Napoli started their Serie A campaign with a 2-0 win over Parma with Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens getting the goals that helped them to the win.

However it was the introduction of Victor Osimhen, the club record signing that turned the game on it’s head as he brought pace, urgency and direction to the attack of Napoli which didn’t have a single shot on target prior to his introduction in the 60th minute.

Speaking after the game, Mertens credited Osimhen for the change in their attack which led to the 2-0 win despite the 21 year old not getting among the scorers in what was his first game in the Italian Serie A in Napoli’s colours.

“Playing at midday is difficult, it was hot and the pitch wasn’t in good shape. We made too many mistakes in the first half, but did better after the break,” Mertens told DAZN.

“We didn’t do badly in the first half either, and Parma defended well, but when they tired and the spaces opened up, it changed the game.”

“It’s true we signed a young player who can make the difference, but we have others in the squad who can make the difference too. Andrea Petagna did really well in pre-season training and I think he can play an important part for us too.

“We haven’t really talked about what comes next, but the coach really wanted to win the first game. We even trained in Naples at midday to prepare for this and it was very hot indeed, but we got through it.

“My objective is to win, after that to score a goal, so I achieved both. I’m happy.”

Coach of Napoli Gennaro Gattuso says there’s much more to come from Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen after he came off the bench to inspire Napoli to a 2-0 win over Parma in the Serie A.

The 21 year old started from the bench but with scores at 0-0 and Napoli struggling to create chances, Gattuso handed a debut to the Nigerian in the 60th minute.

His introduction sparked the team to life as they hand four shots on target, two of which landed in the net converted by Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens.

Osimhen almost got himself on the scoresheet with two minutes to go but his effort sailed narrowly wide. Despite that his introduction brought pace, urgency and life to the attack of Napoli.

Gattuso was quick to point out how he changed the game before saying more is yet to come from club’s record signing “ Osimhen is a serious guy, who got here purely on merit. He’s better than what he’s shown on the pitch until now”, the coach said.

Ade Emmanuel 

Captain of the 2019 Nigeria U17 team Samson Tijani has been called up to the Super Eagles squad for their next set of friendly games against Tunisia and Ivory Coast respectively, owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Tijani is on loan to TSV Hartberg from fellow Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, the team he joined after impressing for Nigeria at the U17 World Cup in Brazil.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has been impressed with his performances in the three games he has played so far, the last of which was the 2-3 Europa League loss to Polish side Piast Gliwice last night.

His inclusion in the list came as a shock to many but it is believed that Rohr sees him as a part of his project for the 2022 World Cup hence his decision to include him in the list.

The list of players called up for the game will be made public on Monday. Owngoalnigeria.com erroneously reported that it will be released yesterday. We deeply regret the error.

Osas Mahawi 

Valmeiras of Latvia Nigerian forward Tolu Arokodare has concluded a shock switch to German Bundesliga side Cologne,  Owgoalnigeria.com understands.

The 19 year old who has scored 15 goals in 16 league games in Latvia has according to our sources signed a five year deal with the Bundesliga side.

Valmeiras rejected an offer of €1.5 million from Anderlecht for his services two weeks ago insisting on €2 million a fee that we gathered that Cologne accepted to pay with a further sale on clause as well.

Details of the deal still remain sketchy as at the time of filing in this report but a medical is planned for later this week before he will be unveiled as a player of Cologne.

A source close to the camp of the player revealed that all formalities bar a medical has been agreed for the move which will be a new record in Latvia in terms of players sale.

Arokodare was a part of the 2017 Nigeria U17 team that failed to qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Daniel Martins

SKF Sered of Slovakia shot stopper Matthew Yakubu has not been contacted over his rumored call up to the senior national team of Nigeria according to his representatives.

The goalkeeper who was once again nominated in the team of the week in Slovakia and was also pivotal in helping his team to a win yesterday in the Cup is widely expected to be called up to the senior team of Nigeria.

However as at the time of filing in this report sources close to the player and also Sered insist they have not been contacted by coach of the team Gernot Rohr or the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Their claim is a sharp contrast to what a close confidant of the coach told Owngoalnigeria.com around same time yesterday as he hinted that Yakubu is in the list with Rohr impressed over his rise to first choice at the modest Slovakian side.

21 year old Yakubu kept four clean sheets in a row for Sered and was voted the goalkeeper of the month in Slovakia last week. He was a member of the Nigerian U20 team of 2019.

Ade Emmanuel

20 year old LASK of Austria goalkeeper Tobias Lawal has missed out on a chance to be a part of the squad of Nigeria for their upcoming engagements in October.

Prior to accepting to play for Nigeria he has represented Austria at U19 and U20 level from 2018 to 2019 but the two games he played were friendly games hence making the process of his switch less tedious.

Owngoalnigeria.com exclusively gathered that the goalkeeper who is the second choice of the Austrian side has gotten all the all clear by FIFA to represent Nigeria but he wasn’t able to secure a Nigerian passport.

Due to Covid19 lockdown measures, the Nigerian embassy in Austria isn’t operating in it’s full capacity hence his failure to get a Nigerian passport for the game.

Lawal has already been told by coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr about his call up three weeks ago with the coach impressed with his rise to second choice at the Austrian side.

As at last season he was first choice for the B team FC Juniors OO in the second division and his performance earned him a new deal stretching to 2023. He was also elevated to the first team in the top division.

Ade Emmanuel

35 year old former Nigeria international striker Obafemi Martins is has left Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua following the termination of his short term deal at the club.

Martins was signed by the team in July 18 months after he left them as a free agent but two months into his return the deal has been terminated with the forward failing to score in four games for the team.

Prior to the termination of his deal last week, Martins has not been listed by the team in their squad for the last four games and he last played for them on the 19th of July when they lost 2-3 to Guangzhou R&F. He played just 20 minutes in the game.

The last time he was in the squad was on the 26th of last month when they lost 1-4 to GZ Evergrande. Since then he hasn’t been listed until he was released on the 16th of September.

Daniel Martins

The Nigerian representative of CSKA Moscow wing forward Chidera Ejuke has revealed that the 22 year old was one step away from joining Manchester City in 2015.

In an exclusive chat with Owngoalnigeria.com Babawo Mohammed reveled that at the age of 16, Ejuke was sighted by the agent of Borussia Dortmund in demand star Jadon Sancho and wanted both players to join Manchester City.

The agent saw Ejuke in the camp of the U17 team of 2015 during his visit to Nigeria to watch the Emmanuel Amuneke team in training back then.

“ Ejuke and Sancho were suppose to go to Manchester City. Emeka Obasi the agent of Sancho spotted him in the U17 camp in 2015. Around that time Sancho was about to leave Watford for Man City. He told me Ejuke will be part of the deal.

“ Things took a different turn when Emmanuel Amuneke shocked us all by dropping him from the squad to the U17 Nations Cup and even the World Cup proper. City were supposed to scout him at both tournament. We had to start afresh with him again”, Babawo revealed.

Following the disappointment, Babawo said he still didn’t lose faith in him and via same agent took him for a two weeks trials in Liverpool alongside three others.

“ Because Obasi was convinced by his ability he got him a chance to have trial with Liverpool alongside three of my players. They spent two weeks there but at the end weren’t offered a deal. I think the double disappointment helped him to where he is today”.

Ejuke scores his first goal for CSKA Moscow last weekend in the derby game against Locomotive Moscow as he step up the process of settling down at his new club following his €12 million move from Dutch side Heerenveen three weeks ago.

He has also been called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for their upcoming games against Tunisia and Côte d’Ivoire respectively. The games will be played on the 9th and 13th of October in Austria.

Osas Mahawi 

Coach of Monaco Niko Kovac says Monaco Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru need to up his trust in his abilities for him to become a top player.

Kovac has given Onyekuru the chance to make an impression at the club after his initial struggle which saw him spent the second half of last season ok loan to Galatasary of Turkey.

The former Bayern Munich coach said the 23 year old has what it takes to be a big hit at the club and also in Ligue 1 but he need to be more consistent which is possible if he trust in his ability.

“ Henry is a player who can be very good in the future. He need to have trust in himself and that will enable him to be consistent. I believe he has what it takes to be at the top but it starts with him showing some consistency”, the coach said.

So far Onyekuru has played in the three games Monaco have played this season and he is looking likely to be back in the Super Eagles squad for the games against Tunisia and Côte d’Ivoire in October.

Osas Mahawi