Kayode starts on the bench as Girona currently take on Villarreal in the LA Liga. His side is down by 1-0 now against DR Congo international, Bakambu's Villarreal after 10mins of play....


Simy Nwankwo assisted Crotone's second goal as they lead 2-1 against Sadiq's Torino.

Alhassan Ibrahim Abdullahi starts for Austria Wien in their Austrian T-Mobile Bundesliga game against Sturm Graz.... game just 7mins old and goalless....

Nigerian Players P-Index

Taiwo Awoniyi (RE Mouscron): Played 85 mins of his team's 1-1 away draw with KRC Genk in the Belgian Jupiler League on Saturday. Gave a decent account of himself but he neither got on the scoresheet nor notched an assist.

He still boasts 4 goals and 3 assists in all comps though all in 9 appearances (733 mins of game time, 672 mins in the league alone)- 3 GLS and 2 assists in the League and 1 goal, 1 assist in the Cup.

Ex Nigeria U17 Goalkeeper Uzoho Sets La-Liga Record In Debut Game For Deportivo La Coruna



Francis Odinaka Uzoho who was a part of the Nigeria U17 team of 2013 has gone into the record books of the La-Liga following his debut for Deportivo La Coruna in their 0-0 draw away to Eibar.


The Nigerian who was signed from Qatar based Aspire Academy one year ago was handed his debut starting in goal for the boys of Coach Pep Mel at the Ipura Municipal Stadium, the home ground of Eibar.

At 18 years and 352 days, the over six feet tall becomes the youngest foreigner to keep goal in the history of the La-Liga following his debut, where he showed no sign of a player playing his first top flight day.


Ironically the oldest foreigner to have kept goal in the La-Liga also did so while playing for Deportivo La Coruna, and that was legendary Cameroon goalkeeper Jacques Songo’o when he kept goal for them at the age of 40 years and 67 days in 2004.


Uzoho will no doubt be hoping to emulate the success of Songo’o at the club as he is now going to be the first choice goalkeeper until Reuben who is out injured returns.


**Osas Mahawi

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/15/ex-nigeria-u17-goalkeeper-uzoho-sets-la-liga-record-in-debut-game-for-deportivo-la-coruna/

Nigerian Players P-Index

Umar Sadiq (Torino FC): Played all 90mins as his side secured a 2-2 away draw against Simy's Crotone.

It was his first start and first game for Torino.


Sadiq's Stats Infographic below....

Nigerian Players P-Index

Simeon "Simy" Nwankwo (Crotone): Played 90mins + 3mins of added time and was replaced late in the fourth min of added time as he helped his side to a 2-2 home draw against Torino. Joel Obi is still out injured.

Simy picked up an assist for his team's second goal and finished with a whoscored match rating of 7.3

Simy's Stats Infographic.....

Nigerian Players P-Index


Victor Osimhen (VFL Wolfsburg): Came on as a late sub in the 84th min as his side earned a 2-2 away draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

He had one shot which was off-target, made one key tackle, made seven touches on the ball and produced five passes for a passing accuracy of 60%.

His overall Whoscored match rating in six mins+ of action was 6.1

Nigerian Players P-Index

Chidozie Awaziem (FC Nantes): He featured for 90mins in his side's hard-earned 1-1 draw with Bordeaux (with Malcolm on display). A good shift he put in and really beginning to assert his importance as a mainstay for Ranieri in Nantes' central defence.

Awaziem's Stats Infographic.....

Nigerian Players P-Index

Samuel Adegbenro (Rosenberg, Norway): Put in a bright shift as the LWF for his side in their 3-0 away win over Tromsoe in the Norwegian Eliteserian League. He bagged a goal for himself, the team's first in the fifth min and lasted 84mins before being replaced.

He now has 8goals and Five Assists in 2017 in the Norwegian league in 20 appearances.

Adegbenro's stats Infographic....

Aiteo Takes Over Sponsorship Of CAF Awards



Nigerian oil company Aiteo Group has taken over the sponsorshipof the annual CAF Awards organised by the Confederation of African Football.

Telecommunications company Globacom has been sponsoring the awards since 2005 but Aiteo announced on Sunday that they are the new sponsors.

The CAF Awards recognise the best players, coaches, administrators and teams in Africa annually.

“We are now proud to take our corporate social investments in developing African football by sponsoring @CAF_Online award… More to follow,” Aiteo tweeted on Sunday along with a picture of CAF President Ahmad Ahmad in Lagos.

Aiteo also sponsors the Nigerian FA Cup, whose final will be played this evening between Akwa United and Niger Tornadoes in Lagos.

Aiteo recently signed a huge partnership deal with the Nigeria Football Federation.

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/aiteo-takes-sponsorship-caf-awards/

FIFA Invite Amuneke To The Best Football Awards



By Johnny Edward: World football governing body FIFA have invited former African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke to this year’s The Best Football Awards billed for London on 23 October, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Top names in football will gather for the award that will crown the top performers of the year and Amuneke is delighted to be part of it.

Amuneke will attend alongside Carlos Valderrama, Marcel Desailly and Fernando Morientes who had ealier mentored the teams at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

The Ex-Super Eagles winger believes this is an opportunity to break more grounds in football aside from coaching.

“It’s a good thing that one is been recognised globally by FIFA and now I have been invited for FIFA awards in London,” Amuneke told Completesportsnigeria.com.


The second edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards will take place at the London Palladium, on Argyll Street, Soho, London on Monday, 23rd October 2017.

In total, nine trophies will be presented at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony. They are the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2017, the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2017, the Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2017
the Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2017,the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award 2017, the FIFA Puskás Award 2017.

Others are the FIFA Fair Play Award 2017, the FIFA Fan Award 2017 and the FIFA FIFPro World11

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/fifa-invite-amuneke-best-football-awards/

SYLVESTER IGBOUN GOAL STEERS UFA PAST LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
By Taiye Taiwo




The 27-year-old once again proved himself in front of goal for Sergei Semak’s side with his match winning effort against the Railroaders

Sylvester Igboun was the hero for Ufa as they defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 in a Russian Premier League.

The Nigeria international scored the only goal in the Stadion Neftyanik on Sunday afternoon as the Townspeople saw off Yury Semin’s men who are placed second in the league.

Igboun’s effort came in the 76th minute courtesy of an assist from Bojan Jokic as Sergei Semak’s men climb to the seventh spot in the Russian topflight with 17 points.

The forward who has scored Ufa’s two goals in their last three league games, played for the entire duration of the encounter but was cautioned in the 70th minute.

Ufa will lock horns with SKA Khabarovsk for their next league game on Saturday.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/sylvester-igboun-goal-steers-ufa-past-lokomotiv-moscow/o54djdzzczzg13vtwp4bvv3l7

Nigerian Players P-Index

Olarenwaju Kayode (Girona): Came on as a 45mins sub and played the remaining 45mins in his side's 2-1 loss to Villarreal in the LA Liga.

Kayode's Stats Infographic.....

Nigerian Players P-Index

Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag): Once again featured for all 90mins as his club side fell 2-1 at home to Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Ebuehi's Stats Infographic is seen below....

Posted this news much earlier Sir..... But thanks all the same... Happy Sunday Sir Soetan....

soetanoreoluwa:
FIFA Invite Amuneke To The Best Football Awards



By Johnny Edward: World football governing body FIFA have invited former African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke to this year’s The Best Football Awards billed for London on 23 October, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Top names in football will gather for the award that will crown the top performers of the year and Amuneke is delighted to be part of it.

Amuneke will attend alongside Carlos Valderrama, Marcel Desailly and Fernando Morientes who had ealier mentored the teams at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

The Ex-Super Eagles winger believes this is an opportunity to break more grounds in football aside from coaching.

“It’s a good thing that one is been recognised globally by FIFA and now I have been invited for FIFA awards in London,” Amuneke told Completesportsnigeria.com.


The second edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards will take place at the London Palladium, on Argyll Street, Soho, London on Monday, 23rd October 2017.

In total, nine trophies will be presented at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony. They are the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2017, the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2017, the Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2017
the Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2017,the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award 2017, the FIFA Puskás Award 2017.

Others are the FIFA Fair Play Award 2017, the FIFA Fan Award 2017 and the FIFA FIFPro World11

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/fifa-invite-amuneke-best-football-awards/

Nigerian Players P-Index

Ifeanyi Matthew, Charles Ezeh and Chigozie Udoji (Lillestrom): Matthew and Ezeh played the whole 90mins for Lillestrom while Udoji came in as an 82nd min sub and bagged an assist for the only goal of the game as their side beat Sogndal 1-0 in the Norwegian league.

Their overall Stats Infographic below...

Nigerian Players P-Index


Chidiebere Nwakali (Sogndal): Featured for 87mins as his side fell to a 1-0 loss to Matthew's Lillestrom.

His stats Infographic below....

Nigerian Players P-Index

Alhassan Ibrahim Abdullahi (Austria Wien): Featured for all 90 mins but couldn't prevent his side from falling 3-0 to Sturm Graz in the Austrian T-Mobile Bundesliga.

Card-Happy Gabonese Referee To Officiate Algeria vs Nigeria World Cup Qualifier




With 26 days to go before a dead-rubber World Cup qualifier between Algeria and Nigeria, Fifa has appointed Gabonese referee Eric Otogo-Castane to officiate the match.

The 41-year-old will be assisted by MM. Aboubacar Doumbouya of Guinea and Seydou Tiama of Burkina Faso, while the fourth referee is Juste Ephrem Zio of Burkina Faso.

Omer Kouamé Dehoulé from Côte d'Ivoire is the match commissioner, while the Referee Inspector is Aden Robleh Rayaleh from Djibouti.

Eric Otogo-Castane has been a Fifa referee since 2011 and CAF Elite Referee since November of that year.
He took charge of a match at the 2012 African Cup of Nations, and officiated three times at the 2015 AFCON.

In the last six years, Otogo-Castane has been in the middle in 47 continental and U20 World Cup games, and awarded 22 penalties, issued 155 yellow cards and sent off three players.

Nigeria,who have already qualified for the World Cup, will wrap up group play at Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine on November 10, 2017.


**Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Source: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25031

Moses Yet To To Exorcise His Injury Demons As Chelsea Left Counting The Costs Again



Premier League whipping boys Crystal Palace gave their flagging campaign a massive boost with a 2-1 upset against Chelsea yesterday and perhaps, there were vivid themes that arose from the insipid showing the Blues armoury had put up.

When Victor Moses went down clutching his hamstring five minutes before halftime, the signs were shockingly ominous for Chelsea and even a bewildered Antonio Conte would have had goose bumps before inevitably readying Davide Zappacosta for a change.

Roy Hodgson's men had already nudged themselves in front for their first goal of the season early on with an unfortunate own goal from Cesar Azpilicueta before Tiémoué Bakayoko headed in his maiden Premier League goal to haul his side back level.

Yet, the blues were already missing two of their most influential players in Ngolo Kante and Alvaro Morata,and the mere prospect of having another who would bring shape and balance to their play out was surely enough to disrupt their blue print tactically.
What followed next then,was unscripted — Mamadou Sakho powered deep into Chelsea's half and fed Wilfried Zaha.

The Ivorian who was having one of his best outings,turned the new comer,Zappacosta inside out, brilliantly jinked past Azpilicueta before placing his shot across Thibaut Courtois and into the bottom right.

That goal eventually turned out to be the winner and shortly before it came, the reality was unusually bleak for Chelsea at Selhurst Park.

Upfront,the Blues had looked so shorn of any meaningful goal-scoring threat and the mere sight of an ineffectual Batshuayi, who started in place of the injured Morata, alongside the disappointing Willian huffing around in frustration further summed up a miserable afternoon for the champions.

Following the defeat, Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte lamented his side's worsening injury situation, thus, "I think, in this
moment,for us, it's a very difficult monent", he enthused.

"When you start a game without Morata and without Kante,it's not simple.

"Above all if, during the game, another important player in your team has an injury too like Victor Moses. I hope to have him back very soon because this moment is very difficult for us.

"To lose three or four players ... it's a big problem for us. But, despite this, we have to find the will to fight. I think this season will be very difficult and, for this reason, we have to put 150 percent in".

As for Moses, it seems the Nigerian is yet to truly exorcise his injury demons after having his career terribly stagnated with injuries from his time at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United.
He has, so far started six of Chelsea's eight Premier League matches this term, having become a mainstay in the Blue's line-up during their title winning campaign last season.


**Emmanuel Chinaza


Source: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=25030

Opponents Watch


Algerian FA Unveils Ex-Desert Foxes Coach Saadane As Director Of National Teams
By David Meshioye




Federation of Algerian Football (FAF) has appointed former national team coach Rabah Saadane as the new Technical Director of the national teams. Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Lebuteur revealed that Saadane who led the Desert Foxes to qualify for three FIFA World Cup tournaments; 1982, 1986 and 2010, was considered for the post following his track record and wealth of experience.

Saadane will be assisted by another experienced coach, Boualem Charef as FAF makes bold moves to resuscitate its ailing football, especially the Desert Foxes.

The unveiling, which took place at the Sidi-Moussa National Technical Center on Sunday was spearheaded by Federation of Algeria Football ( FAF) President, Kheïreddine Zetchi.

Lebuteur reported that the trio reached an agreement on terms and conditions of the contract which has not been made public as at press time.

The former national team manager is expected to come up with a structure aimed at revamping Algerian football.

FAF president did not specify if Saadane will take charge of the Desert Foxes for the November 11 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Nigeria. The Super Eagles have already bagged the sole ticket in the Group B of the African qualifiers for Russia 2018 with a game to spare.
All eyes are now on the former Desert Foxes veteran coach, to see how he would transform the fortunes of Algerian football.

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/algerian-fa-unveils-ex-coach-saadane/

Nigerian Players P-Index

Chidera Ejuke (Vaalerenga): The 19 year old diminutive Forward/attacking winger/midfielder had an outstanding 62 mins in the colors of his club side as he inspired them to a 5-1 win over Aalesund in the Norwegian Eliteserien League.

He bagged two goals before being subbed off and was rated MOTM.

His Stats Infographic below....

Nigerian Players P-Index


Squawka Analysis of Francis Uzoho's Groundbreaking debut and full start in LA Liga earlier today...

Deportivo has a fine history with African Goalies so it would not be much of a surprise to see Uzoho go on and become big with Deportivo... I pray his growth keeps to this positive momentum it is experiencing coz he is the future of our Goalkeeping position alongside a few others rising...

Nigerian Players P-Index


Sammy Ameobi (Bolton Wanderers): Featured for 72 mins in his side's 2-1 home win against Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship. He bagged a goal and gave a MOTM display.

Ameobi's Stats Infographic.....

Premier Lotto Rewards Super Eagles With N50m For World Cup Ticket
By James Agberebi




The Super Eagles have been presented with the sum of N50
million by Premier Lotto following their qualification for the Russia 2018 World Cup, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

The money was presented to Coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr during half-time of the 2017 Aiteo Cup at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Sunday.
Presenting the cheque to Rohr was a representative of Premier Lotto.

The Eagles’ place at next year’s World Cup was confirmed after they pipped African qualifying Group B opponents Chipolopolo of Zambia in Uyo last Saturday.

Nigeria won the sole ticket with a game to spare from a tough group consisting of Algeria, Zambia and African champions Cameroon.

The Nigerian side will take on Algeria in their final group game on November 10 in Constantine.

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/premier-lotto-rewards-super-eagles-n50m/

Highly Rated Tottenham Hotspur Prospect Opt For Nigeria Ahead Of England



Nigeria have once again beaten England to the services of another player with Tottenham Hotspur highly rated 17 year old Moroyin Omolabi committing his international future to Nigeria ahead of the land of his birth.



According to the father of the defensive midfielder who is also comfortable in central defence his son dreams of representing Nigeria at the World Cup, and that could come as early as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.


” My kids are three in Number, Moroyin has two other brothers Ifeoluwa and Tomiwa and despite being born in England these kids love Nigeria. We hail from Abeokuta but I grew up in Lagos before I moved to England some 30 years ago.


” My son told me he will be the anchor position leading Nigeria to the 2022 World Cup.. Dad just watch out for me he said”, Omolabi senior told Gongnews.net.

Tipped for quick promotion to the first team of Tottenham Hotspur his decison to opt for Nigeria will no doubt hurt the English FA who are already fuming after losing ex youth internationals Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses and recently Ola Aina to Nigeria.


Tammy Abraham is another player also close to switching allegiance to Nigeria with the England U21 forward admitting that he is in talks with Nigeria over a possible switch of allegiance.


**Osas Mahawi

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/15/highly-rated-tottenham-hotspur-prospect-opt-for-nigeria-ahead-of-england/

Spelt Ejuke by WhoScored but he is the same Chidera Ejike.. fine prospect


Chidera “Nigerian Iniesta ” Ejike Scores Twice As Valerenga Rout Aalesund





Nigeria U19 star Chidera Ejike was among the goal scorers for his Norwegian side Valerenga in their 5-1 win over Aalesund in a top division game in Norway.

Ejike put his team two goals up in the 7th minute with his first goal of the game which gave them a 2-0 lead before adding another in the 29th minute to once again help his team maintain their two goal cushion after Aalesund pull a goal back.

The brace took his tally for the season to three goals with two of the goals coming in a space of one month after he failed to score in his first four months at the club following his move from Geelec Football Academy of Jos.

Widely regarded as one of the top prospect in Nigeria youth football, he had a trial with Liverpool last season but saw the move broke down after the club failed to reach an agreement on the terms of the deal.

He turned down a chance to join Spanish La-Liga side Espanyol in preference for the move to Valerenga after meeting with top Nigerian agent Atta Aneke who convinced him to move to the Norwegian outfit.


**Ade Emmanuel


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/15/chidera-nigerian-iniesta-ejike-scores-twice-as-valerenga-rout-aalesund/

Nantes Fans Gushing Over Awaziem After Dazzling Performance Against Bordeaux



Nigeria international defender Chidozie Awaziem won praises from fans of French Ligue 1 side Nantes following his fine performance in their 1-1 draw away to Bordeaux in a Ligue 1 clash.

Fresh from the international break where he was a part of the Nigerian team that defeated Zambia 1-0 to progress to the World Cup in Russia next year, the defender who was an unused substitute for Nigeria was on from the start from Nantes.

He lasted the entire duration of the game, with the 20 year old displaying an unusual calmness in tackles and also comfortability when on the ball, in addition to his aerial prowess.

Awaziem success rate with tackles won the fans of the club over with most of them terming him as their best defender in a while on their fans forum which Owngoalnigeria.com correspondent read.

On loan to the French side from Portuguese giants FC Porto, the fans of the club have seen enough of him to demand the club begin talks with him over making his deal permanent when his loan expires in the summer.



**Daniel Martins

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/15/nantes-fans-gushing-over-awaziem-after-dazzling-performance-against-bordeaux/

Ex Super Eagles Fans Favourite Ikechukwu Uche Scores Another Brace For Spanish Side Gimnastic



Former Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche has hit a purple patch at Spanish second division side Gimnastic with his second brace in three days coming in their 5-1 win at Cordoba.

Uche scored both goals for Gimnastic in their 2-0 win over Granada in their last league game during the course of the week, he repeated same feat yesterday against Cordoba by scoring in the 1st and 15th minute in their win at Cordoba.

The brace means he now has five goals from 8 games, just three short of his last season total of 8 goals in 24 games in his first stint at the club following his capture on a free transfer from Mexican side Tigres UANL.

33 year old Uche moved to the Mexican side from Spanish La-Liga side Villarreal a move which came as a surprise to many back in 2015, as he was in his prime and playing for a modest La-Liga team.

The move didn’t work out and after spending the second part of his one year deal on loan to Malaga, he was released from his contract by the Mexican side, and he teamed up with Gimnastic who are in the Spanish second division which he played in 2006 during his stint with Recreativo Huelva.


**Ade Emmanuel


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/16/ex-super-eagles-fans-favourite-ikechukwu-uche-scores-another-brace-for-spanish-side-gimnastic/

Super Eagles Move Three Spots In Latest FIFA Rankings, Still 5th In Africa



The Super Eagles of Nigeria moved three spots in the latest FIFA Rankings released by world football governing body FIFA a while ago.

Nigeria’s win over Zambia wasn’t factored into the calculations for the rankings for September with FIFA giving the Eagles point for the win and the draw picked up against Cameroon.

They were ranked 44th in the August rankings, but the four points picked up in the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers tie against Cameroon has helped them move three spots to 41 in the world.

However they are still 5th in Africa behind Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal and Congo DR who are ranked as Africa’s top teams by FIFA going by their global ranking of 28th, 30th, 32th and 35th respectively.


**Osas Mahawi

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/16/super-eagles-move-three-spots-in-latest-fifa-rankings-still-5th-in-africa/

Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi Wins Another MOTM Award In China



Captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria John Obi Mikel was once again voted Man of the Match for Tianjin Teda in their morale boosting 2-1 win away to Shanghai Shenhua.

Mikel picked up same award in their last game before the international break where he lead Nigeria to World Cup qualification thanks to a 1-0 win over Zambia in Uyo.

Yesterday he picked up from where he left off with a display which earned him a booking but overall did enough to earn himself another personal award as his team maintain their climb up the Chinese League table.

Since returning from injury he has helped the team to have some sort of stability alternating as a central defender and most times in his favourite role in the midfield, and yesterday he showed why he is so highly rated.


**Ade Emmanuel.

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/16/super-eagles-captain-mikel-obi-wins-another-motm-award-in-china-2/

Stop Complaining About Echeijile , He Is Our Best For Now – Rohr Backs Eagles Defender



Elderson Echiejile is the best option for Nigeria in the left back position of the senior national team of Nigeria according to coach of the team Gernot Rohr.


Echeijile has been roundly viewed by many as the weak spot in the team but Rohr insist he still remains the best in the position for now , citing his regular run of games at Turkish side Sivasspor as one of the reasons.

There has been calls for the manager to drop the 29 year old for recently capped defender Ola Aina, but Rohr said as long as he stays fit he remains the best option for the team at left back.

” We (Nigeria) have to admit that he ( Echeijile) has not done badly so far as our left full back. He did well against Zambia and Cameroon especially against Christian Bassogog, who was the best player at the AFCON “, he said in Lagos.

” I noticed that everybody is complaining about his position. But if he is fit and playing regularly for his club, he has that position “, Rohr remarked.


**Maxwell Pius

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/16/stop-complaining-about-echeijile-he-is-our-best-for-now-rohr-backs-eagles-defender/