Argentina global football icon Lionel Messi has picked the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the difficult teams he has faced at international level.

The 34 year old has played against Nigeria in three World Cups namely in 2010, 2014 and 2018 with three goals from those meetings including a brace in the 2014 game.

He also faced Nigeria at U20 level when his brace from the spot in the final helped Argentina to triumph over Nigeria and at the Olympics in Beijing he assisted the winner scored by Angel Di Maria to hand his team the gold.

Speaking on the back drop of his recent Copa America feat with Argentina, Messi was asked about the teams he has faced from all continents and what he made of them. In Africa he picked Nigeria.

“ Nigeria because it’s always intense. They are a physical, skillful and unpredictable side. Never easy to get past them even though we have the edge over them in recent games”, he said.

Captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa has made an instant impression on his new teammate at ambitious Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk.

Musa joined the Turkish side on a free transfer from Nigeria Professional Football League side Kano Pillars last month as he bid to relaunch himself in Europe.

He left Europe in 2018 for Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr but after two not too happy years, he terminated his contract with the Al Nassr in order to return to Europe and he got his wish with his move to Fatih Karagumruk.

Already former Liverpool star Fabio Borini has been blown away by the Nigerian as he has shown an unusual sharpness and pace which has taken the entire team by shock.

“ We know he is a good player but his level is remarkably very high. His pace is extraordinary. He will be a weapon for us when the league resumes”, Borini said.

Former Nigeria U17 forward Femi Olatubosun Joseph has emerged as champions with unfancied Angolan side Sagrada Esperanca following their 1-0 win over Petro de Luanda yesterday.

The 30 year old who was a part of the Yemi Tella U17 team of 2007 but failed to make final cut for the tournament was pivotal in helping the team to what was their second league title in 16 years.

Despite suffering a global record loss of 2 million carats of diamonds in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Endiama the prime sponsor of the team gifted each player a bonus of $62,000.

Femi has been in Angola the past few years and he now carries an Angolan passport but the league title is his first in the country he now calls home.

Fluent in Portuguese, the left footed dazzler says he hope to force his way into the national team of Angola in the nearest future as he has given up all hope of playing for Nigeria.

“ My dream is to represent Angola. I have been here for a very long time and it’s best for me because I don’t think I stand a chance with Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Frank Onyeka is slowly making himself a fan favourite at newly promoted English Premier League side Brentford with another strong showing in his second pre season game for the team.

Signed from Midtjylland this summer. His start to life at the new club have seen him play in their last two pre season games and in both games he gave a hint of why he is so highly rated in Denmark.

Onyeka introduced himself to the club faithfuls with an above average showing in their 2-2 draw against Manchester United in what was his first pre season game for the team.

Yesterday despite his team losing 0-1, the 23 year old Nigerian put up a performance that drew praises from fans of the team with his passing range, tackles success and his work rate.

“ He (Onyeka) is way better than we thought. Man can pass, tackle, intercept and also initiate attack. He covers everywhere. Super Frank”, one fan commented on Twitter.

Frank Onyeka has covered every blade of grass on his Brentford home debut, looks like he'll be a brilliant signing. Interceptions, tackles, passing range all superb.

— Daniel Blackham (@DanBlackham_) July 31, 2021

Really like Frank Onyeka for @BrentfordFC so far. Looked a cut above an outclassed Midtjylland in last season’s @ChampionsLeague. He’ll do great in @premierleague. #BREWHU

— Dan O'Hagan (@danohagan) July 31, 2021

@BrentfordFC frank onyeka. What a absolute beast of a man

— Jdt1709 (@jamiet1709) July 31, 2021

https://twitter.com/bambaball/status/1421482675374854150?s=21

Leicester City new signing Patson Daka has joined the bandwagon of faithfuls who call Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho by his new moniker “Seniorman Kelz”.

Daka had a storming performance in Leicester City’s 3-3 draw against QPR in a pre season friendly set up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for the Foxes first goal with scores at 0-2.

He drew Leicester level with a goal of his own few minutes later before QPR restored their lead again. With scores at 2-3 Daka was once again forced to use his pace to good effect and it resulted in him winning a penalty.

Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up and buries the resultant spot kick to bring scores to 3-3 and after the game he thumbed up the Zambian with a post on Twitter which drew a “Seniorman Kelz” response from the Zambian.

“Naija 🇳🇬 Zambia 🇿🇲 @PatsonDaka2020 Pattoo”, he posted on Twitter, “ Seniorman Kelz” was the reply from the year old who will lead the attack alongside the Nigerian in some games next season.

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen scored both goals for Serie A side Napoli as they secure a 3-0 win over Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in a high profile pre season game.

Osimhen started the game in attack and after firing blanks in the opening 45 minuets, the 22 year old showed why he is the club record with a quick fire brace within a space of two minutes.

He fired in the first in the 69th minute and with Bayern still trying to get their acts together he fired in another in the 71st minute for his 7th goal in pre season games. Zinedine Machach scored the third goal to complete the humiliation.

The forward started his professional career in Germany with Wolfsburg but failed to find his feet as he struggled to meet up with the form that saw him emerged as the top scorer of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Last season he scored ten Serie A goals for Napoli despite battling injuries and fitness issues. New coach of the team Luciano Spalleti has tipped him to improve on the tally next season.

Terem Moffi says his dream is to follow up his maiden call up to the senior national team of Nigeria with more call ups for future games.

22 year old Moffi was handed a maiden call up to the senior national team of Nigeria in the double header friendly game against Cameroon after scoring 14 goals in Ligue 1 for Lorient.

If he follows up his brilliant debut season in France with another next season there is every likelihood of cementing a spot in the national team of Nigeria.

Moffi who said he was moved when he got his first call up has already set his sights on helping the team out in the AFCON 2022 and also the World Cup 2022 qualifiers starting in September.

A spot alongside Napoli forward Victor Osimhen who is first choice in attack is in the offing if he gets his wish but he faces stiff competition from the trio of Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho and Simy Nwankwo.

I was very, very moved to play for my national team for the first time,” Moffi said in an interview with the official website of Ligue 1.

Genk of Belgium forward Paul Onuachu was conspicuously missing from the matchday squad yesterday when they lost a seven goal thriller 3-4 to Oostende in the Belgium Pro league yesterday.

His absence sparks talks of an imminent transfer for the forward who is highly sought after by several teams in Europe after scoring 35 goals last season.

Linked with a move to English Premier League side West Ham, his agent explained that his absence yesterday has nothing to do with an exit from the club but a precaution as he suffered a knock in training.

He said the idea is to have the 26 year old fit for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday although he did confirm that a move away might happen before the end of the transfer window.

“ He was absent yesterday due to a slight knock picked up in training. It has nothing to do with a deal from the club but that too could happen before the end of the ongoing transfer window. Genk want Onuachu fully fit for Tuesday UEFA Champions League qualifiers”, he revealed.

The coach of Nigeria Professional Football League side (NPFL) Katsina United says Real Oviedo have a very technical player in new signing Samuel Nnoshiri.

Azeez Mohammed who took over as coach of the NPFL team after a 13 year stint as coach In Sudan helped the team move from basement of the table to a chance of finishing in mid table.

He has Nnoshiri with him for three months before his move to Real Oviedo and Azeez said he saw a lot in the 20 year old from the first day he saw him in training.

“ He just joined the team when I came but even before then I have read a lot about him while he was at Heartland. First thing I noticed was his technique and that prompt me to have his role changed”, Azeez told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

“ I moved him from a deep lying midfield role to a role just behind the top striker and he responded with three goals in training and two in the next match that we played. He is highly technical and Real Oviedo are getting a gem”, he concluded.

Nantes of France winger Moses Simon is indeed courting interest from the trio of Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon , Ligue 1 rivals Nice and Austrian heavyweight RB Salzburg.

The recently turned 26 year old has excelled beyond expectations since his move to the Ligue 1 side initially on loan before making the deal permanent last summer joining from Levante.

His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed and despite the willingness of Nantes to hang on to him their week financial state makes it almost impossible as the transfer window hots up.

Nantes are on the edge salary wise and Simon who is among their heavy earners will likely leave the team if their €15m valuation of the Nigeria international is met.

“ Nantes will sell for around €15 million. It’s a valuation that they have hanged on to since his move on a permanent deal. For now Austrian side RB Salzburg is a distant shot but it’s not out of place that he will accepts a move to Sporting Lisbon or Nice”, a source close to the winger told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

“ Nice have been on his trail for a while and talks have been held although not so advanced yet. For Sporting Lisbon it’s still at enquiry stage. The link to RB Salzburg first came up last summer before he made his move permanent. I don’t think it’s an option now”, he concluded.