By Adebayo Olodan
ENGLAND
In the early kickoff on Saturday, Chelsea loanee, Tammy Abraham played 83 minutes of Swansea City’s 4-0 loss to early pacesetters, Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.
Elsewhere, Isaac Success wasn’t involved in Watford’s 2-0 win at Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Super Eagles strikers, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa were not in Leicester City’s squad against Brighton & Hove Albion at the King Power Stadium.
Wilfred Ndidi put in a full shift for the former Premier League champions. 2-0 it finished, in favour of the Foxes.
Golden Ball winner of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Dominic Solanke made his Premier League debut as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to Sadio Mane’s 73rd minute strike.
The former Chelsea wonderkid was introduced in the 71st minute, teammate Ovie Ejaria didn’t make the 18-man squad and same goes for the Eagles striker Freddie Ladapo.
In the late kickoff, Alex Iwobi came off the substitutes’ bench in the 79th minute as Arsenal lost 0-1 to Stoke City.
Victor Moses lasted for 90 minutes while Fikayo Tomori was an unused substitute as Chelsea secured a 2-1 win over Tottenham.
Rohr unhappy with body weight of Success
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has explained the reason behind the none inclusion of Isaac Success in the squad for the upcoming back to back World Cup 2018 Qualifiers against Cameroon.
However the Watford ace has failed to follow up his pre-season showing and seemed to have added so much weight which made the coach to have a rethink about his future with the Eagles.
“Success has issues when it comes to his weight. As a matter of fact, anytime the Eagles are in camp, Rohr ensures he gets special drills to help him shed some weight. His upper body mass is not helping his cause to stay injury free,” a source disclosed.
“Rohr loves his style of play especially after the impact he made when he came on against Senegal in the friendly game played in London, but it’s sad that the coach hasn’t been able to call on him since then due to injury.
“The game against Cameroon is too short for him to drop the excessive weight Rohr would have loved him to. It’s a pity considering his talent and what he can bring to the Super Eagles”.
Ojo joins Fulham on a season-long loan
Liverpool midfielder, Oluwaseyi Babajide “Sheyi” Ojo has joined Fulham on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old winger received offers from several clubs including Middlesbrough, Derby and Aston Villa before choosing to move to Craven Cottage. Ojo, who won the U-20 World Cup with England earlier this summer, joined Liverpool’s academy from MK Dons in 2011 and enjoyed successful loan spells at Wigan and Wolves before breaking into the first-team squad. He made 11 senior appearances in his first season under Jurgen Klopp scoring one goal in the FA Cup replay against Exeter at Anfield in January 2016. However, injuries restricted him to just two games last season and he’s fallen down the pecking order at Anfield with Ryan Kent moving ahead of him after a good pre-season. “I’m delighted to welcome Sheyi Ojo to the Fulham Football Club,” Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan said. “He possesses fantastic physical talents and also carries himself with poise and class, and I know that he’s going to be a great addition to our squad.”
SPAIN
Kayode makes Girona debut in Atletico draw
Olanrewaju Kayode made his debut for newly promoted Girona who were forced to a 2-2 home draw by 10-man Atletico Madrid in the opening day of the new Spanish La Liga Santander season on Saturday.
Kayode, who joined Girona on loan from Manchester City, was brought on for Cristian Portu in the 84th minute.
GERMANY
Leon Balogun was an unused substitute as Mainz 05 suffered a 0-1 loss to
Hannover 96.
BELGIUM
Henry Onyekuru played for 90 minutes as Anderlecht lost 2-3 to St. Truiden just as Joseph Akpala played the last 11 minutes for Oostende in their 1-2 loss at Eupen.
Peter Olayinka scored the third goal in the 84th minute for his club as Zulte-Waregem defeated Standard Liege 4-0 and was substituted four minutes later.
Gent in race to conclude transfer of Simon
Belgian club, KAA Gent is racing against time to sanction the transfer of Super Eagles star Moses Simon in the next eight days.
The summer transfer window will not close in Belgium until August 31, 2017, but the winger is due to report for international duty latest Monday, August 28, ahead of the national team’s clash with Cameroon in Uyo.
Two unnamed clubs based overseas are negotiating with Gent over the signing of Moses Simon.
While the identity of the team in pole position for the services of the winger is classified information for now, he has been scouted by the likes of Brighton & Hove and West Brom in recent months.
In the last two years, Simon has always been invited to Nigeria’s senior national team, apart from the summer of 2015 when he had to be excused so he can represent the Flying Eagles.
Bonaventure on radar of Man City, Monaco
Emmanuel Bonaventure has definitely found his scoring boots at Club Brugge with five goals in barely three weeks into the Jupiler League season. This has drawn the attention of top European sides, including Manchester United, Manchester City and Monaco.
It’s still very cloudy if Club Brugge will entertain any bid having sold Jose Izquierdo to Brighton for £13.5 million. However, a sumptuous deal of around 20 million pounds may be enough to land the Nigerian forward. A lucrative loan deal with the option of a permanent move is also a possibility.
Though, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are embarrassed with attacking options. Still, Bonaventure could force his way into Coach Gernot Rohr’s plans if he maintains his remarkable goal scoring form.
The Belgian top flight is not only known for spotting talents but also nurturing them into established.
Bonaventure developed his footballing skills in the slums of Nigeria. In order to cut his teeth in professional football, he joined local side, Abuja FC. From there, European sides started hovering around him like vultures. In 2016, as many as five topsides scrambled for his signature. Bonaventure picked Ukrainian side, Zorya Luhansk. In his first European season, the teenager netted six goals in 22 games, helping Yuriy Vernydub’s team finish third in the Ukrainian Premier League.
Afterwards, Club Brugge signed him on a four-year deal. The Nigerian adapted swiftly to life at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
EUROPA LEAGUE
Adegbenro scores as Rosenborg stuns Ajax
Samuel Adegbenro was the match winner Thursday night as he helped Rosenborg shock Ajax 1-0 in Amsterdam in their UEFA Europa League play-offs first leg.
Adegbenro, who only joined the Norwegian side last week, came on as an 68th minute substitute for his debut to score the only goal of the game in the 77th minute to send last season’s finalists to the brink of Europa League elimination.
However, Paul Onuachu was not listed for FC Midtjylland who lost 3-2 away to Apollon Limassol in their Europa League play-offs first leg.
The lanky striker has scored eight goals in his last ten matches this season. His compatriot, Rilwan Hassan, was yellow carded in his 16th appearance in the competition.
Hassan had scored his first ever UEFA Europa League goal for FC Midtjylland in the third qualifying round loss to Polish side Arka Gdynia.
In Belgrade, Ezekiel Henty played for 77 minutes in his third Europa League game for his Hungarian side Videoton FC who forced Partizan Belgrade to a 0-0 draw.
Former U-20 striker, Alhaji Gero came on in the 77th minute of Oestersunds FK’s 3-1 loss away to PAOK Thessaloniki FC in Greece. Gero has made 17 appearances in all competitions this term.
TURKEY
Emem Eduok came off the substitutes’ bench in the 63rd min as Kasimpasa drew 2-2 with
Besiktas while Raheem Lawal and Aminu Umar lasted 67 and 86 minute respectively as Osmanlispor lost 1-3 at Galatasaray.
The trio of Joshua John, Mikel Agu and William Troost-Ekong made the starting line-up for Bursaspor in their 3-2 win over Alanyaspor. While John was substituted after 53minutes, Agu and Troost-Ekong lasted the entirety of the match.
Okechukwu Azubuike played for 90 minutes and was Yellow carded in the 88th minute while Sunday Mba was unlisted as their club, Yeni Malatyaspor lost 0-2 to Sivasspor.
DIV I
Ali Dere played for 83minutes as his club, Istanbulspor secured a 1-0 away win at Denizlispor while John Chibuike lasted 68 minutes in Samsunspor’s 1-0 win at Manisaspor.
Konyaspor unveils Eze
The 24-year-old striker signed a three-year deal with the Turkish Super Lig side.
During his unveiling at the Konya Municipality Metropolitan Stadium, the club President Ajmer Baydar expressed his delight on acquiring the former Fujairah SC striker and stated that he believes the forward will add quality to the team.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Eze expressed his happiness in joining the Turkish side:
“I am so happy to have joined this great club,” Eze told Skorer.
The striker will join compatriot Imoh Ezekiel, who was signed earlier this summer at the green and white outfits.
Eze was Al-Fujairah’s top scorer in the 2015/16 seasons as he netted 14 goals in 24 league appearances for the United Arab Emirates side.
PORTUGAL
Chiderah Ezeh played the last four minutes as Rio Ave defeated his club, Portimonense 2-0.
SCOTLAND
Efe Ambrose lasted the distance as Hibernian suffered a 1-3 loss to Hamilton Academical.
DENMARK
Simon Okosun played for 90 minutes as AC Horsens drew 0-0 with AaB just as
OB Odense’s Izunna Uzochukwu was cautioned in the 32nd minute before being substituted in the 79th min of the club’s 0-2 loss to FC Midtjylland. Paul Onuachu and Rilwan Hassan were missing for the away team.
RUSSIA
Aaron Samuel was substituted after 52 minutes of CSKA Moscow’s 0-0 draw at Ural.
Kehinde Fatai and Sylvester Igboun both started for Ufa in their 1-1 draw with Dinamo Moscow. The former was substituted in the 90th minute.
NORWAY
Ifeanyi Mathew was cautioned in the 43rd minute as Lillestroem secured a 2-1 win over Valeranga. Also cautioned was Marco Tagbajumi in the 68th minute before his substitution eight minutes later. Moses Ebiye and Shaloze Udoji Chigozie also played each half for the home team while Charles Ezeh was an unused substitute just as Chidera Ejuke lasted 90 minutes for Vaalerenga.
SWEDEN
Taye Taiwo played for 90 minutes as his club, AFC Eskilstuna defeated Malmo FF 3-1 while Chidi Dauda Omeje was a 90th minute substitute for the victors.
Elsewhere, Alhaji Gero lasted the distance as Oestersunds FK lost 0-2 to AIK.
TUNISIA
RC Kadiogo of Burkina Faso striker, Michael Chumakpa Ibeh has joined CS Sfaxien on a 4-year deal. The 23-year-old was a transfer target for Algerian club, USM Alger before he made the switch to the Tunisian club.
