Nigeria Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has clarified the controversial decision to name Victor Osimhen in his initial squad for the recent international window, despite the striker nursing a documented muscle injury.

​The 27-year-old Galatasaray forward. was ultimately unavailable for selection during the October window despite having been named in the squad.

​Speaking in an interview, Chelle dismissed any speculation of friction between the Nigerian Football Federation and Galatasaray, explaining that the call-up was a calculated gamble based on an uncertain medical timeline.

​”About 10-15 days before the international break, Victor got injured,” Chelle stated. “We agreed that if he recovered and played for Galatasaray before the international break, the club would let him join us. But he couldn’t play in that game because he hadn’t yet recovered.”

​The manager noted that the medical ambiguity at the time of the squad announcement justified his initial selection.

​”We included him on the initial list because at that point we didn’t know whether he would have time to recover,” Chelle concluded. “There is no conflict between the player, the club, or the national team.”

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Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has received prestigious regional recognition in Italy, securing the Gran Galà del Calcio Triveneto award as Udinese’s best player for the 2025/26 season.

​The 27-year-old shot-stopper officially succeeded former teammate Oumar Solet to claim the honour at the 26th edition of the regional awards, which celebrate the top performers across professional football clubs in Italy’s Triveneto area.

​The accolade serves as a definitive validation of Okoye’s resilience and on-pitch excellence over the past year.

The Nigerian international endured a disrupted start to the 2025/26 campaign, missing the opening two months while serving a suspension from the Italian Football Federation.

The ban stemmed from a fairness violation related to an alleged 2024 match-fixing scandal, though Okoye was cleared of any intent to manipulate the match.

​Following his return, he seamlessly reclaimed his position as Udinese’s undisputed number one.

Anchoring the defence, Okoye registered an impressive 10 clean sheets in 29 Serie A appearances, delivering standout masterclasses against AC Milan and Juventus that ultimately earned him a Serie A Player of the Month nomination in May.

According to Udinese blog, the Gran Galà del Calcio Triveneto ceremony is scheduled for 11 AM on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Teatro San Marco in Vicenza, the goalkeeper will be unable to accept the award in person.

​Okoye’s absence from the gala is necessitated by a direct fixture clash. Udinese travel to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino later that evening to face Torino in a rescheduled Matchday 6 Serie A clash.

Given his vital importance to manager Kosta Runjaić’s setup, Okoye will be with the matchday squad preparing for the domestic fixture rather than attending the morning ceremony.

Mikel Arteta has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal that will keep him at the club until 2030 and make him the highest-paid manager in the Premier League.

The Spaniard’s new deal, announced on Wednesday, runs until the end of the 2029-30 season.

It represents a significant upgrade on his previous terms and rewards the 44-year-old for leading Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years last season.

Arteta’s new package is reportedly in the region of £15 million a year in basic salary, with performance bonuses that could take the total closer to £20 million.

That figure places him clear of every other Premier League manager following Pep Guardiola’s departure from Manchester City.

Arteta, who took charge in December 2019, has transformed the Gunners from mid-table underachievers into genuine title contenders and champions.

His win percentage of over 62 per cent is the best of any full-time Arsenal manager in the club’s history.

Speaking after the announcement, Arteta said: “It’s a privilege to commit my future to the club and to continue to work with exceptional people who want the best for Arsenal.

“We have already built a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime, and what is so exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.”