My dream is to win with 4 or 5 goals and have 80% possession, that is the perfection I dream of. But this is the AFCON…Mozambique is a great team, but they have a lot of things to improve on, just like us, and that’s why we work hard during our training.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the completion of the nationality switch of Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who is now eligible to play for the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Born in England to parents of Nigerian descent, the 24 year old applied to FIFA to switch his international allegiance after holding talks with head coach Eric Chelle.

FIFA approved his switch, and he will be available for the team as soon as their campaign at their campaign at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations is over.

“The NFF is always excited to have another good player committing to Nigeria and providing an option in a particular position,” NFF Director of Communications Dr. Ademola Olajire told ESPN.

“Arthur Okonkwo is a prospect and we believe the technical crew is delighted to have another option in the goalkeeping department.”

Meanwhile a source at the NFF said they have no idea on the future of Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who requested to be left out of the team after failing to get assurances that he will be the first choice at the tournament.

” Okoye’s future is in the hands of the coach. As a football body we can’t dictate to the coach who to speak, but you can’t deny that Chelle is obviously disappointed with Okoye. He will decide”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has defended his decision to bar journalists from the camp of the team for three days, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

There was a huge outcry in the Nigerian media with the decision of the coach not to allow journalists access to the players, despite the fact that the team had a five days window.

Speaking ahead or tomorrow’s game, Chelle said a plan on how to interact with the media was taken alongside the media officer of the team before the start of the tournament.

He said they agreed to allow a two days window for the media to have access to the players. A move which he said is to reduce distractions during the course of the tournament.

Panathinaikos striker Cyriel Dessers have been granted permission to leave the Super Eagles camp for the Africa Cup of Nations by head coach Eric Chelle, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Dessers picked up a thigh injury which kept him out of the team’s final group game against Uganda , and recent scan revealed that he will miss the rest of the tournament.

He has now been granted permission to leave the camp of the team for proper treatment at his club base in Greece according to a statement made public by the official media channel of the team.

The statement also confirmed that defender Ryan Alebiosu sat out today’s training as he continue his recovery from a deep cut sustained in the game against Uganda.

Meanwhile midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi who was a second half substitute in the last group game, also sat out the session due to cold as the team step up their preparation for Monday’s round of 16 game against Mozambique.

English Premier League giants Liverpool have completed the signing of 17 year old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austrian side Austria Vienna, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Born to parents of Nigerian descent in Austria. The 17-year-old was part of the Austria team who reached the Under-17 World Cup final in Qatar last November, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Portugal.

He signed a three-year professional contract last June and has been named on the bench for the first team this season, although he is yet to make his Austrian Bundesliga debut.

Reports say he has agreed all terms of the deal with a transfer fee already in place for him to move in the summer of 2026.

Ndukwe is expected to join Rob Page’s under-21 development squad but is seen as having the potential to step up to the senior team. He was identified by Liverpool’s director of global talent, Matt Newberry, who took on the role a year ago after previously leading academy recruitment and the club’s loans and pathways program.

Bayern Munich have turned down the chance to sign Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window according to various reports in Germany, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen joined Turkish side Galatasaray on a permanent deal from Italian side Napoli, but with an option of leaving the club in the event that an offer from a team in Europe’s top league come calling.

A fee was set among all parties involved, so an not to encounter any obstacle in the event that a bid is lodged for his signing, his representative have already started the process of sounding out clubs on his availability.

According to TZ München’s Philipp Kessler, the Nigerian striker was offered to the German side as a potential signing before the close to the January transfer window, but Bayern boss Max Eberl, however, quickly made it clear to Osimhen’s intermediary that Bayern currently have no need for him.

So far this season, the 27-year-old who is presently at the AFCON with Nigeria, where they are through to the round of 16 has scored 12 goals in 16 games across all competitions for Galatasaray.

Daniel Martins

Former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Sunday Oliseh says Moses Simon is playing like a classic Nigerian winger with his performance so far at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Simon has been used was a substitute in the team’s first two games of the tournament, before making his first start against Uganda in the final group game which the team won 3-1.

Despite not picking up an assist or scoring he earned praises from Oliseh, who was on commentary duty during the game that was Nigeria’s last before the round of 16.

” He (Simon) is someone who has the ability to go past his marker with ease and you can smell danger when he is on the ball. The fact that he also tracks back to help out in defence makes him a classic Nigerian winger”, Oliseh said.

” Our (Nigeria) play is based on explosive wingers with ability to go past their markers bringing excitement to the fans. That’s what our football is all about and that’s what Simon is showing at the tournament”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has singled out Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru for praises after his performance for the Nigerian team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Dele-Bashiru bagged an assist in the final group game which Nigeria won 3-1 against Uganda to finish with maximum points from three games and top of their group.

They will take on Mozambique in the round of 16 on Monday, and while speaking on the win over Uganda Mikel said the 24 year old put up a typical number 10 performance.

” You have to look at how well he played by acting as the link between the defence and attack. That’s a typical number 10 performance which will make any coach proud”, Mikel said while on set for beIN sports.

It was his first start in the tournament, and Mikel says he has done enough to put himself in the plans of the coach heading into the knock out round of the tournament.

” It’s the kind of performance that send a message to your manager that you are available and can be relied on. I think that is a good headache for any coach especially in this crucial stage of the tournament”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Enyimba defender Chibuike Nwaiwu has been linked with a sensational move to French Ligue 1 giants PSG after a sensational year at Austrian side Wolfsberger FC, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Signed in September 2024 from Enyimba, the 22 year old who is valued at €7 million is seen as one of the options by the French side who are looking to bring in new defenders with doubts over the future of the trio of Lucas Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez and Marquinhos.

PSG sees the Nigerian as a future prospect who could grown into a force in defence like Willian Pacho who was largely unknown when he was signed in 2024. They are however not the only team interested in Nwaiwu.

According to Transferfeed, PSG face stiff competition for his service from German side Bayer Leverkusen and fellow Ligue 1 side Marseille, who have also sent scouts to keep tabs on the defender who can also play in midfield.

Daniel Martins

New Super Eagles defender Ryan Alebiosu is a subject of interest from English Premier League side Everton heading into the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Alebiosu who made his debut for the senior national team of Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in their 3-1 win over Uganda, has impressed mightily for Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship.

Reports in England say Everton are not the only team who have noticed the rising profile of the 24 year old, with German side Wolfsburg among his admirers just like Italian side Sassuolo.

Trained at Arsenal, he joined Blackburn from Belgian side KV Kortrijk on a three-year deal in the summer. A move that has seen him grow in leap and bounds earning him international recognition with Nigeria.

He’s made 20 appearances in the Championship this season, scoring once for the team who are currently 20th in the Championship, three points clear of the relegation places, following a 2-0 home defeat to Wrexham on Thursday.

Daniel Martins