Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle watched Rangers of Scotland defender Emmanuel Fernandez yesterday in the Europa League defeat against FC Porto, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle is aware of the 24 year old who is heavily linked with a January transfer to German side Borussia Dortmund, and took out time to see how he will cope against a top team like FC Porto.

Fernandez didn’t disappoint but he was unfortunate to score an own goal, and he was substituted after an hour of the 1-3 defeat that ended their hope of making it to the playoff round.

It’s left to be seen if he did enough to warrant a call to the team, when they converge in March for the beginning of the qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON. He also made a check on fast rising left back Jayden Meghoma.

Jayden is also eligible to play for Nigeria, and in yesterday’s game he lasted 45 minutes before he was subbed off.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The General Deceased of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Dr. Mohammed Sanusi says they have a strong case in the protest submitted to world football governing body FIFA, against DR Congo fielding ineligible players against Nigeria in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria lost in the final of the world cup playoff to DR Congo and filled a protest to CAF questioning the eligibility of around seven players who played in that game, on the account that they got approval to play using passports that were illegally gotten.

According to the protest of the NFF, before anyone is issued a passport of DR Congo they must rescind their previous nationality because the country doesn’t recognise dual citizenship. The players didn’t do that and somehow got the Congolese passport submitted to FIFA for clearance.

“We believe we have a strong case. We do not pursue matters that we consider an exercise in futility. As far as we are concerned, we have presented a solid case and are waiting to hear FIFA’s decision regarding the issues we have raised,” he stated.

A ruling is expected next month and the recent decision by FIFA to nullify results by Malaysia for a similar offence of players getting passport through illegal means has further strengthen their beliefs.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

German side RB Leipzig has announced that Nigeria U20 winger Suleiman Sani who joined the team in the January transfer window has suffered ankle ligament damage, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Sani who joined the club from Slovakian side AS Trenčín suffered the blow while in training yesterday, and he is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

“Suleman Sani suffered ankle ligament damage in training and is now out for several weeks. Get well soon, #Sani! 🙏”, the club announced on their official page.

He is now expected to undergo surgery, before starting a long recovery process that could keep him out for a minimum of four months.

A member of the Nigeria U20 team to the last World Cup his signing was a record sale for Trenčín, and it was valued at around €7m.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

High flying Sheffield United right back Femi Seriki turned down the chance to be a part of the Super Eagles team to the recently concluded AFCON in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

In his search for more options at right back in the build up to the AFCON, head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle was offered two options to pick from in the English Championship in light of the injury to Ola Aina.

Chelle was offered the duo of Ryan Alebiosu of Blackburn Rovers and Femi Seriki of Sheffield United, and alongside his assistants they accessed both players before coming out with a decision.

Seriki was picked as the better option, and contact was immediately established with the 22 year old but he turned down the chance citing his recent return from injury, and the need to cement his spot in the team. That was how Alebiosu was picked for the tournament.

He has already achieved his aim with 22 appearances with a goal and four assists to his name this season, and it’s yet to be seen if Chelle will once again reach out to him to join the team for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, which begins in March.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international forward Terem Moffi has completed a loan move to Portuguese giants FC Porto from French Ligue 1 side Nice, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Moffi hasn’t played for the French side since he was attacked by the fans of the club. His attempt to have his contract terminated in order to leave as a free agent wasn’t successful.

Teams in England from the Championship and also from Turkey pushed to get him on their books, but it was Porto who entered the race three days ago like we exclusively reported that have sealed his signing.

An agreement was reached with Nice for Moffi to join on an initial loan deal with the option of signing permanently based on if certain clauses are met.

Capped 19 times by Nigeria at senior level, the 26 year old who has two goals from the ten goals he played for Nice before he was attacked by fans of the club, was left out of the Nigerian team for the AFCON due to the incident.

English Championship leaders have started talks with Premier League side Brentford over signing of Nigeria international midfielder Frank Onyeka in the ongoing January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Onyeka who starred for Nigeria at the AFCON playing in almost all their games, as they finished third in the tournament has struggled for game time this season at Brentford.

Head coach of Coventry Frank Lampard sees the 28 year old as someone, who will help cement their quest to make it to the Premier League at the end of the season with his experience.

According to Sky Sports both loan and permanent arrangements are thought to have been discussed, with the Sky Blues seemingly leading the chase.

Sheffield United and Birmingham are still said to be keen but only Coventry and Spanish outfit Valencia are believed to have made contact so far.

Portuguese giants FC Porto has made the first official contact with French Ligue 1 side Nice for the signing of Nigeria international striker Terem Moffi in the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Moffi hasn’t played for the French side since he was attacked by the fans of the club. His attempt to have his contract terminated in order to leave as a free agent wasn’t successful.

While Nice are open to having him return to the team, the player on his part isn’t open to the idea and had made it clear that he wants out of the team in the January transfer window.

Reports emerged from Turkey that he is target of Besiktas after they were offered the chance by his representative, but that has now been overtaken by recent reports in Portugal which says he is a top option for the team in January.

Porto have now officially contacted Nice on the availability of the 26 year old, and terms of a potential transfer before the close of the ongoing window.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Not many are aware that about a certain 23 year old Nigerian who has so far made 14 appearances in the Dutch top division for Telstar, where he is on loan from Utrecht.

His name is Neville Ogidi Nwankwo who was playing amateur football in the Netherlands around this time last year, but has not shown any sign of struggling to fit in at the top level.

Tall, quick and also very neat and tidy in his tackles, he is also blessed with the ability to pick a pass from deep and also help his team to build from the back.

He is teammates with his elder brother Nigel Ogidi Nwankwo, but it’s his performances that has caught the eyes with his brother who is 27 making just four appearances this season.

Last weekend he made the official team of the week of the Dutch top division. A testament to how well he has acquitted himself to the demands of playing in the highest tier in the Netherlands.

His international future would have been a source of concern to Nigeria, because he was born in the Netherlands but sources say he has his heart and mind set on playing for Nigeria.

For now he is enjoying and thriving in a professional setup with a modest side, and will return to Utrecht next season where he is expected to be ready to play after gaining sufficient experience this season.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman