The duo of Kingsley Michael and Innocent Bonke will get more invitation to the senior national team of Nigeria according to coach of the team Gernot Rohr.

They were both handed a starting spot by the coach for yesterday’s 2-1 win over Cape Verde in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and left a positive impression on the coach.

Their invitation and subsequent game time was due to the unavailability of eight regular players but Rohr says their performance means they will now be part of the squad for subsequent games.

He admitted that although they struggled initially to get into the rhythm of the game, they adjusted brilliantly and played a huge role in the away win. “The new players have brought in new competition to the first team. We have had Bonke in our scouting team, they did well, we missed harmony in the early moment but they did a good job. We will see them more now”, the coach said.

Izuchukwu Jude Anthony has joined Israel top division side Hapoel Haifa from Slovakian side FC Spartak Trnvana, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

23 year old Anthony signed a one year deal with the option of another year base on the success of his first year with the club that finished 9th last season.

There is no clarity on the financial terms of his move to Israel at the moment but the defender who was called up to the Nigerian squad as back up, after a spate of withdrawals ahead of the Cameroon friendly games will be hoping to finally get his career underway in Europe.

He also represented Nigeria at U23 level and was a part of the team that failed to qualify for the last Olympics in Tokyo.

The GBS Academy of Jos trainee has in the past defender the colors of Norwegian side FK Haugesund, FK Jerv and Nest-Sotra before his move to Slovakia where he has been the past one year.

World Football governing body FIFA has officially communicated to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that captain of the Super Eagles Ahmed Musa has 98 caps and not 100.

In a mail to the NFF on Tuesday, FIFA said two of Musa’s appearances counted by the football house in Nigeria didn’t count as the games were not officially recognized.

The games in question were the friendly game against Togo in Corsica and also the World Cup qualifiers against Algeria in Constantaine. Both games were struck off by FIFA per their mail and the reason was clearly stated.

The match against Togo was struck off as both Nigeria and Togo made more than the regular number of changes in the game, while the encounter in Constantine, which ended 1-1, was deleted because Nigeria fielded an ineligible player and the result was overturned, with Algeria awarded the game, even as Nigeria had already picked the World Cup ticket before the tie.

Already the NFF have accepted the gaffe leaving Musa with 98 caps needing two more to get to a 100 caps officially.

Cape Verde head coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Leitao says losing to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the manner which they did shouldn’t be tagged as shameful as Nigeria is simply one of the best teams in Africa.

Bubista watched from the touchlines as his boys threw away a one goal lead to lose 2-1 with goals from Victor Osimhen and a calamitous own goals canceling out the opening strike by Bryan Tavares.

He said losing to Nigeria is a not a shameful or bad thing, urging the football loving people of Tanzania to show courage and humility in recognizing Nigeria as one of the best in the continent.

“Cape Verde doesn’t have to be reluctant to lose to Nigeria.

“Nigeria are one of the best teams in Africa. We have to have the courage and the humility to know that Nigeria are also an extremely strong team and losing to Nigeria is not a bad thing.

“An own goal is always difficult. It was a shame because it happened at a time when we were resuming the game, we had refreshed the team.

“But it does happen. We are not here to blame anyone individually. In our team, we always win together and lose together, ”Bubista said in the post-match press conference.

The senior national team of Nigeria made it two wins out of two in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with a hard fought 2-1 win away to Cape Verde.

OwnGoalNigeria.com rates the players on
display for Nigeria in the win which puts them top of their group with six points. Three more than second place Liberia.

Maduka Okoye – Should have done better for the goal scored by Cape Verde as it went through the post he was guarding. Although the goal was offside. Other than that he did well….. 7/10

Shehu Abdullahi- Started the game very well and was solid for the length of it. Didn’t do much in an attacking sense but stick to his job of keeping his man in check brilliantly….. 6/10

Jamilu Collins – His low shot forced the error that led to Osimhen drawing Nigeria level. Took promising position high up the pitch and also defended well even when under pressure….. 6/10

Chidozie Awaziem- Solid in the air and also in tackles. Moved the ball out of defence with authority. This game can easily pass as his best in the colors of Nigeria so far….. 8/10

Kenneth Omeruo- Led the defence brilliantly like a trojan. Formed a very strong alliance with Awaziem. Very solid showing….. 7/10

Innocent Bonke – Got into tackles and win balls but could do better with his distribution and needed to cut down on the number of fouls he commits….. 5/10

Kingsley Michael – Very calm on the ball and willing to play forward passes. He however struggled to get into the rhythm of the game. Despite that he didn’t shy away from tackles and looked quite a player….. 6/10

Ahmed Musa – Not the way he would have love to earn his 100th cap. He will however be delighted with the outcome of the game. Didn’t assert himself in the role behind the striker….. 5/10

Moses Simon – Ran himself ragged by helping out in defence which reduced his efficiency up front. Like Musa he didn’t get going but did a lot in defence ….. 6/10

Chidera Ejuke – Brilliant display in the first half but didn’t match it in the second half of the game. Went past his man with ease and also looked a threat….. 7/10

Victor Osimhen- Showed his predatory instinct to finish off a poor clearance which drew Nigeria level. Went about his job with determination. Always available for a pass although he didn’t muster any effort on target….. 6/10

The senior national team of Nigeria made it two wins out of two in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with a hard fought 2-1 win away to Cape Verde.

Cape Verde shocked Nigeria by taking the lead with what look like an offside but Nigeria wasted no time in drawing level with Victor Osimhen profiting from a defensive mix up to score.

With Nigeria looking the most likely to score, fortune smiled on the Nigerian team when an attempted back pass ended in the net to put the Super Eagles 2-1 up.

They hanged on to claim their second win in two games to steer clear of Liberia with six points as against the 3 of the Lone Stars who were 1-0 winners over Central Africa Republic yesterday.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has decided to stick with his preferred 4-3-3 formation for today’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers game against Cape Verde, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The coach tried out a 3-4-3 formation in training yesterday playing with wing backs but he has decided to stick with his preferred formation leading to him handing debut to Malmo midfielder Innocent Bonke and also Bologna midfielder Kingsley Michael, the duo will play as the midfield pivot with Ahmed Musa operating in the role behind the main striker Victor Osimhen.

Musa’s role is one he has showed he can operate in both at club and national team level. The duo of Moses Simon and Chidera Ejuke will play as right and left winger respectively. Maduka Okoye keeps his spot in goal with a back four of Shehu Abdullahi, Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins in front of him.

              Okoye

Shehu,Awaziem,Omeruo, Collins

Bonke,Kingsley,Musa.

Simon, Osimhen, Ejuke

As Nigerians come to terms with the reality of not getting to watch the Super Eagles 2022 World Cup qualifiers games on the popular pay TV station in Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com has put together the various platforms for fans of the team who want to watch today’s game against Cape Verde.

Starting with time and putting into consideration the two hours time difference between Nigeria and Cape Verde, the game will be played by 3pm Cape Verde time but 5pm in Nigeria.

For people base in Nigeria, the game will be aired on Nigeria’s national television NTA but on its local platform and not on the international which is on pay tv. Also it will be live on their platform on Startimes.

AIT will also air the game on its terrestrial platform. Online airing of the game will see FIFA TV take the lead with NFF Tv expected to stream the game as well.

Popular online website for streaming of live games Hesgoal will also stream the game live as Nigeria aim to make it two wins out of their first two games of the qualifiers.

A hint on how the senior national team of Nigeria will approach today’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers game against Cape Verde was made known yesterday by coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr.

The Nigerian team has been depleted severely by the departure of eight players who were part of the team that prosecuted the 2-0 win over Liberia in Lagos.

Faced with the prospect of not having enough players to execute his preferred 4-3-3 pattern, the coach of the Nigerian team yesterday had his players play in a 3-4-3 set up.

The duo of Moses Simon and Zaidu Sanusi operated as right and left wing back respectively. With Shehu Abdullahi and Innocent Bonke handed the chance to anchor the midfield of the team.

In attack the trio of Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru and Victor Osimhen will lead the search for goals with the trio of Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins playing as the three centre backs in front of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.

Okoye

Awaziem Omeruo Collins

Simon Shehu Bonke Zaidu

Musa Osimhen Onyekuru

Coach of the Nigerian team insist his team will approach today’s World Cup 2022 qualifiers game against Cape Verde with the sole aim of winning the game despite missing as many as eight regular players

His comments is coming hot on the heels of comments made by the top striker of Cape Verde Ryan Mendez about how it will be difficult for Nigeria to score without the trio of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.

Rohr insist his team have an idea on how Cape Verde will approach the game they have set up counter tactics to score goals and win the game, although he admitted that it will be tough.

He urged his players to show fighting spirit referring to them as super commando who need to show their pedigrees later today. “They (Cape Verde) like to set up with three at the back and we know they like to defend, but we have our idea and we have our tactics to score goals and win the game.

“I know it won’t be easy with our situation, but we are a super commando, and we have to show our fighting spirit”, the coach concluded.