UPDATE - David Moyes and Everton have been able to sign Louis Saha from Manchester United, but have admitted that Victor Obinna’s Work Permit application has been denied by the Home Office.

Nigeria’s Silver Medal winner Victor Obinna killed it so bad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 3 goals and 2 assists that clubs were literally waiting for him the moment he touched down back in Italy.

San Siro boss Jose Mourinho signed the 21 year old Obinna away from Chievo on a three year deal and immediately sent him to England and David Moyes’ Everton on a season long loan, reuniting Obinna with Olympic partner Victor Anichebe.

image via Chievoverona

We’re at halftime right now (1am Eastern) in Argentina v Nigeria 0-0.  Marcello Balboa is saying Nigeria is playing better, but I disagree and see Argentina building many more chances.  I don’t like the cynical play on Messi, and the overall defensive play of Nigeria.  Nigeria’s chances have looked weak.  It’s hot, it’s humid, Argentina is a little flat sure, and it’s sloppy.  But I see Argentina pulling this out 2-0. 

Image via The Telegraph

It will be Messi Vs Ronaldinho as Argentina tango’s with Brazil in the Semi-Final’s of the Men’s Olympic Soccer in Beijing at 9am Eastern Time.

With both players scoring twice in the earlier rounds of the competition, Brazil leads the tournament with a team high 11 goals scored while not conceding any, while Argentina has conceded just two.

Surprising side Belgium will take on the Super Eagles from Nigeria in the other Semi-Final from Shanghai after Belgium snuck by the Italians 3-2 (and playing a man down for most of the match) and Nigeria downed Ivory Coast 2-nil.

1996 was Nigeria, 2000 was Cameroon, 2004 was Argentina and 2008 will be….

image via GamesNet

What’s up everybody? Good morning and welcome to LIVE coverage of the the US Men’s final group match against Nigeria. I’m Graig and I am up early again on the east coast to watch and comment on the encounter. If you are watching the game with me please feel free to comment and react in the comments section below.

If you haven’t seen the match yet you may want to watch it first and then come on back to The Original Winger and tell us what you thought of the game. Enjoy.

*Match results and commentary below*

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It’s been awhile since West Ham’s Carlton Cole has worn the Young Lion shirt, 2005 to be exact and that was where he scored 6 times in 19 matches.

Now Nigerian Head Coach Shaibu Amodu has called on Cole to join up with the Super Eagles ahead of their preparations for the last World Cup Qualifying phases in early 2009 with matches against South Africa September 6th and and against Sierra Leone on October 11th.

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Newcastle and Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins mother Alhaja, 62 was killed when an oil tanker caught fire after colliding with a roadside barrier and exploded near her apartment in Lagos, Nigeria. The explosion killed 8 people.

While no explicit details have been released, Martins was released from Newcastle’s friendlies against Doncaster, Hertha Berlin and Real Mallorca this week and immediately left for Lagos, his agent Chris Nathaniel said.

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UPDATE - Thankfully this story has a happy ending as Yobo’s brother, Norum has been released after being held for 12 days.

No word if a ransom was paid.

via Soccernet

‘On behalf of Joseph and the family, I want to say a big thank you to Everton Football Club. They were very supportive in every way possible, especially the chairman (Bill Kenwright), who was calling on a daily basis to find out how things were progressing.’

‘Joe is very happy to see him, but he is still down emotionally, still shaken. Right now, he just wants to get himself emotionally ready enough to get set for pre-season training,’ concluded Shittu.

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West Ham’s Gabriel Agbonlahor has represented England in the U-21 set up for the last couple of years, but has yet to represent at the Full International Level, something that isn’t lost on new Nigeria Head Coach Shaibu Amodu.

While Agbonlahor has been called into the Full England set up, he’s had to pull out due to injury for previous camps which means that he’s still be eligible to represent Nigeria.

Now Agbonlahor has to make one of the most important decisions in his career after Amodu named him in Nigeria’s 50 man World Cup Qualification squad, choose Nigeria and turn his back on his England hopes or decline to represent Nigeria and wait for his England chance.

With Agbonlahor already in camp with England for Wednesday’s match at Wembley against the United States, it looks as if he’s already made his decision.

image via Soccer-Heaven

With news that Australia’s Sydney FC are next in line for the signature of Portsmouth and Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu (who’s out of contract at the end of the season), I’m gonna say it just one more time. Please, please Mister GM of any MLS club, offer him a contract and sign him. Please.. ok, I’m done.

image via PhotoBucket

Ten man Ghana is going to the Semi’s with a 2-1 win over rival Nigeria in the African Nations Cup.  Led by Michael Essien and former MLS’er Junior Agogo, who scored the winner with 8 minutes left, Ghana’s comeback win in Accra was a tense one after Everton’s Yakubu put the Nigerians up 1-0 at the 34 minute mark.