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

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has been picked as the coach of the tournament after the first round of games in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.

CAF technical study group made public the best XI players of the group stage, and picked the Nigerian who led his team to three wins out of three as the coach for the group games.

Chelle’s team will be in action on Monday against Mozambique in the round of 16, hoping to better their record of 8 goals scored and four conceded in three games.

Ademola Lookman who leads the attack of the team was the only player considered good enough for the best XI players of the group stage, after picking up two assists with two goals as well.

Nigeria hope to go one step better than last time out, when they were beaten finalist after losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Super Eagles of Nigeria cruise through the group stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations winning all three of their games to finish top of their group, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

They will now face Mozambique in the round of 16 and ahead of the game, we take a look at five players of the Nigerian team who have been impressive since the start of the tournament.

Bruno Onyemaechi – Started as back up to Zaidu Sanusi at left back but did enough to snatch the shirt when he was given a start against Tunisia. In the two games he has played not only has he been solid defensively, he has also contributed in a positive way to the attack.

Raphael Onyedika – Scored twice in his first start and game at the tournament. Two well taken goals against Uganda showed he has eyes for goals from his role as a defensive midfielder.

Ademola Lookman – Two goals and two assists speaks enough of his ability to score and also create. He is having a good start to the tournament like it was in the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire.

Akor Adams – Has proven to be the perfect foil to Victor Osimhen in the attack of the team. The only thing missing from his all round impressive display is a goal or assist.

Alex Iwobi – Two assists and also has created so many clear cut chances. He is having a tournament to remember with top notch performance and he appears to have struck a very good partnership with Wilfred Ndidi in the midfield.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria cruised through the group stages of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with three wins out of three to finish with maximum points, and also top of their group heading into the round of 16 game against Mozambique.

OwnGoalNigeria.com picks five players who failed to make proper use of the team’s form during the course of the group games, ahead of Monday’s game.

Stanley Nwabali – He can’t be said to be entirely at fault for the inability of the team to keep clean sheets, but as the last line of defence it can be said that he should have done better with organisation and also his save percentage. Looks rusty so far.

Bright Osayi-Samuel – Started very well in the first game against Tanzania. The table turned against Tunisia where he was badly exposed and targeted. His absence in the game against Uganda where Ryan Alebiosu played showed a lot of difference.

Igho Ogbu – Uche Ikpeazu had him on toast in the game against Uganda. Lost almost all his duels and his positional awareness is shockingly poor for a player who has spent the last five years playing in Europe.

Zaidu Sanusi – Started the tournament as the first choice left back before losing his spot to Bruno Onyemaechi. Didn’t make full use of a head start and might continue to play second fiddle for the rest of the tournament.

Chidera Ejuke – A lot was expected of the Sevilla winger coming into the tournament. Got a chance to show what he is about in the game against Tunisia and failed to make the best out of it. It will be a surprise if he gets to play again.

The viral story of the decision of Arthur Okonkwo of English Championship side Wrexham to commit his international future to the senior national team of Nigeria is indeed factual, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Since he made his league debut for Wrexham – initially as a loan signing from Premier League giants Arsenal – in a 3-3 home draw against Crewe Alexandra in League Two on September 30, 2023, the 24-year-old has kept the joint most league clean sheets in the top four tiers.

Okonkwo has 42 shut-outs, the same as Leeds United stopper Illan Meslier and one more than Arsenal’s David Raya and Sam Tickle, of Wigan Athletic, with James Trafford (Burnley but now Manchester City) having 32 clean sheets

In 91 appearances for Wrexham, who he joined on a permanent basis in the summer of 2024 after leaving the Gunners, Okonkwo – a two-time promotion winner with the Reds – has kept an incredible 42 shut-outs.

Born to parents of Nigerian descent in England, he represented England at various youth levels but didn’t make it to the senior national team leaving the door open for a switch to Nigeria, which has now been ratified by FIFA.

The decision came after a meeting with the head coach of Nigeria Eric Chelle in London, when the Super Eagles took part in the four team Unity Cup tournament, where they defeated Jamaica on penalty to win the friendly tournament.

Chelle outlined his plans to the shot stopper and his agent during the meeting, urging him to file for a nationality switch and also get a Nigerian passport which will make him available for selection.

An agreement was reached by all parties that the AFCON will be too soon for the process to be completed, but it should be set in process for him to be available after the tournament.

It appears the process is now cleared, and Chelle would have been reliably informed about the decision as he has maintained contact with the goalkeeper and his camp since their first meeting in June.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The agent of Udinese defender Kingsley Ehizibue has lamented how the issue of dual nationality denied his client the chance to build an international career with Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

His client was called up to the senior national team of Nigeria in 2016 by former coach Gernot Rohr alongside another player with dual nationality in Tyrone Ebuehi, who went ahead to play at the 2021 AFCON for Nigeria and also at the 2018 World Cup.

That wasn’t the case for Ehizibue who was told he isn’t eligible to get a Nigerian passport, despite having Nigerian roots via his parents due to his status as an immigrant in the Netherlands.

He was told he had to renounce his Dutch passport if he wants to get that of Nigeria, something that has now become an issue between Nigeria and the DR Congo who had a host of players with dual nationality playing for them without renouncing their other nationality as contained in this country’s constitution.

DR Congo defeated Nigeria to pick the sole ticket to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoff, where there will be two tickets for the finalists to be at the 2026 World Cup. Nigeria have already challenged the eligibility of the players to play for DR Congo while holding another country’s nationality.

FIFA is expected to make a ruling on the petition next month, but if the words of the agent of 30 year old Udinese defender Ehizibue is anything to go by, then DR Congo will no doubt feel the wrath of FIFA’s hammer.

” I think DR Congo are in trouble because as much as FIFA recognises sporting eligibility, you must also pass the national laws and requirements to be a bonafide passport holder of the country you want to play for”, a representative of EFM revealed.

” Kingsley was born in Germany to Nigerian parents but holds Dutch citizenship. The country recognised dual nationality like we saw with Ebuehi but the manner of his nationality didn’t permit him to have another passport without renouncing his Dutch citizenship. We respected that and his international career went up in smoke”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman