With most of the leagues in Europe currently on break, there are not too many players of Nigerian descent in action except in the England FA Cup, La Liga, Serie A and a few other leagues. One player who made history is Ola Aina offer scoring his first senior goal for Hull City from his full back position in the FA Cup. Also on target in the same competition is Millwall star, Fred Onyedinma who appeared to have mastered the goal scoring act from his midfield position. Should the player continue his good run in the competition like in the past, it will not be a surprise if he is handed a late call-up to the Super Eagles 2018 World Cup squad.
In this report, ADEBAYO OLODAN takes you through the transfer rumours and performances of Nigerian players abroad.
ENGLAND FA CUP
Kelechi Iheanaco, Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa (Leicester): Iheanacho who started on the bench for the Foxes appeared for the last 10mins while Ndidi and Musa were not listed as their club was held to a goalless draw by Fleetwood.
Fred Onyedinma (Millwall): The midfielder scored the fourth goal for his club as they defeated their Championship opponents Barnsley 4-1 at the Den and was replaced with five minutes left to play. With the result, Millwall booked their place in the next round of the competition.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Man City): He was not included in the squad as his team hit four past Burnley after conceding a goal in the first half to progress into the next round at the Etihad Stadium.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): In the late clash at the Carrow Road, Moses was omitted as the Blues drew blank against Norwich City.
Ola Aina (Hull City): He scored the solitary goal and winner for his club as they defeated Blackburn Rovers 1-0 in the English FA Cup 3rd Round. A delighted Aina took to his twitter handle and wrote; Delighted with our FA Cup win, buzzing to have got my first senior goal, onto the nex round.”
Alex Iwobi and Chuba Akpom (Arsenal) : Iwobi made the starting line and was in the thick of action, providing an assist while Akpom who made a cameo appearance also reduced the deficit in time added on as the Gunners suffered a 4-2 defeat against les fancied Nottingham Forest.
Musa not going to Turkey, says agent
Despite speculations linking him with a move to Turkey, Ahmed Musa will remain in England, his agent, Tony Harris revealed.
There are indications that Bursaspor and Leicester City are in negotiations for a loan deal for Musa who is yet to start a game for the former English Premier League champions this season.
Bursaspor’s representative Hasan Parlakay confirmed their interest while speaking with reporters.
“Ahmed Musa is a very influential player who will be able to add value and class to us,” Parlakay said.
“If we are realistic, we cannot buy him. But he wants to play with Nigeria in the World Cup. For this you have to keep playing and keep form in the league. We have players in our team from the same national team, [Mikel] Agu and [William] Troost-Ekong.
“Wearing the Bursaspor shirt on loan until the end of the year is an attractive offer. We hope to give good news in the coming days.”
However, Harris who disclosed that as much as three top Turkish clubs are keen on having Musa, the dashing winger will not consider a move.
“We have indeed been approached by the top three clubs in Turkey but Musa is not keen to go to Turkey just yet.
“There’s a big chance that Musa will remain in England. I’m however, surprised about the link to Bursaspor.
“I don’t know where the rumour came from. “It’s a complete joke and a figment of someone’s imagination. Rest assured Musa is not going to Bursaspor,” said Harris who also represents Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong who players for Bursaspor.
Onyekuru returns to Everton
Henry Onyekuru has returned to Everton from his loan spell at Anderlecht for treatment after suffering an injury to the medial ligament of his knee.
There was talk of the winger being recalled from his loan spell at the Belgian champions in the January transfer window, but certainly this will not happen as he is expected to spend several months on the sidelines.
Anderlecht has insisted that a surgical operation is inevitable but this has been disputed by Onyekuru and his minders.
”Back at @Everton a little earlier than expected, I am so grateful for the facilities and the medical team working hard to get me back playing ASAP! The Lord is my strength ????,” tweeted Onyekuru.
The 20-year-old had found the net ten times from 28 appearances in all competitions prior to his spell on the sidelines.
Onyekuru has two international caps for Nigeria and was in contention to make their roster for the 2018 World Cup before the injury setback.
Nmecha set for new Man City deal
Lukas Nmecha, 19, is set to sign a new deal with Premier League pacesetters, Manchester City.
City Watch making reference to journalist Alan Nixon has tweeted that the England U-19 sensation is set to sign a new contract and will then be loaned out.
The Citizens have done their homework before offering one of their most promising talents a new deal as he was heavily linked with permanent moves to Everton and Derby County.
Born in Hamburg, Nmecha made his first-team debut when he came on as a substitute in their shootout win over Leicester City in the League Cup last month.
He is highly thought of by Pep Guardiola as the Spaniard also named the striker in his match day squad vs Wolves in the same competition.
Nmecha has been on the books of Man City for more than 10 years.
Highly-rated keeper, Junadu, joins West Ham
Fast rising goalkeeper, Daniel Jinadu has completed his transfer to Premier League side West Ham following a successful trial.
The U-16 goalkeeper will remain on the books of the Hammers for the next two years after inking a scholarship deal.
The teenager had been on the lookout for a new employer after he was released by the Premier League champions in December 2017.
Jinadu trained with Southampton, Tottenham, Leicester, Birmingham, West Brom and AC Milan before agreeing a switch to West Ham, according to WHUFC Youth.
He has caps for England’s U-15 national team and made his debut for the U16s against Uruguay in 2017.
Jinadu is also eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland national teams, apart from England and Nigeria.
…Okocha gets new deal
Promising defender Joshua Okocha has been offered a new contract by Premier League club West Ham ahead of the 2018-2019 campaign.
West Ham youth-team guru WHUFC Youth writes on his website that the central defender is among the players in the ranks of the Hammers offered scholarships.
Okocha broke into West Ham’s U18 squad in the current season, aged 15, and made his debut for the U23s in their 2-0 loss to Benfica in a a Premier League International Cup match in November.
He has appeared in seven matches for the Hammers U18s in the U18 Premier League and has been booked only once.
He has no international honours for England at this moment, but everything indicates that he will be called up to the Young Lions sooner rather than later going by his imperious displays for West Ham’s youth teams. 16-year-old Ajibola Alese also plays for West Ham’s U18 team.
Norwich set to land Ebuehi
Norwich City is close to completing a deal to sign Den Haag’s Tyronne Ebuehi according to a report from Press Association Sport journalist Nick Mashiter.
The Canaries have been a bit disappointing this season as they are stuck in mid-table rather than challenging for promotion like was expected at the start of the season. They are currently 12th in the league but are plotting to change a few things in the squad during the January transfer window so they can make a run at the Sky Bet Championship play-offs in the second half of the season.
And one of the players they are hoping will help them rise up the table is Ebuehi who is close to signing for the club. The 22-year-old defender has already been capped by the Nigerian international team, getting his debut earlier in the year in their 3-0 friendly win over Togo, and has been increasingly getting better while playing for Den Haag in the Eredivisie.
And now he will soon get a chance to play in the Championship, something which may enhance his odds at getting a place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia. He was in the stands at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening when Norwich were able to force Chelsea to a replay after drawing 0-0 with them and the deal could be done in the next few days. And so the Norfolk based club will have grabbed a player who could make the right-back position his own for the next few years.
Iheanacho, Olanrewaju may join Turkish clubs
Two inactive members of the Super Eagles, Kelechi Iheanacho and Kayode Olanrewaju have been handed escape route by Turkish Super Lig clubs, Besiktas and Bursaspor.
Iheanacho has struggled to make an impact since switching Manchester City for Leicester City last summer and a move to Turkey may offer him the opportunity to re-sharpen his skills ahead of the 2018 World Cup in June.
The former schoolboy international is seen as a direct replacement for Everton-bound Cenk Tosun. Besiktas are looking at brining the Nigerian to Turkey on a loan arrangement for till June.
Also, Olanrewaju who has found playing time scarce at Spanish club, Girona may jump at the chance to play the remainder of his loan deal from Premier League club, Manchester City at Bursaspor.
ITALY
Joel Chukwuma Obi and Umar Sadiq (Torino) & Orji Okwonkwo (Bologna): Obi was replaced after sustaining an injury in the 34th min of the match while Sadiq was an unused substitute in the 3-0 defeat of Bologna for whom Okonkwo logged 90 mins appearance and was cautioned in time added on.
Obi appeared to have suffered an ankle injury pending a medical examination.
SPAIN
Kayode Olanrewaju (Girona): He was not listed as his team suffered a 2-1 loss at Valencia.
GERMANY
Anthony Ujah (Mainz 05): The former China-based forward opened his goal scoring account on his return as his team defeated St Gallen 2-1 on Saturday.
CYPRUS
Innocent Emeghara (Ermis Aradippou): He scored the second goal of his team in the 79th min of their 2-0 defeat of Pafos FC and lasted the duration of the match.
KAZAKHSTAN
Why I quit Finland – Gbolahan Salami
Former KuPS striker, Gbolahan Fuad Salami has opened up on why he left Finland for Kazakh club Irtysh Pavlodar.
According to the former Shooting Stars and Warri Wolves star, he took the decision because his family weren’t allowed visas to visit him in Finland for two years.
Salami who last week agreed a two-year deal with FC Irtysh Pavlodar, scored 29 goals in 69 appearances for KuPS.
He has 14 caps for the Super Eagles netting four goals but has been in the international wilderness since his move to Finland in 2015.
The 26-year-old featured in a friendly between Europe All Stars XI and Westerlo Football Academy in December alongside international teammates Odion Ighalo, Victor Osimhen, Haruna Lukman, Sylvester Igboun and Oghenekaro Etebo.
MOROCCO
Raja keen on Nwofor
Morocco foremost club, Raja Casablanca are exploring ways to sign Nigeria international striker Uche Nwofor in the January transfer window.
To this end, the three-time African champions are believed to be in contact with Nwofor and his minders over a deal.
Having said it, it is understood that representatives of Raja Casablanca have not managed to persuade the striker who made the Super Eagles squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Successful at club level and for the Nigeria U-20 team, Nwofor earned a move to Dutch club VVV Venlo in 2011 and also lists Heerenveen, Lierse, Boavista and Trencin among his former clubs.
Osaguona Ighodaro and Michael Babatunde have represented Raja Casablanca in the past.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Tottenham is yet to lose a home FA Cup match against a team from lower division since a third round replay vs Nottingham Forest in 1975, winning 30 and drawing seven since.
- NewportCounty has eliminated a side from the second tier or higher in the FA Cup for the first time since 1979, when they beat West Ham 2-1.
- Gaetano Berardi has scored his first goal for Luton, on what is his 102nd appearance for the club in all competitions.
- This is the first time since 2009 that Stoke find themselves in the bottom three of the Premier League in January.
- Since his debut in February 2013, Philippe Coutinho has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions than any other Liverpool player (54 goals, 43 assists).
- Mark Hughes oversaw his 200th game in charge of Stoke (W71 D48 L81), losing six of the last eight (W1 D1).
- Stoke City has been eliminated from the FA Cup as a top-flight side against a side from the fourth tier or below for the first time since January 1938 against Bradford Park Avenue.
- Leroy Sane has been directly involved in 20 goals for Man City this season (9 goals, 11 assists); the third City player to achieve that feat so far.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 11 FA Cup goals in just eight appearances at the Etihad.
- Ayoze Perez has had a hand in the same number of goals in the first 45 minutes of Newcastle’s match with Luton (3, two goals and one assist) as he managed in the previous 20 matches he has played this season.
- Jed Wallace has been directly involved in nine goals this season (4 goals, 5 assists); as many as he achieved in the whole of 2016-17 campaign.
- West Brom has scored more than once in an away match for just the second time this season – both have been against League Two sides (Accrington and Exeter).
- Ashley Barnes has netted two goals in his last three away games in all competitions (both in Manchester, at the Etihad and Old Trafford), after none in his previous nine this season on the road.
- Will Grigg has scored four goals in his last three FA Cup appearances.
- At 70 seconds, Salomón Rondón scored West Brom’s fastest goal of the season in any competition.
- Man City has progressed to the FA Cup fourth round in each of the last five campaigns, beating West Ham 5-0 (2016/17) and Norwich 3-0 (2015/16) most recently.
- Coventry has been eliminated in each of their last five FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition, managing to take Portsmouth to a replay in 2010, eventually losing 1-2.
