Captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa says his planned move to Nigeria Professional Football League side Kano Pillars will boost the image of the league.

Musa is currently locked in talks with the Kano side where he made his mark in 2011 before his sojourn abroad. The idea is to agree a short term loan deal that will see him play from now till the window opens for summer transfers in Europe.

Although the deal is far from sealed with a late interest from Plateau United who are based in the city where the forward was raised, Musa however revealed that he want to play in the NPFL to boost his fitness levels and also put the league on the map.

He said his chat with the governor of Kano State Umar Ganduje and the Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) played a role in his soon to be completed move to Kano Pillars.

“After speaking with the governor and chairman of the LMC I am considering to play some games for Kano pillars,” the former Leicester City player told BBC Sport Africa.

“Anything that improves the image of Nigerian football is something that I strive to embark on and Kano Pillars holds a special place in my heart.

“It’s the team that helped me become the professional footballer I am today, so this is more than just football but a very strong bond”.

Former Most Valuable Player at the U17 World Cup Kelechi Nwakali showed his dead ball ability with a well hit freekick to help his loan side Alcorcon 2-1 win over Castellon.

Nwakali who is on Ilan to the second division side from Laliga outfit Huesca was by far one of the best players on the pitch during the course of the game.

He capped his performance with a goal in the 73rd minute which ended as the winning goal for 20th placed Alcorcon who are battling to stay in the top division.

The goal was his second in 11 games since his move to the Spanish second division side in search of regular run of games which will further aid his development.

Take a bow Nwakali pic.twitter.com/VT3XnV285R

— Mr. Mowiz (@MrMowiz) April 13, 2021

In the wake of the debate surrounding the amount Napoli paid for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, coach of the team Gennaro Gattuso has defended the fee.

Few days ago Bruno Giordano questioned the money spent on the 22 year old which was in excess of €80 million when he moved from Lille to Napoli in the summer.

The price of an attacker depends on the market and the demands the player has,” Giordano told La Gazzetta dello Sport, as per Spazionapoli.

“I don’t know if the Nigerian is worth so much: I know that Haaland at Borussia cost less and so it is logical that the square should question itself given the high expectations surrounding Victor, who is only 22 years old”.

Osimhen looked unbothered by the comments as he scored his fifth goal of what has been a injury hit season as he team ran out 2-0 winners over Sassuolo.

Gattuso was asked after the game about comments made by Giordano and he was quick to dismiss it “ Players don’t determine their market value. Both clubs involved do. So we decided he is worth it that’s why we paid that much for him. It is about us not what others think”, he said.

English Premier League legend Michael Owen has praised the finishing prowess of Nigerian and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

Owen was part of a the television pundit on last weekend game where Iheanacho scored a brace but wasn’t enough to help his team claw their way back from a three goal deficit as they ended up losing the game 2-3.
The brace took his tally to 14 for the season in all competitions with nine coming in his last six games, a form that has earned him a recall to the Nigerian national team and a new deal at Leicester City.

Reacting to the manner which he scored both goals, Owen said it’s clear to see that the forward has surpassed expectations this season and even his own personal target for the season.

“ Many didn’t see him playing this role for Leicester City few months ago. He has surprised all including himself. He makes goal scoring so easy the way he finishes around the box”.

Captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa is presently locked in talks with the Nigeria Professional Football League duo of Kano Pillars and Plateau United.

The 28 year old was almost certain to join Kano Pillars before a late offer from Plateau United made him to pause the move which would have seen him join the team next week.

Plateau United based in the city of Jos where Musa grew up appear to be leading the race for his signature at the moment with Pillars management led by Chairman Surajo Yahaya Jambul not keen on a short term deal for the club legend.

Musa is open to the idea of signing a short term deal with any of the above team to keep himself fit for the Super Eagles next round of games which will fall in between the time he is aiming to get a deal abroad.

He has been clubless since terminating his deal with Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr last year. A move to West Brom didn’t materialize, but it is believed that he still has options but most will happen in the summer hence the talks to join a team in the NPFL on a short term deal.

On loan Chelsea forward Ike Ugbo extended his goal count this season to 16 with a brace for Cercle Brugge in their 3–0 win over OH Leuven in the Belgium league.

Ugbo scored in the 44th and 56th minute of the game to hand his team a 2-0 lead before Jeremy Taravel struck the third goal in the 73rd minute.

Cercle Brugge ended the game with ten men following the sending off of Kevin Hoggas but did manage to hang on for all three points.

It is the fourth time this season that the 22 years old have scored a brace this season with the other coming against KAA Gent, Waasland Beveren, Charleroi and OH Leuven.

The forward confirmed he has already filed papers to switch allegiance to Nigeria from England where he was a part of their U17 and U20 team. He is awaiting the green light from FIFA to complete the switch.

Nigeria international Moses Simon has stepped up his community works with the people of Obagaji Agatu in Agatu Local Goverment Area Of Benue state.

In September 2020, the 25 year old who is famed for his charity works ended the community’s age long stay without portable water to drink by constructing two bore holes.

He has now stepped up his service to the area of road network by constructing the main road which leads into the community and by it a drainage system to help the community battle the effect of flood when the rain sets in.

The Nantes forward also dug wells for a large part of the community to ease the pressure on the two boreholes in the community where his father hails from.

His good works hasn’t gone unnoticed as a street has been named in his honor in the community in gratitude to his concern over their welfare.

Crotone forward Simy Nwankwo continued his red hit form in the Serie A this season with a goal in his side 2-3 loss to Spezia.

Simy scored what many thought will be the the decider of the game with 12 minutes left to play and it could have breathe life into Crotone’s quest to beat the drop and in the process increased his goal count to 16 this season.

However two late goals from Spezia saw them win 3-2 and also keep Crotone rooted to the basement of the Serie A table making them firm candidate to drop to the Serie B next season.

That campaign will likely be without Simy who is already courting interest from several teams notably Genoa and with a year left on his deal after this Crotone will be open to letting him leave.

Juventus defense Giorgio Chiellini has admitted the difficulties he encountered in trying to keep Napoli forward Victor Osimhen in check during their 2-1 win in a rescheduled Serie A game.

Napoli record signing Osimhen who has had a mixed season with injuries and a failed coronavirus test reducing his impact this season still showed what he is made up against Juventus.

Although he failed to get himself on the score sheet, his introduction ten minutes after the break sparked Napoli to live as he led their quest for a way back into the game which sadly ended in futility.

Chiellini who gave away a penalty following a foul on Osimhen late into the game said the Nigerian was a different kind of striker to cope with as he plays with strength, pace and skills.

“ It was a different approach late into the game with Osimhen difficult to handle with his pace, strength and skills. His introduction caused all sorts of problems for us but we coped at the end”, Chiellini said.