As the controversy about the role the doctor of the Super Eagles of Nigeria played in the aftermath of the injury suffered by Victor Osimhen against Sierra Leone rages on, the head of Napoli’s medical team has shed more light on the conduct of the Nigerian team doctor as at when the incident happened.

Osimhen was substituted in the second half for Nigeria’s 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone in an AFCON Qualifiers game after sustaining a shoulder injury. Reports indicate that the situation was aggravated by the first aid treatment given by the Nigerian doctor.

That was quickly dismissed by Osimhen and now the head of the medical team of Napoli Professor Raffaele Canonico has given an update on his recovery as well as the role of the Nigerian team doctor in administering him first aid.

“ Osimhen is doing well and improving day by day. There is no mystery as it is not an exceptional case. At Vila Stuart we had a consultation with Prof Castagna who confirmed the diagnosis of the Nigeria medical staff”, he told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.

“ Let me make it clear that this is the first injury to the shoulder of Osimhen hence it’s not a reoccurrence. It’s the first time he has this type of injury on his right shoulder. He however has suffered same on the left.

“ I congratulate the Nigerian medical team because the speed of their clinical intervention approach was really sudden and of a high level. It was a dislocation that does not require surgery”.

Sparta Rotterdam first choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is not the first choice goalkeeper of the Super Eagles yet according to coach of the team Gernot Rohr.

Okoye has kept goal for the Super Eagles in their last four games with his form at his Dutch side also improving with four clean sheets in seven games this season.

In the Nigeria national team he faces strong competition from the trio of Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa and according to Rohr he has to stay consistent if he want to keep his spot.

“ All the goalkeepers in the team have been first choice for some time and now it’s Okoye’s turn. He has to work really hard to hang on to the position because the others are eager to be there. So it is not his own yet”, Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.

The coach was however quick to praise the rise of the goalkeeper who was playing in the German 4th division around this time last year “ He has done well with his club and that’s what you need to be in our team “.

Rohr also praised Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi for his consistency in the PSL as well as his discipline in the Super Eagles team.

“ He is one player that many should learn from especially the young ones. Aside his consistency at his club he is also a squad player who brings a lot to the team beyond just playing “.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison says the presence of Wilfred Ndidi adds a whole lot to his game after excelling with a brace in the 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Maddison was at his best with Ndidi returning from the injury that has kept him
out for two months. After the game Maddison referenced the return of the 23 year old as part of why he performs at his best.

“We won the ball in midfield. it’s really good to have him back (Wilfred Ndidi), I feel safe when I’m in there with Wilf behind me”, he said.

He also said the passing ability of the Nigerian has improved a lot crediting his hard work as part of why he has improved that part of his game.

“It’s almost like he’s two players, and what Wilf’s improved on a lot, especially since I joined the Club, is his passing ability.

“It’s improved a lot and [he] wins the ball back, and I remember, his first pass being forward to me. [A] forward, along-the-floor, hard pass and that’s something that he’s improved on.”

Everyone loves a grass-to-grace story, the story of the underdog beating the favourites, the story of good over evil, and the story of right over wrong, and it is fair to say there is a bit of sentiment in everyone.

This was the feeling many football fans felt when former Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo joined Manchester United in the January transfer window of last year. With the way his United career is going, he might be forced to venture into online casino.

 The player, who plied his trade in China, was brought in as a stop-gap measure following the injury to Marcus Rashford, and it felt like the perfect deal at the time. United had failed to replace Romelu Lukaku, who had left for Inter Milan, and failed to sort out the signing of Erling Haaland, who has since gone on to be a revelation at Borussia Dortmund.

 His signing was met with derision by some section of the fan base, but here was a boyhood Manchester United fan who got his dream move, would give his all, was a proven Premier League striker, would add some experience to the team, and also help mentor United’s young strikers.

He was signed to the end of the season, and he began like a house of fire, scoring 4 goals in his first 3 starts, but that seems like a lifetime ago now.

He hasn’t started any game since August, and has been the worse for it since the enforced lockdown back in March, that took away his momentum.

Rashford came back from injury in June, was scoring goals, while the likes of Greenwood and Martial weighed in with productive output. While his loan ends in late January, he should be on the move come January 1, either to remain in the Premier League or go back to China. The feel-good factor about his arrival has worn off, and it’s time he also thought of his career, rather than wasting away on the Old Trafford bench.

 At 32, he can still play football for some years, and without the stress and pressure of international commitments, can still play a number of years before his body can no longer take it. The signing of legendary Uruguayan striker, Edinson Cavanihas pushed him further forward and grasping at thin air when it comes to getting minutes.

He has played and scored for his childhood club, but it’s time to focus on himself. He has lived the dream, but it’s time to wake up.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has lined up Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo for a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

Adarabioyo has represented England at several youth levels but not in any competitive game or tournament making his case of wanting to switch allegiance to Nigeria a lot easier than it’s supposed to be.

It usually takes around a year to get clearance from FIFA for English youth internationals willing to switch allegiance but Adarabioyo’s case isn’t expected to be that complicated as it is similar to that of Alex Iwobi.

Iwobi only needed to prove that the games he played for England youth teams were not competitive games before FIFA allowed his switch to go on, same could happen with Adarabioyo.

“ I know Rohr likes him a lot and was delighted when he accepted the chance to play for Nigeria but he still need some form of clearance from FIFA to make it happen. He loves the Super Eagles as well “, a source told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ If all goes as planned he will play for Super Eagles in March. He is one of the four players who will be added to the team to help them in cementing a spot at the AFCON and also start the qualifiers for the World Cup 2018”.

Crystal Palace rave of the moment Ebere Eze says he has no regret over his decision to snub the senior national team of Nigeria in favour of a call up to the U20 team of England.

Eze trained with the senior team of Nigeria in 2017 before making the step up to a first team regular at Championship side QPR, where his performances earned him a call up to the U20 team of England.

48 hours before his invitation to the U20 team of England he was approached by a representative of coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr to be a part of the team for the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.

He turned it down as he was in the frame for a call up to the English junior side. He has since then remained as a part of the team with his recent move to Crystal Palace and performance has further cemented his spot in the team.

Looking back at his decision, the 22 year old said playing for England U20 was the best for him at that point in time and he has no regret making that move so far “ It wasn’t an easy one but it was the best for me back then. I trained with the Nigerian team and I am still open to playing for them at senior level”, he said.

“For now I want to focus on my club career and also make the most of my chance with the English U20 team. The future will tell where I will end up at senior level”.

On this day in 2017, the draws for the 2018 World Cup was made with Nigeria grouped alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.

Shortly after the draws, global football icon Lionel Messi was asked about his opinion on playing against the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the fourth time as a senior international for Argentina.

Messi didn’t mince word when he analyzed the Super Eagles terming them as a high scoring team but one which also allow opponents to play to their strength.

“Nigeria; one day they score four goals, the next one, they leave plenty spaces for you to do anything,” Messi said.

At the World Cup proper Messi scored the opener for Argentina as they secure a 2-1 win over Nigeria in their final group game to qualify for the round of 16 while Nigeria crashed out.

His four goal analogy finally came to pass last month when the Super Eagles lost a four goal lead to draw 4-4 with Sierra Leone in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game in Benin City .

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr have secured the service of four players who will make the senior national team of Nigeria better according to a chieftain of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Nigeria ended the year 2020 without a win with the 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone the worst of it all as they let slip a four goal lead in the AFCON 2021 qualifiers tie.

That result led to talks about sacking Rohr or aiding him with better assistants. A move which is still on but for the main time not much progress has been made since the announcement was made after a meeting between the NFF and Sunday Dare, the Minister for Youth and Sports.

However what is certain is that the coach has secure the services of four new players who he believe will make the team better next year when they resume their games in March.

“ We know the coach has plans to call up four new players next year. Two defenders , one midfielder and a wing forward. There’s also talk about a striker but not much progress has been made on that”, a top executive of the NFF told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Coach of French Ligue 1 side Monaco Niko Kovac has told out of favour Nigeria international Henry Onyekuru that he won’t play for the club again as long as he remains as coach.

Kovac gave Onyekuru a lifeline at the club after his return from a loan spell at Galatasary but it wasn’t long before he dropped the Nigerian from his team owing to poor performances.

The coach has not listed the Nigerian in any of his matchday squad for the past one month and reports from France has it that the Nigerian has been told he can leave the club in January.

Already Galatasary are keen on having him for a third spell on loan with Russian CSKA Moscow also in the race. For now it’s Galatasary’s offer that appeals more to Monaco as it involves a loan deal with obligation to buy permanently.

CSKA Moscow are only keen on having him on a six months loan with no plan of signing him permanently leaving them in tight position as Monaco are keen on trading off the Nigerian they signed from Everton two years ago.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has given his assessment of NPFL players after watching two of the teams representing Nigeria in CAF club tournaments.

Rohr watched on as Plateau United were beaten at home 0-1 by Simba of Tanzania and he was also in Port Hacourt when Rivers United edged Futuro Kings of Equatorial Guinea 3-2 on penalty to progress in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The coach made the trip alongside other staff of the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a bid to identify talents who could possibly team up with the Super Eagles when they resume next year.

However the coach appears to be unimpressed by what he saw in both teams but admitted that the players are talented but lacking in some key areas of their game and also fitness level.

“The home based players need to play regularly and in good conditions, especially infrastructures. I saw two teams representing the country in CAF competitions, there is talent but lack of rhythm because of the long absence of league games,” he told Nations Sport.

“The CHAN coach is in charge of the home-based players and we will work hand in hand like we did in the past.

“I will monitor our Super Eagles players and with our scouting team, watch all the players who can make the team better. I will visit some of them who need support,” Rohr concluded.