Ahead of the double header friendlies against Serbia and Poland, no fewer than 10 goals were contributed at the weekend by Nigerian players across Europe and in China.
Ogenyi Onazi contributed one of the goals in the Turkish League- his first since September 2017- while Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel provided two assists for his Ghanaian teammate in the Chinese League.
Also among the goals at the weekend were; Ryan Sanusi(in the Eredevisie), Arsenal loanee, Chuks Aneke, Adeniji Oshilaja and Luke Amos – all in the English lower leagues.
On the flip, former Super Eagles central defender, Godfrey Oboabona is presently club hunting following his release by Saudi Arabian club, Ah Ahli over alleged poor performance.
In yet another comprehensive report, the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN highlights the performances of Nigerian players from the Premiership to the South Africa and the money-spinning Chinese League.
ENGLAND (FA CUP)
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) & Victor Moses: Iheanacho was substituted after 67 mins while Ndidi and Moses logged 120 mins for their respective teams as Leicester City suffered a 1-2 loss to Chelsea.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ola Aina (Hull City): He was on for the duration of his club’s 3-0 loss Birmingham City in the right side of defence. The appearance was his 36th in the English Championship.
LEAGUE ONE
Chuks Aneke (Milton Keynes): The Arsenal loanee scored a brace when his club secured a 2-1 win over Bury. His goals came from the spot in the 11th min and 57th min.
Adeniji Oshilaja (Rochdale): The defender gave Rochdale the lead in the 7th min in their 1-1 draw with Wimbledon.
LEAGUE TWO
Uche Ikpeazu (Cambridge Utd): The former U-23 invitee netted the consolation goal as his team was beaten 3-1 by Swindon Town.
Luke Amos (Stevenage): He opened the scoring in the 10th min and helped his team to a 2-2 draw with Port Vale.
FRANCE
Chigozie Awaziem (Nantes): He was an unused substitute when his club drew 1-1 away at Metz.
ITALY
Joel Obi (Torino): He was expectedly benched for 90 mins as his team lost 1-2 to Fiorentina.
SPAIN
Imoh Ezekiel and Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas) & Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna): Ezekiel was an unused substitute while his colleague, Etebo was not listed as he is yet to recover from the injury he sustained last week, as their team drew 1-1 away at Deportivo for whom Uzoho did not taste action.
DIV II
Ramon Azeez (CD Lugo): The former schoolboy international lasted 90 mins as his team defeated Alcoron 2-1.
GERMANY
Leon Balogun and Anthony Ujah (Mainz 05): Balogun returned to the starting line-up and played for the entirety of his club’s 3-0 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt. The match was the defender’s 13th this season and his 50th for Mainz. His teammate, Ujah made his first start since returning to the club in January and was substituted in the 55th min.
Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg): He made his 10th Bundesliga appearance this season after coming off the substitutes’ bench in the 1-0 defeat at home to Schalke 04. The former schoolboy international is yet to score for the club since he joined in January 2017.
NORWAY
Ifeanyi Mathew and Charles Ezeh (Lillestrom): Mathew lasted 90 mins while his teammate, Ezeh was substituted in the 68th min of their club’s 2-2 draw at home to Sarpsborg.
Ikedi (FK Haugsund) & Daniel Chima (Molde): Ikedi was introduced in the 88th min while Chima was an unused substitute as Haugesund lost 0-1 at home to Molde.
Afeez Aremu scores on IK Start debut
CHAN Eagles reject, Afeez Aremu seemed to have settled to life quickly in Norway after the former Akwa United star scored on his debut for IK Start in their 4-1 win over Tromso.
Aremu was in action for the duration of the match and was not cautioned by the centre referee.
TURKEY
William Troost-Ekong, Mikel Agu and Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor):Troost-Ekong and Agu all lasted the duration of their club’s 1-0 win over Sivasspor. Shehu who has made seven appearances since joining the club in January was left out of the match day squad.
Kenneth Omeruo and Samuel Emem Eduok(Kasimpasa):Omeruo was in action for 90 mins as their club lost 2-3 at home to Antalyaspor.
Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor): He lasted 90 mins and was on the score sheet in the 86th min of his team’s 4-1 defeat of Azubuike Okechukwu’s Yeni Matalyaspor. Prior to the match, Onazi had not found the back of the net in the league since September 10, 2017 when he scored against Genclerbirligi.
HOLLAND
Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag): He was not in action for his club at the weekend.
Kelechi Nwakali
Kingsley Ehibuzue(PEC Zwolle): He lasted 90 mins when his team suffered a 3-4 loss at home to Feyenoord
Umar Sadiq (NAC Breda) & Bartholomew Ogbeche: The AS Roma loanee, Sadiq, lasted the entirety of his team’s 0-1 loss at home to Roda JC for whom Ogbeche was missing.
Ryan Sanusi (Sparta Rotterdam): He logged 90 mins appearance and scored his team’s second goal in the 2-5 loss at home to Ajax.
AUSTRIA
Alhassan Ibrahim (Austria Wien): The former Wikki Tourists forward was introduced in the 74th min of his club’s 5-1 bashing against Salzburg.
SWITZERLAND
Stephen Odey (FC Zurich): He was introduced in the 75th min as his club lost 1-2 at home to Young Boys.
SLOVENIA
Chinedu Udechukwu secures Olimpija loan move
Slovenian club NK Olimpija has signed Katsina United forward, Chinedu Udechukwu on a year-long loan deal.
The 23-year-old will wear the number 40 shirt.
The Slovenian PrvaLiga outfit has the option to sign him permanently at the end of the loan period.
KAZAKHSTAN
Gbolahan Fuad Salami (Irtysh Pavloda): The 26-year-old was on target from the spot kick in the 35th min and was cautioned in the 73rd min as his team secured a 2-1 win at FK Aktobe.
The former Shooting Stars and Warri Wolves forward joined his new club from Finnish club, KuPs.
Tunde Adeniji apologises to teammate after red card
Former Sunshine Stars forward, Tunde Adeniji has apologised to his teammates after he was sent off in Atyrau’s 2-0 loss to Almaty on Saturday.
Adeniji who linked up with his new club early this year after severing ties with Bulgarian outfit, Levski Sofia was sent off in the second half of the match following a rash tackle on an opponent.
“We started the game well, we demonstrated at the start of the game that we were keen to het at least a point but my red card changed everything. I have already apologised to my teammates
“However, I want to express my dissatisfaction with the centre referee. I accidentally touched an opponent in the fifth minute and he gave me a yellow card.
“I expected him to have walked up to me and warn me but instead, he gave me a yellow card,” a dejected Adeniji told reporters after the match.
UKRAINE
Kayode Olanrewaju (Shaktar Donetsk): The Manchester City loanee was not listed when his new club defeated Mariupol 3-0.
CHINA
John Obi Mikel (Tianjin TEDA): He lasted 90 mins and contributed two assists for Frank Acheampong as his team won 3-2 against Tianjin Quanjin.
Jude Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai): He leveled score in the 43rd min to open his season account as his club drew 1-1 with Beijing Renhe.
SAUDI ARABIA
Al Ain sacks Oboabona
Saudi Arabia club, Al Ain has released former Super Eagles central defender, Godfrey Oboabona. Although no details have been provided by the club for dumping the ex-Sunshine Stars captain but official information on the club’s website revealed that the player was released on February 2.
In Oboabona’s place, Al Ahli has signed Australian defender, Mark Millighan in the winter transfer window to replace the Nigerian, who only managed nine appearances since his July switch from relegated Turkish side, Caykur Rizespor on a free transfer.
SOUTH AFRICA
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa Utd): He was in goal when his team defeated Free States Stars 1-0.
Pillars defender, Jamiu Alimi tries out at SuperSport
Kano Pillars central defender, Jamiu Alimi is presently on trials at South African club, Super Sport United as they look to bolster their backline.
The 25-year-old who represented Nigeria in two CHAN competitions spent some time in Europe playing for Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus but is now eager to prove himself with Matsatsantsa in South Africa.
SuperSport Utd presently has another Nigerian defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe but the club is looking for replacement as the duo of Tefu Masahmaite and Denwin Farmer are set for a move elsewhere.
Although the club has confirmed that Alimi has started training there is however no report yet on how long he will be given to impress SuperSport officials.
Kizito Obi joins Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos has signed midfielder, Kizito Chinnonye Obi in the club’s determination to bolster its squad.
The player alongside Tanzanian striker, Ismail Mgunda impressed the technical crew during trials in the past couple of weeks and were duly rewarded with contracts.
Obi who turns 27 in July penned a 16months deal with an option for renewal. The versatile midfielder last played for South African club, Leruma United after a stint with Tucanes FC in Venezuela’s Premier League.
EGYPT
FIFA orders Al Masry to pay Jude Aneke N144m
World football governing body, FIFA has fined Egyptian Premier League club, Al Masry the sume of 20,000 Swiss Francs following backlog of salaries owed former Nigerian league top scorer, Jude Aneke, threatening the club with heavier sanctions including relegation.
Aneke made the switch from Warri Wolves to Al Masry in 2012 and spent two years at the club before making a comeback to the Portsaid based club in 2015 and finally departing a year later.
FIFA had communicated to Al Masry that they are fined 400,000 US Dollars after Aneke won his lawsuit against the club.
The football governing body confirmed in an official statement that Al Masry wiolated article 64 of FIFA disciplinary code. The Egyptian club has been granted a period of 60 days to settle the debt to the striker.
The statement also mentioned the severity of penalty could reach deduction of points and if the club still failed to cover the payment, FIFA will decide on possible relegation of the team to the Egyptian second division.
Moruf Yusuf applies for Egyptian citizenship
Zamalek utility player, Moruf Yusuf has applied for Egyptian citizenship following his long stay in the North African country.
The former Kwara United player who recently got an invitation to the Super Eagles has been living in Egypt since 2011 and is eligible to be issued citizenship of the country.
