The chances of Nigeria making it to the world cup next month received a huge boost following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus in DR Congo.

Nigeria were edged by the Congolese in the world cup qualifiers playoff , and filed a protest questioning the eligibility of some players in the Congolese team.

Their protest was dismissed by FIFA, but they now have a window in the event that DR Congo failed to get clearance to play at the world cup due to the virus.

The Ebola outbreak affecting the country was classified by the WHO as an international health crisis due to the high number of infections and deaths.

This emergency has prompted the local Football Federation to cancel their training camp in Kinshasa and move it to Belgium, where the team will prepare for matches against Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan (rivals in Group K).

Although all 26 players called up play abroad and have not recently returned home, the situation is being continuously monitored by FIFA, also following the United States’ decision to introduce temporary entry restrictions for those who have been in risk areas, complicating the matches in Houston (against Portugal) and Atlanta (against Uzbekistan).

In Mexico, Health Minister Kershenobich has issued an epidemiological alert ahead of the match in Guadalajara (against Colombia), prompting local experts to call for a 21-day quarantine for African players and an entry ban for their fans, as reported by Sportmediaset.

If these restrictions were to somehow prevent the Democratic Republic of the Congo from participating in the competition, a spot in the main draw would be freed up, with FIFA then deciding which national teams would be eligible to complete the roster.

This could therefore provide a new window of opportunity for one of either Nigeria because or Jamaica who were beaten by DR Congo in n the intercontinental playoff, although this prospect currently seems very remote.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Swedish side AIK has revealed that Nigerian team sensation won’t be honouring the invitation to be a a part of the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in London, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Zadok was handed his maiden invitation to the Nigerian team, but a statement from AIK says he won’t be honouring the invitation, because he is still recuperating from the injury he picked up a few days ago.

Below is the statement on their official website.

AIK Football is proud of Zadok Yohanna who has been selected for the Nigerian national team for their participation in the Unity Cup in London. However, Zadok is in an important final stage of his rehabilitation and the club has therefore decided not to release him on national team duty this time.

AIK Football is happy and proud that Zadok Yohanna has been selected for the Nigerian national team for the Unity Cup, which will be played in London between May 26-30, 2026. The decision not to let him travel to London is based partly on the fact that he is in rehabilitation, but also on sporting reasons, as Zadok is an important player for AIK Football.

We look forward to seeing Zadok represent the Nigerian national team in the future.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

La Liga 2026 Outlook: Top 3 Teams Likely toLead the Table

La Liga rarely stays quiet for long, but the shape of the 2026 race has become easier to read. The usualgiants are still right where you would expect them to be, yet the wider picture feels slightly less predictablethan the old two-club script. Barcelona have looked like the side setting the pace, Real Madrid remain closeenough to turn any wobble into a real title swing, and just behind them, there is a growing argument thatVillarreal deserve to be taken more seriously than the standard “best of the rest” label.

That is what makes this stage of the season interesting. Form still matters, star power still matters, but sodoes momentum, squad balance, and how a club handles the run-in. Plenty of fans now mix their ownanalysis with external insights — whether it’s match previews, data breakdowns, or checking Football betting tips on repcet.com to get a broader view before making a call on how the table might develop.

So if the question is which three teams look most likely to stay at the front of La Liga in 2026, these are thenames that stand out most clearly.

Why the 2026 Race Feels Different

What separates this season from a more routine title chase is that the hierarchy beneath the top two has notfelt completely fixed. Barcelona and Real Madrid still carry the strongest squad profiles in the league, but thefight around them has been fluid enough to make the third spot more than a formality. That gives the table a different energy. Instead of a predictable gap opening early, there has been genuine movement in thechasing pack and a stronger sense that consistency, rather than reputation alone, is shaping the order.

The Three Teams Best Placed to Stay in Front

1. Barcelona

Barcelona is the clearest answer when it comes to who is most likely to lead the table. The biggest reason isnot just points on the board, but the overall balance of the side. They have looked more settled than most oftheir rivals, and that matters in a league season where rhythm can be as important as individual brilliance.

What stands out is how little waste there has been in their game. Even when they have not blown teamsaway, they have generally controlled matches well enough to avoid the kind of dropped points that can draga frontrunner back into the pack. That makes them feel less fragile than they have in some recentcampaigns.

2. Real Madrid

Real Madrid is still the most obvious team to push Barcelona all the way because they remain the club mostcapable of turning a title race on its head with a short burst of form. That has always been part of Madrid’scharacter. They do not always need to dominate every week to stay dangerous; sometimes, a few big resultsare enough to shift the mood of an entire season.

The case for Madrid is straightforward: depth, elite-level match-winners, and the pressure they naturallyplace on anyone above them. Even in seasons where their football feels less convincing than expected, theyrarely disappear from the conversation for long. If Barcelona loses control at any point, Madrid is still the sidebest positioned to punish that.

3. Villarreal

This is where the outlook becomes more interesting. Villarreal may not have entered 2026 with the samenoise around them as Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Atlético, but they have earned serious considerationthrough consistency and structure. That matters in a league table. A side does not stay in that zone this deepinto the season by accident.

They have looked well-coached, generally clear in their approach, and less dependent on a single storylineor a single player carrying the whole season. That does not automatically make them title favorites, but itdoes make them credible leaders in the next tier of the race — and, depending on how the final stretchdevelops, possibly more than that.

Why Atlético Still Hovers in the Picture

Leaving Atlético Madrid out of the top three is more about the current shape of the table than a dismissal oftheir quality. In terms of squad profile, experience, and game management, they still look like a team no onewould want to ignore. If the race shifts again, Atlético are probably the first club people will bring back intothe discussion.

But outlook pieces are about who looks best placed right now, not who has the biggest name. On thatmeasure, Villarreal have done enough to push themselves into the frame.

What Could Still Change Everything

The run-in in Spain has a habit of changing tone quickly. Injuries, a bad week in Europe, a derby defeat, or a sudden swing in confidence can rewire the top of the table in a matter of days. That is why a league outlookshould never be read like a final verdict.

Still, if you are trying to identify the three teams most likely to stay near the top of La Liga through 2026, thestrongest read is Barcelona first, Real Madrid close behind, and Villarreal as the side with the clearestchance to keep disrupting the expected order. That feels like the most honest picture of where the leaguestands now.

Newly appointed coach of Chelsea Xabi Alonso has submitted his list of targets in the upcoming summer transfer window to the management of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Alonso will be Chelsea’s new permanent manager at the end of the season replacing Liam Rosenior who was sacked two months ago, due to poor results.

Coming from being sacked at Real Madrid, Alonso has already submitted his list of targets to the club in the areas he wants to bolster for the upcoming campaign, he is keen on strengthening the attack, defence and goalkeeper positions.

In attack his prime target is Galatasaray and Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen, while in goal he wants AC Milan shot stopper Mike Maignan and in defence Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande is his preferred option.

This much was made known by caughtoffside.com in their publication earlier today. They said a meeting to that effect will be held with the club’s hierarchy before the start of pre season training.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has been approached by players born abroad who are eligible to represent Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Since taking over as coach of the Nigerian team, the coach has been active in recruiting players of Nigerian descent with the duo of Felix Agu and Ryan Alebiosu his first catch.

Emmanuel Fernandez was next, and now the trio of Arthur Okonkwo, Owen Oseni and Femi Azeez are in line for a debut during the upcoming friendly games. David Ozoh who spent last season on loan to Derby County from Crystal Palace is already on board.

” That’s the few that can be with the team at the moment. There are some who will be in the team and plans for future games. However some of them are not good enough for the team at least for now but to answer your question more of them are eager to play for us (Nigeria),” Chelle’s scout revealed.

” I think Chelle is more comfortable with players who don’t require a switch of nationality process because it can be frustrating. However it doesn’t mean it can’t be done”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

David Ozoh of Crystal Palace who recently returned from a successful loan spell with Derby County in the English Championship requested to be left out of the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming Unity Cup and friendlies against Poland and Portugal respectively.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle convinced the 21 year old to pledge his international future to Nigeria, before the end of last season like we reported.

He was billed to be a part of the team for the above mentioned engagements , but we can exclusively reveal that he requested to be left out to sort his club future following his return to Palace.

Ozoh is a target of a host of teams, and will want to use the period of the games to hold talks with Palace with his mind set on an exit. He will however meet with head coach Eric Chelle in London during the Unity Cup.

Chelle accepted his decision, and will use the meeting in London to clearly explain to him where he fits into his plans and what he expects from him when he gets invited.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Four players who were initially picked by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle for the upcoming Unity Cup friendly tournament, and the high profile friendlies against Poland and Portugal respectively were dropped before the list was made public yesterday, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Injuries and incoming transfers was cited by Chelle as the reason behind his decision to leave them out of the team, although it was their wish and the coach respected it with no malice.

“At this time, this is difficult because for these games against Poland and Portugal, players are on holiday.

“They have spent a year playing, some have minor injuries, transfers and they need to rest, so it will depend on how they feel,” said Chelle in an interview with TVC.

Top of the list is David Ozoh of Crystal Palace who recently returned from a successful loan spell with Derby County in the English Championship. He requested to be left out to sort his club future.

Back at Palace, he is a target of a host of teams, and will want to use the period of the games to hold talks with Palace with his mind set on an exit. He will meet with head coach Eric Chelle in London during the Unity Cup.

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu also requested to be left out and will use the period to complete his recovery, and also look at options available for him in the summer transfer window.

Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella was a shoe in option and already held talks with Chelle, but he is presently sidelined with a knock that brought his season to a premature end in Germany.

It’s the same for Felix Agu, although he is back fit but hasn’t played any game in three weeks with the club managing his load as he only recently returned from a lengthy lay off.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The invitation of Plymouth Argyle striker Owen Oseni to the Super Eagles team for the upcoming friendly engagements in the Unity Cup and friendlies against Poland and Portugal respectively has dominated the media space in Nigeria.

Two weeks ago OwnGoalNigeria.com exclusively reported that he was a shock inclusion by head coach Eric Chelle and questions were asked from the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

They sort to know why a player playing in the English 3rd division with ten goals and five assists will be considered for a chance with the senior national team of Nigeria, while others in highly rated leagues weren’t considered.

Chelle defended the decision by saying the 23 year old style of play suits his system with his ability to run the channels, press high up the pitch and also weigh in his own fair share of goals.

His age was another factor with the team’s first three strikers in Victor Osimhen, Akor Adams and Terem Moffi around the same age bracket, while Paul Onuachu is in his early 30s.

The idea is for Oseni to do a Benjamin Fredrick who was playing for the U23 of Brentford when he played at the Unity Cup, and stamped his authority in the team for subsequent games.

One name that was missing in the Super Eagles list made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday was that of Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina.

Aina wasn’t named in the squad for the upcoming Unity Cup in London, and also the high profile friendly games against Poland and Portugal respectively, which has all of the regulars.

He missed the AFCON in January due to an injury he picked up during the world cup qualifiers game away to South Africa. He hasn’t played for the team since that game not even in friendly games.

His omission led to talks that he has been exiled from the team, in the wake of reports saying he confronted the president of the NFF Ibrahim Musa Gusua after the game against South Africa, where he picked up the injury.

We gathered he expressed his frustration at the poor nature of the playing surface, and the reluctance of the football house to contest why the game was moved to a poor pitch.

However that is not why he wasn’t in the list, and we can exclusively reveal that he was left out because he is presently injured and hasn’t played a game in over a month.

This season he has played just 18 games in the league, and his return date is presently not known, hence the decision to leave him out of the team while he focus on his recovery and rehabilitation.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman