… Bonaventure, Esiti sent off in Belgium
After enduring a torrid first half in the 2018/2019 season at Premier League club, Chelsea, Victor Moses appeared to be enjoying a new lease of life following his January transfer to Fenerbahce in the Turkish League. Moses is not just getting playing time at his new club but he also scored a goal at the weekend – his first for his new team.
Another player who will be delighted to have changed club last month is Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho, who continued his record of keeping clean sheets on his debut. Elsewhere, Club Brugge forward, Dennis Bonaventure and his Genk compatriot, Anderson Esiti were both sent off at the weekend when their clubs squared up in Belgium.
In yet another comprehensive edition, the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN reports the performances of Super Eagles players and expectants.
ENGLAND
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City): Ndidi lasted the duration of his team’s 0-1 loss at home to Manchester Utd while his teammate, Iheancho played the last six minutes of the match as a substitute.
Leon Balogun (Brighton) & Isaac Success (Watford): Balogun was yet again an unused substitute in his club’s goalless draw with Watford for whom Success was not listed in the match day squad for the first time in all competitions this season due to a hamstring complaint.
Phillip Billing (Huddersfield): He only lasted 67 mins of his club’s 0-5 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Terriers first attempt on target was from the Denmark U-21 international (Billing) in the 54th min as his 25-yard effort was kept out by Kepa.
Ademola Lookman (Everton): The England U-21 star, made his 14th appearance of the season following his introduction on the hour mark as his club suffered a 1-3 loss to an in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers side.
CHAMPIONSHIP
John Obi Mikel (Middlesbrough): He was in action for 75mins as his team’s fight for the English Premier League promotion continued with a 3–2 win over West Brom.
Mikel who made his championship debut was substituted for for fellow new signing Rajiv Van La Parra in the 75th minute of the game.
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City): He lasted the entire duration of the game for his struggling side as they suffered a 0-2 loss away at Hull City. The former Warri Wolves player was cautioned for a bookable offense in the 79th min.
Semi Ajayi (Rotherham Utd): He was in action when his team secured an away point against Milwall. Ajayi was on for the entire duration of the game as they continue the fight to avoid relegation in the ongoing season. Rotherham Utd is currently placed 21st on the 24 team Championship table.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (QPR): The midfielder scored his first league goal of the season as his club suffered a 1-2 loss to Wigan Athletic.
The 21-year-old came off the bench at halftime with the visitors trailing 2-0 and scored from 16 yards out to half the deficit with 15 minutes left on the clock.
SPAIN
Simon Moses (Levante): He was an unused substitute in his team’s goalless draw against Getafe. Moses has scored once for Leganes since joining the team in the summer.
DIV 2
Azeez switches to Granada
Nigeria international Ramon Azeez has joined Spanish second division club, Granda CF, ending a two-year association with CD Lugo for the remainder of the 2018-2019 campaign and three more seasons, Freekicknaija exclusively reports.
The 25-year-old Azeez has been with CD Lugo since 2016 with 54 appearances under his belt across all competitions, scoring two goals.
“He has been described as a skillful footballer in the reading of the game and is a midfielder with great capacity for defensive work and physical deployment”, club website stated.
The central or defensive midfielder has also represented Nigeria at U-17 and captained the country’s team to win the 2011 U-20 AFCON in South Africa.
ITALY
Ola Aina (Torino): He lasted the duration of his club’s goalless draw at SPAL, winning 10 out of 14 duels, completing four long balls out of five. The Chelsea loanee also has two interceptions and one tackle.
GERMANY (DIV 2)
Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn): He played for 90 mins when his club thrashed SpVgg Greuther Furth 4-0. Paderborn has scored 17 goals in their last four games conceding just twice with Collins playing in the left back position.
TURKEY
Moses scores first goal for Fenerbahce
Victor Moses scored his first goal for the Turkish champions in their 2-0 win over 10-man Goztepe in a Turkish Super League clash at the Ulker Stadium.
The match was the second appearance of the former Super Eagles winger for the club since his one-and-a-half-year loan signing on January 25, 2019.
The 28-year-old Chelsea loanee came on for Andre Ayew in the 64th minute and helped Fenerbahce win their second consecutive win in the Turkish Super Lig.
Fenerbahce are now 11th in the Turkish Super Lig table after 20 games with 23 points.
Moses is expected to make his third appearance for his Turkish Super Lig side against Kayseirspor on February 8.
ISRAEL
Ogu unhappy with draw
Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu is disappointed following Hapoel Beer Sheva’s 1-1 draw at home to Maccabi Netanya in Saturday’s Ligat Al clash at the Turner Stadium.
The draw was the eight of the season for the Israeli Champions.
Fatos Beqiraj gave the visitors the lead in the 15th min but Ben Sahar salvaged a point for the Camels.
Hapoel Beer Sheva has managed only two league wins in their last 10 games, a run of form which has left the 30-year-old ogu unhappy.
“Disappointing game and result tonight,” Ogu wrote via his Twitter handle @ogujohnugo.
The Nigerian international has made 16 league appearances this season scoring once for Hapoel Beer Sheva who are now seventh in the Israeli Ligat Al with 29 points from 21 matches.
Nworuh quits Scandinavian for Marmorek
Former FC Ebedei player, Jude Nworuh has joined Israeli Liga Leumit side Hapoel Marmorek F.C on a free transfer.
Nworuh was formerly on the books of FC Midtjylland in Denmark after leaving the sores of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, FK Haugesund forward, Shuaibu Lalle Ibrahim has been loaned out to Israeli Premier League side Bnei Sakhnin until July 31. He is a product of Golden Boot Soccer Academy.
DENMARK
Babajide Akindele David (FC Midtjyland): He scored a brace in an international club friendly game to earn his Danish side a 2-2 draw against Shanghai SIPG on Saturday. The 23-year-old scored two first half goals in the 32nd and 43rd minute of the game.
POLAND
Eze joins Rakow Czestochowa
Striker Patrick Friday Eze has joined Polish club Rakow Czestochowa till the end of the season with an option to bag a three-year deal.
The 26-year-old Eze moved to Poland as a free agent as he has been without a club since August 2018.
He has previously featured for Turkish clubs Kaonyaspor, Denizlispor as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Rakow are runaway leaders in the Polish second division and look good to win automatic promotion to the top flight at the end of the season.
They have 48 points from 21 matches, 10 points clear of their nearest rivals more than halfway through the campaign.
Ex-Golden Eaglets star, Chidiebere Nwakali mutually parted company with Rakow Czestochowa three months ago.
BELGIUM
Taiwo Awoniyi (Mouscron) & Victor Osimhen (Charleroi): Awoniyi continued his resurgent since joining Mouscron this winter as he grabbed an assist in his side’s 3-0 drubbing of Charleroi for whom Osimhen lasted 90 mins.
Having both found the back of the net last week, the duo were given the mandate to lead the attack of their respective team but it was Mouscron which took the lead after Mergim Vojvoda scored eight mins after the half hour mark. Sidney Friede made it two on the hour mark before Awoniyi set-up Marko Bakic for the third and final goal of the match.
With the assist, the Liverpool loanee now has two goals and an assist since his return last month.
Bonaventure, Esiti sent off in Belgium
Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis and Anderson Esiti were both sent off as Club Brugge drew 1-1 with KAA Gent in a Belgian league game, yesterday.
Esiti who plays for Gent was sent off in the 62nd minute of ‘The Battle of the Flanders’ when he bagged a second booking for a late tackle.
His compatriot Bonaventure from Club Brugge was then sent off in the 73rd minute after VAR showed he dangerously stamped on his marker.
Club Brugge remain second on the table with 45 points from 24 matches, nine points behind leaders Genk.
Gent climbed to fifth on 38 points from 24 matches.
SWEDEN
Injured midfielder, Yusuf out for 4 wks
Exciting youngster, Alhassan Yusuf will be out for at least four weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury in action for Swedish club IFK Goteborg.
“The doctors said I will be out for four weeks.
“I hope to be back in action soon,” the former FC Hearts star Yusuf told newsmen.
The 18-year-old midfielder was pulled out of the pre-season win over Norwegian club Odd on account of the injury.
However, he has traveled with the rest of the Goteborg squad to Portugal for a 10-day warm training camp and will be closely monitored by the doctors in Portugal.
This is expected to be his breakthrough season in Sweden after he established himself with the U19s halfway through last year.
CYPRUS
Uzoho debuts for Anorthosis, keeps clean sheet
Super Eagles shot stopper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho kept clean sheet on his debut for Cyprus club, Anothosis Famagusta as they shocked second place Apollon Limassol 1-0 at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca.
Having joined the club on deadline day from Deportivo La Coruna, the keeper who donned the No 98 jersey was immediately given the nod in goal and he duly kept up his debut records.
A first half strike from Michal Duris six minutes to half time was all the home side needed to stun their more experienced host in the chase to make it into the championship playoff rounds.
With his performance, the 20-year-old net-minder has now kept a clean sheet on his La Liga debut, national team debut, La Liga 2 debut and now in the Cyprus League.
MALTA
Obiefule joins div 2 side
Obinna Obiefule, the younger brother of former Super Eagles midfielder, Paul Obiefule has joined Maltese Second Division club Siggiewi FC on undisclosed terms.
The veteran striker previously turned out for Maltese teams Marsaxlokk, Mosta, Hibernians FC, Pembroke and Vittoriosa, and had a brief stint with Saudi Arabian club Najran SC in the 2014-15 season.
Also in Malta, Pietà Hotspurs secured the services of midfielder Uchenna Calistus Umeh. He lists Ekranas, Valletta and Birkirkara as his former employers.
SAUDI ARABIA
Uzochukwu pens Al-Washm deal
Former Chippa United star, Ugonna Uzochukwu has moved to Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammad bin Salman League side Al-Washm.
IRAN
Osaguona joins Zob Ahan
Nigeria international, Ighodaro Christian Osaguona has completed a six-month move to Zob Ahan.
The striker who parted company with Umm Salal in October 2018 signed for the Iranian top flight side as a free agent.
The deal was brokered by Kronos Sports Agency.
Osaguona, 28, has featured for Shooting Stars, Enugu Rangers, Raja Casablanca, Mechelen and Westerlo in the past. He was called up for national team for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches and played his first international game with the senior national team on 10 September 2014 in and against South Africa (0–0), after he came on as a substitute for Gbolahan Salami in the 63rd minute of that game.
He is expected to hit double figure in the Iranian Persian Gulf League.
EGYPT
Ajayi on song in Al Ahly’s big win
Former Shooting Stars forward, Junior Oluwafemi Ajayi scored a goal as his Egyptian club, Al Ahly secured a resounding 5–0 win over Simba of Tanzania in the match day three of the CAF Champions’ League group stage on Saturday.
Al Ahly adjudged Africa’s best team of all time wasted no time as they concluded their business in the first half of the encounter scoring all five goals before the half time mark.
Amr Al Sulaya opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the third minute before Ali Maaloul made it two 20 minutes later in the 23rd minute. Super Eagles Striker, Junior Ajayi in the 31st minute was on target while Mahmoud Wahid’s brace in the 33rd and 40th minute completed the rout.
Ajayi who led Al Ahly’s front line was on for the entire duration of the match at the Borg El Arab stadium. With the win Al Ahly sits top of group D on seven points after three matches with two wins and one draw while AS Vita of Congo is second on six points, Simba of Tanzania on three points is third while JS Saoura of Algeria is bottom of the table with two points.
Ajayi celebrated his 23rd birthday on the 29th of January.
Amutu joins Al Masry
Austin Amutu has officially finalised his move to Al Masry of Egypt following the official announcement by the club.
Amutu joined the Port Said-based club from Malaysian outfit Pahang FA, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the club until July 2022.
It would be recalled that Amutu played for a number of clubs across the world, including Nigerian clubs Mighty Jets and Warri Wolves, Turkish side Yeni Malatyaspor, Tunisia’s ES Zarzis, as well as Malaysian sides Kelantan FA and Pahang FA.
Amutu will link up with his fellow compatriots Emeka Eze and new signing Ezekiel Bassey.
Al Masry is currently seventh on the Egyptian Premier League table with 25 points, five more than 17th-placed Itihad.
The club has announced that Amutu will be making his debut for the club’s next game against Ittihad of Alexandria on Monday, February 4.
