administrator, CEO Kunle Soname, is regarded as one of the best-run clubs in the league, thanks to its highly efficient methods and nascent history.

Sports betting, like so many other things in Nigeria, has become entrenched and doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. The sector is profitable, with annual revenues projected to be approximately ₦730 billion ($1.7 billion).

Betting has been around for a long time, with pool betting being particularly popular among the elderly. However, the excitement and buzz surrounding the major European leagues have increased betting among younger Nigerians, and there are a variety of reasons for this.

Betting is no longer stigmatized, as it’s now widely accepted by all, despite requests to limit its spread among youths, who may lack control and don’t know when to quit when their betting habits become illogical. People from all walks of life congregate at betting outlets on a regular basis, with the occasional appearance of fascinating characters such as religious clerics, housewives, and even masquerades.

Payment gateways and platforms enable users to deposit money into their betting accounts by attaching their debit cards in extremely simple steps, thanks to the advancement of technology and improved availability to mobile devices. What has caused this increase in betting activity during the last ten years? This essay will present both the pros and cons of sports betting in Nigeria.

Pros

According to a survey published in 2020, around 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40 engage in sports betting, which is unsurprising. Joblessness and poverty are to blame for the growth in sports betting among Nigerian youth.Nigeria’s population is projected to be over 200 million, with 87.5 million people living in abject poverty.

When you consider that 65% of Nigerians are under the age of 35 and that the young unemployment rate in 2018 was a whopping 36.5%, it’s easy to understand how, say, football betting and unemployment are linked. The majority of these young individuals regard betting as a get-rich scheme, and it’s not uncommon to see employed people use it as a legal source of extra cash.

Betting companies should strengthen their marketing to educate individuals about the importance of betting responsibly and only with disposable income. Many people have witnessed betting improve their life, and if positive messages are shared in the future, it can reinforce the perception that gambling is a worthwhile risk to take.

Cons

There have been numerous criticisms, the most prominent of which is the industry’s lack of control or visible restrictions. Despite the fact that betting businesses preach against betting in excess of normal limits, many people continue to gamble with excessive sums of money (in proportion to their income levels), while parents and caregivers are reporting that their teenagers are stealing money to pay for football wagering.

It’s also difficult to accurately establish the age of persons that bet in Nigeria, thus the claim that 18+ people bet is difficult to back up. The betting industry, like the alcohol industry, has a difficult time correctly identifying adults who purchase its products. In Nigeria, there’s no standard level of identification, which means that impressionable children under the age of 18 who don’t comprehend the legal ramifications of their acts are being drawn into the harmful and uncontrollable need for quick money.

In Nigeria, there’s also a school of thought that says betting is unrelated to Nigerian culture. They feel that not having direct influence over the outcomes of sports or contests, as well as betting on them, are cultural and religious traditions that should be avoided.

Betting on Football

Football is undoubtedly Nigeria’s most popular sport. The majority of Nigerians wager on football, according to data from sports betting organizations like Betway. Nigerian punters like betting on the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, and the German Bundesliga, among other major European leagues, in addition to their home league. They also wager on major football tournaments such as the continent’s topflight African Cup of Nations, but also the rest of the world’s gems, such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

The popularity of football has aided the development of the betting business in the country. Nigerian sports bettors are projected to spend 3,000 Naira a day on average.

Internet and Mobile Penetration

More Nigerians are gaining access to cell phones and Internet connections as infrastructure improves. More Nigerians now own cell phones thanks to the availability of more cheap smartphones.

According to studies, over 47% of Nigerians use their mobile phones to access the Internet. In 2025, this percentage is predicted to reach above 64%. This means that over 85 million Nigerians have access to the Internet via their mobile phones. These are the figures that have fueled the expansion of online sports betting in this African nation (in Africa, in general).

Numerous Betting Options

Many online betting operators have come to Nigeria because of the 85 million Nigerians who use mobile Internet. As the operators’ competition heats up, they devise new strategies for acquiring new consumers and retaining existing ones.

As a result, foreign operators such as 22bet and other best betting sites in Nigeria have come up with some really appealing incentives and promotions. Welcome bonuses, for example, are offered to entice new clients. Customer loyalty programs are also available to ensure that you stay put.

All in all, betting operators’ actions have also aided the growth of the Nigerian betting market.

Conclusion

Nigerian culture has long included sports betting, albeit on a smaller scale. However, technological advancements such as the Internet and widespread mobile phone use have altered the sports betting sector in the country. Because online sports betting has made betting platforms more accessible, more Nigerians may now wager on their favorite teams. Many international betting organizations have been drawn to Nigeria by the rise in the number of people placing sports bets.

Nigeria’s mobile Internet users are expected to increase in the near future. More people are likely to participate in sports betting as the population rises. Other sports, such as rugby, the NFL, hockey, and athletics, are also growing in popularity.

As a result, the online sports betting business in Nigeria is expected to continue to grow.

The squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming international friendly game against Mexico and Ecuador respectively has been altered again.

Nigeria named a 30 man list for both games in the United States of America but so far four players on the list won’t be available for both games owing to different issues as the season in Europe winds up.

Sadiq Umar won’t be available for the game with Almeria neck deep in promotion battle with a decisive game coming up 48 hours before Nigeria’s first friendly game against Mexico. Effectively ruling him out of the games.

Emmanuel Dennis has also communicated to the crew that he won’t be available for the game same as goalkepper Maduka Okoye who claimed he is recuperating from a shoulder injury picked up in April during a game against Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie.

So far three new players in Innocent Bonke, Terem Moffi and Adeleye Adebayo have been drafted in as replacement but the latter is in a race against time to be able to obtain a visa for the game.

More changes on account of visa will be made to the team with reports indicating that the Nigeria Professional Football League duo of Afeez Nosiru and Isah Ali might be replaced in the squad.

They are yet to be granted visas and they might be replaced with the duo of Bello Babatunde and Sani Faisal who are players of Akwa United and Katsina United respectively.

The game will be the first for the new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro, who was appointed two weeks ago. The game will serve as part of the preparation for the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The agent of Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen is London for talks with Arsenal who are keen on signing the Nigerian from Napoli according to Goal.com.

Osimhen has been linked with a summer move to the Gunners but Napoli insistence on a €100m as transfer fee was seen by many as the stumbling block for any potential deal.

Nonetheless, the agent of the 23 year old isn’t relenting and according to Charles Watt who is highly respected for his authority on stories about Arsenal, the agent of Osimhen is in London to thrash out a deal.

It is believed that the idea is to agree personal terms in the event of a breakthrough in talks with Napoli then the deal will be seamless without hassles. Aside Arsenal Newcastle United also want the Nigerian.

He finished the season with 14 Serie A goal despite missing a total of four months due to injury and fitness concerns.

The first choice goalkepper of the senior national team of Nigeria Maduka Okoye has played down suggestions that he has taken a break from the senior national team of Nigeria.

Okoye pulled out of the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana and also the upcoming friendly games against Mexico and Ecuador respectively in the United States of America. Fueling talks that he is taking a break from international football.

Speaking to Suleiman Folarin, the Watford bound goalkepper said he decided to pull out of the game due to a shoulder injury picked up during a league game against Ajax on the 8th of April.

He picked up the injury in the game against Ajax and he is expected to undergo rehabilitation ahead of the start of the new season as agreed by the doctors of Sparta Rotterdam and that of Watford.

BREAKING: Maduka Okoye pulled out of the @NGSuperEagles friendlies & #AFCON Qualifiers due to shoulder injury. He has been playing injured since April 8th against @AFCAjax. @SpartaRotterdam & @WatfordFC Doctor's agreed that he must get rehab before next season. #Nigeria #Mexico pic.twitter.com/F1pUSKdtZ4

— Sulaiman Folarin (@sulaiman4real) May 23, 2022

The statement made by Folarin isn’t in tandem with what a source told this portal as it was claimed that he isn’t mentally ready to play for Nigeria now after the insults he suffered for his howler in the 0-1 defeat to Tunisia that led to the Super Eagles elimination from the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

There is a goalkeeper crisis brewing in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria following the decision of two senior goalkeppers to take a break from international football, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The duo of Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho who are first and second choice goalkeppers respectively have told the handlers of the team that they want a break from international football.

Okoye hasn’t represented Nigeria since his howler at the Africa Cup of Nations which gifted Tunisia the lone goal that led to the exit of the Super Eagles from the tournament at the round of 16.

Uzoho on his part was responsible for the goal scored by Ghana which sealed their spot at the World Cup at the expense of the Super Eagles of Nigeria during the second leg of their playoff in Abuja.

Both goalkeppers were subjected to several online insults and in the case of Okoye he even received death threats. A source told this portal that the decision of the duo has been communicated to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

” Okoye wants a break from international football. He hasn’t recovered mentally from the way he was treated after the Super Eagles exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. He even received death threats and his family members were also not left out”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” In the case of Uzoho it was clear that he will find it hard to recover from that error. He was in tears at half time and didn’t want to play in the second half. The coaches had to beg him to finish the game. At this stage he is the only one who can say if he is ready to return”, he concluded.

Per reports reaching the editorial team of OwnGoalNigeria.com Israel based goalkepper Adebayo Adeleye has been handed a late call up to the squad of the senior national team of Nigeria.

Adeleye will take the place of Sparta Rotterdam goalkepper Maduka Okoye who pulled out of the upcoming games against Mexico and Ecuador respectively in the United States of America.

The Hapoel Jerusalem goalkepper has been knocking on the Super Eagles door for a while and the sudden decision of Okoye to withdraw from the games and possibly the AFCON 2023 qualifiers for unspecified reasons has opened the door for him.

He helped his team gained promotion to the Israeli top flight and ended the season on a high when he reclaimed his first choice spot to help the team beat the drop to the second division. This season he kept four clean sheets in 33 games.

21 year old Adeleye was a part of the 2017 Nigeria U17 team that failed to make it to the Africa U17 Cup of Nations. He rose from the youth team of the Israeli side to the first team, where he has been first choice for three years.

*We will be monitoring this story as it develops as there is no confirmation yet and sources close to the Super Eagles are yet to respond to calls and messages on the subject matter.

Sparta Rotterdam goalkepper Maduka Okoye won’t be available for Nigeria when they take on Mexico and Ecuador respectively in two high profile international friendly games.

Okoye has communicated to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that he won’t be available but no reason was given for his absence per the time of filing in this report. Fueling talks of the goalkepper potentially quitting the national team.

He was largely targeted by a section of the Nigerian fans and media after the team’s round of 16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations with many blaming him for the goal Tunisia scored, which decided the game.

Since after the tournament he hasn’t represented Nigeria as he made a last minute decision to shun the World Cup playoff against Ghana which ended Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the showpiece in Qatar.

We further gathered that he will also miss the start of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers with Nigeria to take on Sierra Leone in Abuja before making the trip to play Mauritius.

His absence has opened the door for the duo of Akwa United Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke to stake a claim for the number one spot of the team.

The newly announced coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has approved the addition of Lorient’s duo Terem Moffi and Innocent Bonke to the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming friendly games.

Nigeria will take on Mexico on the 29th before taking on Ecuador four days later. Both games will be played in the United States of America with Peseiro expected to be on the touchline.

He gave the greenlight for the duo to be added to the squad of 30 players. Moffi will take the place of Sadiq Umar in attack with the Almeria striker expected to miss the game due to club commitment.

Both games will afford the new coach to run the rule on all players as he begins his reign as coach. The games will afford him the chance to assess the team ahead of the start of qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations next month.