…you’re not Maradona, Club Africain turns down Salami’s demands
There were goals aplenty at the weekend for Super Eagles players and prospects at the weekend with Malaysia-based Ifedayo Omosuiyi scoring a hat-trick against his former club.
Also on song in France is Samuel Kalu and Super Eagles fringe player, Anthony Ujah who scored his second goal in as many matches for Mainz 05.
Nigerian players also scored goals for fun in the English lower leagues, a development that bodes better future for our senior national team.
On the flip side, former Warri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami had his ambition of joining Club Africain in the Tunisian League dashed after he was told that his demands were outrageous.
Below is another comprehensive report on Nigerian players abroad as presented by the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN.
ENGLAND
Isaac Success (Watford): He made a cameo appearance in the 87th min of his club’s 1-2 reverse against Manchester United.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): The former Wigan star was not listed as his team defeated Cardiff City 4-1.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): He was not considered when his team defeated Newcastle Utd 2-1 away from home.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City): Ndidi lasted 90 mins while Iheanacho was introduced in the 61st min of their club’s 4-2 reverse away to Bournemouth.
Phillip Billing (Huddersfield): The midfielder lasted 90 mins of his team’s 0-1 loss to Crystal Palace.
Okonkwo, Saka sign first Arsenal professional contract
Young goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has officially penned his first professional contract with Premier League side Arsenal.
The Gunners confirmed the shot stopper’s signing via their official website on Friday.
Born in 2001, Okonkwo recently turned 17 earlier in September and had made three appearances for England’s U-17 team before now.
Similarly, another Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka (17) – who has both Nigeria and Ghana roots – concurrently signed an extension with North Londoners as Okonkwo.
Upon the signing of the starlets, Arsenal Academy Manager, Per Mertesacker said: ”Bukayo and Arthur are talented players, who have both excelled through our Hale End Academy.
“We are delighted that they have signed their first professional contracts with us and we look forward to supporting them further through their development.”
Okonkwo made headlines in April when he trained with the Arsenal first team ahead a Carabao Cup fixture last season. Saka, on the other hand, was instrumental to Arsenal U18 side reaching the final of the FA Youth Cup and finishing second in the U18 Premier League South.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa): The loanee lasted the duration of his club’s 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers.
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City): He lasted 81mins of his club’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Sone Aluko (Reading): He provided an assist as Tiago Ilori smashed home for a 2-1 lead in the 52nd min of their club’s 3-2 defeat of Preston North End.
Sammy Ameobi (Bolton Wanderers) & Ebere Eze (QPR): Eze netted his second goal of the season, ten minutes after the restart as his club secured a 2-1 win on the road against Ameobi’s team. Eze smashed a shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards out to double QPR’s lead.
LEAGUE 2
Diallang Jaiyesimi and Olufela Olomola (Yeovil Town): The duo were among the goals as their club thumped Newport County 6-0. Jaiyesimi assisted the opening goal before getting on the score sheet on the stroke of halftime and his second half replacement; Olomola added another for 5-0 in the 68th minute.
Emmanuel Oyeleke (Port Vale): He sealed victory for his team in their 2-0 win over Northampton Town at the Vale Park. The 25-year-old curled home a breathtaking effort past Welshman, David Cornell in the 69th minute after picking up a stray ball on the edge of the box.
SPAIN
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes): He was an unused substitute when his club lost 0-1 at home to Villarreal.
DIVISION 2
Francis Uzoho (Elche): He was an unused substitute when his club secured a 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca.
Liverpool considering £10m bid for Simon
Premier League giants, Liverpool is reportedly considering a £10m move for 22-year-old winger Moses Simon.
The player who is presently on loan at Spanish club, Levante may join the English club at the end of the season if the Spanish club accepts the bid.
Simon last weekend held a thanksgiving for his new baby girl at a church in Gent, Belgium where his family resides.
Super Eagles forward Moses Simon on Sunday, September 9 held a thanksgiving for his new baby girl.
Simon and his wife Ibukun in early August welcomed the baby girl.
After the thanksgiving service, Simon also threw a surprise belated birthday party for his wife.
The new bundle of joy is the first child of Moses and Ibukun who got married in December 2015.
The player recently joined Levante on a five-year-deal after a three-year stay at Gent.
ITALY
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese) & Ola Aina (Torino): Super Eagles centre-half, Ekong lasted 90 mins while Aina was introduced in the 75th min as both teams battle to a 1-1 draw.
Why I picked No 5 shirt at Udinese – Troost Ekong
William Troost-Ekong has explained why he picked the number five shirts at Udinese after joining the Italian club on a four-year contract in the summer transfer window.
The central defender wore number 16, 15, 12 and 5 during his time with the youth team of Tottenham Hotspur and played with the number four kits at FC Groningen.
At Dutch club FC Dordrecht, Ekong was allocated the number seventeen and four shirts for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons respectively, at FK Haugesund number 5, KAA Gent number 4 and wore the number 5 shirt in his final year at Bursaspor.
The Super Eagles star says his decision to take the number five shirts at Udinese stems from the fact that he usually plays with that number with the Nigeria National Team.
Ekong said to fantagazzetta.com: ”it’s my national number and I wanted to take it. I know that Danilo was an important player here, as well as captain. I do not feel responsible for having to replace him.”
FRANCE
Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux): He scored a goal in the 57th min and lasted the duration of his team’s 3-3 draw with Nimes.
GERMANY
Ujah scores 2nd goal in two matches
Super Eagles fringe striker, Anthony Ujah, made it two goals in two matches as he again netted to open scoring for Mainz 05 in their 2-1 victory over Augsburg.
Ujah has not taken time to find his form this term and he’s definitely pushing for a spot in the starting line-up after coming off the bench in the 73rd minute before scoring a crucial equalizer with three minutes remaining.
The 27-year-old bundled the ball into the net after a free-kick floated into the box was not properly cleared by the Augsburg defense.
The super-sub netted the game-winning goal for Mainz after entering the game as a substitute on the opening day of the season against Stuttgart.
He last played for the Eagles on September 5, 2015 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.
DIVISION 2
Jamilu Collins (Paderborn): He was on for the entirety of his team’s 5-3 away win at FC Cologne.
SWISS CUP
Stephen Odey (FC Zuerich): The former MFM striker was on target as his club secured a Round of 16 ticket following their 4-2 defeat of FC Breitenrain in the Swiss Cup.
Blessing Eleke (Luzern): He scored a brace when his team defeated Serverte 5-4 on penalties after extra time scores were levelled at 3-3.
AUSTRIA
Stephen Eze (Sturm Graz): He was an unused substitute when his team won 3-2 away at Admira Moelding.
SCOTLAND
Efe Ambrose (Hibernian): He lasted the entirety of his team’s 3-2 defeat of Kilmarnock.
Sadiq Umar (Rangers): Umar was not listed when his team won 4-0 against Dundee United.
Umar urges Ejaria to choose Nigeria
Glasgow Rangers of Scotland forward, Sadiq Umar has urged the club’s Nigerian-born youngster, Ovie Ejaria to dump England at senior level.
Ejaria trained with the Golden Eaglets before the FIFA U-17 World Cup at UAE 2013 but failed to make the final squad and has since represented England at U19 and U21 levels, following his progress at Liverpool.
He moved in the summer on loan from Liverpool to Rangers just ahead of Umar, who is on loan from AS Roma of Italy.
Umar, who won bronze with Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil has now urged Ejaria to switch from England and star for the Super Eagles, in order to enjoy the best of his latter years’ career.
Umar said: “I know he is a player for England at youth level. It will be best for him to represent Nigeria at senior level if he is called up.
“Playing for Nigeria has so many advantages. The fans support the team passionately plus you get a lot of respect from your teammates.
“I don’t think he will enjoy the same height if he plays for England at senior level. The chances are there in Nigeria for young players unlike England, where emphasis is more on top clubs.”
RUSSIA
Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow): He was a non-playing substitute when his team drew 1-1 with Dinamo Moscow.
DIVISION 2
Blessing Olabiran Muyiwa (FK Tambov): The Ivory Coast born Nigerian winger came off the substitutes’ bench to grab a goal that sealed a vital 1-0 away win for his new club that is fighting for promotion to the Russia Premier League.
This was only the winger’s third appearance of the season since joining in August and he went on to do his fight for a starting shirt no harm by scoring the 85th minute winner, which helped his team move four points above the team in third position on the log.
Speaking with newsmen after the match, Muyiwa said, “It feels really good to get my first goal for FK Tambov especially as it came as the winner in a very crucial away match.”
Olabiran who as never hidden his desire to play for Nigeria ahead of the Ivory Coast at National Level said, “I have turned down several offers by the Ivory Coast youth teams [Under-17 and Under-20] because I only want to represent Nigeria and I hope my performance with FK Tambov in the Russia second tier would get me an invite to the Nigeria U-23 team ahead of the qualifiers in November.”
GREECE
Chuba Akpom (PAOK): He was an unused substitute when his club won 3-1 at OFI Crete.
BELGIUM
Uche Agbo (Standard Liege): He was a non-playing substitute when his club played out a goalless draw with Charleroi.
TURKEY
Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray): He was introduced in the 80th min of his team’s 4-1 defeat of Kasimpasa.
Onyekuru turns Prophet
Galatasaray forward, Henry Onyekuru may have just shown what life after football will be for him following his side’s 4-1 victory over high flying Kasimpasa in a game that ended Kasimpasa’s winning start to the season handing them their first defeat of the season.
Onyekuru showed his prophetic side having predicted that the Istanbul based side will bounce back strongly from the 4-0 bashing suffered against Trabzonspor and hand a defeat in almost equal measure to their next opponent which the team achieved with a 4-1 win over Kasimpasa Friday night.
The Everton loanee who got off the mark with his first international goal for Nigeria last Tuesday was also full of praises to God when he posted on his Instagram handle how delighted he is to have scored his first for Nigeria.
“First Goal for my country! I’m so blessed to be off the mark with my fellow, Glory to God,” Onyekuru posted on Instagram.
ISRAEL
Chikeluba Ofoedu (Maccabi Tel Aviv): The former Enugu Rangers forward came off the substitutes’ bench in the second half and scored the fourth goal in the 89th min of his team’s 4-1 thrashing of Hapoel Ra’ anana.
Austin Ejide (Hapoel Hadera): Spotting jersey No 33, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper was between the sticks when his club played a 1-1 draw with Maccabi Petah Tikva away from home.
Nieketien on target for Maccabi Hadera
Teenage forward, Godfrey Nieketien was in inspiring form for his club, Maccabi Hadera in the Israel Under-19 league as he scored one of two goals to help his side to a 2-1 home victory over Maccabi Netanya.
The aggressive 18-year-old grabbed the first of the two goals for his team on 42nd minute and was substituted in the 85th minute of play following a yellow card he received in the tie.
Nieketien who signed recently with the Israeli side is yet to make a first team appearance but has been playing regularly for the U-19 team.
SLOVAKIA
Rabiu Ibrahim (Slovan Bratislava): The former schoolboy international was not listed when his team won 3-2 against DAC 1904.
CROATIA
Musa Muhammed and Godfrey Oboabona (HNK Gorica): The former Golden Eaglets skipper, played the last 15mins of his team’s 0-1 loss to Dinamo Zagreb while new signing Oboabona, was not handed his debut.
Atiemwen shines in front of Dortmund, Milan scouts
Young midfielder, Iyayi Atiemwen made his seventh successive start in the Croatian topflight as his team, HNK Gorica, narrowly lost 1-0 to leaders Dinamo Zagreb on Saturday.
Without mentioning the identities of the players they were interested in, Sportske Novosti has informed that scouts from top European clubs were at the šRC Velika Gorica to watch the leading stars in both teams.
Representatives from AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Empoli, Parma, Gijon, Mainz and Alaves were among the 4,029 spectators that witnessed the match.
It is worthy of note that former U-23 invitee Atiemwen was the most impressive player for his team despite the defeat and would have registered his name on the score-sheet if he had received enough assistance from his teammates.
Atimwen, who played on the left side of midfield vs Dinamo Zagreb, has been directly involved in five goals (2 goals, 3 assists) in seven games this season and has a contract with HNK Gorica until the summer of 2020.
FINLAND
Taye Taiwo (RoPS): The veteran lasted the duration of his club’s 2-0 win away at PS Kemi.
VIETNAM
Marvin Ogunjimi (Sai Gon): The former Belgium based star, lasted the duration of his team’s 0-1 reverse at Hai Phong.
Chinedu Udoka (Than Quang Ninh): He was introduced in the second half of his club’s 1-1 draw with Becamex Bình Duong.
MALTA
Naxxar signs Nanapere
Maltese Premier League club, Naxxar Lions has confirmed the signing of Saturday Nanapere at the weekend. The 26-year-old is expected to bolster the attack of the club in their push for the Maltese League title, this season.
MALAYSIA
Omosuiyi fires first hat-trick against former club
Ifedayo Omosuiyi said he could not help it but celebrate his first hat-trick in Melaka United’s 6-1 thrashing of his former club, Felda United.
He said the goals are for the fans for their support.
“It was a great day, great game and great result for me and my club.
“It was also an honour to be named Man of the Match, I dedicated my goals to the fans for their support always. I will keep doing my best to make them happy.”
The former Al Hidd of Bahrain forward said he did not wish to celebrate his goals against Felda United as a sign of respect to his former club, but got carried away with the joy of his first hat-trick in Malaysia.
“Though I never planned not to celebrate the goals, so when the goals started coming, I kept calm and didn’t celebrate as a sign of respect for Felda United being my former club, but I was carried away with the excitement and joy of scoring the hat-trick the moment I scored the third goal.
“I celebrated it, but quickly tried to control myself.
“This was my first hat-trick in the Malaysia league.”
He has now scored 14 goals in 15 games in all competitions this season for Melaka United, six goals in six games from the Malaysia Cup, and eight goals in nine league games with six assists.
CHINA
Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai): He scord his 17th goal of the season in the 39th min from the penalty spot as his team won 3-0 against Guizhou Henggeng.
SOUTH AFRICA
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa Utd): He was in goal for the duration of his team’s 1-0 defeat of Baroka FC.
TUNISIA
You’re not Maradona, Club Africain turns down Salami’s demands
Tunisian Ligue I team, Club Africain has turned down what they described as outlandish demand by Super Eagles fringe player, Gbolahan Salami, saying he is not an exceptional player.
Salami arrived in Tunisia few days ago for contract talks with the club but they have passed up the opportunity to sign him due to his outrageous financial demands and the striker had to take the next available flight to Nigeria on Saturday, the same day the transfer window closed for business.
Club Africain chiefs stood their ground during negotiations, arguing that Salami is not Diego Maradona and they cannot meet his demands especially with their lean budget.
Salami according to reports would have earned less than what Etoile Sportive du Sahel were willing to spend on him just last month at Club Africain.
Salami is now a free agent after parting company with Turkish club Denizlispor on September 7, he started boycotting training after he didn’t get his signing-on fee but the club insisted that it was never a problem.
The 27-year-old previously wore the jerseys of European teams Irtysh Pavlodar and KuPS and had spells with Shooting Stars, Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves in his homeland.
