Nigeria Premier league to resume in January

The new Nigeria league season is scheduled to kick off next month so as to get the country’s clubs on the continent could get ready for both the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Speculations were rife that the new league season will only begin after the CHAN in Rwanda, which is between January 16 and February 7.

“The league will not wait for 23 players (who will make the final squad for the CHAN) to start. We need to get going so that our clubs in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup will get some matches under their belt before their preliminary matches in February,” a top official disclosed.

Today’s Nigeria Football Federation Annual General Assembly will ratify a proposed January kick-off date for the new season.

Osimhen didn't travel to England -Reps

Representatives of Victor Osimhen have moved quickly to dismiss reports emanating from the local media that the Nigeria Under 23 international has jetted off to England to seal a deal with an unnamed English Premier League club.

The Golden Eaglets star left the Dream Team’s camp in Dakar for Lagos a day before the delegation returned to Abuja, as the date on his return ticket was different from those issued to his teammates.

“Victor Osimhen is in Lagos, he came back to Nigeria before the team. There will be a violation of international laws if he travels unaccompanied to England because he is a minor, ” Osimhen’s rep told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“He has been in Lagos since Sunday. The excuse they gave us was that his ticket was booked a day ahead. ”

After the Flying Eagles crashed out of the Fifa Under 20 World Cup in June, Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Granada’s Isaac Success departed New Zealand a day before the rest of the squad, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that Osimhen was booked on another flight.

The 16 - year - old Osimhen is attracting interest from clubs based in England, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Italy due to his recent displays for the national teams, most especially the Golden Eaglets.

Mikel wants to represent Nigeria in Rio Olympics

Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel has indicated his willingness to feature for the U-23 team at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as one of three over-aged players, according to Mtnfootball.com.

However, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, told The Guardian yesterday that he was not aware of such move. “Sincerely speaking, I don’t know anything about such move by Mikel,” Pinnick said.

The 28-year-old Mikel has won almost every major trophy at stake, including the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League, but he has so far missed out on playing at the Olympics.

Incidentally, it was coach Samson Siasia who left him out from the Beijing 2008 Olympics after the midfielder had stayed away from the qualifiers for the competition.
“He has made it clear he wishes to play at the Rio Olympics,’ a top official of the NFF specially revealed to Mtnfootball.com.
“But it is left for the coach to pick who will be the overage players along to Brazil next year.”
For the 2008 Olympics, Siasia took along Ozase Odemwingie and Victor Anichebe as overage players.

Nigeria, back under Siasia, will lead Algeria and South Africa to the Rio 2016 Olympics in August after they clinched the U-23 AFCON in Senegal at the weekend.

Golden Eaglets hotshot off to England to complete transfer

Golden Eaglets’ star, Victor Osimhen, has jetted out to England, where he is expected to seal a deal with a top English Premier League side, officials said.

The youngster flew out to England from Dakar, Senegal, after he helped Nigeria win the U-23 African Nations Cup, africanFootball.com reports.

Osimhen, who netted a record-breaking 10 goals as Nigeria won a fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, has been linked with several top European clubs.

Ighalo breaks record with 10th league goal for Watford

Nigeria rave of the moment, Odion Ighalo, continued his superb goalscoring form in the Barclays Premier League with his 10th league of the season on Saturday. 

The 26-year-old scored the only goal as Watford beat struggling Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. 

After a positive start from the visitors, Ighalo gave the Hornets an early lead with just four minutes played, from a beautiful pass from Allan Nyom on the right. 

The Nigerian wasted no time and nudged the ball beyond Sunderland keeper, Costel Pantilimon.

The former Granda goal machine becomes the first Watford player to reach double figures for goals in a single Premier League season. 

And he also joins an elite list of African strikers to have managed 10 goals from their first 16 games – the others are Didier Drogba, Demba Ba and Riyad Mahrez.

In total, Ighalo has now scored 30 goals in 37 starts - his 26th of the calender year for Quique Sanchez Flores side.

The victory is Watford's third successive away victory, a feat they have never achieved before in the Premier League, and lifted them within a point of fifth-placed Tottenham.

Iheanacho hit goal no 4 for City

Iheanacho sends Manchester City top of EPL

Nigeria youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho, was the hero again following another match-winning goal for Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday. 

The 19-year-old scored his fourth goal of the season - his second in the league as the Citizens defeated Swansea 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. 

Two minutes into second half stoppage-time, Iheanacho played hero again as his deflection from Yaya Toure‘s shot gave City all three points to regain top spot, at least untill Sunday's fixtures.

There were earlier confusion on who should be awarded the goal but the young Nigerian got the nod to the disbelief of his Ivorian counterpart. 

Yaya, however, claims the goal should be his as it was destined for the back of the net anyway. 

"When you see the action, the ball was going into the net," said Yaya.

"When you shoot on target I think it is your goal because the intention was to score so can we do? We'll see what the verdict it is but as far as I'm concerned, it's mine!"

Another Ivorian, Wilfried Bony gave the hosts the lead in the 26th minute, as Jesus Navas‘ corner kick found the player in the box for a free-header goal. 

Before Bafetimbi Gomis equalized in the 90th minute with a blistering shot that beat City keeper Joe Hart at his near-post.