Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has defended the reason behind his decision to include Ahmed Musa in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff games against Ghana.

They have been calls that the coach should drop the 29 year old as he isn’t adding anything meaningful to the team and these days plays bit part roles as seen during the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations.

Musa who plays for Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk according to Eguavoen offers the team much more off the pitch than what he does on the pitch and as the captain and most capped Nigerian player he has to be let go with honour.

“Ahmed Musa has got some leadership qualities whether we like or not as well but he can always give us some good 45-60 minutes when it becomes really necessary, that is why we try to see how we can help him honourably leave the scene hopefully after the World Cup,” Eguavoen told a gathering of pressmen.

He said there is nothing unusual about the treatment Musa is getting as captain as it has always been the norms with past captains of the team when they approach the twilight of their careers.

“We are from a country that doesn’t forget tradition, we don’t forget history. These are things we did for late Keshi, 1994 he wasn’t playing but he was our leader. These are things we did for people like Peter Rufai, Joseph Yobo.

“He has agreed that after the World Cup he’s going to retire. We will still accord him that respect and honour because he’s got a major role to play in the team”, he stated.

The vice captain of the senior national team of Nigeria William Troost Ekong insist he is fit to play for the senior national team of Nigeria in their World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana.

Coach of Watford Roy Hodgson said in his press conference ahead of last weekend game against Arsenal that the 28 year old will be out with an unspecified injury for the foreseeable future.

“It’s a muscle strain, the same with Troost-Ekong,” said Hodgson, 74, of Sarr. “It’s going to keep them both out of the equation for the foreseeable future, but I don’t know how long exactly.

“It’s not a minor thing, it’s not a knock, both have muscle strains, and that can take anything from a week to four weeks to recover from”, he concluded.

His statement ruled Ekong out of the senior national team of Nigeria two legged playoff billed for 25th and 29th of March in Cape Coast and Abuja respectively. Ekong is however defiant that he is fit for both games.

A message from the media officer of the Super Eagles Babafemi Raji shared on a WhatsApp group also said the defender is back in training and cleared fit enough to represent Nigeria.

“BREAKING NEWS! Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong now fit and cleared by Watford medical team after a mild injury. Resumed full training today. Now in good shape for the World Cup play-offs against Ghana this month”, he posted.

Hodgson will address a press conference tomorrow and many will be expecting an update on the injury status of the Nigerian who hasn’t found favour since the appointment of the English man. He is yet to play a game under the new coach.

The pitch invader who attacked Nigeria international goalkepper Maduka Okoye during the course of the Dutch Eredivisie game between Vitesse and Sparta Rotterdam has revealed the reason behind his actions.

Sparta Rotterdam were leading 1-0 away to Vitesse and with the game winding into stoppage time, Okoye who saved a penalty aside six other saves was forced to deal with a pitch invader before he was struck in the head with an object.

The incident made the referee to halt the game and Vitesse have now released a statement explaining what happened during the course of the game after identifying the spectator who invaded the pitch.

With a statement tagged “Back together to a safe and atmospheric football party’ Vitesse on their official website recants the incident.

“The absolute low point was the discontinued match against Sparta. Maduka Okoye , the keeper of the Rotterdam team, was harassed by a field stormer and not much later a cup of beer was thrown against his head. When fireworks were also thrown towards Sparta’s goal, centre referee Rob Dieperink had to call of the game and send the players in.

“The annoying thing for Vitesse is that last Friday’s pitch stormer was ‘a lost German’. ‘The clash with Sparta was overshadowed by the misbehavior of a few individuals, who ruined it for the vast majority. In some cases it is even about a loner who has never been to GelreDome. For example, think of Friday’s field stormer; a lost German, with a lost bet. Completely unaware of what damage he would cause with his action,” they statement explained further.

As part of the measures to curb the situation from happening again, the club has suspended a large number of supporters involved in the event of that day and also beef up the security all round the stadium.

Former Italian national team coach Arrigo Sacchi says Napoli need to work a system that will help their big money signing Victor Osimhen to be at his best.

Osimhen has come under fire from a section of the Italian press over his performance in the game. Even fans of Napoli are now questioning his performance especially in games against the traditional top teams in Italy.

Since his transfer, he is yet to score against Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan or Roma. The teams seen by many as the traditional power house of Italian football by many watchers of the Serie A.

Saachi while commenting on the recent 0-1 defeat suffered by Napoli against AC Milan said the Nigerian appeared to be doing it all by himself and despite his huge technical ability, he can’t do it alone.

“The solution of Napoli, in the end, has almost always been the pass, short or long, to Victor Osimhen who has so much courage, is fast, technically very good, but he can’t solve everything by himself”, he said after the game.

Per reports gathered by OwnGoalNigeria.com editorial team Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma has placed his international career on hold for now due to reasons best know to him.

We exclusively gathered that the defender who has four caps for Nigeria isn’t keen on earning any further caps but his decision is totally unrelated to the departure of coach Gernot Rohr. It was Rohr who convinced him to switch nationality to Nigeria after representing Germany at various youth levels.

Rohr’s departure aside, sources close to present Super Eagles coach Austine Eguavoen said Akpoguma turned down the chance to be a part of the sqaud for the Africa Cup of Nations, when contacted to replace the injured Leon Balogun.

He was unhappy that he was initially dropped from the list and was only considered because of the unavailability of Balogun. Semi Ajayi was later called upon to replace Balogun and he accepted the call up despite the lateness.

Ajayi’s decision has cement his spot in the mind of Eguavoen who was also impressed with his performance when he got the chance to play at the tournament. Hence his decision to keep Akpoguma out of the squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff games against Ghana.

Akpoguma can easily pass as the most consistent Nigerian defender this season with as many as 19 appearances to his name for 4th placed Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. Only William Troost Ekong of struggling Watford comes close with 16 appearances in the English Premier League.

The argument over the non Inclusion of players from the Nigeria Professional Football League in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana has been explained by the coach of the Nigerian team.

Coach Austine Eguavoen released a list of 32 players for the game with seven placed on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast and Abuja on the 25th and 29th of March respectively.

Eguavoen said he has players from the league in mind after visiting some league venues and went ahead to name the players, revealing that he has them in his plans.

He said about seven of them are very much in his head and he will in the future consider them for call up but for now because of the crucial nature of the games against Ghana. He is in no position to take risk.

“I have my own plan. We have our own plans. Like you know I have visited league venues and they are couple of names I have in mind. I watched Kwara United, there’s one boy Azeez who is a very good midfield player, Tope from Rangers, Ishaq from Rivers, I think he followed us to South Africa for the Guateng Under 17, I have been following him”, he stated.

“There is Uche from Rivers as well , Olorunleke Ojo. Infact I have their names here. These are all names I have penned down about seven of them. So this is why I told you I don’t have to tell you what my plans are. I have them close to my chest”, he concluded.

The decision to place CSKA Moscow winger Chidera Ejuke on the standby list in the Super Eagles squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana has been made known by coach of the team.

Ejuke rated as one of the best dribblers in the team was relegated to the role of standby alongside six others. But many saw his inclusion as odd as he has shown glimpses of potentials when called upon.

Interim coach of the Nigerian team Austine Eguavoen during a media parley with journalist was asked about the decision to leave the winger out following his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Eguavoen revealed that while the winger is still very much in his plans, his not too impressive performance at the AFCON and also the current war between Russia and Ukraine is partly responsible for his decision to place him on standby.

“Ejuke very good player. I admire a lot. In the African Cup of Nations he played just one game but he was not at his best due to reasons best known to him. Although we discussed but the outcome of the discussion. I don’t have to let you know”, he explained.

”So he is still in my plan. I don’t like to use the word mine. He is still in our plan. Very much in our plan and now you see Russia, Ukraine right now is in turmoil and he is playing in that region as well”, he concluded.

Interim head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has defended the inclusion of Ogenyi Onazi in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana.

Onazi was named among the seven players on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast on the 25th of March and in Abuja on the 29th respectively. The winner on aggregate after both games will progress to the World Cup in Qatar.

Responding to questions from journalist on the reason behind the inclusion of the former Lazio man who was once upon a time vice captain of the team, Eguavoen said Onazi who now plays in the second division of Saudi Arabia wasn’t initially in his list.

He said he included the Al-Adalah of Saudi Arabia defensive midfielder on standby to pacify everybody but says he will have the final say on including him in his main list of players for the game.

“Onazi, good player. Whether he’s still good and can play at that level, we don’t know. But that’s why I said to pacify everybody, to ensure there’s harmony here, put him on the standby. While he’s on the standby, I have the final say”, he said.

Interim technical adviser of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says he has already established contacts with Spartak Moscow winger Victor Moses on staging a return to the Super Eagles.

Eguavoen made this known while speaking at a media parley with some selected journalist. He revealed he has already had talks with the winger who quit international football in 2018 shortly after the World Cup in Russia.

He said Moses is still among the best players available to Nigeria and he is keen on having him back in the team but not for the Ghana game which he partly blamed on the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Same zone where the 31 year old now plys his trade. He is however optimistic of having him for future games.

“Even Victor Moses, I will break the news. Victor Moses, we want the best for the country. Victor Moses is somebody I also adore and I am looking at ways of trying to get him in”, he said.

”We have spoken but he is not part of this game but hopefully as time goes on because we want the best. Wether we like it or not. I think Victor Moses will still bring some value. But right now he is also playing in that region. So that one is settled”.