Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has praised the performance of Nigeria international defender Semi Ajayi in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in the English Premier League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ajayi went into the history books as the first Hull City player to score in the English Premier League for nine years, when he reacted quickly in the box to give his team the lead.

He was on hand again with the ball coming off his head before dropping kindly for his central back partner Noble Mendy to score their second goal. A lead they kept going into the half time break.

Manchester United tried to fight back into the game, but met a well marshalled defence by Ajayi shutting them out for the entire duration of the game. Ajayi earned praises for his performance.

” You have to admire how Hull City defended with Ajayi ensuring that Cunha looked ordinary when he tried to threatened. They defended really well and credit must go to the players at the back, who were also decisive in the other box”, Schmeichel said after the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

English Premier League side Brentford has published their official team for the English Premier League, which began yesterday with the champions Arsenal beating Coventry City 3-0.

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews included Nigeria international defender Benjamin Fredrick in his official team of the season, after his return to full fitness.

Although he didn’t get to play in any pre season games as he is working his way back to full fitness after missing eight months due to the injury he picked up while on loan to Belgium side FC Dender.

Fredrick will wear shirt number 48 for the season following his permanent elevation to the first team in the summer. Another Nigerian Kaye Furo the son of former Nigeria international Furo Iyenemi will wear shirt number 47.

Kaye who was in Nigeria during the summer break has represented Belgium at youth level, but recent reports from sources close to his father say the young striker is leaning towards switching his nationality to Nigeria.

Left full back Jayden Meghoma who spent last season with Scottish side Rangers complete the list of Nigerians at the club. He will wear the shirt number 21 and despite his eligibility for England he has made it clear that he is open to playing for Nigeria.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

George Ilenikhena has opened his goal account in the Saudi Arabia top division with the match winner for Al Ittihad in their 1-0 win over Al Qadsiah , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

George opened his goal account for the season with a brace for Al Ittihad in their 3-0 win over Najma in the King of Cup Champions.

Ilenikhena who joined the team from Ligue 1 side Monaco in January was handed his first start after impressing in pre season, and he didn’t disappoint with a quick fire brace.

He followed it up with another very similar goal, a strong hit with his left foot with is now slowly becoming his signature goal. A form that will no doubt excite the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle.

Chelle successfully convinced the 19 year old to switch his international future to Nigeria, rather than wait for France where he grew up.

There are still doubts if he will remain at the Saudi Arabia side beyond the ongoing summer transfer window, with Sevilla heavily interested in him despite having two bids rejected.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Victor Osimhen is making no secret of his desire to ensure that Galatasaray retain the Turkish League title with another brace in their 4-0 win over Erzurumspor, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

There are still speculations that he might leave the club before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window, but all those talks don’t appear to be weighing him down.

Fresh from last week’s brace against Corum in the league opener, he grabbed his first goal of the game yesterday by robbing the goalkeeper to put his team 3-0 up. Meanwhile he also set up the first goal.

Osimhen made it four goals in two games with another goal with ten minutes left to play and effectively sealing a 4-0 win for his team, and also earned early advantage in the top scorer race.

He is also now third in the list of all time foreign top scorers for the Turkish side , 16 goals behind the number one Mauro Icardi who left the team in the summer following the expiration of his contract.

1. Mauro Icardi 134 matches 77 goals

2. ⁠Gheorghe Hagi 192 matches 72 goals

3. ⁠Victor Osimhen 76 matches 62 goals

4. ⁠Milan Baros 116 matches 61 goals

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Barring a last minute change former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick will head the proposed interim committee that will run Nigerian football for three months, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

There is every likelihood that the proposed election into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) won’t happen, paving the way for the Ibrahim Musa led Gusau board to be dissolved with an interim committee set up.

Already there has been pressure on the board to step down in the wake of the failure of the women team to make it to the world cup for the first time. Less than a year after the men’s team missed out on the world cup for the second consecutive edition.

Gusau and his board are battling to remain and have dragged the matter to the attention of FIFA, who have assured them of their support against any form of government interference, but that hasn’t deterred the presidency.

They have ordered the National Sports Commission (NSC) to restructure Nigerian football and it starts with the axing of the current board of the NFF, and the setting up of an interim committee.

The choice of Pinnick to lead the committee we gathered hasn’t gone down well with certain people in the football setup, and it’s still under heavy debate and scrutiny as at the time of this report.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Newly capped Nigeria international goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has joined English Championship side Charlton on loan from fellow Championship side Wrexham, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The move was confirmed by both teams in a statement bringing an end to speculations about his future at the club since the start of the ongoing summer transfer window.

Speaking On the loan move Wrexham’s manager Phil Parkinson said: “This loan is a good opportunity for Arthur to go and continue his development down at Charlton.

“He’s another player who’s played a significant role for us over the last few years, and we’ll be watching his progress closely.”

On his part Okonkwo expressed his delight over the move . ” I’m happy to be here and I’m ready to go. Coming here, it’s another season where I really want to do well and improve again. Speaking to the manager, that’s what he wants me to do here – not only to do well, but to improve as a goalkeeper.

“It’s a great group. They’ve welcomed me really well and I can’t wait to get to know them even more.”

Manager of Charlton Nathan Jones commented: “I’m delighted to bring Arthur to the club. We know how good a goalkeeper he is – he made two world class saves against us last season, one in each game we played against Wrexham. He also showed a real desire to come to us after our initial meeting, which was important for us. He’s an excellent shot stopper, of good pedigree, with good experience and the teams he’s played in have done well, so I’m looking forward to working with him”.

Daniel Martins

The moment of truth appears to have arrived for Nigerian football, following indications that members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee have been asked to report to the Presidential Villa amid mounting pressure on the leadership of the federation.

Information reaching us suggests that an email was sent to members of the NFF Executive Committee yesterday, directing them to report at the Presidential Villa today.

According to sources, the meeting could culminate in members of the Executive Committee formally signing resignation letters, a development that, if completed, would effectively bring the tenure of the current NFF leadership to an abrupt end.

As of the latest count, at least six members of the Executive Committee are said to have indicated their readiness to honour the invitation and appear at the Villa today.

Meanwhile, there is growing uncertainty among members of the NFF Congress, with more than 20 congressmen reportedly gathered in Kano and awaiting further instructions.

The congressmen had initially been summoned to Kano, from where they were expected to proceed to Katsina later today for the final of the Gusau/Alhan Cup competition, which comes to an end this weekend.

However, sources claim there may have been another motive behind the gathering.

The original plan, according to information available to us, was for the congressmen to use the occasion to pass a vote of confidence in NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and his Executive Committee in a show of solidarity with the embattled football leadership. That plan has now been thrown into serious uncertainty.

As of 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, both the NFF President and the General Secretary were reportedly unreachable, further heightening tension and speculation over what could happen in the coming hours.

All eyes are now firmly fixed on the Presidential Villa.

Will the invited Executive Committee members sign resignation letters? What becomes of the planned gathering in Katsina? And, most importantly, is Nigeria football finally on the verge of a major leadership shake-up?

The moment of truth is here.

The battle for the future of Nigerian football has entered a decisive phase, and with developments unfolding by the hour, the game is becoming more intriguing with every passing moment.

Adewale Ajayi

New England Revolution secured a 3-0 away win over DC United in the MLS to continue their fine start to the season, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.

It was Alhassan Yusuf who stole the headlines from Wednesday’s match with his first career hat trick. He opened the scoring after 23 minutes, before doubling the advantage just before halftime.

Yusuf completed his Man of the Match performance 21 minutes into the second half, putting a cherry on the Revs’ statement performance with a well-taken header from close range.

The hat trick brings Yusuf up to 5 goals and 2 assists this year, the most goals he’s ever scored in a single season in his entire career.

He became the eighth player in club history to score a hat trick in a regular-season match and the first to do so since Kei Kamara nine years ago.

The Nigerian international was aided by new Designated Player winger Jack Harrison, who was heavily involved against D.C., contributing assists on all three goals as he continues to gel with his new teammates.

Ade Emmanuel

Spanish LaLiga side Sevilla have reinstated Nigeria international Chidera Ejuke into their squad for next season after a failed attempt to push him out of the club , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ejuke was left out of their pre season games and trained separately from the team until last week when a decision was reached to return him back to the setup.

Sevilla took the step due to a lack of interest in the 28 year old, and it was why he played the final 13 minutes of their opening league game against Rayo Vallecano which they won 2-1.

Their failure to land Adrian Liso from Real Zaragoza following his move to Mallorca means they miss out on their top target on the flank. It was largely due to the lack of interest in Ejuke hence they couldn’t free up a space in their squad and wage bill for Liso.

The club will however not commit to keeping him beyond the end of the transfer window, despite the fact that only Belgium side Anderlecht made an offer to sign him. A move which didn’t materialize due to his wages deemed as excessive by the Belgians.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Top division Belgium side Cercle Brugge are close to agreeing a deal to sign former Nigeria U17 winger Tunde Akinsola from relegated Portuguese side AVS, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Akinsola wants out of AVS, the team he joined in 2024 on a free transfer from Real Valladolid after spending a season on loan. He ended last season with four assists and two goals in 38 games across all competitions.

He pushed for his exit including threats of invoking a clause that will let him leave for free over unpaid wages, but it seems an agreement has now been struck for his exit.

According to reports in the coming hour, the 23 year old who waa also a target for relegated French Ligue 1 side Nantes will join Cercle Brugge.

A former player of the Nigeria U17 team , he will be aiming to use the move to Belgium to build on the experience he gained while playing in the Portuguese top division last season.

Daniel Martins

20 year old Nigerian defender Vince Osuji has been granted permission to play for his new team Tromso in tomorrow’s UEFA Europa Conference League game against Brighton and Hove Albion, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osuji joined the Norwegians from Belgium top division side Club Brugge where he spent the last 18 months, without making a senior team experience in the league following his move from Swedish side Kalmar in January 2024.

There were doubts if he will be given all the all clear to play tomorrow, but Tromso confirmed in a statement that he has completed all registration process will be available.

“Having completed the residence permit, he is already available to be called up for the upcoming UECL play off matches against Brighton & Hove Albion FC”, a statement from the club reads

They also confirmed the terms of his signing, saying his deal will run till the summer of 2030, and his signing was almost for free with a fee payable to Club Brugge dependent on his performances via bonuses.

” The Belgian side will receive a small bonus based on appearances (less than €0.1M?) and the 15% of the net profit of the player’s future sale, through a sell-on clause”, the statement explained.

Daniel Martins