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Ebola : DR Congo Risk Expulsion From World Cup, Nigeria, Jamaica Waiting

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo could be banned from the World Cup if they do not isolate before arriving in the US, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

They are due to arrive in Houston, Texas, on June 11 ahead of their tournament opener against Portugal six days later, but the e team have been told by the health authority in the US, that they must isolate for 21 days before their arrival due to the ongoing outbreak of Ebola in DRC.

This means that their isolation bubbles must have started on Thursday and be maintained until their arrival.

Executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, Andrew Giuliani, has warned if the bubbles are broken, it could cost the team its place in the tournament.

He told ESPN: “We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th.

“We’ve made it very clear to the Congo government as well, that they need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States.

“We cannot be any clearer.”

He insisted that the US has spoken to Fifa, the DRC national team and the government about keeping to their bubble in Belgium, where they will hold a training camp ahead of the tournament.

In the event that they are banned from entering the US, FIFA will have to pick a replacement and for now one of either Nigeria or Jamaica is favoured, although the latter who were defeated in the intercontinental playoff stand a better chance.

Ex Arsenal Goalkeeper Permitted By Chelle To Train With Super Eagles

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Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has added one more goalkeeper to the team as they step up preparation for their clash against Zimbabwe on Tuesday in the Unity Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle included three goalkeepers in Arthur Okonkwo, Francis Uzoho and Michael Atata in his list of players, but earlier today before the arrival of Uzoho a new goalkeeper joined the team.

He is former Arsenal youth team goalkeeper Ovie Ejaria who is now with Danish side Midtjylland, but was on loan to fellow top division side FC Fredericia. Injury cut short his stay at the club.

Now back in England and fully fit, he was granted permission by Chelle to help him build his fitness after a long injury lay off. The 23 year old is also eligible for England and Uganda.

However he has long maintained that his desire is to play for the senior national team of Nigeria, and training with the team is the first step towards achieving that goal.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Double Champion: Iheanacho’s Goal Help Celtic To Scottish Cup Victory

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Martin O’Neill guided Celtic to the double as the Scottish champions beat Dunfermline 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final.

Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels netted in a one-sided first half before Neil Lennon’s team made a game of it after the interval.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho appeared to put the game beyond the William Hill Championship side in the 73rd minute before Josh Cooper pulled one back six minutes later.

The goal is significant for Iheanacho who will be out of contract in the summer, and there has been no talks over an extension of his stay at the club.

It was a ninth consecutive win for Celtic, who have timed their best run of form perfectly after being galvanised by O’Neill for the second time this season

Super Eagles Star Defender Power Hull City Back To English Premier League

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Nigeria international defender Semi Ajayi capped a memorable season by playing a big part for Hull City in their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff, which sealed their return to the English Premier League.

Ajayi was on from start to finish in the game, which was decided by a goal in the fourth minute of time added on by Ollie McBurnie.

Hull became the first team since Cardiff in 2010 to finish sixth in the Championship before winning the playoffs. They battled through both legs of the semifinals and the final without conceding a goal.

For Ajayi who is a full fledged senior international for Nigeria he will be back playing in the English Premier League after doing so with West Brom in the 2019/2020 season.

Galatasaray President Reveals “Shock” Details In Signing Osimhen From Napoli

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The president of Galatasaray Dursun Özbek has opened up on some of the details of the permanent signing of Victor Osimhen from Italian Serie A side Napoli in the summer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen was signed permanently after a successful season on loan, but it wasn’t a straight deal according to the president of the Turkish side, who said Napoli acted in a way he has never seen before.

“He had a €75 million release clause, and we started the transfer process accordingly. Napoli requested a guarantee for Osimhen’s club. I’ve never seen anything like that before. They used the General Manager of UniCredit, who is a partner with Koç, as their guide”, he was quoted as saying by Fanatik.

“We paid part of it upfront, and I provided part from my own company. €35 million from my own company… In that sense, it was a very difficult transfer. Osimhen showed with his performance that he deserved this money.”

Reacting to speculation that the Nigerian could leave in the summer as he is the major target of a host of teams, Özbek played it down saying there is no price tag on the 27 year old.

“Now, Osimhen is making a second generation of Galatasaray fans. We’re so glad we signed him… We don’t intend to sell Victor Osimhen! Putting a price on a player you don’t intend to sell is like dressing a footballer before he’s even born…”

Ade Emmanuel

 

Unity Cup- New Super Eagles Striker In “Shock” Over Invitation

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The list of players that will represent Nigeria at the Unity Cup tournament in London, and the friendly games against Poland and Portugal respectively was made public two days ago by the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF).

One name that made both list was that of 23 year old Plymouth Argyle striker Owen Oseni like we exclusively reported one week ago.

Aside making the list for the Unity Cup, he is part of the group that will play Poland and Portugal next month in pre-World Cup friendly matches.

He said he is still finding it hard to believe that he will be a part of the team.

“I know I had an alright season, but to get called up for a country where there’s more than 240 million people and probably 50% want to play for their country was quite a big deal for me so I was really buzzing,” Oseni told BBC Sport.

“The coaches were watching me, obviously they picked up on the form I’d hit just towards the end of the season.”

Oseni found the net three times in Plymouth’s final four games of their League One campaign, where they narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs.

The Irish-born forward ended his first spell in the English Football League with 10 goals from 33 appearances, having joined Plymouth last summer from Scottish side St Mirren after a spell with National League club Gateshead.

Oseni is eligible for Nigeria through his father, while his mother is from Ivory Coast, meaning he could represent the Elephants as well as the Republic of Ireland.

“I’d love to represent any country on a national level,” he says. “It’s massive for me and my career and Nigeria, the Super Eagles, when they came knocking, it was a decision that I couldn’t turn down.

“I didn’t think there was a possibility that that could happen. All I know is to just work hard and many doors could open, but I definitely didn’t think that I would be one of them.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Play For Super Eagles: Bassey Admits Defeat In Convincing Liverpool Winger

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The chances of Liverpool teen sensation Rio Ngumoha playing for the senior national team of Nigeria has taken a big hit after he was summoned by the coach of England to join their training camp for the World Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Born in England to parents of Nigerian descent, the 17 year old missed out on the England main selection to the world cup but was called up to the training camp by head coach Tomas Tuchel alongside Josh King and Alex Scott.

It brings to an end any chance of him playing for Nigeria, despite the efforts of Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey who spoke with him after a league game to consider switching his nationality to Nigeria.

Sources say they are related through their extended families, but his efforts ended in vain with Ngumoha electing to continue with England, where he is a youth international.

Last season he made a total of 18 appearances in the English Premier League with two goals and an assist.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

PSG Complete Signing Of Young Nigerian Defender From Abia State Academy

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French Ligue 1 champions PSG will have completed the signing of young Nigerian defender Precious Michea, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The teenager has been on trial at the club from Abia State-based academy, Supreme Kings, with a view of bagging a deal at the current holders of the French Ligue title and also the UEFA Champions League.

He has been training with the youth team of the French side and even played in the UEFA Youth League. He impressed while on trials with the youth team. His performances was evaluated and a decision was reached.

One of the intermediary involved in the transfer revealed to OwnGoalNigeria.com that an agreement has been reached for his permanent signing on a four year deal.

He will be sent on loan to a team in Belgium to aid his development, rather than remain with the B team per what we exclusively gathered.

He goes into the club books, following in the footsteps of Austine Okocha and Godwin Okpara, two former senior international players of Nigeria who represented the French giants.

Daniel Martins

Unity Cup: Zadok Yohanna Reacts To AIK Denying Him Super Eagles Chance

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The decision of Swedish side AIK not to allow 18 year old Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna to join the senior national team of Nigeria for the Unity Cup, has drawn a reaction from the player.

Yohanna was handed a maiden call up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the friendly tournament in London, but his club declined the invitation on the grounds that he is still recuperating from a thigh injury.

AIK also said sporting reasons also formed why they won’t be allowing the winger team up with the Super Eagles, for the tournament which falls outside the FIFA international window.

The player who has been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid has already picked his preferred destination in the summer transfer window, per what we exclusively gathered.

Reacting the 18 year old went philosophical on his Instagram handle believing that it all happened for good. ” Maybe God wrecked your plans so your plans wouldn’t wreck you”, the Ikon Allah FC graduate poster via his story.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Why I Said Yes To Super Eagles – New Winger Reveals England Snub

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Newly invited Super Eagles winger Femi Azeez has revealed why he decided to pledge his international future to Nigeria, rather than wait for a chance with England.

Azeez had a season to remember with Millwall in the English Championship, and made the team of the season after losing out on winning the best player in the division award.

His tally of 11 goals and 8 assists has also caught the attention of teams in the English Premier League, with Millwall failing to make it to the final of the promotion playoff.

It also caught the attention of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle, who contacted the 24 year old and he accepted to play for Nigeria rather than wait for England.

” It was straightforward. More like what he has been waiting for and it’s a sign to how much he feels about the country. He said yes because he believe in the team and the direction it is moving under Chelle”, a scout of the Malian told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman