The agreement ties Ogwuche under contract at Vångavallen until 2026.

Ogwuche spent the past season on loan at Trelleborg from Tripple 44 Football Academy. He made seven appearances during the Suprettan season.

The teenager played in games against Dalkurd, Landscrona, Örgryte, Brage, Orebro, Östersund and Östers IF.

The 19-year-old was previously invited to the Golden Eaglets camp. He is eligible for selection in the Flying Eagles team.

Abel Ogwuche is a good passer who will undoubtedly fit well for any club. The defender has the tendency to produce good passes in between the opposition’s line. He often takes his time to observe his passing options to distort the opponent’s shape. This he does before supplying a pass that begins an attack.

He is a fast and aggressive defender, his physical abilities give him an advantage while battling opponents.

Although Ogwuche is a big and strong defender he is very athletic for his posture which he shows in his jumping which makes him very solid in the air, but also his maneuverability is very good for a big defender like him.

Favour Itua

The U.S. Soccer Federation has appointed US based Nigerian tactician, Michael Nsien as the new head Coach of the U.S. U-16 Men’s Youth National team on a 3-year deal.

Nsien, with over 23 years of experience as a player and coach for clubs in the United States, becomes the first Nigerian to take the reign of the U.S. U-16 Men’s Youth National team.

Coach Nsien, born in Oklahoma of Nigerian roots, holds all the UEFA Pro Coaching licenses and is seen by his peers in the U.S. as a “trail blazer” for black coaches in a sector with very few black coaches.

“I feel really good about getting this role and opportunity as a first generation Nigerian American, it is really important to me that we show that my family name, the people of Nigeria are exposed and representing in a positive way not just the U.S. but across the world.

I think this opportunity will bring life upon my name, my family and my country Nigeria as well and also as an American, i have a great sense of pride to represent our country and to help get the next generation of American players to the forefront”, Nsien said.

The 41-year-old who before now managed USL Championship side FC Tulsa for four seasons, leading the side to the MLS Cup playoffs.

Coach Nsien however hinted that this new role will open new opportunities and new experience for him.

“Coaching internationally for the United States I think puts me in a different pathway with coaching. I was coaching professionally club for five years at a second division level, I think internationally, it opens up more opportunities, more people, get to see who I’m, get to know who I’m and get to represent an entire country of 300 million people, there is a lot of pressure behind that but there is a great reward “.

It will be recalled Coach Nsien showed interest in working with the NFF but was not successful.

Beveren fought from a goal down to win the game 5-1. And the winger has insisted that his team were worth the three points.

Ismaheel Taofeeq lasted the full duration and was exciting at the flank.

“Lierse were a complicated opponent,” he told reporters. “But we remained calm and I think we deserved the win.

“We came out with a very good attitude. We knew it was important to get victory.”

Ismaheel Taofeeq who is on loan from Lorient has provided three assists from nine league games this season.

“I feel better with each game, but I know what I can offer and I’m aware that I can still make improvements. Let me say that I’m only at 60 per cent…”

“Now we have two tough games coming up, but I’m hopeful. We are working as a team and everyone is giving their all.”

Challenger Pro League table toppers, Beveren have 27 points from 13 games.

Organisers of the maiden FC Ebedei/ FC Midtjylland Year-End Invitational Tournament billed to kick off on Friday November 18, have released fixtures for the event.

One of Africa’s best professionally administered football clubs, whose products have helped Nigeria win silverware since the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, FC Ebedei, iconic football brand Shooting Stars of Ibadan, and two Nationwide League One (NLO) Tradesafe and Cornerstone FC are taking part in the four-team mini tourney.

The FC Ebedei Stadium, Apele-Sagamu and the recently refurbished Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba-Ibadan are the host venues of the five-day FC Ebedei/ FC Midtjylland Year-End Invitational Tournament.

Fixtures made available by the Local Organising Committee(LOC) of the tourney informed that Tradesafe and Shooting Stars will lock horns in the first game of MatchDay 1 at 8am, while FC Ebedei takes on Cornerstone FC at 3 pm. Both matches will be played at the FC Ebedei Stadium Apele-Sagamu.

MatchDay 2 will be observed as a rest day, as action resumes at the FC Ebedei Stadium on the 20th with a Matchday 3 clash of experience and apprentice as Shooting Stars go head-to-head with FC Ebedei at 3 pm.

It will be a clash of two NLO teams on MatchDay 4 as Cornerstone FC hosts Tradesafe FC at the FC Ebedei Stadium.

Final fixtures on MatchDay 5 will be interesting as both matches will be played simultaneously at 3pm and the two different match venues.

The FC Ebedei Stadium will host the game between FC Ebedei and Tradesafe FC while Cornerstone FC will hope to slay the Oluyole Warriors in Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The winner of the tournament will get an automatic qualification to the next edition of the Gold Cup and also take part in an invitational tournament in Europe.

The young lad caught the attention of the spectators where the full back maestro had a superb game against the La Tricolor.

The Home Based Eagles which has a nucleus of under 23 players that recently dusted Tanzania out of AFCON Qualifiers with handful of home grown players were beaten by the Costa Rica in an International friendly in the early hours of Thursday ahead of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
 
The Eagles were initially appeared promising making few incursions before they conceded the first goal at 7 minutes of the game through a set piece which all the defenders were caught flat footed.
 
Much later, it looked like the Nigerian players were alien to high pressing football as the La Tricolor imposed and subjected them to their game. The Eagles were losing possession and La Tricolor condemned them to their own half. 
 
It took the new found Dominion Ohaka a spark that moved the team from the wing back to the attack and showed plenty of promises in the game. The Water FC prodigy troubled the Costa Ricans with his mesmerising skills and pacy strength which nearly resulted into a goal but could not meet the right partner to finish the job. Much later, the fair skin player resorted to unleash shots from distance but could not match the needed precision.
 
The utility player was also noticeable in his skill at tracking back to stop the hosts from causing unwarranted havoc . His unparalleled brilliance attracted the coach of the Costa Ricans, Luiz Fernado Suarez and asked that he wanted to have a snapshot with the Nigerian player.

“Ohaka is a threat to my team and I will like to have a snapshot with such a phenomenon talent. He is going to be a future star the world should watch out for,” the Costa Rica handler enthused.

Dominion Ohaka was one of the standout performers for the Dream Team VIII when they bundled out Tanzania at the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He followed it up with another magical display for the Super Eagles who lost 2-0 to Costa Rica in an international friendly.

Ohaka ticks the fundamentals for a fullback in this era: good on the ball, can play under pressure and can affect the game higher up the field. He has very good feet and is a skilled dribbler.
   

Nigeria U17 star Aliima Attervall Alase has expressed her gratitude for being part of the much celebrated Flamingos side which finished third at the recently concluded FIFA Women’s Under 17 Championship in India.

Alase who is celebrating her 16th birthday on Sunday, November 6 spoke with a section of the media on the team’s return from India, expressing words of appreciation for the team’s technical crew and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“It has always been a dream for me to wear the green and white colours of Nigeria so when an invite was extended to me to come try out in camp, I knew I must not let the opportunity slide,” began the very confident teenager.

“It was a bit of a different terrain for me but you know, when there’s a will, there’s a way so I gave it all I had and I’m grateful that it was enough to be among the privileged ones that made it to India.

“I want to use this medium to thank our coach, Coach Bankole, the entire members of the backroom staff, my teammates, fans and the Football Federation for giving me the chance to represent the country,” said Alase.

The IFK Göteborg of Sweden starlet was one of five players that did not get to feature for Nigeria at the tournament in India but that did not do anything to diminish her fulfilment as a Nigerian youth international.

“Yes I am a little sad that I didn’t get to feature but I understand the fact that the team had momentum and sometimes, coaches do not want to disrupt it. That doesn’t stop my happiness with this golden bronze medal I have which I will cherish for life,” she stressed further.

On what is next after the U17 tournament, Alase says she hopes to mature into the first team of IFK Göteborg in order to garner ample experience and hopefully come back to represent Nigeria at the Under 20 level in two years’ time.

Belgian Challenger League leaders, Beveren also kept clean sheet in the well deserved win over the visitors at Freethielstadion.

Thierno Barry’s brace and a well struck penalty by Dieumerci Mbokani helped the hosts secure the win.

Ismaheel was impressive upfront, with coach Wim de Decker impressed with his performance.

Ismaheel Taofeeq has provided three assists in eight appearances in the Challenger League this season.

The 22-year-old will be delighted with his performance and will hope to get attention of national team selectors in future.

He lists Vålerenga, Fredrikstad FK and Skeid as his former clubs.

The Olympic Eagles drew 1-1 with Tanzania in the first leg encounter at Benjamin Mpaka Stadium and will hope to zoom to next round of qualification for U23 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Taofeeq who has been a nightmare to defenders in the Belgian Challenger Pro League this season believes the team has what it takes to overcome their Tanzanian opponent.

The Oyo born forward made this disclosure in a chat with the Media from his base in Belgium on Friday afternoon.

“I believe the Olympic Eagles would get the job done and dusted in Ibadan,” Ishmael Taofeeq said.

“There are good players in the team who are capable of ensuring that Nigerians have something to cheer on Saturday.

“The likes of Nathaniel Nwosu, Success Makanjuola and Ibrahim Sunusi are players I know very well. So the team shouldn’t have problem winning the game,” he added.

Lorient owned Ishmael Taofeeq has already racked up three assists for SK Beveren this season.

According to Fawzi, his integration at Jonava has been straightforward and is looking forward to helping the team achieve it objectives.

The 20-year-old joined on a free transfer and has already made five appearances in the Lithuanian A Lyga.

“Honestly, very good! I have been very happy since my arrival, my integration is easy. My new teammates and the staff have done everything for me. Hopefully I can repay the confidence reposed in me.

“It’s a new adventure for me, so far so good. So inevitably, under these conditions, it’s always easier, especially since I think we have produced good things and achieved good quality,” Yahaya told the Media on Thursday.

“My stay herer been pretty good so far and can only look forward to an exciting campaign,” the former Real Farma Odessa defended added.

The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod has hailed Nigeria U21 Men’s team for booking a place in the semifinals of the 2022 African U21 Men’s Nation’s Volleyball Championship.

Nigeria defeated Libya 3-2 (25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8) in a highly tense quarterfinal on Friday.

Nimrod said the players exhibited a high level of resilience on the court adding that the Federation members are proud of their exploits.

He said “I want to commend the players for qualifying for the semifinals of the U21 Nation’s Championship in Tunisia. When Nigeria hosted the U21 Nations Championship four years ago, we could not qualify for the next round. I am a happy man today that the team has surpassed their last outing.

“I monitored the match and all I could see were boys who were ready to make the nation proud. They exhibited a high level of discipline, maturity and resilience in the face of stiff opposition for the intimidating crowd. The coaching crew also showed their tactical abilities by winning the fifth set despite pressures”

The Secretary General of Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 3 charged the players to go all out in their semifinal match against Cameroon/Egypt.

He said, “Show no respect to any team in the semifinals; they may be good but we are better. The 2023 FIVB U21 Men’s Ticket is in your hands and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation will support you when you secure the ticket”.