Osimhen Set For Bundesliga Career As Wolfsburg Welcome Youngster

German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg say they are looking forward to having Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen ahead of the resumption of the second of the current campaign.

Wolfsburg made this known on their official Twitter handle while replying to a tweet by Osimhen who sent out a new year message to his fans.

Osimhen proudly poses alongside a large framed photo of a Wolfsburg jersey with his name and No.18 on the back.

"We're looking forward to having you here," Wolfsburg tweeted on their handle on Tuesday, replying Osimhen.

Wolfsburg signed Osimhen from the Ultimate Strikers Academy after he help the Golden Eaglets win the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile scoring 10 goals.

Osimhen, who just turned 18, is expected to join up with the Wolfsburg squad in the United States of America in preparation for the second half of the 2016/2017 season.  

Rohr Has Made A Difference In Super Eagles - Ekpo

Ex international, Friday Ekpo has hailed the impact Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has made on the team since taking over the helm of affairs in August.

The German tactician, has won all three of his competitive matches with the senior national team;beating Tanzania 1-0 in a dead-rubber 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier before sweeping aside Zambia (2-1) and Algeria (3-1) in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, to remain top of group B.

Prior to his appointment, there have complains of his capability to take the Super Eagles back to the pinnacle of Africa football after the team failed to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup. Besides, his low CV profile, there were concerns over his tactical and technical know-how considering the fact that he only managed to take Gabon to the quarter final of the 2012 AFCON, while he was sacked in Niger and Burkina Faso.

However, Ekpo revealed to Soccernet.com.ng that the appointment of Rohr has come as a blessing in disguise for Nigeria based on his progress with the team in the World Cup qualifying series.

"I may not be a fan of Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, however, I do believe that his appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation has really helped the nation's football," Ekpo told Soccernet.com.ng

"It may be too early to blow his trumpet considering the fact that, there is still a long way to go as far as the job of the Super Eagles is concerned. Bigger challenges will come in 2017 but I am pleased with the way he has infused a winning mentality into the team. If he remains calm and focus, I don't see anything stopping him from qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup," he said.

2015/2016 NPFL season was a success – Dikko

The chairman of the League Management Company, Shehu Dikko, has described the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season as a huge success.

Dikko said the successes achieved were both on and off the pitch as he praised the league champions, Rangers, for winning the title after 32 years.

Moving forward he said the LMC would be looking beyond just the three points after a football match but other farreaching achievements. “Indeed, the 2016 NPFL season has been a huge success both on and off the pitch,” Dikko said.

“Going forward, the major objective would be the strengthening of our new campaign tagged “Beyond the Three Points”.

“Through this, we envisage taking the NPFL and indeed football in the country beyond the 90 minutes by creating an economy around the league that will contribute greatly towards the GDP of the country through the creation of business around football.

“This will expectedly create massive job opportunities and further enhance professionalism in all facets of the NPFL.”

Meanwhile, the NPFL clubs will, from the coming season, raise youth teams for players aged 15 years and below to compete in the new Youth League.

This was one of the highpoints of the Annual General Meeting of the LMC where the proposal for a Youth League tournament in partnership with LaLiga that all clubs will participate in, was approved.

The AGM resolution noted: “The meeting approved LMC proposal to start a Youth League Competition for U-15 among NPFL participating clubs in association with La Liga in furtherance of the partnership agreement between the two leagues.

The league would be fashioned after the La Liga Promisas’ with La Liga serving as technical partners.”

Clubs are expected to employ young coaches for the youth teams and in line with the collaboration with La Liga, the Spanish league will provide technical assistance by providing coaches who will train the youth team coaches before the start of the league.

Arsenal battle Monaco, Leicester for Nigerian midfielder

Nigerian midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo is being targeted for a possible January transfer by Premier League giants, Arsenal and reigning champions Leicester City.

Alongside the Premier League duo, French club Monaco and Italian outfit Atalanta are also said to be monitoring Etebo’s progress in the Portuguese Super Liga, CompleteSports reports.

British media reports that the Premier League duo sent scouts to watch Etebo in action for CD Feirense in their 1-1 draw against FC Porto on Thursday.

Etebo, 21, burst onto the global stage after scoring four goals for Nigeria’s U-23 side against Japan in their opening fixture at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The former Warri Wolves attacking midfielder has been one of Nigeria’s most promising talents in recent years.

He was named Africa’s most promising talent at the Glo/CAF awards last year after emerging top scorer at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

He linked up with Feirense from Nigeria Professional Football League club Warri Wolves early this year, and has caught the eye with his box-to-box displays and eye for goal.

LMC release official ball for new NPFL season

The League Management Company(LMC) have released the official ball for the 2016/2017Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL).

The 2017 NPFL season will be kicking off on Saturday, January 14, 2017, and is expected to end in July.

Ahead of the new season, the LMC who are the organisers of the NPFL released photos of the official ball on their Twitter page.

The white ball has all the sponsors of the NPFL and the LMC inscribed in it.

Champions, Enugu Rangers, will begin their league title defence at home to Abia Warriors in the first Oriental Derby of the 2016/17 top-flight campaign.

The biggest pairing for Week One is the clash between Enyimba International FC and Sunshine Stars of Akure.

Match Day One Fixtures

Enyimba FC Vs Sunshine Stars
Kano Pillars Vs FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Enugu Rangers Vs Abia Warriors
MFM FC Vs Niger Tornadoes
Shooting Stars Vs Lobi Stars
ABS FC Vs Akwa United
Remo Stars Vs Plateau United
Katsina United Vs Gombe United
Rivers United Vs Elkanemi Warriors
Wikki Tourists Vs Nasarawa United.

Mikel almost ended my career - Clattenburg

Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg has broken his silence over the row with Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi.

The EPL referee was accused of saying “shut up you monkey” to the Super Eagles’ captain in 2012.

The FA accepted the player had believed the referee  had racially abused him – but Clattenburg was found to have no case to answer.
Chelsea star Mikel was subsequently given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 by the FA for threatening behaviour.

In a rare interview, Clattenburg has spoken only about the incident and how it affected him.

He told AP: “It was a tough moment in life and the pressures were huge.

“It took me a little while to come back because I didn’t know if I wanted to referee or not because I lost the love for refereeing.

“I am strong willed now. I do what I believe is correct. I’m a professional but I have to make sure I apply my personality to the pitch because you have to have personality and not robots. Players want a little bit of personality.”

Valencia confirm interest in Mikel Obi

Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch have revealed he met with Chelsea outcast John Obi Mikel to put forward a proposal a little over a week ago, according to the Daily Mail.

However, the exit of manager Cesare Prandelli after just 10 games since that meeting appears to have thrown a spanner into the works.

Mikel, a veteran of 11 season as Stamford Bridge since joining from Lyn Oslo in 2006 is an outcast at Stamford Bridge having failed to make an appearance this season and his contract is set to expire in the summer.

The Nigeria international is free to talk to foreign clubs about a summer move and Chelsea allowed him to discuss a January exit with Valencia, who are believed to be offering a potential four-year deal.

Pitarch in an interview said: "In the case of Obi Mikel, with Chelsea's permission, I met with him in London on Christmas Day.

"I informed him of the option [of joining Valencia]. He said he would think about it." Pitarch told Spanish outlet Superdeporte.

Prandelli left Valencia on Saturday after growing frustrated with their lack of ambition in the transfer market.

The Super Eagles skipper who has also attracted interest from Marseille would have preferred to stay at Chelsea but accepts that he may have to move on,with his agent confirming that a January move for the Olympic Bronze medalist is imminent.