Sparta Rotterdam shot stopper Maduka Okoye has been handed the position of first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria, Owngoalnigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.

Okoye has impressed in the three games he has kept goal for the senior national team of Nigeria most recently the two friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia respectively.

Coach of the team Gernot Rohr has doubts of returning Francis Uzoho as first choice following his return from a long term injury. He sees the goalkeeper as one who requires constant level of competitive games to be at his best.

Getting regular run of games between now and November when the team will regroup looks impossible for now hence Okoye will retain his spot as first choice for the back to back AFCON 2019 qualifiers games against Sierra Leone.

SKF Sered shot stopper Matthew Yakubu will keep his spot in the team for the AFCON qualifiers despite Rohr backtracking on his promise to give him a chance in one of the two friendly games played last week.

The senior national team of Nigeria have dropped to 4th in Africa in the men’s world ranking by FIFA after losing to Algeria 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Tunisia In friendly games during the international break.

Algeria will move up to 31st in the world and third in Africa behind Senegal, who are first in Africa base on their placement of 21st in the world with Tunisia retaining their spot as second with a placement of 26 in the world.

The rankings will be made public next week by FIFA. Nigeria will however have a chance to pick up more points if they pick up wins in the back to the back AFCON 2021 qualifiers game against Sierra Leone next month.

Coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr is keen on his team breaking into the top three in Africa as he believe it will help to get a favorable group during draws for major tournaments.

Nigeria have climbed steadily up the rankings since the Franco German was appointed as coach in 2016 as they have picked up more wins than losses.

Coach of the U20 team of Nigeria Ladan Bosso has drafted the list of players he will call up to camp for the start of preparations for the WAFU B tournament.

The tournament which will take place in Togo will hold from
the 14th to 29th November and it will serve as qualifiers for the 2020 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

Bosso was only recently appointed as coach but the lockdown in Nigeria due to the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible for his team to resume training as there is still a restriction on contact sports in Nigeria.

However the coach hasn’t stopped working as he has been compiling names of players who he will use for the tournament with Watford bound Ibrahim Sunusi top of the list.

Sunusi will join the English Championship side when he turns 18 in few months time but before then the former Nasarawa United hitman will train with the team ahead of the tournament.

As part of his preparations, Bosso also met with former Nigeria U17 coach Manu Garba to pick players who were dropped from his team for failing the MRI Test, and also speak on the boys from the 2019 team who are going to be available for selection.

Some players who were part of the Super Eagles squad for the friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia won’t be part of the squad in November, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Coach of the team Gernot Rohr handed debut to six players during the course of the two games with Kevin Akpoguma, Samson Tijjani, Frank Onyeka, Cyriel Dessers, Zaidu Sanusi and Chidera Ejuke.

From the new players invited to the team only Matthew Yakubu didn’t get to play as Rohr was keen on assessing the outfield players more than the goalkeepers.

Owngoalnigeria.com exclusively gathered that as many as five players won’t be part of the squad for the November back to back AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Sierra Leone after failing to impress Rohr.

Paul Onuachu heads the list as he failed to make the most of his late invitation to the squad despite the fact that he was handed a start in the game against Algeria. Rohr was unimpressed with his showing and didn’t consider him for yesterday’s game.

That snub could be extended to the next game with the coach unhappy with the fact that he is yet to adapt his style to the way the team love to play. Same issue the goals has with Dele Alampasu.

Alampasu staged a return to the team and he was immediately handed the role of back up to Maduka Okoye, but after few training sessions he was relegated to third choice with Matthew Yakubu morning ahead of him in the pecking order.

Frank Onyeka is also not spared despite the fact that Wilfred Ndidi won’t be available for the games in November. Semi Ajayi is seen by Rohr as a better fit to the team than Onyeka in the absence of Ndidi.

Another player who is set for a spell in the international wilderness is Mikel Agu after he once again fail to make the most of the chance he was given against Algeria. Samson Tijjani who was likely for the time he was on against Algeria isn’t safe as well.

Tijjani was only called up because he lives in Austria where the games were played although Rohr likes him a lot from his performance at the U17 World Cup. His case is a bit complicated though but he isn’t in the plan for the games in November.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr is worried about the form of Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze who was below par in the two friendly games the Super Eagles played.

Chukwueze was a shadow of his usual self in games against Algeria and later Algeria in Austria leading to his substitution in both games. Something which is usual with the left footed ace.

“ Rohr is obviously worried about his dip in form but he is hoping he will bounce back before next month game against Sierra Leone. That talent is there but the confidence is lacking”, a backroom staff told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Although Rohr was happy with the display against Tunisia despite the 1-1 draw , the coach was particularly pleased with the performance of some players who were handed their debut.

Top of the list is CSKA Moscow winger Chidera Ejuke who was introduced as a substitute yesterday and put up a lively performance for the time he was on.

“ We weren’t entirely surprise at his performance because he has been doing much more in training. Rohr was pleased that he played without fear and that’s a good thing to take going forward”, the source concluded.

CSKA Moscow winger Chidera Ejuke says he spoke with Nantes forward Moses Simon before making his international bow for Nigeria yesterday against Tunisia.

Ejuke was handed his debut for the senior national team of Nigeria by coach Gernot Rohr coming on as a substitute for Samuel Chukwueze In the 1-1 draw.

Speaking to Owngoalnigeria.com , the 22 year old said he sought the advice of some senior players in the team notably Moses Simon before making his entry.

He caught the eyes of many with his dribbling abilities as he was lively all through the period he was on. Many were impressed with the way he showed no fear despite playing his first game for Nigeria.

“ It’s normal for one to be excited when you play for the senior national team of your country. It’s something everyone dream of making it impossible to explain how I feel right now. I spoke with Simon after our last training session and he told me to play to my strength with is to dribble without fear. I did just that and I hope no make a bigger impression next time “.

As many as six players of the senior national team have given their support to Genk forward Cyriel Dessers getting more invitations to the team.

Dessers made his international debut for Nigeria yesterday against Tunisia coming on as a substitute and he almost got himself a debut goal but his effort was cleared off the line.

The Genk forward hasn’t had the best of time at his club but still made a good impression than his teammate Paul Onuachu who struggled to impress against Algeria despite having a better season at his club.

However he has made a good impression on players in the team and they are eager to see him more as he gives them something similar to what Odion Ighalo use to afford the team before his decision to quit international football.

His penalty area presence really impressed the players who are also very pleased with the way he makes runs behind the defence leaving them with options to play him in.

Nigeria were forced to a 1-1 By Tunisia in an international friendly played in Austria as they round up their preparations ahead of next month AFCON 2021 qualifiers. Owngoalnigeria.com rates the players who played for Nigeria in the stalemate.

Maduka Okoye – Didn’t have much to do and couldn’t do anything to stop the goal scored by Algeria. Another solid display for him between the sticks for Nigeria. Commanded the box very well and was very assured in dealing with crosses……6/10

Kevin Akpoguma- Started in an unfamiliar position at right back and looked quite comfortable going forward but not so assured in defending. Twice came close to scoring with a header which was cleared off the line and a shot which was blocked in the box……6/10

Zaidu Sanusi- Very much the man who wants to do the running for others. He however has to twice rely on Moses Simon to bail him out when he was dragged out of position. Slowly making that spot his own…….6/10

Kenneth Omeruo- Beaten quite easily for the cross that led to the first goal. Looked a bit jittery and not quite at his best. He did remarkably well after the break…..5/10

Leon Balogun- The best defender on parade for Nigeria. Once again he showed unusual calmness under the pressure, moved the ball out of defence with confidence. Back to his best……6.5/10

Semi Ajayi- Broke up play nicely but was slow in turning defence into attack hence making the team sloppy in transition. Didn’t convince as a defensive midfielder…..5/10

Alex Iwobi- Always looking and probing to find space to trade a pass. Did lay a lovely ball for Musa which resulted in the penalty. Didn’t do much in the second half…..6/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Had a very quiet first half and didn’t do much despite seeing lots of the ball. Not quite at his level in both games played by Nigeria…..4/10

Moses Simon – Very lively in the first half. Defending and attacking when required. Didn’t get into goal scoring positions but twice delivered balls into the box that wasn’t utilized…..6/10

Ahmed Musa – Looks off the pace and struggled to get involved. Won the penalty missed by Iheanacho. That was his major contribution in the game…..4/10

Kelechi Iheanacho- Took his goal really well but horribly missed his spot kick to put Nigeria two goals up. Linked up play nicely and was lurking constantly to do damage…….5/10

Substitutes:

Chidozie Awaziem- Did well in defending and also calm in picking out his passes. Still not entirely comfortable playing as a right back…..5/10

Chidera Ejuke – Showed his quick feet and dribbling abilities but didn’t pose a goal threat. Lively though and has earned himself another chance to be given a look in…..5/10

Cyriel Dessers- Almost scored with his first real touch of the game and didn’t struggle to get involved. Not the way he would have loved his debut to go as a goal would have been perfect

Jamilu Collins- Didn’t do enough to earn a rating.

Nigeria were forced to a 1-1 By Tunisia in an international friendly played in Austria as they round up their preparations ahead of next month AFCON 2021 qualifiers.

Iheanacho put the Super Eagles ahead with a sharp turn in the box which he balanced with an angle finish for his first international goal since 2017.

Few minutes later Ahmed Musa was felled in the box as he tries to make the best of a pass from Alex Iwobi leaving the referee with no choice but to offer a penalty to the Nigerians.

Iheanacho stepped up to take the spot kick but fail to convert what would have been his and Nigeria’s second goal of the game. Minutes later Nigeria were punished for that miss.

Drajer Mohammed blast home the leveler from a cross into the Nigerian box with Kenneth Omeruo guiltily of not doing enough to stop the cross from coming in as he was beaten quite easily.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play in a 4-1-4-1 formation when they take on Tunisia later today in an international friendly game in Austria.

In goal Maduka Okoye will start with the quarter of Kevin Akpoguma, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and Zaidu Sanusi as the back four.

Akpoguma and Sanusi will play as right and left back respectively while the central defence pairing will be Omeruo and Balogun with Willam Troost Ekong back at his base in England.

Semi Ajayi retains his spot in defensive midfield while Alex Iwobi will play as the attacking midfielder of the team. While the duo of Moses Simon and Simon Chukwueze playing on the left and right flanks respectively as inverted wingers. Kelechi Iheanacho will operate behind the main striker Ahmed Musa.

Musa will lead the attack with Onuachu dropping to the bench alongside Samuel Kalu, Tyronne Ebuehi, Frank Onyeka and Willam Troost Ekong out of the team for various reasons.

Maduka Okoye
Kevin Akpoguma
Zaidu Sanusi
Kenneth Omeruo
Leon Balogun
Semi Ajayi
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Ahmed Musa
Alex Iwobi
Kelechi Iheanacho