French-Nigerian midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu showed why he is so highly rated with a composed performance in a 1-1 draw against PSG in his first start in Ligue.

The 17 year old who has been at the club since the age of 9 was handed a start in the absence of Steven Nzonzi and Eduardo Camavinga who were both suspended for the game.

He lasted 61 minute and for the time he was on the pitch he didn’t look out of place with nice and well timed interceptions and faultless distribution of the ball when in possession.

Described by the technical director of Rennes Florian Maurice as a box to box midfielder he is regarded as one of the best prospect at the club and he is set for a big breakthrough next season.

Born in France to Nigerian parents in France, he signed his first professional deal in July at the age of 16 years, three months and four days. He thus become the second youngest player in the history of the club to sign professional contract.

Camavinga still holds the record of the youngest player to sign a professional deal at the club when he penned for the first time at the age of 16 years, one month and four days.

An extended run in the first team will no doubt trigger a scramble for his service at international level between Nigeria and France. He has already played for France at U17 level.

Villarreal and Nigeria wing sensation Samuel Chukwueze won’t play any part when his team take on Manchester United in the final of the Europa League.

Chukwueze was injured in the second leg semi final clash against Arsenal. Sources at Villarreal revealed he suffered a harmstring injury which will see him miss the May 26 final match in Gdańsk.

The 21 year old Nigerian has been ever present for Villarreal in the Europa League with one goal and four assists in 11 games. His absence will no doubt affect the chances of the team led by former Arsenal, PSG and Sevilla boss Unai Emery.

Emery is bidding to win the Europa League for the fourth time as a coach against a Manchester United team whose coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eyeing his first piece of silverware at the club.

Former Ajax wing wizard Tijjani Babangida says Nantes and Super Eagles winger Moses Simon is at the moment the best on the flanks for the Super Eagles.

Babangida who was in his days rated as one of the finest winger while in his prime made this known after Simon’s assist for Nantes yesterday in their 3-0 win over Bordeaux.

Simon now has ten goals contributions which include six goals and four assists, his form the past two seasons has made Babangida to tag him as the best Nigerian winger at the moment.

“ Simon is a cultured winger, who defends, assist and also score goals. He is a blend of old school winger style of tracking back and a modern day winger in terms of goal scoring. Assist has always been the main role for wingers”, Babangida told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ He is presently the best winger in the Super Eagles with all due respect to the others. What he has done in France the last seasons is remarkable. That’s a high level of consistency”.

The new coach of CSKA Moscow Ivica Olic says Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke is on the right path towards fulfilling the promise that made them splash big on him in the summer.

23 year old Ejuke has experienced an upturn in his form since the appointment of the Croatian as coach and yesterday he showed his mettle with a goal in their 3-1 win over Krasnodar.

The Nigerian drew his team level in the 32nd minute, a goal which helped them build momentum and in the end steered them to a win after the setback of drawing 1-1 with UFA last weekend.

Speaking after the game , Olic said the winger who was signed for around €12 million is still a work in progress as he has been working extra session with him to bring out his best.

I say from the first day that this player knows how to make a difference on the field. When he picks up speed and walks behind his back, he is the strongest and best”, the coach said.

“When the ball is at your feet, it is not as strong. From the first training sessions, we worked on running, striking, and serving. But this is a long process. It can be seen that he began to look better on the field”.

On loan Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has been voted the player of the month in Spanish second division following his fine performance for Alcorcon in the month under review.

Nwakali joined Alcorcon in January as he bid to get more game time to aid his development following his failure to stamp his authority in the Huesca team in the La Liga.

He has so far impressed with four goals in 14 games with three coming in four games last month and that has earned him the honour of player of the month.

At Alcorcon, he is seen as the leader of the team who were in the drop zone before the signing of the Nigerian. They are now 16th on the log with Nwakali pivotal in their rise up the table.

After the season he will have a year left in his deal with Huesca who have also been relegated from the La Liga. For now there have been no talks over an extension of his stay at the club he joined in 2019 on a free transfer from Arsenal.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says the team will play two friendly games in June following the postponement of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers that should have been played within that period.

Nigeria would have taken on Liberia on the 6th of June before taking on Central Africa Republic (CAR) in three days later but the games were last week postponed by CAF.

In order not to leave the players redundant in an important international window before the qualifiers begins in September, Rohr says plans are underway to play two friendly games “ We hope to play two friendly games in June”, the coach told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Sources at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed that Senegal is one of the teams they are in talks with at the moment. They will most likely play the game in Austria.

Victor Osimhen scored twice to help Napoli ease to a 4-1 win over Spezia to take his goal count in the Serie A to ten this season including five goals in his last four games.

Osimhen showed good turn of pace to beat his marker before curving his first but Napoli’s second of the game to put them 2-0 up with 23rd minute played. One minute to the half time break, he made a similar kind of run behind the Spezia defence to grab his second goal of the game.

Tried as he could to grab a hattrick but to no avail, he will however be delighted that his team came out with all three points and personally for him he appears to be back to his best.

Coach of Napoli, Gennaro Gattuso didn’t hide his joy after the game praising the 22 year old Nigerian as a striker who thrives on chaos in the opposition half.

” We are seeing him grow in confidence and ability. He brings chaos to the opposition box and he is still improving on certain aspect. A big future awaits him”, the coach said.

Nantes won third straight game for the first time this season by beating fellow relegation candidates Bordeaux 3-0. A win which help boost their chances of survival.

Kalifa Coulibaly headed Nantes in front in the 19th minute. A score they held going into the half time break but doubled it after the restart from the spot.

Randal Kolo Muani was fouled in the box and Imran Louza doubled the lead for the home side by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot in the 51st minute.

With Bordeaux pushing to reduce the tally to spark a late rally, it was Nantes who got the all important third goal with Nigeria international Moses Simon doing all of the job for Kolo Muani to score.

Simon now has ten goals contribution this season by virtue of six goals and four assists as 18th placed Nantes continue their quest to remain in the Ligue 1.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has revealed that former Nigeria international goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama played a huge role in his development as a goalkeeper.

Mendy who is making his mark at Chelsea with his performances part of the reason why they are still in the running to finish in the top four and more importantly they are through to the final of the UEFA Champions League.

The 29 year old who didn’t turn professional until the age of 24 said the former captain of the Super Eagles was back then among the few African goalkeepers who were regular in Europe, making him believe in himself.

Enyeama was first choice of Lille for four straight seasons and according to Mendy that made him believe in himself at a point when he was already having a second thought about his career.

“ You get to a point when you are not sure if you have made the right career choice. I was at that point but seeing a fellow African like Enyeama doing it regularly at a the top level in Ligue 1 got me moving”, Mendy said in an interview on his amazing time so far with Chelsea.

Former Italian football player Beppe Mascara says Victor Osimhen has what it takes to be one of the best strikers in the history of football if he maintains his progress at Napoli.

Osimhen has hit a purple patch lately with five goals in his last seven games leading to talks of the 22 year old delivering on the potential that made Napoli splash €70 million to sign him from Lille.

Mascara who played for Napoli from 2011-2012 has likened the forward to one of his former teammate in Edinson Cavani who is largely seen as one of the best forwards in world football.

He said Cavani who is now at Manchester United use to play with all that he has in his locker, something he sees in Osimhen and that trait might fire him to the top in the nearest future “ I am sure and confident that Osimhen will become one of the strongest strikers around”, he told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.

“ I played with Cavani and I must say that he is an extraterrestrial kind of player as he prepares for the whole week in an incredible way. He is really committed just same thing Osimhen is showing”.