It was a bleak weekend for Leicester midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi and his colleagues from across Europe. Ndidi who shone brightly for his clubs and emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in concurrent weeks was shown the exit in the 3-0 loss to less fancied Crystal Palace.
For journeyman, Emmanuel Emenike, he will have to look for a new club as Olympiakos has banished the striker from the first team for alleged indiscipline. Similarly, Elderson Echiejile, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho have continued to struggle for playing time at their respective clubs, report, ADEBAYO OLODAN.
ENGLAND
Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa (Leicester City) & Freddy Ladapo (Crystal Palace):ย The club’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end following a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium. Ndidi made his 18th consecutive start for the Foxes but was issued a red card in the 61st min, his teammate; Iheanacho was a non-playing substitute while Musa did not make the squad. Ladapo was not listed by the victors either.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): Iwobi started but had to be substituted in the 72nd minute due to injury, as Arsenal returned to winning ways by beating Newcastle United 1-0.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): He made his 50th appearance for the Blues and was substituted in the 82nd min as they secured a 1-0 win over Southampton.
Isaac Success (Watford): The former Golden Eaglets forward was omitted from the match day squad as the team lost 4-1 to Huddersfield Town at the Vic.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Man City): He was left out of the squad as City trounced Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal keen on Uduokhai
Highly-rated Wolfsburg defender of Nigerian descent Ohis Felix Uduokhai,20, is attracting interest from Arsenal.
The electronic edition of The Mirror UK is reporting that manager Arsene Wenger is in the market for a center half in the January transfer window, with Mainz’s Abdou Diallo and Wolfsburg’s Ohis Felix Uduokhai among the names being scouted.
Their intensified scouting in Germany should be connected with the hiring of former Borussia Dortmund chief scout Sven Mislintat.
The Gunners are looking for a replacement for club captain Per Mertesacker, who is not renewing his contract at the end of this season, and have beamed their searchlight on Uduokhai.
Born in Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany to a Nigerian father and German mother, he previously represented VfB Annaberg 09, Erzgebirge Aue and 1860 Munich, before joining Wolfsburg in the summer.
A Germany U-20 international, Uduokhai has a valid contract with Wolfsburg until June 30, 2022.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Josh Maja (Sunderland): The former Super Eagles invitee netted on his league debut as his team claimed a 1-0 win over Sheyi Ojo’s Fulham at the Stadium of Light.ย The 18-year-old forward scored the winner in the 77th minute, five minutes after entering into the fray, in what was his second appearance for the Black Cats’ first-team in all competitions since joining the club from Man City in 2015.
Ola Aina (Hull City): He played all 90 mins as his club lost 1-0 at Cardiff City.
DIV I
Hakeeb Adelakun (Scunthorpe Utd) & Chuks Aneke (MK Dons): Scunthorpe United was held to a 2-2 draw by Milton Keynes Dons with two Nigerians opening and closing the scoring.
A goal from Adelakun gave Scunthorpe the lead on 27 mins while MK Dons attacking midfielder, Aneke made it 2-2 when he headed home a free-kick in the 66th min.
SCOTLAND
Efe Ambrose (Hibernian): He lasted the duration of his team’s 1-4 lost to Aberdeen.
SPAIN
Kayode Olarenwaju (Girona): He was introduced in the 75th min as his team secured a 1-0 win against Gatafe.
GERMANY
Leon Balogun (Mainz 05): He was on for 46 mins as his team played out a 2-2 against Werder Bremen.
ITALY
Jerry Mbakogu (Carpi): The Lagos-born striker netted an 82nd min equaliser in his club’s 1-1 draw with Frosinone atย Stadio Sandro Cabassi. It was his 7th goal from 15 appearances in all competitions this season.
Joel Chukwuma Obi (Torino): He was an unused substitute in a late kick off match between his team and Napoli with the result standing at 1-3 in favour of the Napoli as at the time of filing this report.
PORTUGAL
Etebo on FC Porto radar
Primeira Liga powerhouse, FC Porto is interested in signing Oghenekaro Etebo, according to reports in the Portuguese press.
Sports newspaper Ojogo , making reference to RTP, has claimed that the versatile midfielder is heading to Porto in the January transfer window.
Etebo is interesting to clubs as he can play on the wings, support striker, center forward, attacking midfield and defensive midfield .
The former Warri Wolves star has been CD Feirense’s most outstanding player in the league this season, and has found the net four times in fifteen appearances.
The Super Eagles player signed a one-year contract extension with CD Feirense in August, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2019.
Partizan Belgrade and Young Boys are among the clubs monitoring Etebo’s situation with a view to a transfer in the near future.
Meanwhile, the versatile Etebo played all 90minutes as CD Fereinse defeated Victoria Setubal 1-0.
TURKEY
Willam Troost-Ekong and Mikel Agu (Bursaspor) & Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor): Troost-Ekong played all 90 mins while Agu was not listed as their team lost 1-0 to Trabzonspor for whom Onazi sat on the substitutes’ bench for 90 mins.
Elderson Echiejile (Sivaspor): He was an unused substitute as his club drew 1-1 with Alanyaspor.
HOLLAND
Owobowale eager to represent Eagles
Netherlands youth international, Segun Owobowale, 20, has admitted that he would consider playing for the Super Eagles if approached by the Nigeria Football Federation.
The NEC Nijmegen attacking midfielder was born in Leiden to a Nigerian father and Dutch mom, and has been capped at U15, U16, U17 and U18 level by the Netherlands.
Owobowale explained that he had the support of his parents to turn out for Netherlands youth teams as there was no contact with the NFF before he made the decision.
”I only had one choice because the Nigerian team never called me up for their youth teams. So, I decided to play for the Dutch squad and I played at the big tournaments,” Owobowale told The Punch.
”Yes, my parents always told me, โyou can choose what you want, and Nigeria will come, so it’s your decision.โ So, if Nigeria or Holland pops up to ask me where I want to play, I would have to make a hard decision.”
The versatile midfielder said he is open to a call-up to the Super Eagles.
”Yes of course! I will be honoured to play for the Super Eagles.
”I watch every of their game I can, if I can find it on the internet. I can bring speed, power, technique and dribbles.”
GREECE
Olympiakos bans Emenike from first team training
Former Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike may need to find a new employer in the January transfer window as he has been ordered to train alone even though he is not recovering from any injury, according toย gazzetta.gr.
The former Fenerbache and Spartak Moscow forward may return to Russia with CSKA Moscow mentioned as a possible destination.
Emenike had complained of being unsafe in Greece and Olympiakos were forced to hire extra security to protect him.
It is thought that Emenike is disgruntled because the Piraeus-based club did not offer him the wages he demanded when he moved from Fenerbahce in the summer, but CSKA Moscow are likely to meet his wage demands if the transfer materialises.
Apart from the aforementioned teams, the 30-year-old has worn the jerseys of Kardemir Karabรผkspor, West Ham, Spartak Moscow and Al-Ain FC.
USA
Former Kwara Utd defender, Arokoyo joins Atlanta Utd
Major League Soccer outfit, Atlanta Utd and Portland Timbers have announced that they have reached an agreement over the transfer of Gbenga Arokoyo.
The Five Stripes acquired Darlington Nabge and Gbenga Arokoyo from Portland Timbers in exchange for $650,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2018, $100,000 in GAM in 2019, $300,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and a 2018 international roster spot.
Arokoyo only made an appearance for Portland Timbers in August 2016 before rupturing his left Achilles tendon during pre-season training ahead of the start of the 2017 season.
The Kwara Football Academy product links up with Patrick Okonkwo and Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu at Atlanta United.
A central defender by trade, he numbers Mjรคllby AIF and Gaziantepspor amongst his former clubs.
The 25-year-old has played two international matches for the Super Eagles, against Mali and Luxembourg in 2016.
INDIA
Kalu Uche (Delhi Dynamos): The 2010 World Cup star scored the consolation goal as his team lost 5-1 to Goa at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The former Almeria striker was replaced in the 73rd min.
SOUTH AFRICA
Daniel Akpeyi and James Okwuosa (Chippa Utd): Okwuosa lasted 90 mins while Akpeyi was not listed as their club lost 1-0 at home to Polokwane City.
