Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has explained why it’s difficult for new players to find their way into the team as they get set to return to action in March, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Under his guidance as coach of the Nigerian team, they went all the way to the semi final of the recently concluded AFCON, and picked bronze after beating Egypt in third place playoff.

Since taking over as coach of the Nigerian team close to one year now, Chelle has handed debut to a couple of players but only Jerome Akor of Sevilla have been able to cement his spot in the starting lineup of the team.

While confirming that he is still open to the invitation of new players to the team, the coach explained why some of the new players failed to properly assert themselves in his team.

” For the AFCON we had couple of young players who will benefit from the experience and be better for it in the future. It’s not easy to break into our team at the moment because we are building a core. So we can’t make so many changes”, the coach explained.

” A lot of them also have to get use to our game project and how we play in the offensive, defensive and more importantly our aggressiveness and shape without the ball. It requires time and we will continue trying to give those who deserve the chance and see what they can do”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

20 year old Levante winger Kareem Tunde is open and interested in talks on committing his international future to Nigeria ahead of Spain, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Born in the Spanish city of Barcelona to a Nigerian father and a Spanish mother he is enjoying his debut season in the Spanish top division with seven games under his belt for Levante.

He is eligible to play international football for either Nigeria or Spain, but so far he hasn’t been capped at any level by both countries leaving his international future in the air.

Comfortable as a right or left winger, he has also shown his versatility by being able to play as a full back. He was once upon a time with the youth team of Spanish giants Barcelona.

Promoted from the youth team to the main team, his representative said although he is focused on establishing himself as a regular in the Spanish top flight he is however open to the idea of playing international football for Nigeria.

” We have not talked about it but Kareem won’t say no to the chance of playing for a top football nation like Nigeria since he is qualified to play for them. But like I said no approach has been made yet to the best of my knowledge, but he is surely going to love it”, the representative of the winger who has made six appearances this season in the league said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Lanky Nigeria international striker Paul Onuachu scored his 15th goal in 18 games in the Turkish top division with a brace in a 3-0 win for Trabzonspor over Samsunspor over the weekend, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Onuachu struck in the 23rd and 81st minute to help the cause of his team to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the win moving them up to 3rd behind Fenerbahce and league leaders Galatasaray.

His goal return has however drawn praises from his teammate Andre Onana, who sees the 31 year old as the most deadly striker in the box he has seen in a while.

Onana who is on loan from Manchester United to the Turkish side made the remark after Onuachu’s brace, and reckoned that the Nigerian is well on course to be the top scorer in the league.

” In the box he is the most deadly I have seen. When you see how he scores you will agree with me that he has what it takes to be the top scorer in the league at the end of the season”, he said.

However for Onuachu to be crowned as top scorer he will need to hold off the challenge of Uzbekistan forward Eldor Shomurodov, who has the same number of goals for Istanbul Basaksehir.

Ade Emmanuel

Nigeria U20 winger Sani Suleiman who joined German side RB Leipzig in the January transfer window is expected back in action next week after suffering an injury in training two weeks ago, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Suleiman made a record move from Slovakian side AS Trenčín to the German side in the recently concluded January transfer window, but an injury setback in training denied him an early debut.

Initial reports hints at an extended spell on the sidelines but he has made a very swift recovery and he is now expected back next week.

The GBS Academy of Jos graduate was the shining light for the Nigeria U20 team at the last world cup, and has also dominated the league in Slovakia since his move 18 months ago.

His expected return will now put him in a strong position to be available for his debut before the close of the season, although the idea is for him to really lauch his career at the club next season.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Legendary Italian forward Fabrizio Ravanelli says it will make complete sense if his former team Juventus sign Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen in the summer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen has been linked with the Italian giants since his exit from Napoli to Galatasaray of Turkey, where he scored his 15th goal of the season with a 3-0 win over Rizespor at the weekend.

Reports claim that in his contract it was stated that he can only play for an Italian side after two years, but those reports for now are unfounded with Ravanelli urging the club where he made his name to go all out for Osimhen who is keen on a return to mainstream Europe.

He explained how Osimhen is different from the two strikers in the club at the moment in Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David.

“I’d chase a top striker like Osimhen in the summer. Juventus must try to sign him because he’d be perfect for Spalletti’s playing style. The coach knows Osimhen well and would know how to use him best. Osimhen would be an excellent striker for Juve. He is strong in the air, fast, and he attacks the space. Furthermore, he even presses the opposing defenders during the build-up”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

World football governing body FIFA will make a pronouncement on Nigeria’s protest against DR Congo for fielding ineligible players in the world cup qualifiers playoff, which they won via penalty kicks to pick a ticket to represent Africa at the international Playoff next month, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria protested that DR Congo used around players who hold dual nationality in the game, an act that goes against the country’s constitution which doesn’t allow citizens to hold another passport.

Their protest will get a response next week according to several reports, with FIFA taking their time to establish how players of DR Congo were able to get a passport without rescinding their other citizenship as contained in the country’s constitution.

” It will be a landmark ruling if you ask me. Because even Cameroon have the same law against dual nationality but they have been using them in international games. FIFA always put national law first”, a source familiar with the case said.

” If as expected the judgement goes in favour of Nigeria. It will expose a lot of fraud going on with dual nationality players in Africa. I mean it’s going to be really messy”, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor is not eligible to play for Italy despite the fact that he was born and raised in Italy, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Ahanor who has emerged as the best young defender in the Italian top division this season playing a leading role in the team’s six clean sheets this season, when he has played alongside 22 year old Giorgio Scalvini.

Born in the Italian city of Averse to immigrant Nigerian parents, the 17 year old is yet to be given an Italian passport, meaning his currently registered as a Nigerian using his international passport of the origin of his parents.

Despite his eligibility to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, he has his sights on playing for Italy when he is considered eligible to formally own an Italian passport.

We gathered the delay is due to the immigrant status of his parents meaning he has to turn 18 or thereabout before he can be eligible to be granted full citizenship.

The news of little known David Oguejiofor moving from Kaduna based Academy Simoiben owned by the wife of Nigeria international Moses Simon, Mrs Ibukun Simon to Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia came as a surprise to many, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Oguejiofor who was top scorer in the NLO playoff and the Kaduna State FA Cup playing for Simoiben FC joined the Saudi team on an initial six months loan deal. Starting with the U21 where his progress will be monitored for promotion to the main team and also a permanent deal.

He has already trained with the first team, sharing the same training session with global super stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, Inigo Martinez among others.

His transfer led to questions on how the move was made possible considering the illustrious nature of the Saudi team, who are most times keen on signing only established super stars.

” We got a call from Moses Simon that his agent Christian Emile who works with our academy and facilitated the transfer of Benjamin Fredrick to Brentford and Emmanuel Michael to LASK wants player for Al Nassr U21″, coach of Simoiben Gambo Shanding explained.

” So we made provision for his trip and it all went as expected and according to our expectations. We are also hoping he makes the best use of the chance like others before him from our academy and secure a permanent deal, when his loan deal expires in the summer”, he stated.

Nigeria international striker Ademola Lookman started his career with Spanish side Atlético Madrid on a high with a goal and assist in their 5-0 win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The Nigerian who joined the team in the January transfer window from Italian Serie A side Atalanta made the best of his debut with a goal in the 37th minute, and an assist to Antoine Griezmann for the 4th goal in the 62nd minute.

While all eyes will be on him on Sunday, when he makes his debut in the LaLiga and also in front of the home fans against the same opposition in Real Betis, it’s in the Copa del Rey that many said he will face the real test.

Atletico Madrid will face current cup holders and also league leaders Barcelona in the semi final after today’s draw. A huge game that will determine their quest for a domestic trophy this season. Lookman was signed to help improve the team’s quality in games like this.