peterd53:


Guy, u funny oo. ndidi is not even d best in Epl.

Yea Fabinho and Fernandinho are above him

Brazil legend Roberto Carlos says the Nigerian trio of Samuel Chukwueze, Samuel Kalu and Victor Osimhen will no doubt trouble the defence of Brazil when they take on Nigeria in an international friendly next month in Singapore.

Carlos was speaking as a guest on a television programme monitored by Owngoalnigeria.com where the 2-2 friendly draw Nigeria had with Ukraine was played as part of the show which was a preview to the Nigerian game.

Osimhen, Kalu and Chukwueze troubled the defence of Ukraine with their non stop running, skills and strength, something that Carlos said Brazil must be wary about when they play Nigeria on the 13th of September.

” The three forward players move real quick with strength and skills. Defenders don’t like playing against them but when you’re faced with them you just have to cope. I think that’s the strength of the Nigerian team”, Carlos said.

He however said he is confident that Brazil will triumph because they have players in attack who are now playing some of their best football in Europe, which he believe the defence of Nigeria won’t be able to handle.

Arsenal U23 defender Joseph Olowu was denied the chance of training and probably playing for the U23 of Nigeria in their last U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sudan due to administrative issues, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.

The defender who has trained severally with the first team of Arsenal was also denied the chance of teaming up with the U20 of Nigeria for the World Youth Championship in Poland due to injury but yet traveled to support the team during the tournament.

He was subsequently suggested to the coach of the U23 Imama Amapakabo but his Nigerian passport didn’t arrive on time and that cost him a spot among the foreign base players invited for the game, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Olowu will likely make his debut for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup this season and he could also hold talks with the Arsenal hierarchy if he is needed for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations which will take place at a time when clubs will be at the busy end of the season.

Icon79:
I read this article on the bbc.com website. Although I agree with Gareth Crooks on Tomori, I think he's he's clueless for not selecting Wilfred Ndidi on his team of the week list.. Trust me, Tomori would stop making team of the week once he decides for Nigeria over England!

All these so called pundits and even the coaches are shamelessly biased.


O pari

You're right bro

Earthquake1:


It seems Nigeria is suffering from lack of coaches

You just hit the head on the nail bro

andrew444:


Kante, casemeiro , Sergio B, Fernandinho

Kante na dm?

Rebirth of Ramon Azeez

The 2019/20 season has come as a rebirth for Nigerian and Granada CF midfielder Ramon Azeez, and he has embraced it, as his performance in La Liga with the newly promoted side has propelled him back into football conversations.


Azeez first caught the eyes back in 2009, playing as an Under 17 with Nigeria’s Eaglets in the FIFA World Cup on home soil.



The young midfielder was voted the Bronze Ball winner, and tipped to excel in his senior career despite the team failing to win; losing to Switzerland in the final by the odd goal.



However, it was a big ask, because the transition has never been seamless through the youth groups in the national team; Great talents fall by the way side; lose focus and fail to hit the heights expected.



It was almost similar for Azeez, his journey into professional football got off the block two years after the 2009 U17 World Cup.





He moved to Spain, where he joined La Liga side Almeria, and by 2014 he was at the FIFA World Cup with the Super Eagles.



It went downhill from there and relegation to the Segunda Liga meant the midfielder was off the radar.



Snubbed by national team Coaches, wallowing in the second division of Spanish football with lowly CD Lugo, Azeez had hit the nadir of his career.



His resurgence will come though, with Granada and in 2019.



The club gained promotion to the top flight and 7 games in, they have defeated La Liga giants Barcelona, are second in the league and Azeez has already equalled his all-time season’s league goal record – 2 goals.



That impressive showing this season has also seen him earned a recall to the national team; for Nigeria’s friendly against Brazil in October.



About his performance and return to the Super Eagles, Azeez told www.brila.net it was a result of delibrate effort to improve his game over the years.



“I was very happy, and it shows the amount of hard work I’ve put in, these past years,” he said.



He recalled his humble beginnings on the streets of Lagos and how he left home as a teen to the State’s nerve center for football activities, to compete against the best.



“I started playing football in Ikotun Egbe, I was born there. As a young and aspiring footballer, I had to leave home and give myself a better chance of making it.



“My Manager, who still is my Manager Today, took me from Ikotun to Agege. I played for several teams and in competitions, until God opened the way for me,” recounted Azeez about his formative years.



These days , he’s become one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the game from Africa, but he remains grounded.





He says he’ll play any position because he fancies himself as a much refined footballer today and explains his target with Granada and the national team for the season.



“I come with a blend; I like to call myself a mix midfielder. It is much like a box-to-box player because I can play either as a defensive or attacking midfielder.



“My Target is to get more playing time and have a good game when I do. I’m a box-to-box midfielder, but it really depends on what the Coach wants from me on the pitch.



The 26 year-old will return to the Nigeria dressing room by the international break and hope to suit up against Brazil, who have one of the best midfield and attacking force in football.



He isn’t fretting though and there’ll be no change to his routine of preparing for the game he said.



“I pray first, I talk to my family, then I listen to a song. After that I walk onto the field to do my job.”

Icon79:
The Olympic games is a big tournament so I don't understand why it wasn't part of Gernot Rohr's contract to take charge of the U-23 team as well. He needs to earn his big paycheck. And by the way, the NFF was planning to send Rohr on a coaching course when they are yet to send any of their homebased coaches to refresher course. I think a coach like Imama needs the course more than Rohr.


O pari

bro...Imama is in a sorry state...he will bring nothing from those course programmes..


Dude have learnt no thing all this while working with Rohr not even the fair and unbiased team selection of Rohr he learnt from....

he should be asked to leave while the nff conduct tests and interviews amongst the local coaches to pick Rohr's assistant...

Someone like Ogunbote, the enyimba coach and even Kano pillars coach can do better....

Earthquake1:


It seems Nigeria is suffering from lack of coaches

not really bro.... yusuf Sanusi even in his bribe taking will do Better than clueless imama.

ogunbote, Enyimba coach and even the kano pillars coach will do better than Imama.

tbaba1234:
Imama is blaming Udoh now

“I told Udoh before the game that he was going to win it for us, so it was a deliberate tactical change to bring him on,” 

“My job as a coach is to make a team that will create chances, but it still rests on the player to convert that chance with the tactical approach of the team.

“He [Udoh] had two chances he should have buried; unfortunately he did not. He is one of the highest goal scorers in the league in Nigeria, but he had a bad day.”

this man is as clueless as our politicians....

just imagine his words...he should be asked to leave the team.....
so bad that our indigenous coaches are disgracing us....

I am seriously praying for Manu Garba to do well come November...
hopefully he drives out Aigbogun from the under 20 team....

Aigbogun and Imama are serious problem to our football growth

Pls can you tell me the meaning of CLUELESS
you had been shouting that word like its some sugar inside your cup of tea,
one mistake ROHR is CLUELESS
a report about nff Pinnick is CLUELESS
whats the word CLUELESS to you?

Humility017:

this man is as clueless as our politicians....
just imagine his words...he should be asked to leave the team..... so bad that our indigenous coaches are disgracing us....
I am seriously praying for Manu Garba to do well come November... hopefully he drives out Aigbogun from the under 20 team....
Aigbogun and Imama are serious problem to our football growth

October 13 Friendly: We respect, not fear Brazil–Esiti

sportinglife.ng Sep 27, 2019 5:51 PM
Super Eagles player, Anderson Esiti has revealed he and his colleagues have great respect for Brazil but it does not translate into fear for the five-time world champions.

Eagles do not fear Brazil
Esiti will be in Singapore
The Greece based midfielder who baring his mind head of next month’s international friendly against the Samba Boys at the National Stadium in Singapore which would be the second meeting between both teams.



“We can, we have a lot of exciting young players who can play; like we’ve been doing here in Europe,” the midfielder told www.brila.net.

“Indeed we respect them (Brazil), but we don’t fear them and this is football; anything can happen.”

Humility017:


not really bro.... yusuf Sanusi even in his bribe taking will do Better than clueless imama.

ogunbote, Enyimba coach and even the kano pillars coach will do better than Imama.

Bros humility, are you sure?

Because if there is one thing I know about NPFL coaches, it is that the majority of them are local champions.

How come many of them can't even win CAF champions league? Or at least get to the finals?

If they can't do that, how can they then use the same local boys to win WAFU? Isn't that overstretching it a bit?

MetalJigsaw:
October 13 Friendly: We respect, not fear Brazil–Esiti

sportinglife.ng Sep 27, 2019 5:51 PM
Super Eagles player, Anderson Esiti has revealed he and his colleagues have great respect for Brazil but it does not translate into fear for the five-time world champions.

Eagles do not fear Brazil
Esiti will be in Singapore
The Greece based midfielder who baring his mind head of next month’s international friendly against the Samba Boys at the National Stadium in Singapore which would be the second meeting between both teams.



“We can, we have a lot of exciting young players who can play; like we’ve been doing here in Europe,” the midfielder told www.brila.net.

“Indeed we respect them (Brazil), but we don’t fear them and this is football; anything can happen.”

Okay.

I hope this translates to a very good performance and not a display of unparalleled carpentry

Na u dey confuse urself. You are trying to put the balance on administration alone. But the fact is club management are also stakeholders in this.

somehow:
Why are you confusing yourself or don't you know the meaning of grooming again?

solonnachi:



NFF please cap this guy now abeg

You guys should understand a harsh truth.......Tomori and Abraham want to play for England and no manner of shouting will change it. If they really wanted to play for Naija, it won't take so long and so much to convince them.

Me, I don't commit mind for their matter since. Let's focus our energy and resources on those willing , ready and good enough to play for the SE

Today is my Birthday.
Wish me well guys

nairalandankrah:
If you aren't watching Ndidi, imo one of the best defensive minded midfielders in the world at present, then you are missing.
Rodgers has got him playing almost perfectly as a brilliant shield for the back four and as a support for the attacking midfielders
Great player and great management

Preach bro.

Meanwhile, some are looking for excuses for his compatriot KC Iheanacho.

You are both in the same team and with the same coach and yet, you can't thrive too. Then it not the team's system or coach. Its the player's problem

Prectega:
Mention one DM that's better than ndidi

Am waiting

Okay bro...

Tone down the hype. There are at least 5 DMs better than him. He's neatly there but not there yet

andrew444:


Ndombele issa central midfielder

Rodri is not better than ndidi, because he plays for mancity? I repeat rodri is not better than ndidi

Ndombele better than Ndidi? Chai, what a travesty. Lai lai

Even Rodri isn't better. He's just playing for a bigger club and if Ndisi was an European, he'd have left Leicester since

andrew444:


Dont compare anyone to busquets, he might not be the busquets of before but dont compare, he is not a 22 year old so he is expected to slow down.

I agree with you on this

tbaba1234:
Imama is blaming Udoh now

“I told Udoh before the game that he was going to win it for us, so it was a deliberate tactical change to bring him on,” 

“My job as a coach is to make a team that will create chances, but it still rests on the player to convert that chance with the tactical approach of the team.

“He [Udoh] had two chances he should have buried; unfortunately he did not. He is one of the highest goal scorers in the league in Nigeria, but he had a bad day.”

A very clue-less coach.

See talk. Mtchewwww

Icon4s:
Today is my Birthday.
Wish me well guys

Daddy daddy

May your days be long. May you continue to flourish in wisdim, may you continually be surrounded by joy and happiness, and may you live many many more years to see the Super Eagles we all deserve to see.

Happy Birthday, Boss

Happy super duper birthday to one of our very own guidians of history,,,,,,,,,, WULLNP

Icon4s:
Today is my Birthday.
Wish me well guys

Icon4s:
Today is my Birthday.
Wish me well guys

Happy birthday

What do you guys think?

elyte89:


Busquet,partey,gueye,Toni kroos,kante,fabinho,pjanic, etc

kroos pjanic are no dms

jargooflife912:
What do you guys think?

I need to follow this journalist

By the way I think NFF have bigger battles on their hands

jargooflife912:
What do you guys think?

Solid kid but NFF won't do anything.

See as them wan die untop Zuby matter!

If Ndidi cant play good passes like most of you agree with, how then do you compare him with a midfielder who glows with the ball on his feet....

There are qualities I look out for in a player and that is your ball playing abilities....Ndidi cant dictate play from deep and Ekong is also guilty of this,which is one of the reasons why we always hit a glitch in the midfield. Ndidi is a combative players with little ball playing acumen. I like my midfielders to play ball ,you don't and its okay.

Meanwhile, Ndidi is yet to prove himself on the GWG....always posting average performance.

Icon4s:
Today is my Birthday.
Wish me well guys

Happy birthday Sir, you are An Icon 4 us all, and you will prosper.

Icon4s:
Today is my Birthday.
Wish me well guys

Happy Birthday boss