World football governing body FIFA insisted on the involvement of former president of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick in yesterday’s meeting with officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC), OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Top officials of the NSC and the acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following the resignation of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau led board were involved in a meeting owing to the situation in Nigeria.

Pinnick’s presence generated a lot of buzz but the chairman of the NSC Mallam Shehu Dikko has now explained why he was involved in the meeting meant to chart a new course for Nigerian football.

” He (Pinnick) attended the meeting in his official capacity as an “Advisor to CAF President” and Vice President of FIFa men’s competition organising committee which means he is the most senior Nigerian in CAF and FIFA, and so FIFA can’t discuss Nigeria without his presence as matter of process and courtesy”, Dikko explained and maintained that he led the delegation and not Pinnick like we erroneously reported yesterday.

FIFA present Gianni Infantino confirmed the successful of the meeting with the NSC and hinted at the approval of the decision of the resignation of the board of the NFF. Clearing the way for the setting up of a normalisation committee that will run Nigerian football for three months.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international winger Philip Otele was a target for Italian Serie A side Lazio in the final day of the summer transfer window yesterday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lazio contacted Basle for his signing and discussions were held in that direction with head coach Gennaro Gattuso a huge fan of the 27 year old winger.

However the club wanted to be careful on handing him a straight deal and decided on a loan till the end of the season with an obligation to sign him permanently, based on certain conditions.

That idea turns out to be impossible because Lazio have hit their loan limit. Italian Clubs are allowed to have only six players over 21 years old on loan at a time, and Lazio appear to have reached that quota.

A new plan was hatched for his permanent signing, but all parties involved ran out of time and couldn’t complete the necessary paperwork for the move to happen before the close of the window.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Benjamin Fredrick is set to return to the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers games in September against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau respectivy, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super will begin their campaign to be at the 2027 AFCON with a home tie in Uyo against Madagascar on the 23rd of September before traveling to keep a date with Madagascar four days later.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle is keen on a quick and good start to the qualifiers, and has already contacted players who will be a part of his team for both games.

Chelle is defiant on the return of Brentford defender Benjamin Fredrick who recently marked his return to full fitness with a 45 minutes appearance for the U21 team. He has been out since November.

Fredrick started in all of the eight games he has played for Nigeria before the injury that cost him a place at the AFCON, and Chelle wants him back in the team even if it’s to act as back up.

The coach made attempts to include him in his team for the summer Unity Cup tournament, but was blocked by Brentford who stressed that the want the 21 year old to be eased back easily into competitive football.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the U23 team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has plans to call up 18 foreign based players to the camp of the team for the task of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle who also doubles as coach of the senior team is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the team make it to to the tournament, after missing out on the last two consecutive editions of the global fiesta.

Well aware of the demand of handling the team which is seen as the closest to the senior team, Chelle has already picked two Nigerian assistants in Bright Osehai Ozebagbe and Deniran Ortega.

The duo will be responsible for the scouting of eligible talents for the team based in Nigeria across the leagues and academies, while a foreign assistant will handle scouting of players based abroad.

Already Chelle has a list of eligible players who have been under his watch for the past two months, and he will prune the number to 18 with the rest of the squad picked from players based at home.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

World football governing body FIFA says the purported letter threatening to sanction Nigeria following the mass resignation of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) didn’t come from them, OwnGoalNigeria.com.

A letter was made delivered to our editorial team by a staff of the NFF threatening to ban Nigeria demanding an explanation over the dissolution of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau led board, following the mass resignation of its members.

However in a swift response FIFA has distanced itself from the letter, and has approved the process of the setting up of a normalisation committee to run the affairs of the NFF for the next three months.

Members of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the acting General Secretary of the NFF were warmly received by FIFA at its headquarters in Switzerland, the first step towards setting up the committee to run Nigerian football.

Yesterday the planned election into the board of the NFF slated for September in Gusau was postponed to next year, and the constituted electoral committee was subsequently dissolved.

The world football governing body, FIFA has directed the Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to explain the circumstances leading to the resignation of the former president, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau.

A statement signed by FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafstrom on behalf FIFA Council, dated September 1, acknowledged the resignation of Gusau but needed more clarification.

“FIFA has taken note with great concern of reports indicating that the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Ibrahim Gusau, has tendered his resignation following a directive from the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“In accordance with Article 14 and Article 19 of the FIFA Statutes, all Member Associations must manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties, including government authorities

“Any intervention by public authorities that results in the removal of elected officials constitutes a violation of these provisions and may lead to sanctions as stipulated in Article 13 of the FIFA Statutes,” the statement reads.

The letter, which was addressed the President of the NFF and Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC) wanted clarification that Ibrahim Gusau’s resignation was voluntary and free from external pressure, official clarification from the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the circumstances surrounding this development and assurance that the NFF will continue to operate in accordance with its statutes and FIFA regulations.

Failure to provide satisfactory clarification may compel the FIFA Council to consider the suspension of the Nigeria Football Federation from all FIFA and CAF competitions and activities with immediate effect.

“In such an event, a FIFA/CAF Normalisation Committee would be appointed to run the daily affairs of the NFF and to organize elections in accordance with FIFA Statutes,” the statement said, adding that FIFA remains committed to supporting Nigerian football and urges all stakeholders to respect the autonomy of the NFF.

Newly capped Nigeria international defender Abdullahi Bewene has been frustrated out of a move away from Czech Republic side Banik Ostrava in the summer transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Bewene caught the eyes for the senior national team of Nigeria during the summer international window, starring in games against Poland and Portugal respectively.

As expected top teams around Europe queued up for his signing but were turned off by the asking price of over €10m, which Banik Ostrava refused to lower.

” We had multiple interests for Bewene. It can easily pass as a record in terms of teams interested in a player, but none met the valuation of Banik largely because he just signed a new deal”, a member of his representative exclusively revealed.

” Bank insist on interested teams meeting their valuation, and none could match it and they also didn’t lower it. That was what cost him a move this summer but in January we will go again in the winter transfer window”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has opened talks with world football governing body FIFA on the setting up of a normalisation committee for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Former NFF pesident Amaju Pinnick who openly said he isn’t interested in heading the normalisation committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, was however a part of the delegation to FIFA.

The inclusion of Pinnick who isn’t favoured by the powers in the Nigerian presidency has raised eyebrows with many questioning his inclusion, on the account that the rot in Nigerian football started with him, and he was also key in the installation of the now dissolved Gusau led board.

Ibrahim Musa Gusau led board of the NFF resigned from their position, clearing the way for the setting up of a committee to manage the country’s football for three months before elections.

Yesterday the planned September elections in Lafia was cancelled with the acting General Secretary of the NFF officially dissolving the electoral committee, and setting a new date of January for the elections into the board of the NFF.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Highly placed officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) are working actively to lure young Arsenal midfielder Ife Ibrahim to play for the U23 team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The 18 year old was one of the stars of Arsenal in pre season games, and his performance following his elevation to the first team from the youth sides has caught the attention of senior officials in Nigeria.

Per what we exclusively gathered, his file is one that has been discussed internally by the recruitment team of the NSC for diaspora players but no contact has been made with the player or his representative.

Ife Ibrahim who is a youth international for England will be sold the idea of progression to the Super Eagles like Alex Iwobi, who also started from the Olympic team.

His inclusion in the team will however depend on if he is seen as good enough by head coach Eric Chelle, who also doubles as the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Italian Serie A side Lazio have actively in talks with Swiss side FC Basel for the signing of 27 year old Nigeria international winger Philip Otele, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Lazio were among the teams that tried to sign Otele in the winter transfer window, but the deal didn’t go through as he joined German Bundesliga side Hamburg.

Now available for another loan stint, Lazio have revisited his file and are looking to seal a deal before the close of the ongoing summer transfer window later today.

Otele who made has five caps for Nigeria at senior level was also linked with a move to Dubai side Al Jazira, but talks didn’t progress as expected hence the breakdown in talks.

Coach of Lazio Gennaro Gattuso has already given the go ahead for the winger to join his team, following recommendations from people he trust during his playing days and coaching career in Switzerland.

Daniel Martins

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle, who also doubles as the coach of the U23 team has picked two Nigerian coaches to assist him with the Olympic team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle’s U23 team will begin camping ahead of the start of qualifiers for the U23 AFCON later this year, and the coach has picked his backroom staff for the task of ensuring that Nigeria make it to the Olympic after failing to do so in the last two editions.

According to report from the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chelle has appointed the duo of Bright Osehai Ozebagbe and Deniran Ortega as his two assistant coaches for the Nigerian Olympic Team.

The coach says Ortega and Bright are some of the brightest young coaches in Nigeria with very impressive profiles and he is very happy to work with them in the Olympic team.

He will also in the coming days name a foreign scout and also a foreign assistant for the team, which he sees as very crucial to the future of the senior team.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Kaduna based football academy Ikon Allah have struck another transfer agreement with Swedish side AIK for the transfer of young Nigerian winger David Oluwaseyi Oludase, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The move is coming hot on the heels of the transfer of Zadok Yohanna who was signed from the Nigerian academy, and was sold in the summer to English Premier League side Brighton for €30m.

He is also a winger like Zadok and also a left footer, a coincidence that will make the club hope that he develops along the same trajectory, or even better than the new Brighton man.

18 year old David will begin with the B team of the Swedish side , where his progress will be monitored for promotion to the first team, per the announcement of his signing by the club.

AIK Football has agreed with the Nigerian club Ikon Allah Football Academy on a transfer of 18-year-old winger David Oluwaseyi Oludase.

The agreement is a so-called transfer player agreement, which means that it is written as an A-team contract but where the player will initially belong to the club’s academy team. The agreement extends until December 31, 2029.

– David trained with the P19 and men’s team for a month and convinced us with his potential. He is a technically skilled, left-footed right winger with good speed and a nice first touch.

-What mainly needs to be developed is his actions and decision-making in the final third of the pitch. During the trial period, he showed a very good attitude and great commitment, which was an important part of our decision to sign a contract with him, says AIK Football’s recruitment manager, Miika Takkula.

– Signing for AIK is a big step in my career and I can hardly wait to get started on the pitch. The history of the club and the passion of the supporters is something truly special, and I am ready to give everything for the shirt every time I step onto the pitch, says David Oluwaseyi Oludase.

Born: May 11, 2008

Nationality: Nigeria

Previous clubs: Ikon Allah Football Academy

Position: Winger

Preferred foot: Left