…Simy, Musa, Iheanacho on song
Despite suffering defeat at the weekend, Israel-based duo, John Ogu and Anthony Nwaekeme lifted the league title for the third time on the bounce with Hapoel Beer Sheeva.
In Italy, Nigeria’s only striker in the Serie A, Simone ‘Simy’ Nwankwo scored yet another goal as his team, Crotone drew 2-2 with SS Lazio.
Elsewhere, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho continued their impressive form in front of goal as they were on song in Russia and England for CSKA Moscow and Leicester City respectively.
With barely 30 days to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, ADEBAYO OLODAN reports the performances of Super Eagles players and prospects, at the weekend.
ENGLAND
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester): The injured Ndidi was missing while Iheanacho scored the third goal when his team suffered a 4-5 loss to Tottenham on the final day of the season. The former Man City forward had midweek found target in the 3-1 defeat of Arsenal.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): He lasted 90 minutes when his team suffered 3 – 0 loss at Newcastle United.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): He was on for 72 minutes when his club secured a 1 – 0 win at Huddersfield.
Ex-Chelsea keeper, Jinadu pens 2-yr West Ham deal
With a statement published on their official website, Premier League club, West Ham has finally confirmed that they have snapped up promising goalkeeper, Daniel Jinadu.
Jinadu, who has joined the Hammers from Chelsea, has put pen to paper on a two-year scholarship deal which will see him play for their U-18 team in the 2018-2019 season.
Born June 21, 2002, he made two appearances for West Ham in the U18 Premier League in the recently concluded season, against Arsenal and Swansea City, while on trial with the club.
Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Birmingham City, West Brom and AC Milan were credited with an interest in Jinadu before he agreed terms with West Ham.
He has been capped by England at U-15 and U-16 level but remains eligible to represent the Nigerian youth teams without making a request to FIFA to change his association.
Also, promising defender Josh Okocha has been given a scholarship contract, a reward for his impressive displays for the U-18 and U-23 teams this season.
SCOTLAND
Efe Ambrose (Hibernian): The Super Eagles outcast was cautioned in the 39th minute and was substituted in the 71st minute of his club’s astonishing 5-5 draw at home to Rangers.
GERMANY
Anthony Ujah and Leon Balogun (Mainz 05): Ujah was an unused substitute while Balogun was not listed when their club lost 1-2 at home to Werder Bremen.
Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim): He lasted the duration of his club’s 3-1 defeat of Borussia Dortmund.
Victor Osimhen and Felix Uduokhai (Wolfsburg): Osimhen was not part of the matchday squad while Uduokhai was an unused substitute when their club defeated FC Cologne 4 – 1.
ITALY
Joel Obi (Torino): The former Inter Milan player was an unused substitute when his team defeated SPAL 2013 2-1.
Simeon Simy Nwankwo (Crotone): The striker can’t stop scoring as was among the goals when his club drew 2-2 against Lazio.
FRANCE
Chigozie Awaziem (Nantes): He was an unused substitute when his team defeated Angers 2-0 away from home.
Lille monitoring Gulf-bound Sokari
A representative from French Ligue 1 outfit, Lille was among the spectators that watched CS Sfaxien take on Club Africain in the Tunisian topflight last Thursday to monitor Kingsley Sokari.
The former Enyimba midfielder, who has been labeled the Nigerian Iniesta, was one of the stars in action at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri and gave a good account of himself.
Sokari’s future will no doubt come up for discussion this summer as he is expected to bid farewell to the Juventus of The Arabs, whom he joined in December 2015.
The former Flying Eagles dazzler has been heavily linked with a move to Lille in France but a source close to his agent said the player is likely joining a club based in the Gulf and only a few details remaining before he signs a deal with the rich suitor.
Etoile du Sahel, Esperance and an unnamed Russian club were interested in signing Sokari but CSS Sfaxien did not want to do business with a direct rival.
A product of Port Harcourt City Academy, he has not played for the Super Eagles since the appointment of Gernot Rohr as coach.
BELGIUM
Moses Simeon, Samuel Kalu and Anderson Esiti (Gent): Simeon lasted 90 minutes while Kalu was introduced in the 33rd minute when their team drew 1-1 with Genk.
Arsenal loanee, Akpom scores sensational goal
Arsenal loanee, Chuba Akpom’s impressive form continued on Saturday as the 22-year old hit his sixth goal in 15 appearances for St-Truiden in a Belgian UEFA Europa League play-off game against Royal Antwerp.
Akpom doubled his side’s advantage with a delightful volley in the 33rd minute of the clash after his teammate; Jonathan Legear had opened the scoring earlier.
It would be recalled that the Hale End Academy product scored his second goal in the colours of Sint Truiden against same opponents back in April and he could have gotten a double here had goaltender, Sinan Bolat not denied him.
His latest act continues to bolster his stock as he prepares to bid The Canaries farewell in return to the Emirates Stadium where he would hope to work his way back into first team contention under a new club manager.
Akpom has made 12 first team appearances for the Gunners since his debut.
RUSSIA
Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow): He scored the curtain raiser in the 9th minute of his club’s 2-1 defeat of Anzhi Makhachkala.
Sylvester Igboun and Kehinde Fatai (FC Ufa): Igboun logged 90 minutes and scored in the third goal in the 50th minute of his team’s 5-0 thrashing of Tosno. His compatriot, Fatai was an unused substitute.
Fegor Ogude, Aaron Samuel and Brian Idowu (Amkar): Ogude came on in the 74th minute, Samuel was not listed while Idowu logged 90 minutes of action when their club drew goalless with FK Akhmat.
NETHERLANDS
Benfica-bound Ebuehi rated than PSV, Ajax, Feyenoord compatriots
Respected Dutch footballer turned television pundit, Hans Kraay Jnr has taken a swipe at Dutch league giants PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord for not noticing the talent of ADO Den Haag Nigeria international defender Tyronne Ebuehi.
Ebuehi will according to various reports join Portuguese giants Benfica in the summer after agreeing a five-year deal, which will commence after the expiration of his contract with ADO Den Haag in the summer.
According to Kraay, the 22 year old who recently pledged his international future to Nigeria ahead of the Netherlands, and even made his debut for Nigeria in their 4-2 win over Argentina last year is better than the full backs of the top three teams in the Netherlands.
Kraay is furious that none of them took notice of his abilities before Benfica snapped him up. He also reckon that the market value of the full back will no doubt double if as expected he features for Nigeria at the World Cup.
“Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV feel asleep over the right back of ADO Den Haag Tyronne Ebuehi. If you really pay attention to that guy, then he is a class better than Jeremiah St. Juste of Feyenoord “, he said in an interview on voetbalzone.nl picked up by Owngoalnigeria.com.
”A better player than Joel Veltman of Ajax and he could be a great replacement for Santiago Arias Naranjo of PSV Eindhoven. The scouts of Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV took the plane to the left. They should have gone right, because around the corner plays a fantastic right back”.
Meanwhile, the right back was not listed when his team suffered a 1-2 loss at Vitesse.
TURKEY
Kenneth Omeruo and Samuel Emem Eduok (Kasimpasa) & Elvis Manu (Genclerbirligi): Omeruo came on in the 37th minute and was cautioned in the 90th minute while his teammate, Eduok played the last 22 minutes of the club’s 3-1 over Genclerbirligi. Manu who was introduced in the 46th minute scored his team’s solitary goal 18 minutes late.
ISRAEL
Ogu, Nwakaeme wins third straight Israeli championship
John Ogu and Anthony Nwakaeme are proud to help Hapoel Be’er Sheva to clinch a third straight league championship in Israel.
The Nigerian duo featured in all three championship conquests and their club will again battle next season in the UEFA Champions League.
This season, defensive midfielder Ogu scored three goals in 27 appearances, while compatriot Nwakaeme netted 10 goals in 27 games despite a brief injury spell.
On Saturday, Hapoel Be’er Sheva lost 1-0 at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv, but closest rivals Beitar Jerusalem could only manage a 3-3 draw at Bnei Yehuda.
Ogu’s club now have 74 points from 34 matches, seven points clear of nearest rivals Beitar Jerusalem. The championship playoffs will end on May 21.
Ogu celebrated the feat with a tweet on Saturday. He posted a picture of himself wrapped in the Nigeria flag holding the league trophy and a replica shield.
SWITZERLAND
Stanley Amuzie (Lugano): The former U-23 defender played a cameo role after coming off the substitutes’ bench in the 84th minute of his team’s 2-0 defeat of Lausanne.
BULGARIA
Mbah celebrates first trophy
PFC Slavia Sofia winger, Chigozie Emmanuel Mbah has won his first trophy as a professional player after the Bulgarian Cup defeat of arch rivals, Levski.
The 20-year-old who was named in the match day squad, joined his teammates after the victory to share in the glorious moment.
Mbah could not hold back his joy when he went on the social media and wrote; “Bulgarian Cup Champions, thank you Lord for this great achievement.
The winger joined Slavia Sofia from MSK Zilina during the summer and he has played 23 times, scoring just once for the team.
NORWAY
Ifeanyi Mathew and Charles Ezeh (Lillestrom): The midfielder scored the only goal in a pulsating encounter against Sandefjord after receiving the ball in the centre of the pitch. The 21-year-old raced forward and slammed home from 16 meters out in the 13th minute. The win moves Lillestrom into 12th place on the log and the goal was Mathew’s second in eight appearances this season. His compatriot, Ezeh played the last two minutes of the match.
Aremu Afeez (Start): He put in a 90 minutes shift when his team suffered a 0-1 reverse at home to SK Brann.
DENMARK
Ayo Simon Okosun (AC Horsens): The youngster missed a penalty in the 66th minute as and lasted 90 minutes as his team suffered a 1-2 loss at FC Nordsjaelland.
AUSTRIA
Bright Edomwonyi (Sturm Graz): He was introduced with 16 minutes to the end of his team’s 3-1 win over LASK.
Yusuf Otubanjo (Altach): The former U-20 midfielder was a 68th minute substitute when his club lost 1-3 SKN St. Poelten.
CHINA
Mikel John Obi (Tianjin TEDA) & Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai): Mikel helped his team to a 1-0 win over Changchun Yatai for whom Ighalo failed to score for the second successive match. The duo lasted 90 minutes and Mikel had a game rating of 6.8, completing 81 per cent of his passes and wining six duels while making two clearances and tackles each. The win shoots Tianjin to 7th on the log with 15 points while Changchun Yatai remains 13th on the log with 11 points from the same number of matches.
