Eagles Watch

Chinese 2nd division club sacks ex-Everton star, Anichebe

 

Kasimpasa forward, Samuel Emem Uduok was red hot as he scored a brace at the weekend to the delight of his Nigerian compatriot, Kenneth Omeruo. Omeruo was quick to celebrate the former Esperance forward on the social media. Elsewhere, Joel Asoro and Joel Obi were on target for Sunderland and Torino respectively.

In the Premiership at the weekend, a certain Michael Obafemi took the shine off Wilfred Ndidi and his colleagues after making his debut for Southampton in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at only 17.

In yet another extensive report, ADEBAYO OLODAN takes you through the performances of Super Eagles players and prospects in Europe and Asia.

ENGLAND

Kelechi Iheanaco, Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa (Leicester): Ndidi logged another impressive 90 mins display; Iheanacho was an unused substitute while Musa was not listed for the 2-0 defeat of Watford for whom Isaac Success was also missing.

Victor Moses (Chelsea): He scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea this season, rounding off scoring for the club in their 4-0 away win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League early kick off on Saturday.

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): He was on for 82minutes and got a goal in the 10th minute as Arsenal brushed aside Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Freddie Ladapo (Crystal Palace): The youngster was not included in Crystal Palace 18-man squad when they suffered 4-1 defeat against Arsenal.

Tosin Adarabioyo (Man City): He was on the substitutes’ bench as his club defeated Newcastle Utd 3-1.

Matthew Olosunde and Tosin Kehinde (Man Utd): There were no debuts for Olosunde and Kehinde as their club secured a slim 1-0 win over Burnley.

Ademola Lookman (Everton): He missed out of his team’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Michael Obafemi and Olufela Olomola (Southampton): 17-year-old Obafemi in N0 61 jersey made his debut for the club as he was introduced in the 82nd min of the 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Joel Asoro (Sudnerland): Wonder kid, Joel Asoro scored his first professional goal in the Black Cats 1-0 win over Ola Aina’s Hull City in the EFL Championship on Saturday.

The 18-year-old, who is the youngest player of Nigerian descent to debut in the English Premier League, started in attack for Sunderland alongside ex-Super Eagles invitee, Josh Maja. Sunderland went in front on 20 minutes after a fine strike by Asoro, who was named in the starting line-up for the first time in his career.

Prior to the meeting against Hull City, the Sweden U21 international had made 17 appearances off the bench for Sunderland since he joined the club from IF Brommapojkarna in 2015.

Born in Stockholm to Nigerian parents, the offensive all-rounder is keen on playing for Nigeria ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Ola Aina and Fikayo Tomori (Hull City): The duo were deployed in the left-back and right-back positions respectively as the Tigers suffered a 1-0 loss to Sunderland.

ITALY

Joel Chukwuma Obi and Umar Sadiq (Torino): Obi continues to push for a place in the Super Eagles World Cup squad as he returned and netted his club’s only goal in their 1-1 draw away at Sassuolo. His teammate, Sadiq played no part in the match.

Orji Okwonkwo (Bologna): He was an unused substitute in his club’s 3-0 defeat of Benevento.

SERIE B

Franklyn Akammadu (Fermana): Italian Serie B club AC Cesena has recalled promising striker, Franklyn Akammadu from his loan spell at Serie C side, Fermana FC.

Born in Padova, Italy 19 years ago, Akammadu will now spend the remainder of this season on loan at AC Prato.

SPAIN

Francis Uzoho (Deportivo): He was not considered for his club’s defeat 7-1 whitewash against Real Madrid.

Kayode Olanrewaju (Girona)

Man City to offload underperforming striker

Manchester City wants to flog striker Olarenwaju Kayode, just months after snatching him away from Newcastle, according to reports.

Recall that Newcastle Utd wanted Olarenwaju before Man City swooped.

Pep Guardiola’s side signed the 24-year-old from Austria Wien in the summer – where he had scored 30 league goals in two seasons.

But he was instantly loaned out to Spanish side Girona – which is co-owned by Guardiola’s brother and agent Pere.

But RMC claim Ligue 1 side Amiens are ready to take the striker on loan – with a view to a permanent switch – after he was recalled by City chiefs.

Jack Ipalibo (Villarreal)

Former Flying Eagles midfielder trains with first team

Former U-20 midfielder, Jack Ipalibo was pictured in action training with the first team of La Liga side, Villarreal ahead of their 2-1 win over Levante at the weekend, though he did not make the match day squad.

Ipalibo has been at the club for a year now, and in that period he has grown into one of the most influential players for the youth team of the LaLiga side.

Pictured in white bib, the 19-year-old is called Yaya Toure by many of his teammates in the Nigerian youth team due to similarities in his style of play with the Man City star.

His rise will no doubt motivate his fellow Nigeria youth international Samuel Chukwueze who has been churning out impressive performances for the U-19 of the team.

Chukwueze joined Villarreal in the summer, when he impressed the technical crew of the team during a short trial with the team in January.

DIV II

Ramon Azeez (CD Lugo): the former schoolboy international lasted 90mins as his team won 3-1 against Sporting Gijon.

FRANCE

Chigozie Awaziem (Nantes): He did not make the match day squad as his team lost 1-0 at home to Bordeaux.

HOLLAND

Tyroon Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag): The want-away defender put in a full shift as his club drew 1-1 with VVV Venlo.

Cyriel Dessers (FC Utrecht): His second half solitary goal off the bench helped his team snatch a point as they played a 1-1 draw at home to AZ Alkmaar.

Ryan Sanusi appointed Spartan Rotterdam captain

Belgian-born Nigerian midfielder, Ryan Sanusi, has been appointed the new captain of Dutch Eredivisie side, Sparta Rotterdam.

Manager Dick Advocaat confirmed at a press conference at the weekend that central defender Michel Breuer has lost the captain’s armband to Sanusi.

Sanusi was the third captain of the team, behind Breuer and goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit in the first half of the season.

The 25-year old, who was born in Borgerhout, Belgium to a Nigerian father and a Belgian mother is eligible to play for Nigeria and Belgium.

Sanusi is a nephew of current Belgium international, Moussa Dembele and has already represented the European side once at U-20 level.

Sanusi joined Sparta Rotterdam from Willem II in 2015 and helped the club gain promotion to the top-flight in his first season; he has suited up 76 times in all competitions for the oldest club in the Netherlands.

Sanusi who is targeting a place in Nigeria’s 23-man 2018 World Cup roster will lead his teammates, including Nigerian striker, Fred Friday.

BELGIUM

Abdul Ajagun (Kortrijk): Was substituted in the 68mins of his club’s 2-1 defeat at Oostende

Taiwo Awoniyi (Royal Excel Mouscron): He fired blanks for 90 mins in his team’s 2-0 loss to Sporting Charleroi.

Jamabo Odeni George (Eupen): He was introduced in the 59th min of his club’s 3-2 loss at Standard Liege.

TURKEY

Kenneth Omeruo and Samuel Emem Uduok (Kasimpasa): Uduok scored twice, either side of the break to help Kasimpasa earn bragging rights over Alanyaspor whom they beat 3-2 at home, Friday night.  Eduok scored in the 22nd minute to make it 1-1 for Kasimpasa in the encounter and in the 71st minute, he once again got on the score sheet to bring scores to 2-2. Eduok has now scored six goals after 16 league appearances for Kasimpasa this season. Omeruo who recently got married was also in the thick of action and lasted 90mins in the match.

PORTUGAL

Lumor Agbenyenu (Portimonense): He lasted the duration of his team’s 1-2 loss at home to SC Braga.

BULGARIA

Stephen Eze joins Lokomotiv Plovdiv

CHAN Eagles central defender, Stephen Eze, 23, has signed a two-year-deal with Bulgarian Club, Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

Kano Pillars confirmed the departure of the defender – who is representing Nigeria at the ongoing African Nations Championship – to the Bulgarian top-flight side.

The 23-year-old who moved to Sai Masu Gida prior to the commencement of the 2017-18 season has represented Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars and FC IfeanyiUbah in the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL).

Lokomotiv Plovdiv also confirmed that the defender will join the rest of their team in Feburary after the tournament in Morocco.

“FC Lokomotiv signed a contract with Nigerian national Stephen Eze. He will become official black-and-white player from February 2018. The term of the contract is for a period of two years,” read a statement on club website.

Eze was voted the Man of the Match in the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win over Libya on Friday evening.

NORWAY

Afeez Aremu

The Super Eagles fringe midfielder has joined Norwegian Club, IK Start on a three year deal from Inter Allies FC of Ghana.

The Westerloo Football Acadamy product signed a deal with Ghanaian Inter Allies FC in December.

CYPRUS

Shehu Abdullahi (Anorthosis Famagusta)

Super Eagles defender Shehu Abdullahi has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract worth 700,000 Euros with Turkish club, Bursaspor.

Shehu will pocket 400, 000 Euros per year in the deal that also attracted a transfer fee of 300, 000 Euros.

Anorthosis also proposed a percentage, alongside some other add-ons, should Shehu be sold to another club.

The Cypriot club would also get a bonus of 150, 000 Euros from FIFA as Shehu is a World Cup player.

Shehu returned to Cyprus on Friday to play and score a penalty in the 59th min of the 3-1 defeat of Ethnikos Achnas -his last game.

He’s expected back in Turkey on Monday to officially sign his contract and team up with Nigerian teammates, William Troost-Ekong and Mikel Agu.

Nosa Igiebor (Anorthosis Famagusta)

Super Eagles midfielder, Nosa Igiebor has joined Cypriot club, Anorthosis Famagusta from Vancouver Whitecaps on undisclosed terms.

The midfielder, who joins the club as a free agent, started his career abroad at Norwegian club Lillestrom.

Igiebor subsequently played for Hapoel Tel Aviv, Real Betis , Maccabi Tel Aviv, Rizespor and MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps.

SWEDEN

Chima Akas

Former Enyimba defender joins Kalmar FF

Chima Akas has signed a three-year contract with Swedish Allsvenskan club Kalmar FF.

Following the expiration of his contract with Nigeria Professional Football League side Enyimba last year, the defender was handed a trial by the Guldfageln Arena outfit in November.

After his impressive showings while on trial, the club confirmed that the Super Eagles left-back has joined the team in a deal that runs through till January 2021.

The 23-year-old made his international debut for Nigeria in a friendly encounter against Cote d’Ivoire on January 11, 2015 and went to captain the home-based Super Eagles in the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

Akas is hoping to use his qualities to help Nanne Bergstrand’s men who finished 12th in the league table last season.

“That’s been my goal since I came here to sign a contract with the association. Therefore, it feels good that it is finally clear,” Akas told club website.

“I see myself as a quick left-footed player who plays at the left of the back line. I also have good qualities like ball winners and have a nice foot in fixed situations.”

KAZAKHSTAN

Tunde Adeniji

Ex-Sunshine forward joins FC Atyrau

Former Sunshine Stars striker, Tunde Adeniji has ended speculation about his future after signing a contract with Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Atyrau.

He signed a one-year deal with FC Atyrau, and has commenced training with his new teammates at their get-together in Antalya, Saturday evening.

While Adeniji’s wages and bonuses are undisclosed for now, the money he will earn at FC Atyrau is an improvement on his last contract with Bulgarian club, Levski Sofia.

The striker took home just under one hundred thousand euros per season at Levski Sofia.

If Adeniji does well at FC Atyrau, then he has a chance of moving to a big Kazakhstan team that features regularly in the UEFA Champions League next season.

The 22-year-old has not yet been handed a jersey number by his new employer.

CHINA

Victor Anichebe released by 2nd division side

Beijing Enterprises have released former Everton striker, Victor Anichebe.

The 29-year-old joined Beijing in June 2017 after his year-long deal at relegated Sunderland was not extended.

He scored twice in 11 league games for the ambitious team, who only managed to finish eighth last year in the Chinese second division.

Anichebe had previously featured for Everton and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League in England.

He has also been capped by Nigeria at U23 level, playing at the Beijing Olympics where Nigeria lost in the football final to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.

GHANA

Samuel Ekele

Inter-Allies signs defender from Kaduna Utd

Samuel Ekele David has joined Ghana Premier League side Inter Allies.

The defender joined the Capelli Boys on a permanent deal from Kaduna United.

Inter Allies Chairman, Rabeh El-Eter expressed his delight: “We are excited that Samuel is joining our team, we are sure that he will be a success at Inter Allies, he’s young and ready to learn.”

He met his new teammates last week and has started training with the team.

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