The duo of Karim Adeyemi and Noah Okafor played varying roles in helping their side RB Salzburg to a comprehensive 5-1 win over Sturm Graz in Matchday 25 of the Austrian Bundesliga.

18 year old Adeyemi was on for the entire duration of the game and bagged an assist for Hee Chang Hwang’s goal. His speed and tricks proved too much for the opponents as he tormented them. In the process of trying to stop the German-Nigerian, Graz’s Isaac Donkor got red-carded for a tackle that caught the Salzburg player late.

Adeyemi is a German youth international which means he is still eligible to play for Nigeria at senior level and if he maintains his current form it won’t be long before Germany and Nigeria will contest for his international future.

On the other hand, Swiss-Nigerian, Noah Okafor who has already played for Switzerland at senior level was sent on in the 66th minute and he operated down the right flank. Since joining from Basel in the winter, he has scored two goals with an assist to his name.

The result consolidated Salzburg top position on the table, amassing 33 point from 25 games. The defending champions will take on Wolfsberger AC in their next game.

Godwin N

Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Daniel Jinadu and Joshua Okocha have both penned their first professional contract with West Ham United, OwngoalNigeria reports.

17 year old Jinadu who expressed his excitement wrote “Dream come true and proud moment for me and my family signing my first professional contract. The hard work continues! All the glory to God!”.

Jinadu was part of Nigeria’s U17 team at the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil, where he kept in three games. He made 4 appearances this season in the U18 Premier League.

His dream is to progress to the senior national team of Nigeria as he dreams of emulating his idol Carl Ikeme , the former first choice goalkeeper of the Super Eagles.

Also, Anglo-Nigerian Joshua Okocha who captain The Hammers’ U18s also signed his professional contract. As a 15 year old, he was already in the U18s and his progress down the years has seen him rewarded with the captain’s armband and now his first pro contract.

Other players who signed include Harrison Ashby, Sam Caiger, Dan Chesters, Keenan Appiah-Forson and Will Greenidge.

Godwin N

Former Super Eagles and Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro says coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr need to step up his technical abilities in order to meet the terms of his new deal.

Rohr signed a new deal that will keep him in his post as coach of the Super Eagles for the next two years if he meets certain conditions like winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and also qualifying Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup.

Reacting to the target set for the coach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Babayaro says he finds them a little bit difficult to meet in reality but says the coach can do so if he steps up his technical side .

“ He has done well so far if you judge by the games he has lost since taking over as coach in 2016. Many will say he hasn’t won anything but he only played in two tournaments, one was the World Cup and the other the last AFCON “, Babayaro told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ The targets set for him is a bit unrealistic on paper but in reality with a little bit of luck they can achieve it. Personally I think he need to step up the technical side of his craft but in terms of players selection he picks only the best , which is a sign of how much he want the team to succeed “, he concluded.

Ade Emmanuel

German Bundesliga side Paderborn are sure going to be relegated at the end of the season after a year in the top flight, no thanks to dismal performance this season.

However Jamilu Collins is one player who looks certain to remain in the Bundesliga according to Mark Rowland who covers Germany for Owngoalnigeria.com.

He says although Collins suffered a dip in form in the second half of the season , that is excusable as he played for two straight years without having a rest.

Mark predicts that teams in Germany or even outside the country will no doubt have him in their plans as he won’t cost much when Paderborn are finally relegated .

“ I will be surprise if he goes down with Paderborn. He has done very well even though he burnt out sometimes around January. That two is due to too many games for club and country. For now he hasn’t been linked with any team but definitely he will get the chance to stay in the Bundesliga”, he said .

Osas Mahawi

Valerenga forward Peter Godly Michael was yet again on the score sheet for a second game running as clubs in Norway wrap up preparations for the new Eliteserien season which starts on the 16th of June.

The red-hot Nigerian came off the bench to score the only goal in the game at the Utility Area to secure a win for his side.

In the 58th minute, the 22-year old met a corner kick from Bard Finne. With opportunities at both ends of the pitch, scores remained unchanged as the both Norweagian clubs wrapped up pre-season warm ups.

Peter Godly scored in Valerenga’s last game against Jerv, as he continues on his journey back to full fitness after missing the majority of last season to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament damage.

Valerenga will open their league campaign next Tuesday, away from home at Sarpsborg 08 and he will be hoping to take his pre season form into the season as he is expected to be a key player in what is his third year at the club.

Godwin N

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has promoted young Nigerian defender, Teden Mengi to Manchester United’s first team, as the English Premier League gets set to return.

Mengi, 18, trained with the Red Devils first team on Monday at the club’s Carrington base as the club continues to prepare for the return of football in the UK and with the introduction of five substitutes when the Premier League returns he could be handed his first team debut.

The Kaduna-born centre back has caught the eye of Solksjaer this season with his brilliant performances with the youth team. He captained Man Utd’s U18s to the semi finals of the Youth FA Cup and has featured steadily for the U23s making 15 appearances in the Premier League 2.

He was on the bench for Man Utd during their Europa League clash against Astana, where he was an unused sub.

Mengi will be looking to follow the steps of Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams, two youngsters who have impressed for the club this season. He is eligible for Nigeria despite playing for England at U16 level.

Godwin N

Nigeria International forward Moses Simon says the competition for spots in the Super Eagles has forced everyone to be on their toes.

Simon clawed his way back into the team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after playing a bit part role post 2018 World Cup that he missed due to a thigh injury.

This season he cemented his spot with a near perfect season with Nantes where he was voted the player of the year of the club where he is on loan from Levante.

Speaking to Owngoalnigeria.com , the winger said the intensity of the Super Eagles training is almost close to that of a match situation due to the quality of the players in the team.

“ You can’t afford to drop a level or not play in a top league. If you do that your spot is at risk. In training it’s almost like we are playing a match. Nobody want to go out of the team. When you got out it’s very hard to get in. The quality in the team is enough to bring out the best in any player “.

Ade Emmanuel

Per reports gathered by owngoalnigeria.com editorial team Samuel Kalu is close to agreeing a move to Turkish side Galatasaray from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.

22 year old Kalu didn’t have enough game time last season due to injury and fitness issues as it limited him to just 20 league games where he found the back of the net once .

At a time he was accused of not working hard enough hence kept out of the team for matches but he was back in favour before the league was halted and declared concluded following the lockdown brought about by coronavirus.

He saw a proposed January move to Hertha Berlin broke down and many were expecting same team to return for him in the summer but that isn’t the case at the moment.

Preliminary talks has been held between his representatives and that of the Turkish side with Bordeaux revealing that they are open to his departure in a bid to raise cash to ease the financial difficulties brought on them by coronavirus.

Daniel Martins

Chima Okoroji caught the attention of coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr with a very impressive performance for Jahn Regensburg where he is spending the season on loan from Freiburg.

The 23 year old left back who is on the radar of the coach of the Nigeria national team provided two assists to help his team to a 3-0 win over Darmstadt in a German second division game .

Okoroji showed his abilities from set pieces with two well taken effort that resulted in goals for his team and also boost his chances of returning to Freiburg when the season ends .

He is on the list of players coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr is scouting extensively as he looks for more options at left back to rival Jamilu Collins.

Although he carries a German passport, he is eligible for Nigeria through his father and if called up to the senior team of Nigeria he won’t be needing a switch of allegiance approval from FIFA as he hasn’t played for Germany at any level.

Osas Mahawi

23 year old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luke Ayodele Amos has once again hinted at his willingness to switch allegiance from England to Nigeria.

On loan to English Championship side QPR , he took to Instagram to post a picture of himself in a Super Eagles kit with the caption “Proud Nigerian” headline his post yesterday .

Capped twice by England at U18 level, this season he has established himself as a regular for QPR with 25 appearances this season before it was halted due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

His performances coupled with paucity of funds at Spurs due to the impact of coronavirus, Amos will be given a chance to stake for a spot in the first team of the club next season.

He has been pencilled down for pre season action and if he impresses he will no doubt be given a chance by coach Jose Mourinho who is a big admirer of the defensive midfielder.