Ebenezer Akinsamiro made his debut for Italian Serie B side Sampdoria over the weekend as they begin the quest to gain promotion back to the Italian Serie A following relegation two seasons ago, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Sampdoria were relegated from Serie A for the first time in over a decade following a 2-0 defeat at Udinese in May 2023 with four games left to play, their aim to make an immediate return to the top flight was unsuccessful last season.

Now under the tutelage of legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Prilo, they started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Frosinone on Sunday, despite playing with a man down for the final eight minutes of the game, following the sending off of Nicholas Ioannou.

19 year old Nigerian midfielder Akinsamiro who joined the team on loan from league champions Inter Milan lasted 84 minutes in what was the first start of his professional career.

He put up a performance which drew him praises and knocks from Pirlo , a legendary midfielder in world football who was rated among the best in his role during his playing days. ” The team as a whole did what it was supposed to do, uncertainties are part of the game and we have to limit them”, he said after the game.

” Akinsanmiro has qualities, but sometimes he likes to hold the ball too much and you have to file this detail. If you hold the ball too much with structure players in Serie B, you can’t afford it”, the coach concluded.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have proposed three options to the incoming coach of the Super Eagles Janne Andersson to consider as part of his backroom staff, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Andersson is expected to take over as head coach the September international round of games owing to his deal with a media outfit, which is expected to expire by the end of next month meaning he will be free to take charge of the team in the October and November games.

He has picked two of his assistants to work with the technical director of the NFF Austine Eguavoen for the AFCON qualifiers games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively in September.

However the NFF are also proposing the idea of the coach having the duo or one of either Ladan Bosso or title winning coach with Enugu Rangers Fidelis Ilechukwu as one of his assistants, when he resumes fully.

We gathered they are proposing the duo to the coach because they will be involved in the next U23 team and want them to be around the senior national team before the start of the qualifiers for the next Olympic games.

Bosso the immediate past coach of the Nigeria U20 team is highly rated and favored within the corridors of the NFF, and the present coach of Bayelsa United was even approached to continue in his role as U20 coach but he declined.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Despite pleas by the CEO and coach of Atalanta Ademola Lookman is sticking to his decision to leave the club for French Ligue 1 giants PSG, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman handed in a transfer request following an agreement with PSG and he was subsequently left out of the team that started the new Serie A season on a high with a 4-0 thrashing of Lecce yesterday.

Prior to the game CEO Luca Percassi “We are very relaxed because our idea, shared by coach, club and owners, was for the first time in our history not to let these important players go. We as a club have always respected our commitments and we cannot wait for this transfer window to close, as it reserved a few ugly surprises too, like Gianluca Scamacca’s injury.

“All players belong to Atalanta and the club will decide what to do for the good of this team.”

After the game yesterday head coach Gian Piero Gasperini voiced his dissatisfaction with the uncertainty surrounding the future of the 26 year old Nigerian, who fired the team to Europa League glory with a hattrick in the 3-0 final win over Bayer Leverkusen.

“In all honesty, nobody expected to find ourselves in this situation. At this moment, I am having to take it one day at a time. I had a few thoughts after the Super Cup, but then we ran into all these difficulties, including Scamacca’s injury.

“I don’t know what will happen over the remaining 10 days of the transfer window. My job is to assemble the best squad possible, to see with the club what could be useful to add.

“Clearly, we’ll not have a defined squad until August 31″, he concluded.

Despite their plea for understanding Lookman from what we gathered is adamant that he wants to join PSG and has already started house hunting in the city. He sees the opportunity as a chance to have a crack with a top team considering the fact that he is nearing his peak years, and coming off what was his best season.

He feels such opportunity won’t come twice and wants to make the best of the one he had now. Hence his representative have pleaded with the Italian side to lower their demand of €40m.

Daniel Martins

The head coach of Atalanta Gian Piero Gasperini has pleaded with Nigeria international forward Ademola Lookman to shun a move to French Ligue 1 giants PSG, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman handed in a transfer request after reaching agreement on personal terms with PSG on a move, it led to his exclusion from the team that started their Serie A campaign yesterday with a resounding 4-0 win over Lecce.

Speaking on the Europa League final hero Gasperini lamented the fact that he wants to keep the 26 year old, and had no idea that he will be determined to leave the club with just ten days to the close of the transfer window, he pleaded with the Nigerian to have a change of heart.

“In all honesty, nobody expected to find ourselves in this situation. At this moment, I am having to take it one day at a time. I had a few thoughts after the Super Cup, but then we ran into all these difficulties, including Scamacca’s injury.

“I don’t know what will happen over the remaining 10 days of the transfer window. My job is to assemble the best squad possible, to see with the club what could be useful to add.

“Clearly, we’ll not have a defined squad until August 31″, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The incoming coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Janne Andersson has agreed for the technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Austine Eguavoen to handle the upcoming AFCON qualifiers games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

As first called by ScoreNigeria, the 61 year old who handled the national team of Sweden for seven years has agreed to a deal to become the new coach of the Nigerian team replacing Finidi George, who was let go after the poor results in the world cup qualifiers around six weeks ago.

However there will be a little bit of delay in him taking over the team for the September AFCON qualifiers due to his current deal with a media company in Sweden, which won’t expire till the end of September.

The coach has now reached an agreement for Eguavoen to stand in for him in interim capacity alongside two of his assistants for the games, after which he will return to the dug out for the October and November games.

His presentation will also be delayed until then, however just like we reported he will have the final say in the list of players for the games, even though he wasn’t at the helm when invitations were sent out to players.

Barring a late change of mind, the revised list of 25 players will be made public by the NFF next week with an announcement of Eguavoen as the interim coach for the games, the duo of Ladan Bosso and title winning coach Fidelis Ilechukwu are also under consideration for a backroom role as one of the assistants for the games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria will be without two key players when they begin their 2025 AFCON qualifiers campaign with games against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

They will host Benin Republic on the 7th of September before travelling to Rwanda three days later for their second game in the quest to reach the next edition of the AFCON, after finishing as runners up early this year in Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria were beaten 1-2 by the host in the final in February, and ahead of the upcoming games two players who were part of the squad that lost the final won’t be available for new coach Janne Andersson.

Fresh from the news of Terem Moffi suffering an ACL injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season, full back Ola Aina went off injured for Nottingham Forest in their opening day fixture in the English Premier League against Bournemouth.

Aina was subbed off due to a suspected calf injury, which will likely keep him out for the next three weeks according to sources associated with the club.

The new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Janne Andersson is expected to ring some changes to the team when he officially takes over as the replacement for Finidi George, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

61 year old Andersson has been picked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the new coach of the team, preferred ahead of the duo of Tom Saintfeit and Eric Chelle who were the last two left in a four man shortlist.

He is expected to lead the team in the AFCON qualifiers game in September against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively. We pick five changes he will likely make to the setup he will inherit upon his official unveiling as coach.

1. Okoye Back As Number 1: It is an idea that is gaining grounds based on the impressive performance of the former number 1 for Udinese in the Italian Serie A. Yesterday he made two late saves to help his team salvage a 1-1 draw against Bologna. Although Stanley Nwabali is firmly established as the first choice, Okoye’s weekly performance in a top 5 European league will no doubt put the Chippa United shot stopper reign as first choice under threat.

2. Benjamin Tanimu Out – A favourite of the former coach Finidi who used him in three of the four games he handled as coach, a decision which was questioned by some senior players in the team who were in doubt over his readiness for such height. His recent move to another mid table Tanzanian club Singida FC from Ihefu FC might not be enough to keep him in the frame for further call ups.

3. Bring Back Aribo – Andersson is a fan of hardworking players and that is what Aribo brings especially if the setup is right. Reduced to a bit part player by Jose Peseiro at the AFCON and dropped by Finidi, the Southampton midfielder has the kind of profile the new coach wants in his team.

4. End Musa’s International Career – Despite not playing a total of 90 minutes in almost two seasons the captain of the team Ahmed Musa recently said he is still in the groove with the national team. Andersson might ensured that doesn’t happen especially if he still remains clubless. The coach is big on players who are getting regular run of games at club level.

5. New Center Back Needed – Four of the experienced center backs in Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi are already in their 30’s. The coach will have to make a huge decision on their future when he resumes.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Gabriel Osho had a debut to remember for newly promoted French Ligue 1 side Auxerre in their opening league game against Nice, OwnGoalnigeria.com reports.

Signed on a free transfer from relegated English Premier League side Luton Town, the 26 year old endeared himself to fans of the club with a faultless performance as they celebrate their return to the top flight with a 2-1 win.

Osho lasted the entire duration of the game showing remarkable composure in and out of possession. He was solid in tackles and completed 44 passes much to the admiration of his coach, who praised his performance afterwards.

Called up to the squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for the friendly games against Ghana and Mali in March, he withdrew from the games after picking up a knock that kept him out for a month.

His move to France will no doubt put him back in the frame for another call up to the Nigerian team, with new coach Janne Andersson keen on players playing regularly for teams in top division.

The list of players called up to the Super Eagles squad by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will be trimmed by the incoming head coach of the team Janne Andersson, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Andersson is expected to be unveiled later in the week as the replacement for Finidi George, who left his role after the poor performance of the team in the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.

His first task will be the upcoming AFCON qualifiers game against Benin Republic in Uyo and Rwanda respectively in September. Anything short of a good start will as expected lead to questions about his choice.

Ahead of the game, the NFF sent out provisional invitation to 35 players, with the new coach expected to trim it to a manageable size of 25 for both games when his appointment is made official.

Already the list has been forwarded to him, with a source in the NFF saying some questionable names will be taken out by the coach. He said already questions have been asked about how certain players were invited for the game.

The list wasn’t prepared entirely by the technical department of the NFF, as a bigwig in the football house ensured some players of interest to certain agents got invitations even though they have not been in the best of form lately.

Head coach of Italian Serie A side AC Milan Paulo Fonseca will feel betrayed by the performance of Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze in their first game of the Serie A season.

Milan fought from 2-0 drown to draw 2-2 against Torino, with Chukwueze who was the star of their pre season tour in the USA dropping a stinker that led to his substitution after 60 minutes.

The scorer of the winner against Real Madrid just two weeks ago , days after he bagged two assists against Manchester City was a shadow of the same player for the minutes he was on the pitch.

After the game , Italian dailies rated the Nigerian very low with a statement that he betrayed the trust the coach had in him to be one of their top players this season with his poor performance in the draw. The Nigerian was their record signing last summer, but struggled to prove his worth.

Below is how his performance was rated over ten captured by the leading dailies in Italy.

Gazzetta dello Sport 4.5: “What happened to the “Chukwu” admired in America? Just one shot wide. Then stops, passes, crosses: he doesn’t get anything right. Replaced due to exhaustion”.

Corriere dello Sport 5: “The will is always there but how many wrong supports” .

Tuttosport 5: “The handsome Samuel admired on tour has remained in the United States”.

Victor Osimhen is still in the wilderness at Italian Serie A side Napoli hence missed the opening day humiliation they suffered in the hands of Verona, OwnGoalNigeria.com.

The Nigerian has been kept out of the team by Antonio Conte since making it clear that he wants out of the team as agreed with the club, when he signed a new deal in December.

Conte kept him out of all of their pre season games and did the same today in their opening game of the season. They crashed to a humiliating 3-0 loss with a brace from Daniel Mosquera and Dailon Livramento helping Verona to the win.

Osimhen’s departure is still on the cards, but interested teams are shying away from paying the €130m release clause in his contract. PSG and Chelsea are the two teams who are strongly linked with his signing.

A clear picture on his future is expected to be known in the coming days with the transfer window having like two more weeks to run.

Ademola Lookman has told Europa League winners Atalanta that he wants to leave the club following concrete interest from French Ligue 1 giants PSG , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lookman who shot himself to global prominence with a hattrick in the final of the Europa League to hand his side a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen is the subject of interest from PSG, according to respected Italian outfit Gazzetta dello Sport.

It is believed that the French side have already made the bid formal to Atalanta after reaching agreement with the 26 year old, who was the star of the Super Eagles at the AFCON with three goals.

Atalanta are not opposed to his exit but want him to leave on their terms, a situation which has brought some tension between the club and the player leading to his request to be left out of the squad for today’s game against Lecce.

His wish was granted by coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who recently had to watch helplessly as Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners got his wish to leave the club for fellow Serie A side Juventus.

An update on the situation with the Nigerian, seen by the coach as vital to his setup is expected in the coming days, with PSG hoping to have the Nigerian as they see him as a good enough replacement for Kylian Mbappe who recently joined Real Madrid.

Daniel Martins