WHY IHEANACHO IS WEARING NUMBER 72 AT MANCHESTER CITY

Nigeria teen forward Kelechi Iheanacho who wears jersey number 72 at Manchester City and scored the winning goal for the team in their 1-0 win has been praised and spoken about at length after that goal.

However one part that has been omitted by the media concerns his choice of jersey number 72 as against his preferred number 9 jersey which is presently vacant.

It would be recalled while playing for the team Elite squad last season the Nigerian wore the number 9 shirt in all of the games he featured for the team.

An explanation from Mowizsoccer has it that in English Football the jersey number 9 at senior level has to be earned and the Nigerian a low key signing is into his first season with the team and is yet to prove he deserves the shirt.

On his part the Nigerian made up for the fact that he can't get his favourite number by adding 7+2 = 9 which gives him nine hence his choice of number 72.

He is not the first to have done same as Ivan Zamorano while at Inter Milan once wore 1+8 which gives you 9 mathematically after losing his favourite shirt to Ronaldo De Lima.

NIGERIA UNDER-23 DEFENDER MOVES TO PORTUGAL

The left full back of the Nigeria Under-23 team Stanley Amuzie secured a last minute move tom Olhanense of Portugal on the eve of the transfer window from Italian Serie A side Sampdoria.

Details of his move to Portugal are still sketchy with some reports suggesting Sampdoria pulled out of a pre contract agreement to sign the full back after he picked up a serious injury that might rule him out for the foreseeable future.

However a close source of the player differed by saying it's a loan move to the second division team in Portugal where he is expected to get gametime after he makes full recovery from the injury he sustained during Nigeria's Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier game against Congo in Pointe Noire.

Mowizsoccer scoop from the media in Portugal that Olhanense have an exchange relationship with Sampdoria hence the transfer of the Nigerian was done with the option of bringing him back base on performances as him alongside Mancone Soriano Mane were transferred to the club.

The  former Flying Sports of Lagos player will bring to two the number of Nigerian players at the club as Femi Balogun is presently on the books of the Portuguese second division team who were relegated last season from the top flight despite having Christian Obodo an ex Nigeria international of Nigeria who have played in six different teams in Europe,the highpoint was at Udinese.

OGUDE HANDED 3 MATCH BAN BY RUSSIA FA

Out of favour Super Eagles midfielder Fengor Ogude have being handed a three match ban by the Russian FA for throwing a ball at an opponent during his team Amkar Perm 1-0 loss to Rostov.

The 28 year old was giving his marching orders in the 58th minute for throwing the ball in Timofey Kalachev face after a foul went against him.

Ogude after a disciplinary hearing have now being handed a ban that will see him miss his team next three games when the league resumes after the international break.

His reputation of being a bad boy went against him as last season he picked up nine yellow cards and a red and already this season he has two yellow cards before his sending off.

ALAMPASU MOVES TO FEIRENSE

One transfer involving a Nigerian that went under the radar in the last day of the transfer window was that of Nigeria youth international goalkepper Dele Alampasu.

Alampasu voted best goalkepper at the last Under-17 World cup in the UAE which Nigeria won sealed a move to Portuguese second division side CD Fareinse after his planned moved to Estoril of Portugal fell through.

His signing was announced by the team alongside the capture of Jonathan Niguez as they hope to build on last season 7th place finish in the Segunda in Portugal.

The 18 year old joined Estoril on a pre contract subject to his performances with the team in training he will be given a real contract but it appears the move failed to happen.

OFFICIAL: MAN CITY OMITS IHEANACHO FROM UCL TEAM

Nigeria youth international Kelechi Iheanacho has been axed from Manchester City team for their UEFA champions league campaign.

Mowizsoccer had brought the news of the possible omission of the youngster and a confirmation was gotten today when the list of their registered players was revealed. 

Uefa's rule is more strict, stipulating that an under-21 player must have been at the club for two consecutive years before they become a “free” addition to the squad.

The complex formula for squad composition means City can submit 17 foreign stars, four 'home-grown' - Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling, Gael Clichy and Fabian Delph – and an unlimited number of under-21 players.

Iheanacho ran foul of Uefa's squad limits, which restrict every club to 17 foreign stars in their 25-man squad.

He joined the club in February after working through a long-winded work permit process, meaning he will not qualify as an under-21 player until February 2017, when he will be 20.

OFFICIALS: FEMI THOMAS REPLACES ENYEAMA FOR TANZANIA GAME

Enyimba FC of Aba goalkepper Olufemi Thomas have being handed a late call up to the Super Eagles as a replacement for goalkepper Vincent Enyeama who pulled out of Nigeria AFCON 2017 game against Tanzania citing family reasons.

Mowizsoccer had revealed they were talks about the Enyimba man being considered as the third choice goalkepper behind the duo of Wolverhampton Wanderers Carl Ikeme and Sunshine Stars Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

Femi Thomas is expected to join up with the team at the airport before they depart for Tanzania bringing to seven the number of local lads in the team for the game against Tanzania.

ENYEAMA WITHDRAWS FROM TANZANIA GAME

Captain and goalkepper of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Vincent Enyeam have asked to be excused from the Super Eagles AFCON 2017 clash against Tanzania citing family reasons.

Coach Sunday Oliseh confirmed Enyeama got across to him yesterday evening to tell of his unavailability for the game that will be the manager's first in charge of the Super Eagles.
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The 33 year old Lille of France shotstopper will now be replaced by the duo of Sunshine Stars Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Wolverhampton Wanderers Carl Ikeme who have reportedly being in fine form in camp.

There is no report if a third goalkepper will be called up for now but team sources said the coaches are considering Enyimba's Femi Thomas as a third goalkepper.

Nigeria will depart today for Tanzania for their second AFCON 2017 game after beating Chad 2-0 in their first game played in Kaduna.

ENGLAND CALL UP IORFA TO SENIOR TEAM

After being snubbed by Nigeria at senior level Wolves kid Dominic Iorfa was drafted in to train with England's full squad at St George's Park this morning as the senior side prepare for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland.

The central defender, 20, has been training with Gareth Southgate's Under 21 team but he was promoted by Roy Hodgson ahead of training this morning.

The youngster has featured at right back for Kenny Jackett's side so far this season and caught the eye with his athleticism.

Iorfa made his breakthrough last season at Molineux after a loan spell with Shrewsbury and appears to be making waves in the England set-up. 

The 20-year-old has yet to play for the U21s but featured five times for the U20s including appearances at the Toulon tournament, where he saw red in the opening game.

His father played for Nigeria and currently manages Glo Premier League side Lobi stars as team general manager but his chances of representing Nigeria are non existent after new coach Sunday Oliseh ruled out players playing in second division teams abroad.

CHRISANTUS TIPS AWONIYI TO DO WELL AT FRANKFURT

Former Under-17 World cup topscorer and silverball winner Macauley Chrisantus is optimistic that new new FSV Frankfurt loan signing Taiwo Awoniyi will do well for the team in the Bundesliga 2.

Chrisantus spent the 2011/2012 season on loan at same team scoring 8 times from 26 games but has tipped Awoniyi to do better than him in the same division for same team.

"Awoniyi have a better pedigree than me when i went on loan to FSV Frankfurt because he has being to the Under-17 and 20 World cup as well as a member of the Under-23, i never had such on my record when i went to Frankfurt on loan beside he has trained with the Super Eagles" He told News24.

"I have watched him severally and he will be a big hit in the second division in Germany as a matter of fact he might end up doing well than me and am not mincing words,i strongly believe he will succeed as he has all the attributes to make it, he is tall,strong,runs well and above all a lethal finisher.

25 year old Chrisantus however rounded up by advising Taiwo Awoniyi to focus on doing well for Frankfurt this season and not focus on Liverpool, his parent owners as his career with Liverpool in the future is tied to how he does well with the German second division team.

OFFICIAL:VICTOR MOSES JOINS WEST HAM

Victor Moses third consecutive loan spell away from Chelsea is going to be with West Ham despite a late interest from Tottenham Hotspurs.

24 year old Moses have had spells on loan at Liverpool and Stoke City the last two seasons and it was widely thought he will remain at Stamford Bridge this season after impressing during their pre season tour of America.

However the signing of Pedro Rodriguez from Barcelona and Kennedy joining from Fluminese made the Blues technical hierarchy to have a change of heart.

Moses will be hoping his loan spell at West Ham brings him more fortune that his previous two where he battled to break into Liverpool starting line up and injuries limited him to few games for Stoke City last season.