The Technical assistant to the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has taken out time to explain the process of luring a player who have played for another country to switch to Nigeria.

Tunde Adelakun in an interview with aoifootball revealed it goes beyond wanting the player and the Nigeria Football Federation as the country the player have represented have to also give their consent.

The process as explained by Adelakun partly shows why the likes of Ebere Eze and co will find it hard to switch nationality from England to Nigeria at senior level.

“Some of them only know the UK as a home for instance. Because that’s where they grew up. So they need to be softly convinced to jump ship. Makes it more complicated when they have played at one age-grade level for the European country where they were born. They need to write a letter unequivocally stating that they want to come to play for Nigeria, and that by writing that letter, they have given up their rights to ever play for their country of birth.

 “That can be really scary for a young player. But they do. Then they need to prove their Nigerian citizenship. By having a passport of their own or at least for one of their parents to have a valid Nigerian passport. This proof of citizenship is key,” Tunde further revealed to aoifootball.

 “We also have to request from the nation’s FA (England and the home countries if the player is from the UK) asking them to give a no-objection verification to the NFF for the release of the player. Sometimes this is difficult because the said FA might still feel they potentially could do with the player’s services in the future. 

 “It’s when we get the no-objection confirmation that we can put it all together in a package and submit to FIFA for their approval,” Mr Tunde concluded.

Not so often in the past few years can one speak of a Nigerian player who held his own in defence against a top opposition to the extent of earning the accolades of man of the match.

That was however the case when Calvin Bassey came up against Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal in the 2-2 draw where he was picked as the man of the match by fans of the club.

Bassey followed that up with another impressive performance against Real Madrid and this time around he ended up on the winning side as they grind out a 2-1 win over the most decorated team in European club football history.

He is one player who has come a long way from the player who was denied a chance to be a part of the Nigeria U20 team in 2019. Bassey is now viewed as one of the best young defensive prospect in Scotland.

Last season he was impressive in the few games he played as he was making the step up from U23 football in England to Rangers, where he was immediately involved in a title push that ended with his team ending the season without losing a game.

Many expect him to be the main man in defence for Rangers this season with his ability to attack and defend when needed an added advantage against those he is battling with for a starting spot.

Sometimes around last year with recommendation from the now assistant technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Paul Aigbogun, Bassey spoke with the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr.

Rohr assured him that if he progress as expected he will be a part of his squad for the build up to the 2022 World Cup and even the tournament proper if Nigeria makes it to the global event.

With all due respect to the duo of Jamilu Collins and Zaidu Sanusi, who are the first choice at left back , Bassey has what both of them lack in one way of the other particularly the fact that he defends better and also provide coverage to the centre back than the aforementioned duo.

The time to call him up is now with Collins now set to play another season in the German second division with Padeborn due to lack of interest from teams in top division. Zaidu on his part is very much in favour at Porto but Bassey will provide the type of competition to push him to the edge with the senior national team of Nigeria.

SK Sered have announced the signing of Dejan Iliev from Arsenal on a season long loan deal hot on the hells of Matthew Yakubu conceding another cheap goal in their 0-3 loss to MSK Zilina in the first league game of the season.

The goalkeeper who was last year called up to the Super Eagles squad for the set of friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia respectively has continually frustrated with the manner of goals he is conceding lately.

Yesterday one of the three goals he conceded was an under hit effort which he could easily have gathered with his legs effortlessly, but his attempt to pick the ball up embarrassingly ended with the ball going into the net in between his legs.

It isn’t the first time that the 22 year old who had just 11 clean sheets from 33 games at the club and conceding 44 in the process has made such error during games the past few months.

He will likely lose his spot as first choice with 25 year old Iliev prime to be the new first choice following his high profile arrival from Arsenal on loan. Yakubu has suffered a serious dip in form which many attribute to arrogance after his maiden call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Per a podcast focused on Leicester City matters, the club is open to the idea of selling James Maddison who has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.

Maddison according to several reports is a key target for Arsenal before the end of the transfer window although they have not been any report of an official bid.

Listening to the Foxes podcast, sources at the club reveal that if an offer in the region of £60-65m is tabled for Maddison, the club will be forced to consider it particularly if the player wants to leave.

Leicester City hierarchy believe they coped really well in the absence of the playmaker last season with coach Brendan Rodgers adjusting his system of play to good effect by introducing Kelechi Iheanacho.

That has now made the team to believe that letting him go at the right price won’t be a bad idea as they have areas they will like to use the funds generated from his sale to address.

Same can’t be said about Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, another who has been tipped for a move away but hasn’t been linked to any club lately but all that could change as we head into the business end of the transfer window.

Ndidi is seen by Rodgers as irreplaceable for now as he is going to be pivotal in their quest to qualify for the UEFA Champions League after two near misses. Only if they qualify will they be open to doing business for the 24 year old.

Luciano Spalleti has taken out time to explain why Napoli record signing Victor Osimhen isn’t as prolific as many expected him to be after his lone goal in their 1-0 win over Pro Vercelli in a pre season game.

Osimhen who scored ten goals last season despite battling fitness and a failed coronavirus test has scored five goals in two pre season games but it could have been more.

He was guilty of missing two glaring chances against Pro Vercelli in Saturday’s pre season game and Spalleti put it down to his constant desire to put himself up for the team.

Explaining after the game, Spalleti said that he is always running makes it easy for him to lose some sharpness in front of goal which most times leads to error when presented with a chance to score.

“Osimhen has the ability to change any situation into an opportunity. Obviously, this running around and continually making himself available to press, it does have an effect on his sharpness in front of goal and can lead to errors”, he said.

Italian Serie A side Fiorentina have completed the signing of 17 year old Nigerian midfielder Michael Kayode from
Serie D side Gozzano FC.

Fiorentina beat off competition from Parma, Udinese and Juventus to sign the Nigerian who is comfortable as a right back despite his main strength of playing from the midfield.

He signed a three year deal and he will start off with the Primavera team (Youth team) under the tutelage of coach Alberto Aquilani. His progress will be monitored for onward promotion to the main team.

Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, he is eligible for both nations but at the moment he is yet to be capped at any level for both nations. All that could change if he makes an impression with Fiorentina.

Kayode from reports is represented by Italian football legend Francesco Totti and his recommendation paved the way for his signing by Fiorentina who are hoping he blossoms into a top prospect in the nearest future.

Calvin Bassey once again showed why he is so highly rated with another top class performance for Scottish champions Rangers in a shock 2-1 win over Real Madrid in pre season.

Bassey followed up his near faultless display against Arsenal in a 2-2 draw with another storming performance against Real Madrid.

He showed what has now become his trademark by defending and attacking when its needed. His performance no doubt will put him in a position to be first choice next season at Rangers.

Already he has been tipped by coach of the senior national team of Nigeria to be in his plans for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers which starts in September.

He was suppose to be a part of the Nigeria U20 team to the 2019 World Cup in Poland but according to Paul Aigbogun he wasn’t seen as an option as captain Ikouwem Utin plays in same role.

Aigbogun has however spoken with Rohr who has given his blessings for the 21 year old to be a part of his team following his declaration that he wants Nigeria ahead of England.



A new name has stolen the attention of fans of West Ham in pre season game this season after back to back impressive performance against Reading and his former club Cletic.

He is 19 year old Irish-Nigerian forward Armstrong Okoflex who only joined the team this summer from Cletic. A team he scored against yesterday as they ran out 6-2 winners in a pre season game.

His short career has seen him play for Arsenal for a year after turning down an offer of contract extension he signed where Celtic. He was there for two years and made his first team bow at 17. He however didn’t accept fresh terms and decided on a move to West Ham.

Okoflex has put himself in pole position for a first team role at West Ham when the season resumes something which wasn’t envisaged when he signed as he was supposed to be with the U23 for a while.

In 2019, his father Reginald Okoflex Inya who sees himself as Irish Nigerian revealed there is an international tug of war between England and Ireland for his son, whom ex Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers once compared to a young Raheem Sterling at 17.

The father also revealed that Nigeria is another option for his son who is largely seen as a modern day forward with the attribute of not just scoring but also creating goal scoring opportunities for his teammates.

“To be honest, he was first called up and played with England before Ireland even called him. He already played for England, then Ireland called him up. He is still playing with the two”, he told Balls.ie.

Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen took his pre season tally to four goals in two games with the lone goal for Napoli in their 1-0 win over Pro Vercelli.

The Nigerian followed up his hattrick in the previous pre season game with a header in the 26th minute and it ended up as the winner at the end of regulation time.

Osimhen lasted for 62 minute and he was heavily involved for the duration he was on even after his goal. He teed up Zedadka whose effort came off the bar.

He almost grabbed a second but he failed to hit the target after good works by Matteo Politano but he wasn’t made to regret the miss as they grind out a hard fought win.

It is now two wins for two for new manager Luciano Spalleti who replaces Gennaro Gattuso in the summer. He has already tipped Osimhen to better his last season tally of ten league goals.

Moses Odubajo scored a screamer for QPR as they secure a shock 4-2 win over English Premier League giants Manchester United In a pre season game.

Man United started the game the better side with Jesse Lingard opening scoring in the 3rd minute of play but the lead didn’t last long with Charlie Austin drawing QPR level four minutes later.

Lyndon Dykes extended the lead of the English Championship side with two brilliant strikes in the 53rd and 59th minute sandwiched in between Odubajo strike which can easily pass as the goal of the game.

On trial at the club, the 27 year old who operated as a right wing back in front of a back three cut in on his left foot and with some work to do he manage to get his effort on target which sailed pass Lee Grant in goal for Manchester United.

Odubajo hasn’t have the best of time since suffering a dislocated knee cap injury that snow balled into ligament damage while at Hull City and it kept him out for almost 18 months as he battled to regain full fitness.

Since then he has had spells at Brentford and Sheffield Wednesday but with little or no success to show for it. He is pushing to relaunch himself by earning a deal at QPR.

In 2017 he claimed he was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pledge his allegiance to the Super Eagles of Nigeria but injuries stopped him from honoring the opportunity to be a part of the team.