Former Inter Milan star, Obinna shown exit by S’ African club

…Lookman, Odey, Friday on song

In a bid to make the 2018 World Cup roaster, Nigerian players during the January transfer window switched allegiance across Europe. For those that were regularly condemned to the substitutes’ bench, it was an opportunity to brighten their chances of getting playing time ahead of Russia 2018.
Among those players who already seemed to be benefitting from such transfer is Everton youngster, Lookman Ademola who left the Premiership for the Bundesliga. Lookman repaid the faith of RB Leipzig in him by scoring on his debut as a substitute.
Also, on target were; Fred Friday in the Eredevisie and former MFM striker, Stephen Odey, who scored for his losing side, FC Zurich at the weekend.
In another comprehensive report, ADEBAYO OLODAN takes you through the performances of Nigerian players abroad.
ENGLAND
Tosin Adarabioyo (Man City): He watched proceedings from the substitutes’ bench as his team was held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley at Turf Moor. However, Lukas Nmecha was not in City’s 18 man squad despite his recent promotion to the first team.
Michael Obafemi (Southampton): The 17-year-old striker was not involved when his team defeated West Brom 3-2.
Kelechi Iheanacho  and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) & Tammy Abraham(Swansea): Iheanacho notched an assist while Ndidi went the distance and saw his goal chalked off as Leicester City was held to a 1-1 draw by Swansea City at the King Power Stadium. Iheanacho was replaced midway through the second half just as Chelsea loanee, Abraham was a non-playing substitute for the Swans.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal):  Lasted the duration of his club’s 5-1 thrashing of Everton.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ola Aina (Hull City): He played all 90mins as his team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Preston North End.
GERMANY
Anthony Ujah and Leon Balogun (Mainz 05): Ujah was an unused substitute while Balogun was not listed in their team’s 0-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich.
Ademola Lookman (RP Leipzig): The Everton loanee scored in his first match for new club 10 mins after he was introduced in the 78th min.
Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg): He was an unused substitute when his club drew 1-1 with VfB Stuttgart.
SPAIN
Francis Uzoho (Deportivo): The former schoolboy international was not listed when his team suffered a 5-0 bashing at Real Sociedad.
Isaac Success happy to be back in Spain
Watford’s striker, Isaac Success has expressed his happiness at returning to Spanish football.
The 22-year-old has joined La Liga club Malaga on loan from the Premier League side until the end of the 2017/18 season.
Success has previously played in Spain for Granada and also has a prior relationship with Malaga coach Jose Gonzalez.
The Super Eagles player hopes to have regular game time and help Malaga rise off the foot of the table and avoid relegation from the top flight.
“I spoke with the coach. I’m happy to return to La Liga. I want to work for the team,” said Success.
“I come to help the club and the coach. I am a footballer and no footballer in the world wants to go to the Segunda Division. I have come to save the team.”
The Nigerian could make his debut, Monday night when Malaga play away to Las Palmas in their round 22 La Liga clash.
FRANCE
Vincent Enyeama (Lille): He was not considered when his team suffered a 0-3 loss to PSG.
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes): The defender was not listed in the late kickoff between his team and Caen.
SCOTLAND
Efe Ambrose (Hibernian): He logged 90 mins as his club secured a surprise 2-1 win on his return to former club, Rangers. The former Kaduna Utd skipper was cautioned in the 63rd min of the match.
HOLLAND
Kingsley Ehizibue (PEC Zwolle): He was in the thick of action as his team suffered a 4-0 defeat at
PSV Eindhoven
Tyronne Ebuechi (Ado Den Haag): The want-away defender lasted 90mins as his club drew 1-1 at Heracles
Cyriel Dessers (FC Utrecht):  He came off the substitutes’ bench in the 59th min of his team’s 2-2 draw at Excelsior.
Fred Friday (Sparta Rotterdam) & Bartholomew Ogbeche (Willem II): Scored the solitary goal for his team in the 23rd min of their 1-0 defeat of Willem II. Ogbeche who came on in the 49th min was cautioned in the 90th min. Ogbeche On Thursday netted the opener for Willem II Tilburg as they played out a regulation time 2-2 draw against Roda JC Kerkrade before progressing 5-4 on penalties in the KNVB Beker.
AUSTRIA
Emeka Eze (Sturm Graz): He came off the substitutes’ bench in the 69th min of his team’s 0-1 loss at Mattersburg.
Alhassan Ibrahim (Austria Wien): He was not considered for his club’s 1-1 draw at Rapid Wien.
Bright Edomwonyi rejoins Sturm Graz on loan
Bright Edomwonyi has rejoined Austrian club Sturm Graz on loan till the end of the season from Turkish second division club, Rizespor.
The 23-year-old has yet to score in six appearances for Rizespor, who are aiming for a prompt return to the Turkish top league after they were relegated last season.
They are now second in the lower league table with 37 points from 19 matches, a point behind leaders Umranyispor.
Edomwonyi has played most of his career in Austria, posting three seasons at Sturm Graz.
MACEDONIA
Alma Wakili pens 3-yrs Shkëndija deal
Macedonian First League outfit, KF Shkëndija has officially announced the signing of full-back, Alma Wakili from Lithuanian club FK Trakai in a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 21-year-old played against his current team in the Europa League qualifiers this season and did enough to impress the Red and Blacks.
After completing his switch, Wakili said: “I was opportune to play against Shkëndija in the Europa League qualifiers last year and I really value the club.
“I saw the club had lot of quality. I know this club has a lot of ambition also to get to the Europa League and do big things in Europe.
“So it was an honour for me when the club was interested in me. And I really did everything to be here and now I’m happy to be here and I hope to impress the coach, the fans and do well for myself and my career,” he concluded.
Wakili will be keen on playing his first game the 1. MFL leaders in a league game against Vardar on February 14.
ITALY
Nura Abdullahi joins Perugia on loan
Former youth international, Nura Abdullahi has joined Serie B side Perugia on an 18-month loan deal from Roma.
The 20-year-old joined the Stadio Olimpico outfit from Spezia in 2015 and went on to make 22 appearances for the club’s Under-19 side, with four goals to his name as he awaits his league bow with the 2016-17 Serie A runners-up.
“The club can confirm that defender Nura Abdullahi has joined Perugia on loan. The Nigerian joins the Serie B side on an 18-month deal, until June 2019,” read a statement on Roma website.
Despite extending his stay with the Yellow-Reds until the summer of 2021 in October, Abdullahi has been sent out to the second-tier of the Italian top-flight for regular game time.
RUSSIA
Ahmed Musa (CSKA): The Leicester loanee scored a debut goal in the 33rd min of his club’s 1-1 friendly draw against FC Nordsjaelland, on his return to former club.
SWITZERLAND
Stephen Odey (FC Zurich): He came off the substitutes’ bench in the second half and scored 9 mins after but could not prevent his team from losing 4-2 against FC Thun.
FINLAND
Okoye Franklin joins KuPS
Versatile defender, Okoye Franklin, 18, has signed for Finnish Veikkausliiga club KuPS. The contract is for three years, until the end of the 2020 season.
SOUTH AFRICA
Victor Obinna leaves Cape Town City
Former Super Eagles forward, Victor Obinna Nsofor has left Cape Town City after the 14 appearances and just one goal to his name.
The Mother City-based club announced the signing of Victor Obinna in September last year, in hopes that Head Coach Benni McCarthy found a marksman to bring in the goals for his side.
The 30-year-old found the going tough with the Mother City outfit and his departure really comes as no surprise.
Kelvin Obasi fails Kaizer test
Kelvin Abara Obasi’s dreams of donning the colours of Kaizer Chiefs will not be realised in the near future after the club opted not to sign him.
The 21-year-old failed to impress officials of the club despite spending about a month at the Sowetan giants.
The striker midweek stopped training at the club after the Siya crew reported last week Obasi was into the last week of his trial with the Amakhosi.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Abara Obasi, who is still looking for the next step in his career after leaving Serbia.
MOROCCO
Agent to decide my future, says CHAN striker, Okechukwu Gabriel
Most-sought-after CHAN Eagles striker, Okechukwu Gabriel said his agent will make the decision for him following the avalanche of offers that have come his way on the back of his heroics at the 2018 CHAN.
The Akwa United striker scored the winning goal for Nigeria to beat Angola in the quarterfinal and he followed that up with the winning strike against Sudan to lift the Eagles to a first-ever CHAN Final.
Offers have poured in thereafter and Gabriel said he has not lost focus that winning the CHAN tonight is top priority in Morocco and that his agent, Makanjuola Nureni ‘MK’, will chart his next destination.
“I am aware of the offers, but my agent Makanjuola Nureni has the final say on where I play next,” he disclosed.
“I will play the football and he will decide what is best for my career.”
‘MK’ himself admitted he has received offers from across the world for the striker who has previously featured in Ukraine. “Yes, it’s true that there are several offers on the table for Okey, we are studying all the offers and we hope to go with the one that is best for his career.”
Top Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca as well as clubs in Europe have tabled offers for the striker.

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