₦airaland Forum

Former Super Eagles forward Victor Ikpeba has waxed lyrical about Bukayo Saka and wants the Arsenal youngster to play for the three-time African champions at the international level, reports Completesports.com.

Saka has come in for huge praise this season following a number of impressive performances for the Gunners.

The 18-year-old recently signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates and has since celebrated with a goal and an assist in consecutive games.
Born in Ealing, Saka has Nigerian parents and is therefore eligible to play for the West Africans.
The versatile winger will, however, have to apply for a change of nationality should he decide to switch allegiance having represented England at youth level.
He already has four goals in 10 appearances for the England U-19’s.

Following another superb display for Arsenal in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium, Ikpeba, a member of Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winning squad is eager to see Saka play for the Super Eagles.

“Watching the Arsenal Vs Leicester City game and I think Gernot Rohr should invite Bukayo Saka to the Super Eagles camp once the paperwork has been concluded,” Ikpeba tweeted.

Super Eagles head Gernot Rohr coach made it clear in an interview with ESPN in June that Saka will need to make the first move, as Nigeria will not come begging for his services.
The likes of Joe Aribo of Rangers, Semi Ajayi of West Brom, Viv Solomon-Otabor of CSKA Sofia, Josh Maja of Bordeaux, and Ola Aina of Torino are all current Nigerian international who were all born in England, specifically London.

Meanwhile, Saka’s former Arsenal team-mate Alex Iwobi and Chelsea’s Victor Moses were born in Nigeria but raised in England and both represented their adopted nation at youth level.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Moses Simon has congratulated his international team-mate Victor Osimhen after Lille forward won the award for the Best African Player In Ligue 1 on Monday, reports Completesports.com.

Osimhen beat Simon and eight other African stars to the award.

“Congrats my bro @victorosimhen9 glad you have it more success� ,” Simon wrote on his Twitter handle.
Osimhen succeeds last year’s winner Nicolas Pepe as well as becoming the second Nigerian after Vincent Enyeama (2014) to claim the individual prize since inception in 2009.
The 21-year-old, who joined Lille from Belgian Pro League club Sporting Charleroi last summer was also named the club’s player of the year.

Osimhen scored 18 goals and registered six assists in 38 appearances across all competitions for Lille during the campaign.

Simon also enjoyed a successful debut campaign in France for Nantes.

The versatile winger scored nine goals and grabbed eight assists in 30 games across all competitions for the Canaries.

He also picked up the Nantes’ player of the year and goal of the season prize.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Anthony Martial is learning a lot from the experience of Odion Ighalo as a number nine.

Martial, 24, had lost his way somewhat in the last few years after a promising start to his United career under Louis van Gaal.

But the former AS Monaco forward is beginning to regain the form he showed in his early days at the club, following his first hat-trick for the club last week.
And Solskjaer believes Martial is getting important tips from Ighalo who has been impressive since his loan move.

“Odion is a seasoned No 9. He’s played that position his whole career whereas Anthony has played more out on the wing,” Solskjaer tells Sky Sports.

“Odion is helping on the training pitch, in terms of his movement, hold-up play and just being himself… Anthony’s learning off an experienced centre-forward.

“It’s the first season that he’s really playing as a No. 9; he’s had to have that burden of the shirt and be that central focus through the middle.

“Sometimes that’s not easy when you play for Manchester United but he knows that we trust him and I think he knows that we want him to keep developing.
“We’ll keep challenging him. There are always players in and around the team – and outside the club – who would want to be No. 9 for Manchester United. There’s always pressure on a centre-forward but so far he’s performed really well.”

On the improvements in Martial’s game so far this season, the 1999 treble winner said: “He’s playing with a smile on his face.

“Anthony has had a really good season, he’s been really important for us. We felt it during the couple of months he was out injured; we struggled.

“But he knows that we trust him. He knows that we’ll have patience with him and that we’ll keep working with him.”

“He’s working hard in the gym,” Solskjaer says. “He’s enjoying the physical challenge more.
“He’s a good finisher but it’s about being in and around the right positions.

“He’s developed more and more in terms of getting into that penalty area and closer to the goal.

“We do a lot of work in finishing groups and sessions but it’s also down to him to be mentally sharp and ready. We’ve always known he’s a quality player and highly, highly skilful.”

Arsenal is set to allow US-born Nigerian striker Folarin Balogun to leave the Emirates this summer following breakdown over a new contract agreement.

Balogun, 18, who is yet to make his senior debut for Arsenal has impressed for the Gunners’ Under 23s, scoring 10 goals in 16 appearances this season.
The club reportedly turned down a £5million offer for Balogun from Brentford in January in the hope of agreeing to a new contract with him.

But according to The Athletic after failing to make a breakthrough in talks, Arsenal are ready to sell him when the transfer window reopens as long as a suitable offer arrives.

Balogun’s current deal expires at the end of next season and the Gunners would only receive a limited about of compensation for him, especially if he moves abroad.

Mikel Arteta has given chances to a number of young players since replacing Unai Emery last December, but Balogun is yet to make the step up.
The New York-born forward is said to have decided his future lies elsewhere, with ‘a host of Europe’s leading clubs’ interested in him.

Arsenal will hope to insert a hefty sell-on clause in any deal they do this summer after seeing a number of youngsters – including Serge Gnabry and Donyell Malen – shine after leaving the Emirates to play on the continent.

Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Kelechi Nwakali is determined to help SD Huesca secure promotion to LaLiga at the end of the current campaign, Completesports.com reports.

Nwakali linked up with Huesca last summer from Premier League giants Arsenal but had his debut delayed due to visa issues and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 22-year-old, however, made his long-awaited debut for the Segunda Division club against Mirandes last week.
The midfielder made his second appearance for the club in the 2-2 away draw at Albacete on Sunday.
“I’m excited to be playing competitive football again. I have waited so long for this moment and I’m fully committed to helping the club achieve promotion,” Nwakali told AOI Football.

“The aim is to pick one of the automatic promotion tickets; we have a big game tomorrow against league leaders Cadiz.

“It won’t be an easy match but the entire squad is very committed to ensuring we get back to winning ways.”

Huesca currently the fourth position in the table with 54 points from 34 games.

The top two teams will secure promotion to the top flight.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Nigeria international, Samuel Chukwueze is in line to make his 30th Spanish Laliga appearance of the season when Villarreal welcome Sevilla to the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Chukwueze will be eagerly looking forward to putting an end to his La Liga goal drought which currently stands at 16 matches when the action begins on Monday night.

The 21-year-old has scored three goals and contributed four assists in 29 Spanish top-flight matches for the Yellow Submarine during the 2019/20 season but last found the target in November.
Chukwueze will hope to help his side continue their winning form when they face Sevilla with the Yellow Submarine having won each of their last three games with an identical 1-0 scoreline.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Former England international Peter Crouch has criticised Arsenal chiefs for allowing Bukayo Saka’s contract to run down as the youngster is linked with a move away.

Arsenal is still trying to tie down Saka to a new deal but has not succeeded thus far.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal’s leading goalscorer, is also about to enter the final year of his deal.
Aaron Ramsey left the Emirates last summer and joined Serie A giants Juventus on a free.

Arsenal is now trying to protect against similar scenarios happening and will look to offload players who have 12 months remaining on their contracts.

But Crouch has questioned why they have allowed the situation to reach this stage while having “players who don’t want to be there” on lucrative deals.

“I would be concerned (his contract),” Crouch said on BT Sport. “It’s happened time and time again at Arsenal – I don’t know who is in charge of contracts at Arsenal but he needs to be sorted.

“They are giving big, big contracts to players who don’t want to be there and haven’t sorted someone out with immense potential like Saka.
“There are some players that lack desire at Arsenal and he is shining light. They should be tying down these young stars.”

On Saturday Saka had an assist in Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex.

It was his 11th assist in all competitions for the Gunners this season, more than any other player in the team.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Arsenal’s exciting young left-winger Bukayo Saka has been nominated for the 2020 Golden Boy award.

Saka was included after Italian publication Tuttosport released its initial list of 100 candidates for the 2020 award, which honours the best under-21 player in Europe each year.

The 18-year-old who was nominated alongside his Arsenal teammate Gabriel Martinelli has been one of the outstanding players for the Gunners this season.
So far this season he has scored three goals provided nine assists in 30 appearances in all competitions.

Other Premier League youngsters who made the list are Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Also in the running for this year’s award are Borussia Dortmund duo Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.

Previous winners of the prestigious award include Rafael van der Vaart (in its inaugural year in 2003), Wayne Rooney (2004), Lionel Messi (2005), Raheem Sterling (2014) and Kylian Mbappe (2017), while last year the prize was given to Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid.
The initial 100 lists will be reduced to a shortlist of 20 by public vote before a panel of 40 journalists from a range of countries and publications select the overall winner for this year.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Former Nigeria international, Victor Moses, has been listed by coach Frank Lampard among Chelsea players to be ask to go via transfer market listing ahead of next season.

Moses who arrived Stamford Bridge in 2012 from Wigan has had a mix of lows and downs experienced with the Blues having had to endure a back and forth loan deals which have taken him to Liverpool, Stoke City, West Ham, Fenerbahce and currently Inter Milan
The 29-year old versatile player had won the Europa League in his first season at Chelsea and in-between his loan sojourns, he also won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2016/17 and the FA Cup the following season under Antonio Conte.
In a report in The Sun, Moses’ hopes of returning to Chelsea has now been dealt a massive blow with Lampard listing him among Chelsea stars who are surplus to requirements in a bid to raise the fund needed to buy Leverkusen attacking star Kai Havertz and Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell.

Inter Milan have an option to sign the 29-year-old wing-back for £10million but are not prepared to pay that during the coronavirus recession.

They could complete a deal for half of that price and Chelsea are unlikely to stand in the way of his departure.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has advised Super Eagles and Villareal winger Samuel Chukwueze to work on his goal-scoring ability, Completesports.com reports.

Adepoju stated this following Chukwueze’s impressive performance for Villareal in their dramatic away win against Celta Vigo, in Saturday’s LaLiga game.
Chukwueze who was among the substitute before coming on was a handful for the Celta Vigo defence.
He had a hand in Villareal’s late goal as his goal-bound shot was blocked before Manu Trigueros pounced on the rebound to score a 91st-minute winner.

And reacting to Chukwueze’s performance, Adepoju described the 2019 AFCON bronze medal winner as an exciting player.

“Great performance from Samuel Chukwueze against Celta Vigo at the Estadio de Balaidos,” Adepoju wrote on his Twitter handle.

“What an exciting player he is! I hope he keeps improving as well as work more on his goal-scoring abilities.”

Saturday’s game was Chukwueze’s 27th in LaLiga, netting three goals and three assists.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Mainz manager Achim Beielorzer says Taiwo Awoniyi is back on his feet again after he suffered a concussion in Sunday’s home clash against Augsburg, reports Completesports.com.

The striker was stretchered off and taken to hospital following a nasty fall early in the game.
The play was delayed for about five minutes following the incident.
The 22-year-old was replaced by Nigerian-born Austrian international Karim Onisiwo.

“Taiwo is conscious and responsive. He has suffered a severe concussion but can remember everything,” Beierlorzer told a news conference.

Awoniyi has featured in 12 league games for Mainz this season and scored once.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi may become teammates with Brazilian defender Thiago Silva as Everton have already opened talks with the Paris Saint-Germain skipper.

PSG’s sporting director and Brazil 1994 World Cup winner Leonardo Araujo confirmed that Silva will be leaving the Ligue 1 side once this season’s Champions League campaign ends.
Silva’s former club, AC Milan, is said to be interested in re-signing the 35-year-old.
And according to transfer expert Nicolo Schira, it is Everton who is in an early lead for the central defender’s signature.

Schira said having Carlo Ancelotti as a manager at Goodison Park could be ‘decisive’ in the Toffees’ pursuit of the soon-to-be free agent.

Silva has joined PSG back in 2012 from AC Milan and has played over 200 matches for the club.

He has won seven Ligue 1 titles and has also lifted over 10 domestic cup trophies in his time at the Parc des Princes.
The 2019-20 Ligue 1 season was cancelled back in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, with PSG being crowd champions once again – as they were 12 points ahead of second-placed Marseille with a game in hand.

Everton is currently quite light on defensive options, with just Yerry Mina and Michael Keane as their only natural centre-back options.

Mason Holgate and Cuco Martina can also cover in the central positions, but Ancelotti will be looking to secure a cultured centre back in the upcoming transfer window.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Lille striker Victor Osimhen does not dream of moving to the Premier League this summer, according to his agent.

Osimhen signed for Lille last summer and enjoyed a fruitful debut campaign which saw him net 18 goals and grab six assists before the French league season was curtailed last month.
The 21-year-old’s fine form in front of goal led to reports linking him with a move to England this summer, with Manchester United one side tipped to make a move.
Suggestions of a move to United were amplified when fans’ favourite Odion Ighalo labelled his Nigerian compatriot as ‘the future of football’ two months ago, but it seems as though they’ll have to wait if they are to sign the forward.
Addressing rumours that a deal with Napoli is close to the player’s brother-in-law and agent, Osita Okolo, also shot down reports of a move to England.
“I can say that, for now, Osimhen hasn’t agreed on anything with Napoli or another club,” Okolo told Radio Marte.

“I can also deny that he dreams of going to the Premier League, I don’t know why [the press] says certain things. Naples is a fantastic city and Napoli are a very good team.

“I’m always honoured whenever I hear these links, but for now there’s no deal in place, even if negotiations with them are ongoing.

“He wants to play regularly, we’re not going to repeat certain bad experiences from the past.

“The Napoli fans are fantastic, their stadium is beautiful. I can only speak well of Naples and its team.”
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has revealed the reason why his move to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam did not work.

Simon who made this known in an interview on Brila FM said the financial disagreement between his agent and officials of Ajax stopped the deal from going through.
“My agent and the club did not agree on financial terms but then I was young and just wanted to play but it didn’t happen well for me so this is the reason.
“All I know is I did very well in the test games, scored some goals but it didn’t work out.”

On talks about the Ligue 1 being described as easy following his Nantes Player of the Year award despite being his debut season in French football, Simon disagreed.

“I don’t think the French league is easy, It’s all about settling down quickly,” he said.

“For me, it’s not easy, maybe for some players it’s easy but for me, it’s a difficult league.”

Simon joined Nantes on loan from LaLiga club Levante in 2019.

The 24-year-old scored nine goals and made eight assists in 30 games in all competitions for Nantes.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Victor Osimhen has been rated as the fourth most expensive Africa star behind Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Nicolas Pepe by the CIES Football Observatory, Completesports.com reports.

The CIES released the list of top 100 costliest players in the world on Monday.
Osimhen is also rated the 66th in the world following a compilation of the market value of the players in the Top-5 leagues.
The 21-year-old, who scored 18 goals and registered six assists in 31 league appearances for French Ligue 1 club Lille last season is valued at €64m.
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who is the other Nigerian in the Top 100 most expensive players in the world is valued at €50m.

Ndidi is ranked fifth in Africa and 94th in the world.

Liverpool duo, Salah and Mane are valued at €145 and €139 respectively, while Arsenal’s Pepe is third with a value of €73m.

PSG star Kylian Mbappe is the most expensive player in the world with a value of €259.2
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Super Falcons captain Asisat Oshoala has been included in the Spanish Primera Iberdola Team of the Season, reports Completesports.com.

Oshoala, 25, scored 20 goals and bagged one assist in 19 appearances for Barcelona Ladies in the 2019/2020 campaign.
The former Arsenal and Liverpool Ladies striker played a key role as the Catalans claimed the league title for the first time in five years.
Oshoala also won the Copa Catalunya and Super Women’s Cup with Barcelona Ladies during the season.
Her Barcelona team-mates; Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon, Marian Torrejon, Patri Guijarro were also included in the list.

The other two are, Jenni Hermoso and Graham Hansen.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Nigerian winger Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee has been nominated for Augsburg’s Man of the Match award following his impressive performance in their 1-1 home draw against FC Cologne in Sunday’s Bundesliga game, Completesports.com reports.

Augsburg made the announcement on their verified Twitter handle after Sunday’s game.
Sarenren-Bazee put up an outstanding display for Augsburg as he was a thorn in the flesh for Cologne from the right-wing.
The 23-year-old was nominated alongside German-born Nigerian defender Felix Uduokhai, Philipp Max and Raphael Framberger.

Fans of Augsburg are expected to select their best player of the match from the four-man to shortlist in a poll published on the club’s Twitter handle.

Sarenren-Bazee featured for 90 minutes in the game which was his seventh in the league this season.

Max rescued a point for Augsburg with two minutes remaining in the game after Anthony Modeste had given Cologne the lead on 85 minutes.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was on the verge of severing contract with national team coach Gernot Rohr last month, but for the Super Eagles players’ insistence that the German be retained, Completesports.com can exclusively report.

Rohr’s contract was expected to elapse by the end of June, and the NFF renewed it last month after protracted contract talks that dragged since 2019. The German got a fresh two and a half year mandate to manage the Super Eagles to win the AFCON and qualify for World Cup
“It is true that the NFF was ready to replace Rohr and we’re looking at the documents of some European and a South American coaches who wanted the job before the players' contributions were sought-after. Rohr had agreed to all the new conditions we thought he would reject in an effort to keep his job,” our source who is an influential member of the NFF divulged to Completesports.com.
“With the support of higher authorities Rohr was not going to get his contract renewed until we decided to reach out to some Super Eagles players and get their support, but we were shocked when they insisted that they want the Franco/German coach to continue.”

Our impeccable source added: “I tell you, Rohr’s contract was not going to be renewed despite his agreeing to new conditions inserted in his offer, but the players clinched the job for him with their insistence that they don’t want to start all over again with a new coach. We saw reason with them and had to convince the government to allow us to give him a new contract

“It is not true that we were set to contract [Harry] Redknapp to replace Rohr. However, there were not a good number of coaches who wanted to coach the Super Eagles. We are glad to have renewed the contract and we are confident Rohr will do better this time around. He is a good coach and we are sticking with him.”
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Nigeria’s senior national team head coach, Gernot Rohr says the Super Eagles need to stay humble and qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations first before dreaming about lifting the trophy for the fourth time. Rohr told Channels Television in an interview monitored Monday why he accepted a cut in his salary as he strives to become the longest-serving Eagles coach…

Covid19 has posted a lot of things in our world of sports. When football comes back, do you think it will ever be the same again?

Rohr: Football is going to change and I hope our society will have respect for other people, to take care of the poor people, people with health problems. And also, you can see the stadia are empty already. I think it will come back to matches with crowd but not full stadium for the moment. I think by September and October, we will have games perhaps with 10,000 people in the big stadium of Alianz in Munich. We will have matches in a different kind of spirit, I hope, with more fair play, with more respect. I think, perhaps, something positive will come out of this covid19.

What is it like playing football without fans?

It’s different and more like in training. In training, we are alone most of the time with nobody watching us. We do training games, you can hear the coaches speaking, hear the staff participating, you can hear the players crying and all this thing, you don’t have it when there is a crowd. You know that now, especially in Munich and another stadium also, they have the audio with sounds of fans but in an empty stadium. It’s make-believe for the players to think fans are in the stadium. But it is different, we need our fans, we need the crowd and I hope very soon we can see matches with our people and I think it will start with a few thousand in the big stadium. And then if the number of the Covid19 cases are going down, we will have more people filling the stadium again and perhaps next year, it will be like before hopefully.

Contract renewal has been done with some conditions. One of the conditions is that you will be paid in Naira and the other you will live in Nigeria.
And you also said you don’t even mind getting a lower salary. Coach, explain this your love for Nigeria?

You know that I never speak about the confidential side of my contract. You heard President Pinnick as your invited guest and he spoke about it. He is the boss and he can do all he wants, but for me, I never spoke about it. You know this is a job that is very special because this team is my team. I build it together of course with my officials and staff and it’s a new and young team. The mission is not finished for the moment and I want it to continue. And I think that the period we are living now with the Covid19 has affected the business side of football everywhere, everybody has to do sacrifices – and I am the first. Let’s continue to work with this good and young team. These officials have confidence in my work and I want to thank all the officials and Mr Pinnick who has given me the opportunity to continue to work with this team. We have good solidarity and it’s a very good relationship not only with the team and staff but also with the officials. And I think this needs time, you cannot come and find it in a few weeks, or a few months this cohesiveness we have now. We want to continue in this spirit, we want to win our games, we want to play well, we want to see our players progress, and think everybody will be happy in Nigeria.

Do you think you can actually win the Nations Cup with these Eagles and also qualify for the World Cup because that is part of the contract?


I think we have a chance to win the next Nations Cup but first, we have to qualify – it’s not finished. We’ve started very well with two victories. But you know it’s always easy to say we will win the Nations Cup. We will go into the quarter-finals of the World Cup but let’s stay humble, please. We all the time have our philosophy in our team and staff to stay humble, to respect the other team, to respect the opponents and we will not change. I think we have a good team, we are already number three now in Africa when I arrived, we were number 13. So we are on a good way but it needs time and we even don’t know when the AFCON will hold. I recently had a video conference with all my staff – medical and technical staff. I wanted to introduce Joseph Yobo, my new assistant and I spoke with my doctors, my physios, everybody. We are preparing the future now and we want to know how we can win the AFCON. Let’s qualify first and I think we are on a good way to that and then, let’s stay humble if we want to win it.

What’s your stand on home-based players and their chances of playing in the Super Eagles?

Everybody has a chance to come to the Super Eagles. Everybody who is doing well in his club. We don’t look where they are playing, we only see the quality of the players. Unfortunately, the Nigerian league is not playing for the moment like a lot of other leagues, but they have the chance to come. You know I’ve invited already 23 players from the Nigerian league and I still have one most of the time with me – goalkeeper Ezenwa. But all the other players we invited, once they are in the Super Eagles team, they go to Europe and they are sold to this or that club. And then they are no more Nigerian players. We have also the CHAN team which is only for players who are playing in the Nigerian league and who can play for the CHAN tournament. Unfortunately, they are not qualified for the one in Cameroon but the best players in that CHAN team have the chance to come into my team. I and my assistants are looking out for them – we will watch the games as we always do.

The last time, it was Yusuf Salisu that lead the CHAN team to the finals in Morocco and brought three players for us and now they are in Europe. So, it’s like that. You cannot all the time to invite local players and then they go to Europe and you want me to invite other local league players – it’s not always possible. But we want to have the best one and if you want to come in now you have to be very strong because we have very good young players in Europe. Players who are born of Nigerian parents are so strong and it is very difficult for local players to displace them in the team.

It is part of your contract to have these local players in the team, how do you intend to work around that?

It’s not part of my contract to take players who are not so good as the ones already in the team. I can choose my players myself – it is most important, so nobody can tell me you’ve to take this one or that one. I can take the best players and I don’t do it alone, we have a team in our staff. I have my assistants, I have my analyzer and every Monday we have our meeting and we talk about the weekend games, what the players did. We have to take the best ones no matter where they are coming from.

Having taken these young team to the Nations Cup and World Cup, how much work do you still need to do with the Super Eagles?

The work is to be in touch with the players, to see them and have good communication, especially at this time now when there are no matches for us. We have some injured players like our goalkeeper Uzoho was injured but now coming back and working very hard, we have our fitness coach to help him. Also, Tyrion Ebuehi and Emmanuel Dennis are injured and can use this break to recover and come back. So the work at the moment is to be close to the players, advise them and care for them. Very soon, the transfer window will open by June, July, August and we hope some of them can go to better clubs to progress and play much more in competitive games.

So it is important to have injured players back, instil our philosophy into the players – few touches, playing quickly, go forward with our quick wingers and score goals. Defensively, we also have to be strong. So we need time to forge such a solid team because we don’t have many games in the national team as it is in the clubs where they play every weekend. We’ve had four years already to work together and I think we can progress further.

I hope we can play in September, it’s not sure yet if the leagues are starting or not. But Germany has laid a good example even with the Covid19 and it’s working, I hope other leagues will resume soonest.

super-eagles-the-squirrels-benin-republic-victor-osimhen-samuel-kalu-afcon-2021-qualifiers-fifa-world-ranking-nff-amaju-pinnick-nigeria-football-federation-coronavirus-african-sports

Are you keeping in touch with the players during this Covid19 pandemic?

Of course. The first thing to know is if they are in good health. We are in touch all the time with all the 35 players and none of them is sick. And our injured players I spoke about are on the good way coming back. We have a good relationship with them all including the captain Ahmed Musa and assistant, William Troost-Ekong.

So the players want to play again and are training. France has stopped their league while other leagues are getting ready to restart. So we have Samuel Kalu back in Nigeria on holiday with his family. Simon Moses and Victor Osimhen also play in France. Now Osimhen I think, have a very good opportunity to move from Lille perhaps to the English Premier League or Italian Serie A in a very big club. This will be a success for him and the Super Eagles to have players playing in the Champions League clubs. If we have our players playing in the very high level in the clubs, our level in the Super Eagles will be growing also.

Are you in support of Osimhen leaving Lille this season or do you think he should stay for another season?

If he stays for another season in Lille, it’s good for him because he is playing regularly. If he goes to another big club – you’ve seen the clubs who are eventually ready to buy him now, he’s not so sure to play because there is a big competition for the starting places in the team.

If he stays in Lille, it will be good because he will progress, we’re sure about this. But he is also able now because he is progressing so much to play in a very big club. It’s depending, if he has competition, it’ll be better to play in a better club than Lille. If he’s not playing, it’s not so good for him because a young player like him has to play for him to progress.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Nigeria forward Odion Ighalo says Manchester United’s squad are inching closer to match fitness ahead of Premier League return.

The Premier League was suspended in mid-March due to the spread of the coronavirus.


Club’s were granted permission to resume training two weeks ago under strict social distancing guidelines
They are now partaking in contact training as part of the Premier League’s Return to Training Protocol.
Ighalo admits it has been strange training under strict restrictions but says the team is improving on their fitness.

“I’m getting better and better every day,” he told the club’s website.
“We have been training together the past two weeks now, so it’s getting close to the game. The sharpness is coming, the fitness is coming and everything is going well.

“It’s been strange, you know because you have to stay two metres apart to talk to your team-mates. Sometimes, you need to get close to give them some signs but now it’s two metres and it’s kind of strange.

“But this is what we have to do for us to be safe and for the game to go on. We are ready to do it and we’re happy to do it. Everybody is looking good. Running, working hard and playing football. Little two-a-sides and doing some ball work.

“Everyone is getting better and better. Everyone is back, even Paul is back training normally and Rashy is back training as normal. Everyone is training normally and training full and all that, so the squad is full and everyone is ready, I think.

“I can’t wait for the league to start again. I’m really looking forward to it. We’re working hard and I believe we’re going to do great.”
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has congratulated Odion Ighalo after the Nigerian penned a new loan deal with the club, reports Completesports.com.

The Red Devils announced on Monday they have reached an agreement with Chinese Premier League side Shanghai Shenhua to extend the loan deal for Ighalo.
The former Watford striker’s stay was initially due to end on 31 May but he will now remain with the Reds until 30 January 2021, enabling him to build on an impressive start to life with the club he supported as a boy.
Rashford took to the social media to felicitate with his team-mate on the new contract.

“Congrats @ighalojude ��♥️,” Rashford tweeted.

Ighalo has scored four goals in eight appearances for Old Trafford outfit.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Manchester United will reportedly cough out £10.5m to Chinese Premier League Shanghai Shenhua after extending Odion Ighalo’s loan deal.

Ighalo will remain with the Red Devils until January 2021 following a new agreement between both clubs.
The former Watford striker initial loan deal expired at the end of last month, but he will now be able to see out the remainder of the season and the first half of next campaign.
According to the Daily Mail, Shanghai will receive a £6m loan fee while United pay £130,000 of Ighalo’s £300,000-a-week salary.
The 31-year-old linked up with United on a six-month loan deal in January as cover for Marcus Rashford who sustained an injury in the Emirates FA Cup clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ighalo has scored four goals in eight appearances for United since his arrival on transfer deadline day.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama says Daniel Akpeyi has what it takes to succeed in Europe, Completesports.com reports.

Akpeyi has been linked with clubs in Europe and Asia following an excellent season with Kaizer Chiefs in the Absa Premier League. The 33-year-old has established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at the club.
Akpeyi, who has overtaken Itumeleng Khune on the pecking order, has kept nine clean sheets in the league so far.
“I know him (Akpeyi) personally. I have been in the same national camp with him. I expect Idah Peterside and the media in general to hype up the players, not just Akpeyi,” Enyeama told soccerladuma.co.za.

“Often the media focuses on your faults, but they need to hype up the players, encourage and assist them to grow. You have the power to build players in a responsible way. I read reports that he (Akpeyi) has had an exceptional season with Kaizer Chiefs.

” Akpeyi can succeed at the highest level. The same applies to (Itumeleng) Khune. I wish them both luck and if they can look at me and consider that I succeeded in Europe, then what stops them from succeeding as well?”.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr says Victor Osimhen has a big opportunity to move to one of Europe’s top teams but insists the Lille striker must be playing on a regular basis to improve his game, reports Completesports.com.

Osimhen, who scored 18 goals in his debut campaign in Ligue 1 has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Clubs in Spain and Italy are also interested in the 21-year-old, who joined Lille last summer from Belgian Pro League club Sporting Charleroi for around £10m.
“Victor Osimhen will have a very big opportunity to go to the Premier League or Italy to a very big club,” Rohr said in an interview on Channels Television.
“This is a success for him, but also for the Super Eagles.

“If we have players playing at the high-level clubs, our level in the Super Eagles will also grow.”

Rohr also states that Osimhen must be playing regularly wherever he finds himself.

“If he is not playing, it won’t be good for him as a young player because a young player has to be playing to progress,” he added.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Chelsea will look to bring in Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi as a replacement for Juventus target Jorginho.

Jorginho has been linked with a move to Juventus, where he will reunite with former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Blues, according to Mundodeportivo.com, have identified Ndidi as a capable replacement for the Brazilian-born midfielder.
Ndidi joined Leicester City from Belgian club Genk in January 2017 and is under contract with the Foxes until 2024.

The 23-year-old is valued at €40m by Leicester City.

Ndidi has also been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid and French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint- Germain.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Manchester United are close to agreeing to a loan extension for former Nigeria international Odion Ighalo, Sky Sports reports.

United remain in talks with Chinese Super League (CSL) club Shanghai Shenhua.
And it is hoped a deal can be agreed before Ighalo’s current loan deal expires on Sunday.
The proposed loan extension will run until the end of January when Ighalo will return to Shanghai.

If agreed, Ighalo will miss the majority of the 2020 CSL season, which is scheduled to begin in June.

Shanghai’s original stance was that they would only agree to extend his loan if an obligation to buy was incorporated into the deal, with Ighalo likely to cost upwards of £20m.

However, with border restrictions potentially preventing Ighalo from returning to China in time for the new season, Shanghai Shenhua has softened their stance and will now allow him to extend his stay at United on the condition he signs a new contract.

Back In March Sky Sports news revealed that Ighalo had been offered a two-year contract extension with Shanghai worth £400,000 a week.

His current contract expires in December 2022, but Shanghai wants to keep him until at least December 2024.

Ighalo initially joined United in a Deadline Day move in January and scored four times in eight appearances prior to the suspension of the Premier League.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful the club can extend Ighalo’s loan spell so he can “finish off what he started”.
“The loan deal went until the end of May now, so obviously he’s supposed to be going back,” Solskjaer told MUTV earlier this week.

“We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club.

“It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Nigeria forward Odion Ighalo will remain with Manchester United until the end of January 2021 after the Red Devils agree on an extension on his loan deal with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua.

The new deal is, however, awaiting confirmation with FA for registration.
Ighalo’s initial six-month loan deal with Manchester United officially expired on Sunday night.
According to a report in The Telegraph, the two clubs have reached an agreement for the former Watford striker to extend his stay at the Old Trafford until January

The 31-year-old joined United from Shanghai Shenhua on transfer deadline day.

Ighalo has scored four goals in eight league appearances for United.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews

Napoli has turned their attention to Emmanuel Dennis after they were rejected by his international team-mate Victor Osimhen, reports Completesports.com.

Osimhen rejected a move to the Italian side despite concrete talks with his French club Lille.
Napoli, according to the Daily Mail has now shifted their attention to Dennis who starred for Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League last season.
Dennis made the headlines after bagging a brace in Brugge’s 2-2 away draw against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League group stages.
The 22-year-old scored nine goals in 33 appearances for Club Brugge.

Dennis joined Club Brugge from Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk in 2016.

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has turned down an offer from Italian side Napoli, reports Completesports.com.

Lille is looking to sell the talented striker as they seek to balance the books for next season.
Napoli are desperate to sign Osimhen as replacement for Andre Milik, but Eurosport’s Manu Lonjon reports Osimhen has already turned down the Italians.
The 21-year-old has attracted the interest of clubs in England, where Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea are keen.

Osimhen scored 18 goals across all competitions for Lille last season.

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr admits his team is not the best in Africa, despite penning a new deal which expects him to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Rohr will remain in charge of the three-time African champions for the next two-and-a-half-year after agreeing with terms on a new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation.
The German tactician has also been mandated to qualify the team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Former Gabon and Niger coach believes winning the AFCON 2021 title will be difficult, though not impossible.
“When you go to a tournament it is to win it,” Rohr told BBC Sport.

“We finished third in the last one, and everybody wants to progress. But we know also that it is very difficult to win this tournament because we are not number one in Africa.
“But it is good to have these milestones and ambition.”

The 66-year-old also stated that he is prepared for the task ahead to meet the targets set for him by the NFF.

“My contract all the time is a risk because it is finished when we are eliminated from a competition – whether the Afcon or World Cup,” he explained.

“I took the risk already when I arrived, and it is still the same. But I am very optimistic because now we have a team which is playing good football and I have confidence in my players.”

Rohr, who was appointed Super Eagles head coach in August 2016 guided the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
He also helped the country qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with the team failing to get past the first round.
Log on to www.completesports.com to read more interesting news like this. @completesportsnigeria @Completesports #breakingnews #sports #news ##sportsnews #caf #football #footballnews