Wilfred Ndidi will be fit for the Super Eagles final round of World Cup Qualifiers games against Liberia and Cape Verde respectively, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has revealed.

Ndidi has been out injured since the start of the month, missing the Super Eagles back to back games against Central Africa Republic (CAR) and he was also expected to miss the remaining games of the qualifiers.

He was expected to return back to training after the international break but according to Pinnick he will resume training next week and hopefully play against Arsenal in their next game as he is well ahead of schedule on his return from injury.

Pinnick made this known in a post on his social media account after a visit to the midfielder wher he also met with his Leicester City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho.

“I spent quality time with Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in Leicester over the weekend. I went with my wife and three of my kids who are on half term break. Our visit was a mere family visit and not official”, he posted.

“Recall Wilfred is recuperating from an injury that has kept him out for about five weeks, being a very key player for the Super Eagles we cannot afford to toy with our last two games. Ndidi has been integral, commited and passionate player of the Super Eagles.

“The good news is that his second scan came out very good and he has started training with his club and possibly play in their next game”.

President of the NFF Amaju Pinnick says talks are underway for Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia forward Odion Ighalo to stage a return to the Super Eagles as they approach the crucial stage of the World Cup qualifiers.

Ighalo announced his retirement from international football after finishing as top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria emerged as second runners up by beating Tunisia in the third place match.

Despite the presence of a host of young forwards who are doing well like Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar, Pinnick said the talks over the return of Ighalo to the team is needed as his experience could be decisive in the final stage of the World Cup qualifiers.

“I had a long conversation with Ighalo, personally I believe we need experience in our attack to combine with the energetically youthful Osimhen, Onuachu, Kelechi et al. Ighalo body language is very positive. We are also in touch with his agent and club”.

German giants Bayern Munich have reportedly marked Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen as a potential replacement for club legend Robert Lewandoski.

Lewandoski from reports wants a change of environment in the summer and Bayern won’t stand in his way hence the need to begin in earnest the search for his replacement.

Osimhen is seen by the Bavarians as a like for like replacement for the legendary Pole and they are willing to smash their transfer record in order to land the Nigerian next summer.

A fee in the region of €100m is what they believe will tempt Napoli in to selling their prized assest who has started the season with nine goals in ten games so far in all competitions. Reports in Italy and Spain also claim they are not the only teams looking at signing the Nigerian.

PSG are also reportedly weighing a move for Osimhen if they fail to get Kylian Mbappe to sign a new deal at the club. They are also willing to pay as high as same amount like Bayern Munich.

Former National Integrity Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Christian Emeruwa has faulted the decision of the football house to reinstate Salisu Yusuf as assistant coach of the Super Eagles.

Yusuf was caught on tape collecting money from a journalist posing as a football agent and it subsequently led to his ban by the NFF for a period of two years over what they call breach of integrity.

He was however returned back to his old role two days ago with a top wig of the NFF claiming in a chat with OwnGoalNigeria.com that it was done in the best interest of the team following a request by head coach Gernot Rohr.

Emeruwa who is now Head of CAF’s Safety and Security Department, was not pleased by the new development, saying Yusuf should have been banned for life.

Emeruwa told ESPN: “The offense committed by the coach is one of those offenses, as outlined in the NFF’s Integrity Guidelines and FIFA Ethics Code, that should have led to a life ban.

“But in the wisdom of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, they decided to give him a suspension. And now they have decided to call him back.

“But on the basis of the FIFA Ethics Code, he should have been banned for life. The protocol is clear: resist, renounce and report.

“If you do not do any of those, you are culpable. Not to talk of someone that as caught on camera collecting money. And it was proved beyond reasonable doubt. I would say he is very lucky not just to get away without a life ban, but to be offered his job back again.”

Head coach of the B team of Real Sociedad Xavi Alonso says Nigerian striker Sadiq Umar is hard to stop when in full flight after the striker’s goal against his team in a second division league game.

Sadiq scored the second goal for Almeria over Alonso’s team. He also set up the first goal scored by Jose Carlos Lazo as they ease their way to a 3-1 win to stay top of the Segunda.

The lanky number 9 now has seven goals this seven goals this season with five assists from 11 games so far. A sign of how well he is ready to better his last season tally of 20 goals from 40 games.

Asked about the characteristics of the Nigerian top scorer, the former Liverpool Real Madrid and Bayern Munich ace predicts a promising future for him if he continues in this line. In addition, he recognizes that his next career move would not be too big for him based on his performance and the qualities that have led him to become a fearsome footballer:

” Unbalancing, powerful, decisive , and I have no doubt that in a higher category or league he will be just as decisive . I foresee a bright future for Umar Sadiq, but not just him, because not only Sadiq, Almería as a whole is a good team.

“For my team it was an enormous physical and mental exhaustion having to run the ninety minutes behind the striker: “Tying  Sadiq down for 90 minutes is impossible, because of the imbalance he has”, he concluded

Respected Italian football technocrat Walter Sabatini says he will have rather have Napoli forward Victor Osimhen in his team instead of PSG star Kylian Mbappe.

Osimhen has been in red hot form this season with nine goals in ten games in all competitions this season. His form has been very vital in helping Napoli keep their 100 percent start to the season after eight games.

Speaking on the strength of Napoli this season, Sabatini praised the individual abilities of Osimhen as one of their strength as he gives them an unusual edge in the opponent’s half.

The former Roma, Inter and Bologna sporting director went further to mention some qualities which the Nigerian has that will make him pick him ahead of Mbappe if he has the option of picking one of the two.

“Bologna, I’m disappointed. Osimhen-Mbappè? I choose the first”.  The dominant player of Napoli? Osimhen above all. He does everything, scores in every way, he is unstoppable. He rushes on impossible balls and he makes them his. Today, between Mbappé and Osimhen I’ll take Osimhen”, he told Corriere dello Sport.

TalkSport’s Adrian Durham says Alex Iwobi hasn’t justify the huge outlay made on him by Everton when they signed him from Arsenal after yet another poor display against West Ham last weekend.

The 25 year old Nigerian wasted a clear chance to put his team ahead by failing to make contact with the ball under no pressure after Demarai Gray worked his way and laid a cross for him on the plate.

That miss proved costly with West Ham scoring a late goal to pick up all three points. Iwobi who has replaced by Anthony Gordon was largely criticised for another poor display.

Iwobi has hardly impressed, given his failure to achieve the fundamentals at Everton following his £36 million move from Arsenal three seasons ago.

When you consider his price tag, the fact that he has scored just five goals in 74 appearances for the Blues and is yet to nail down a regular position in the side, is disappointing and Durham believe he hasn’t quite shown he is worth that amount.

“Iwobi fluffed a couple of them [chances],” Durham said.

“Listen, for a player that cost £36m, and my understanding is he’s on a fair wedge, he’s got to put chances like that away.

When you get the chance to start for Everton Football Club and you’re presented with opportunities like that and you’re producing an air shot, you’ve got to focus and concentrate harder and make sure you get a contact on the ball, and at least force the goalkeeper to make a save.”

Almeria Nigerian striker Sadiq Umar once again showed his extreme prowess in front of goal with yet another goal to hand his team a comfortable 3-1 win over Real Sociedad B in the Spanish second division.

Sadiq scored the second of his team’s three goals in the 75th momiute to take his goal count for the season to seven goals in eleven games this season. He also picked up an assist to extend his number in that regard to five.

Table topping Almeria know they have a battle in their hands to hold on to the lanky forward who has proven over time that he has what it takes to play at a level higher than the Spanish second division.

A move in January looks to be on the cards but Almeria will do all they can to keep their prize asset with the club likely to give him a huge loyalty bonus if he decides to stay till the end of the season to aid their push for promotion to the La Liga.

As many as five players have been given the green light by world football governing body FIFA to play for Nigeria but they are yet to be called up by coach of the team Gernot Rohr.

With Nigeria in prime position to seal a spot in the final qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, several players of Nigerian descent are expected to make a decision on representing the team at the tournament if they eventually progress.

However some players have already gotten approval to play for Nigeria and OwnGoalNigeria.com takes a look at five palyers who can be called up to represent Nigeria despite the fact that they were born abroad.

Ovie Ejaria (Reading) – He has been cleared since the start of the year but surprisingly not given a call up yet. The Ex England youth international isn’t seen as an upgrade on the players available in his position in the team by coach Rohr despite his fine performances for Reading in the English Championship.

Joel Noah Sarenren Bazee (Augsburg) – Born in Germany to Nigerian parents, the 25 year old picked Nigeria as his preferred choice for international football but injuries and poor form hasn’t helped his course. Since training with the Nigerian team in 2017 he hasn’t played up to 30 games at club level due to injuries.

He is slowly walking his way back to full fitness as he has played in four Bundesliga games so far but with the options available to Nigeria on the flank he will need to do more before he is given a look in.

Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough) – Strange that he initially turned down a chance to represent Nigeria while he was am emerging talent at Arsenal. He made a u-turn and applied for s switch two years ago. He has been given the green light by FIFA but his form at club level hasn’t been the best and at 26 he might be running out of time to play for Nigeria.

Mipo Odubeko (West Ham) –

Per Wikipedia Odubeko was born in the Republic of Ireland and is of Nigerian descent through his parents, who were both born in the African country. He represented the Republic of Ireland’s under-16 side in their successful 2017 Victory Shield campaign and was selected to play for the under-17 team in two matches against Finland in March 2019.

However, he was overlooked for Ireland’s squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship despite his strong form at club level and, having not represented the nation in the intervening period, he rejected subsequent call-ups to the under-21 squad in 2021, sparking speculation that he could switch allegiances to Nigeria. He also remains eligibile to represent England.

Out on loan to Huddersfield from West Ham, he won’t be requiring a switch of allegiance process if he is called up by Nigeria as he played for the Irish team at levels not recognized by FIFA.

Jonas Chimezie (Hamburg) – At the age of 21 and with ten games under his belt for Hamburg this season in the German second division. Jonas had once again voiced his desire to represent Nigeria.

In 2018 he granted an interview to this portal where he talked about his desire to play for Nigeria but few months later represented Germany at U19 level. He played five games for them at that level before stepping up to the U20 where he played four games. He sees his chance more with Nigeria at senior level and he has since gotten the green light to switch to Nigeria.

Luciano Spalletti has given the reason behind the red hot form of Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen both in the Serie A and in the Europa League this season.

Osimhen has scored nine goals in ten games in all competitions this season including a run that has saw him score in all but one of his last 8 games for the team in all competitions. The only game he didn’t score in the last two months was the Serie A game against Fiorentina.

The form of the Nigerian hasn’t come as a surprise to the coach who tipped the record signing to better his last season goal record and going by his current streak he is on course to match the words of his manager.

However Spalletti has credited his fine form to the fact that he now understands his teammates better and they also know how to thread balls in for him. He also credited him for listening to advice on how to improve his game.

“With the knowledge of his teammates and with his availability he can do everything. For him the ideal thing is to gallop in the prairies but he is slowly getting to know other ways of playing. He is a great professional and a very tender boy who listens to everyone”.