The battle to be the first choice spot of the senior national team of Nigeria has taken a new twist with the transfer of Maduka Okoye to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam.

Okoye joined the top division Dutch side on a free transfer from relegated German top division side Fortuna Düsseldorf where he was a part of their B team in the German 4th division.

Since joining the team he has excelled in pre season games putting himself in pole position to be in goal for the team when the Dutch League resumes.

Already he is ahead of every goalkeeper of the Super Eagles base on the competitive nature of the Dutch Eredivisie and also with Francis Uzoho just returning from the injury that ended his season prematurely last term out.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is a firm believer in the talent of the 21 year old and has pencilled him down to be in goal when the team resume for the back to back games against Sierra Leone in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.

Daniel Akpeyi is the other goalkeeper who has been active but Rohr is having one eye on the future and the game against Sierra Leone is seen by the coach as the best opportunity to blood in the young Okoye.

Ade Emmanuel 

Dutch side Heerenveen have announced the departure of Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke to Russian side CSKA Moscow via a post on their social media handle.

The club in a post on twitter explained that the 22 year old had been left out of their training camp as he has been granted permission to speak to his new club.

Although the club didn’t specify the club he is in talks with recent reports suggest that Russian side CSKA Moscow have met the few stipulated by Heerenveen for his transfer.

A fee of €12 million with several add ons and bonuses is believed to have been agreed between both teams and now he has been granted permission to hold talks on personal terms.

His agent Atta Aneke was not on hand to confirm or deny the recent development base on his statement to Owngoalnigeria.com two days where he said a deal is far from completion with the Russian side .

Daniel Martins 

Nigeria will not be having a training camp in Austria as earlier planned due to restrictions on travels as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic also made FIFA to set down rules for the return of international football which sadly means the planned training camp of the Super Eagles where they plan to play two games has been shelved.

However prior to the decision to cancel the camp, four new players were invited by coach Gernot Rohr who wanted to assess them before competitive football returns later this year.

Porto bound Santa Clara left back Zaidu Sanusi was contacted and already submitted his passport for visa processing before the camp was called off.

Another player who would have trained with the Super Eagles for the first time is Heerenveen star Chidera Ejuke who impressed last season while with the modest Dutch side .

Man City defender Tosin Adarabiyio who has a fairly successful time on loan to Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship was also included after agreeing to switch allegiance from England to Nigeria.

Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee was also called up three years after his initial call up after his impressive showing towards the end of last season in the Bundesliga for Augsburg.

He made ten appearances his highest ever in a single season since 2017 while in the German second division with Hannover 96, no thanks to injuries and fitness issues .

The four players including the returning duo of Mikel Agu and Leon Balogun were in the list which was to be released this week if not for the enforced cancellation of the game.

Ade Emmanuel 

Coach of Villarreal Unai Emery has told Samuel Chukwueze that he will bring out the qualities that will make him a feared and respected force in football.

Emery had a chat with the 21 year old and assured him of his plans for him next season despite signing Takefuso Kubo on loan from Real Madrid as direct rival to the Nigerian.

The coach who is also reportedly keen on Napoli’s Jose Callejon another winger in same position as that of Chukwueze has however assured that none of the players will affect the spot of the left footed ace.

He sees Chukwueze as one who can play in the number ten role or behind the striker and not on the wings where he has played for most of his career right from his days with the Nigeria U17 team of 2015.

According to Emery he plan to bring out the best in Chukwueze by handing him a role that best suit his characteristics as a player and also play him in a formation that will enable him to thrive easily.

Osas Mahawi 

Out of favour former assistant captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ogenyi Onazi is set to join newly promoted Serie A side Crotone on a free transfer.

The 27 year old according to several sources in Italy has already had his medicals at the club and in the coming days he will be unveiled as their first signing of the transfer window.

He will be joining for free after terminating his contract with Turkish side Denizlispor few months after joining them over unpaid wages and he was close to joining Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade.

His impending transfer to Crotone means he will be returning back to the Serie A four years after he made a shock move from Lazio to Turkish side Trabzonspor.

At Crotone he will be reunited with another out of favor Nigeria international in Simy Nwankwo whose goals powered the team back to the Serie A, two years after they were relegated.

Daniel Martins 

Olakunle Olusegun did his chances of securing a deal with French Ligue 1 side a whole lot of good with a goal and an assist for the B team in a friendly game against FC Kan.

The game ended 4-2 with Kunle who is on trial at the team from Vista FC scoring and also assisting in one of the games lined up as part of their pre season games.

If he impresses during the two weeks trials he will join the B team from where his progress will be monitored for promotion to the main team of the Ligue 1 side.

Kunle was a part of the Nigerian U17 team to the last World Cup in Brazil but he failed to hit same height like he did in the Qualifiers for the Africa U17 tournament where he emerged as top scorer at the WAFU B championship with five goals.

At the Africa U17 Cup of Nations he wasn’t at his best but was still pivotal to Nigeria picking a ticket to the World Cup where they crashed out in the round of 16.

Osas Mahawi 

Out of favour Genk of Belgium forward Stephen Odey has agreed a loan move to France second division side Guingamp, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Odey joined Genk last summer from Swiss side FC Zurich but failed to deliver on the form that made him a hit in Switzerland after his move from Nigeria Professional Football League side MFM FC of Lagos.

Last season he scored just two goals with one of the goals coming in the UEFA Champions League game against Liverpool at Anfield as he struggled to nail a spot in the starting lineup.

Ahead of the start of this season he has impressed in test games betting four times in five games but still wasn’t given a look in hence his decision to seek for a loan move to a team where he is sure to get games.

Guingamp are looking for a striker as they bid to secure promotion to Ligue 1 and the 22 year old fits the profile of the player they are looking for to boost their attack.

A loan deal with the option to buy him permanently next summer has been agreed between both teams with Odey now clear to undergo a medical with the Ligue 2 side in the coming days barring any late hiccup.

Daniel Martins 

Out of the many sports that spectators can place wagers on, betting on football games has to be one of the most popular ones. The sports betting industry is a huge one, generating billions in revenue per year globally and is estimated to break the trillion-dollar barrier in the future.

This industry also does particularly well in the digital age, especially because today, new technologies are being used to follow football games more accurately and provide real-time stats in what’s known as live betting.

In Nigeria, about 30% of the population engages in sports betting, and football is one of the most loved sports in the country. Gambling on football is legal in 36 states in Nigeria, as well as Abuja. Out of the 60% who bet on sports, about 40% follow the games online.

This statistic is possible because of the advent of mobile betting, allowing users to place wagers from anywhere in the world. Aside from online betting platforms, Nigerians can bet in football betting shops or kiosks, as well as offshore sites. Nigerians can participate in several offshore football sportsbooks, and these international platforms are able to combine the thrill of gambling as well as the entertainment of football for its customers.

Although offshore betting is frowned upon in other countries, many find that offshore platforms provide a much better-tailored experience. Below is a list of the best offshore football betting options for Nigerians.

888 Sport
You don’t have to only be a football lover to like 888 Sport, because it is a multi-purpose gambling platform. Using just one account, you can play poker, participate in live games, as well as bet on sports. The website is extremely easy to navigate to find everything that you are looking for.

It has a simple aesthetic of black and orange and the user interface flows well. It is easy for those betting on football because it provides a form guide which includes statistics, so you don’t have to visit other parts of the internet to look for information on athletes or a team. There are sufficient choices when it comes to deposit and withdrawal methods, including e-wallets, which account for instantaneous transactions.

Betway
Established in 2006, Betway offers a very good betting selection and is popular amongst users for e-sports. On top of that, the customer service is unparalleled, and if you are an English speaker, it is available for you round the clock.

The sports betting app is extremely well programmed and can be navigated intuitively. The mobile betting option works on all major operating systems, so placing wagers on football events has never been easier. It is good for beginners, as the fair bonus can be claimed for up to £30 in free bets, for which a minimum deposit of £10 is required.

The payouts for this sportsbook is also above average. The license for the bookmaker comes from many different places and is regularly evaluated to make sure that there are safety and security measures for its customers. The selection for withdrawal and deposit options are large, and fortunately, Betway is also known for its fast payout processes.

Dafabet

Dafabet is a multipurpose gambling company and is a perfect offshore sportsbook for betting on football for Nigerians. Both professional and amateur punters find it easy to play on this site. Although its aesthetic is not as modern and nice as other sportsbooks on the market, the layout and design are nonetheless simplistic and functional.

So, it is not hard to navigate on it, and you can place bets as soon as you need to after accessing the website. The verification may take a few more steps than most other platforms as well, as you might need to send in a few documents to prove your identity. Aside from that, Dafabet offers generous odds and interesting promotions for all users. What makes it stand out is the ‘download’ option, which grants access to more additional betting options.

There are also several ways to contact Dafabet customer service: a contact form, a live chat option, which is especially good for those who are looking for advice from bookmakers from the country of their origin, and e-mail.

Netbet

Netbet has a loyal customer base because it has ensured that it provides great opportunities for anyone visiting the site. The betting odds are outstanding. One of its unique features is also weekly promotions, which keep players coming back for more. Aside from the live chat and email option for customer service, it also has a hotline, so you can get all your questions answered immediately. Topping the genuinely helpful customer support, Netbet operates with high-end security.

For each sporting event, you also get varied options, so you can even bet on more than one more outcome if necessary. The platform is very well designed, making it simple to place bets. Combined bets can also be placed if needed.

William Hill

New bettors will have a good time at William Hill because the registration process and the way to make your first bet is fairly simple. Each bet type is all on one screen, so you can select the football event of your choice to try your luck. To place multiple bets, you can keep adding to the betting slip. The bonuses on this sportsbook are great, but they are offered on a country-to-country basis, which means that there will be one especially for Nigerian users. Moreover, future bets receive a lot of attention on this site.

Unfortunately for Windows phone users, mobile betting is only available for iPhone and Android, but the desktop version is equally enticing for everyone.

For Nigerians who don’t have access to land-based betting machines, offshore football sportsbooks are quite beneficial. It is unthinkable to consider sports today without betting, and the popularity of wagering on football in Nigeria proves it. Offshore gambling websites offer attractive advantages for those who are interested in online sports betting and is a good option for beginners as well. In most international platforms, new players can claim generous sign-up bonuses to get them started.

Fans of Serie A side Napoli got a glimpse of what to expect from their new record signing when the Nigerian had his first training session with the team, a session opened to the fans.

Chants of Osimhen rented the air when the 22 year old stepped onto the training pitch for the first training in the colours of his new team as Napoli begin preparations for the new season which kicks off next month.

Osimhen who scored 18 goals for Lille last season wasted no time in showing the fans the stuff he is made up when he connected with a cross from the right which landed in the net during a practice match.

A loud cheer greeted the goal with the fans warming up to their €80 million man signed to help them push for a better season under the tutelage of coach Gennaro Gattuso.

Already a 4-3-2-1 system has been mapped out by Gattuso to bring out the best in Osimhen when they resume their campaign in the Serie A and Europa League.

Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing has once again fail to make the squad of the senior national team of Denmark following the release of the squad of players for their UEFA Nations League games.

Denmark will face Belgium and England respectively when international football resumes in September but there is no place for Billing who suffered relegation with Bournemouth last season.

A squad of 25 players was named by new coach Kasper Hjulmand with Billing who claimed he has been promised a spot by the coach not included in the list.

Eligible to represent Nigeria as he qualifies through his parents , the 24 year old has already have a test of international football with the U21 of Denmark meaning he requires clearance from FIFA before he can play for Nigeria .

The midfielder as reported by owngoalnigeria.com contacted the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr via his agent indicating his interest to play for Nigeria but made a u-turn when the new broke out.

Rohr later confirmed the report as accurately put by this portal with the Franco-German coach particularly unhappy with the way the former Danish international conducted himself in the whole issue.

Ade Emmanuel