Coach of the U20 team of Nigeria Ladan Bosso says his team will give Nigerians the kind of football they love to see from their national teams.

Bosso has been training with this team in preparation for the WAFU B qualifiers but the tournament has been postponed with host Togo pulling out due to the increase number of coronavirus in the country.

Despite the postponement, the Nigerian team has been playing series of friendly games at their camp in Abuja as Bosso is keen on drilling his ideas into the players.

“ We started preparations late so this postponement can be seen as a blessing in disguise for us. The results from the friendly games has been fine but we know it’s a different thing entirely when the team play games with pressure to win”, Bosso told Owngoalnigeria.

“ My idea is to play entertaining brand of football with goals to win games. That’s how my team plays because Nigerians like it that way. I’m trying to use the time I have to sink my ideas into the players”.

Ahmed Saheed who writes for Al Ahly blog site All About The Reds has taken a swipe at coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr over the non Invitation of Junior Ajayi to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Since joining Al Ahly in 2016, Ajayi has remained a mainstay in the set up of Al Ahly, a team rated as one of the best in the African continent judging by their strength in the continent’s football tournaments.

Although Al Ahly hasn’t won the CAF Champions League since Ajayi joined the team but he has so far picked up four league titles, two Super Cup and one FA Cup.

Speaking on Ajayi, Saheed said Rohr hasn’t been fair to the 24 year old “ I see Nigeria call players from Czech Republic, Denmark and even Bulgaria for same position like Ajayi who plays in a league rated higher. How is that fair”, he said.

“ For Ajayi to keep his post at Al Ahly since 2016 says a lot about his importance to the team. The competition for spot in Al Ahly is fierce but various managers have stuck with him.

“ It’s a proven fact that no coach handing an African team will snub a regular for Al Ahly. Your coach is not fair to Ajayi. Some games like the ones against Sierra Leone, why not hand Ajayi a chance he has earned it but the coach isn’t fair”.

Nigeria is a footballing powerhouse in Africa, winning the Africa Cup of Nations three times and representing the continent several times in the FIFA World Cup. It is not a coincidence that the nation has several top-class players who ply their trade in top European Leagues. 

This article explores the best talents in Nigeria. More specifically, we cover their career path and style of play. 

Alex Iwobi

Alex Iwobi was born in May 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria. The 24-year-old started his career at Arsenal, rising through the academy’s ranks to the first team. He stayed at the London-based club for 15 years before moving to Everton in August 2019.

At Arsenal, Iwobi played mostly as an attacking midfielder. Between 2015 and 2019, he made 100 appearances for the club and scored 11 goals. 

From Arsenal to Everton means that upto now Iwobi has played only in the English Premier league, which is the best league in the world. The league is also one of most betted leagues in the world. Talking about betting, you can actually get tips on betting odds here or other similar sites.

Although he is eligible to play for England, Iwobi chose to represent his country. He played for Nigeria in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Kelechi Iheanacho is a left-footer striker who plays for Leicester City and the Nigerian National Team. He was born in October 1996 in Imo, Nigeria. Before moving to Leicester, he played for and won multiple titles with Manchester City.

Iheanacho began his career in his early teens before joining the Manchester City Youth Academy. He would go on to join the senior team, where he mostly played second fiddle to Sergio Agüero. 

Another highlight of Iheanacho’s career came when he scored against Bournemouth, making him one of the few players to reach 10 Premier League goals before turning 20. Other notable names in this list are Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, and Marcus Rashford.

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen plays for Napoli and the Nigerian National Team. He is known for his composure and clinical finishing and is widely regarded as one of the most promising African footballers. 

Osimhen started his career at the Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos. Following his impressive performance in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Victor earned a pre-contract with German club VfL Wolfsburg. The contract stipulated that he would join the German club in January 2017.

Things didn’t work out at Wolfsburg, prompting Osimhen to join Charleroi on loan, where he scored 20 goals in 36 appearances. Victor’s breakthrough came at Lille, where he scored 13 league goals in 25 matches. He also found the net in a UEFA Champions League match against Chelsea, which was his first in the competition.

On 31 July 2020, Napoli signed Osimhen for a reported fee of €70 million, making him the most expensive African player to date.

Wilfred Ndidi

Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi is a defensive midfielder who plays for Leicester City and the Nigerian National Team. His standout qualities are tackling and powerful long-range shots. 

Ndidi started his club career at Genk in the Belgian Pro League. He signed for Leicester in January 2017, making his debut in a 2-1 win against Everton. Later in December, Ndidi got sent off the first time in his career in a 3-0 loss against Crystal Palace.

Because of his versatility, Ndidi can also play as a central defender. He suffered an adductor injury in late September and is expected to return in early January.

Samuel Chukwueze

Born in Abia State, Nigeria, Samuel Chukwueze began his career at the Diamond Football Academy before joining the prolific youth setup at Villarreal CF. Because of his speed and agile dribbling, he is often compared to Arjen Robben.

After a year in the academy, Chukwueze made his first team debut in September 2018, in a UEFA Europa League match against Rangers FC. A month later, he started a league game against Levante and played for 90 minutes.

In November 2018, Chukwueze played his first game for the Nigerian National Team. He scored his first goal for Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-final match against South Africa.

Final Words

We might just have covered a few because the list is long, but at least you now know about these young Nigerian talents. You know the facts about their careers and style of play.

On loan RB Leipzig wing forward Ademola Lookman is unhappy with the slow pace of his switch of allegiance process from England to Nigeria.

The former England youth international has already started the process of his switch of allegiance from England but it’s yet to be completed.

At Fulham he has so far impressed mightily with the national team of Nigeria the other team he want to be a part of in order to play at the next World Cup in Qatar.

“ He is bitter that’s the word. The entire process is too slow. It’s a year now and we are yet to get over the line with it. He is eager to start his senior international career but the slow process of the entire thing has left him unhappy”, a representative of the player told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“The process is different in England because all the FA’s under the supervision of the United Kingdom have to sign the papers. From the last time we checked two out of the five are yet to sign because they haven’t received it yet”.

Aside Lookman, Reading midfielder Ovie Ejaria is also waiting for the green light from FIFA to complete his switch of allegiance from England to Nigeria.

Newly capped Nigeria international defender Zaidu Sanusi says playing in the UEFA Champions League still feels unreal to him considering where he was 18 months ago.

Zaidu was playing for Mirandes in the Portuguese third division before he was snapped up by top division side Santa Clara where he impressed and earned a move to FC Porto.

At Porto he has beaten off all comers to be the first choice left back of the team and so far bar when he was suspended last week he has played in all of the games they have played this season.

In the UEFA Champions League , he has played in their first two games against Manchester City and Olympiakos respectively and he is set to play later tonight against Shakhtar Donetsk.

“ My dream has always been to play in it like every other footballer but I never expected it to come so soon. I pinch myself when the anthem comes on. I still can’t believe I’m playing in it. It’s like a dream”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

After three test games and a week of training the Nigeria U20 team is getting set to take part in the WAFU B Championship in Togo.

The tournament will serve as a qualifier for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations with Nigeria in the same group with arch rivals Ghana and Ivory Coast for the tournament which starts on the 18th of November.

Owngoalnigeria.com takes a look at the five players who have suffered been very impressive in the camp of the team base on their performance in training and also in the test games.

Nenrot Silas – Top of the pack so far. Plays with a pace that is similar to Ahmed Musa in his prime. Decisive in front of goal and also very comfortable with the ball at his feet even in tight situations. Looks quite a player with huge potentials to be a top star.

Imo Obot : A left full back who has so far shown that he can defend and attack at almost same level. Quick, strong and assured in tackles. He can easily pass as the revelation of the team in defence.

Hassan Hussaini – A member of the last Nigeria U17 team to the WAFU B Championship where they emerged as champions. A failed MRI test cost him a spot in the team for the World Cup while injury ruled him out of the U20 AFCON. His confidence on the ball has won many over particularly the way he gets into goal scoring positions.

Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu – The early candidate to captain the team. He has so far bossed training sessions and games operating as a right back. A part of the last U20 team to the World Youth Championship he looks a very much improved player this time around.

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemeni – Caught the eyes of our men on the ground with a brace in the 3-0 win over Triple 44 FC of Ibadan. He took his goals with the calmness of a seasoned striker and his overall play was also very impressive. One to put an eye on.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has categorically deny making any formal approach to PSV teen wonder Noni Madueke to switch allegiance to Nigeria from England.

Reports from England says the NFF have approached the 18 year old who has played for England at various youth levels ranging from U15 to U18 to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

The left footed winger who can also play in the midfield has impressed for PSV this season with four goals and three assists in seven league games but the NFF say no approach has been made to him.

“ No. we are aware of his case through someone who works with his agency but at no point have we asked him to dump England for Nigeria. We have five players waiting on FIFA to approve their switch and he is not among”, a chieftain of the NFF told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ When the news broke out, I made contact with the technical crew and they said the same thing that his name was brandied to them by a representative of the player but no formal approach has been made”.

Former captain of Germany U20 team Kevin Akpoguma says he is playing for Nigeria at a Rome ever he believe is ripe for him in his career.

Akpoguma was only recently given the all clear by FIFA to play for Nigeria and he was immediately played in the friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia respectively.

Famed for turning down three different approach from Nigeria in the past, the 25 year old said his main focus back then was his club career which wasn’t settled back then.

After struggling to fit into the team of Hoffenheim in previous seasons, he has found his range this time out as he has played in all of their six games in the Bundesliga and also in the Europa League.

According to Akpoguma he is now at a stage where his focus is on the next game which wasn’t the case in previous seasons where he was pushing to be given a chance to play.

“ I can say I am enjoying my football better now than before. The right time for me to play international football which I did recently for Nigeria. In the past I was more concerned with if I will play in the next game but now I go into the week thinking about the next game”.

Coach of Dutch Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam has backed Maduka Okoye following the four goals he conceded as his team slump to a 1-4 loss to Heerenveen.

Henk Fraser handed Okoye his first professional game , three days after he impressed in the Dutch Cup against ADao Den Haag. The former Fortuna Düsseldorf shot stopper ended up conceding four goals.

Despite making three very good saves in the game, Okoye who can’t be faulted for any of the four goals conceded by the team should have done better with his pass from the back that led to the third goal.

However it’s not the first time that the team has shipped in four goals this season and according to Fraser, it’s not right to blame it on Okoye who was playing his first game for the team.

“ It’s the third time we are conceding four times in a league game this season so it will be harsh to blame a goalkeeper who has only kept goal in one. The entire structure has to be looked at critically and not the goalkeeper”, the coach said.

Matthew Yakubu has played down his exclusion from the list of goalkeepers called up by coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr for the back to back AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Sierra Leone.

Rohr spoke highly of the SKF Sered shot stopper during the pre match conference ahead of the two friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia respectively. Rohr went as far as saying he will give him a run out in one of the games but later backtracked.

Yakubu who has kept more games than any other Nigerian goalkeeper in Europe this season was tipped to keep his spot in the team but that wasn’t the case when the list was released last week.

“ My time will come hence I’m not bothered. I am still very young with lot of years in front of me. All I have to do is to continue doing well for my team and the rest will take care of itself”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ I wish I can help the team with my presence but even at that I will cheer them from my position to get the best result that will make Nigerians proud in the games”.