18 year old TBC Football Club of Abuja defender Godspower Akekoromowei has struck terms on a youth team deal to join Ligue 1 side Lens, Owngoalnigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.

The defender was snapped up by the team during a youth tournament in Turkey where he starred for the Nigerian team much to the admiration of scouts of the Ligue 1 side.

Godspower will team up with the youth team where he will work with former Nigeria international John Utaka who is now a youth team coach at the club where he was once a superstar in his playing days.

He will start from the youth team from where his progress will be monitored for promotion to the first team. The brain behind the deal Babawo Mohammed told Owngoalnigeria.com that he will team up with the French team next month.

“ He should travel next month and start training with his new teammates. The idea is to have him start from the youth team before making the step up to the main team if he impresses as usual”, he said.

As first reported by Owngoalnigeria.com Fulham defender Tosin Adarabiyio has committed his immediate international future to England ahead of Nigeria.

The defender was linked with a switch of allegiance to Nigeria after posting several stuff on social media in relation to Nigeria including posing in a Nigerian jersey.

That led to talks of his interest in playing for Nigeria but the 23 year old has now cleared the air on his international future declaring his intention to fight for a spot in the English squad for the Euros.

“We know it’s the Euros this summer so hopefully if I keep on doing well, who knows, I could be looking to push myself into that squad,” he told The Telegraph.

“Obviously there are a lot of good players to choose from but if I do what I can do best there is a chance.”

Coach of Scottish side Rangers Steven Gerrard has once again given his opinion about Nigeria international Joe Aribo after his recent run of excellent performances for the club.

Five days ago, Gerrard was full of praises for the 26 year old terming him as a player who can do whatever he wants in several roles.

“I think he took his time returning from that in terms of getting his power, strength and bursts of energy that he plays with back.

“He had an illness on the back of that injury so it became a three month absence and that always takes time to get back up to speed.

“But now you see the real Aribo. Power, strength, bursts from midfield and skills – and now letting shots go because he’s got the quality. It was a fantastic strike and he’s back for real now.

Yesterday after their 5-2 win over Antwerp in the Europa League which sealed their passage on a 9-5 aggregate score, the coach praised the effort of Aribo while speaking on the performance of his team.

“ He (Aribo) can do no wrong at the moment with the way he is playing. We are lucky to have him here so too his national team as he has a great future ahead of him”, he said.

Manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola says the senior national team of Nigeria has what it takes to be one of the surprise team at international level when the games resume next month.

The coach was asked about the international team outside Europe with the ability to spring surprise in international football tournament and he picked Nigeria among Senegal, Algeria and Ivory Coast in Africa.

“ We see some African teams like Algeria and Senegal as serious threat then Nigeria is a very exciting team to watch when they play at their potential. They are about some of the teams you expect to spring a surprise”, he said.

His comments will no doubt place more pressure on coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr whose five year tenure as coach has divided opinions among football faithfuls in Nigeria.

Many feel the team has under achieved due to the potentials in the team while another section believe they are on the path to creating something special in the next few years.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have snapped up three players from Abuja based Nigeria football Academy TBC Football Club, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The club spotted and decided to sign the trio namely Lucky Ezeh, Jerry Paul and Abubakar Ahmed during a youth tournament in Turkey where they turned out for TBC Football Club.

Owngoalnigeria.com exclusively gathered that they will start from the U19s of the team from where their progress will be monitored for possible promotion to the first team.

Ahmed is an attacking midfielder who has an eye for a pass and can also score goals while Ezeh is a winger who is comfortable on either flanks even though he played as a right winger in the games that convinced the team to sign him.

Paul is a ball playing central defender who impressed the Atletico Madrid watching team with his calmness in possession and ability to play from the back as his assuredness on the ball.

Popular Jos based football agent Babawo Mohammed brokered the deal for the trio who were picked from his recently opened football academy in Abuja.

Victor Osimhen is facing the possibility of missing out on Super Eagles squad for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as he continue to recover from a head injury.

Osimhen landed awkwardly on his head during Napoli 2-4 loss to Atalanta and was subsequently rushed to the hospital where he has been discharged after responding to treatment.

However he will miss the next two weeks of competitive football in line with the guidelines for players who suffer head injury or concussion. His expected absence has sparked talks about a possible exclusion from the Super Eagles squad.

Nigeria will take on Benin Republic and later Lesotho respectively next month looking for one point to secure a spot at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations but they might be without their top scorer in the qualifiers Osimhen.

Rohr in a chat with the BBC confirmed he held talks with the 21 year old in regards to naming him in his squad for the games and said it depends on what the doctors say in the coming days.

BBC quoted Rohr as saying: “I spoke to Victor, he told me he’s physically and mentally okay now but must wait for the club doctors.

“My thoughts are with him because he’s had some difficult start in Italy, but he’s a strong boy and he must wait for the doctors to clear him to play again.

“He’s an important player for us and we’ll see how it goes at his club first, because his well-being is very important for everyone.”

Coach is the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has defended his decision to approach Bayern Munich teen sensation Jamal Musiala over playing for Nigeria.

Rohr met with the 17 year old after last season UEFA Champions League final match win over PSG where he told him
how much he will want him to play for Nigeria.

Musiala was a youth international for England back then but he has now pledged his international future to Germany, the country where he was given birth to and also that of his mother.

The Nigerian coach in a chat with Owngoalnigeria.com said it’s normal to push for a talent when you spot it early saying he has no regret over his actions and wish Musiala well with the German national team.

“ Approaching a player can work in both ways. Sometimes you’re successful while some other times it won’t work. On Musiala I can only wish him the best with Germany. He is a huge talent and will improve any team that was why we wanted him as well”, the coach said.

A week after putting up a fantastic display for FC Porto in their 2-1 win over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, Nigeria international left back Zaidu Sanusi speaks with Owngoalnigeria.com on the game and more.

Faced against one of the greatest footballer in world football Cristiano Ronaldo, the Kebbi state indigene said it was always about paying attention to details.

Below is his take on the issues raised during the course of the interview.

Super Eagles AFCON Qualifiers:

We need one point from two games to qualify but it doesn’t mean we should play for a point. The idea is to approach the game with all the seriousness it deserves and make a statement by picking the maximum points from both games. I think we can.

Settling Down At FC Porto

It was one of the easiest phase I have had in my life. Kudos to the coaches, players and everyone associated with the club including the fans. Now I am playing regularly and the idea is to maintain it to help the team reach their targets for the season.

Pressure Of Playing For FC Porto

The whole thing is entirely new to me but the experience players in the team are helping me to overcome it. At Porto you’re expected to win every domestic game and fight for a win in all continental games because they are a big team here. The level of pressure brings out the best in you all the time.

Closest Friend At Porto

I am not the type who likes to go out a lot so I most times keep my relationship on the pitch or training ground. I’m very close with the entire team but with the back four we share a special bond on and off the pitch.

Facing Cristiano Ronaldo

The task of keeping the best footballer in the world in check got to me. I grew into the game as it progresses and prior to the game my coach told me a lot about how to approach Ronaldo. Those details helped me in keeping him away from goal. He doesn’t need too much chance to score, so don’t even let him have it. It worked for me that day.

Isreal based Nigerian goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye says all he wants is a chance to prove his worth with the senior national team of Nigeria.

Adebayo is rated as the best goalkeeper in the Israeli second division where his team Hapoel Katamon are currently leading the rest on 41 points. One more than their closest challengers Hapoel Nazareth IIIit In second position.

20 year old Adebayo who was a part of the 2017 Nigeria U17 team has played a huge role in their quest for promotion to the Isreali top flight with 13 clean sheets in the 19 games he has kept goal.

So far he has conceded just nine goals making him the best in terms of clean sheets in the division where he made his debut last season after making the step up from the U19 of same team.

While speaking on his chances with the senior national team of Nigeria he said all he wants is a chance to fight for a shirt with the rest players in camp even though he knows they are also very good goalkeepers in their own right.

“ I’m not asking for too much. I want a chance to slug it out with the rest goalkeepers in the Super Eagles. With all due respect we have very good and young goalkeepers in the team now but I know what I can do if given the chance”, he told told Owngoalnigeria in an interview from his base in Israel.

“ I know people will say I am playing in the second division in Isreal but when you look at the low numbers of African goalkeepers in Europe you will understand how difficult it is for us to breakthrough even with our talents. You just have to start from somewhere”, he explained.

“ My earnest desire is to be a part of the Super Eagles team this year and by the grace of God it come to pass. Even if I have to beg. Infact I am begging now (laughs)”.

Former Hapoel Be’er Sheva forward Anthony Nwakaeme says he wasn’t given the chance to make his mark in the Super Eagles after failing to impress in his debut for the team.

31 year old Nwakaeme who now plays in Turkey for Trabzonspor make this known in an interview with Kwese TV while speaking on his time with the senior national team of Nigeria.

As at when he made his debut for Nigeria he was coming from the Israeli top division league where he led his team Hapoel Be’er Sheva to back to back league titles and also finished as top scorer and best player in the league.

He was handed his debut in the dead rubber World Cup qualifiers game against Algeria which ended in a 1-1 draw but was later awarded as a 3-0 win to Algeria after it was discovered that Nigeria fielded an ineligible player in Shehu Abdullahi.

Nwakaeme started in attack for Nigeria alongside the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi but he only lasted 71 minutes with Henry Onyekuru replacing him as he struggled to make his mark.

Explaining his struggle in the game, he admitted that he didn’t perform as expected but still believe he would have been given another chance with the team if he was playing in Spain or England.

He said the fact that he was playing in Isreal around that time made the coach to snub him for future games after his not too good performance in his debut game . He also said he didn’t have anybody to push his case for him to be given another chance.

“Because maybe they fell like he is in Israel. Okay when he come to the National team he play one game he didn’t do too well. Nobody want to invite you again. But imagine if I play in England or in Spain. Even after that game they will want to see me again. They want to play me again, but because I play in Israel and I have nobody to push me in the national team to explain to the people you need to give this guy a chance, you need to let him show himself because there are lot of players in the national team”, he told Kwese TV.

“They are lot of players in the national team they call them more than one time is not like all the time they call them they play well but the still give them chance. Football is all about chance to me. Like the first time I came to Be’er Sheva they wanted to take me back they said that this is a waste of money to them is not what they saw before.

“Football is also time you know. Some people they just want you to come and start the magic. The magic does not work like that you need to let the player know that he belong because me I am the type of player who want to know that he belong in this place. I don’t want to have the fear of today try will put me out or they will put me in and that was what happened with the Super Eagles but all the same who can I blame.

“At the end of the game it was they put in the game. I was the one that played, I was the one that didn’t get it right the way they want it but I think they didn’t call me again because I was playing in Isreal. If I was playing in Spain or England they would have called me again.