Shehu scores first Bursaspor goal, Ajayi on the double

Semi Ajayi was the poster boy at the weekend as the defender scored twice with a header for his Championship club, Rotherham United. Elsewhere, Super Eagles right-back Shehu Abdullahi scored his first goal since he joined his Turkish club, Bursaspor just as Victor Moses scored from the spot to restore parity for Fenerbahce at the weekend.
In yet another package, the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN reports about the performances of Nigerian players abroad from the widely followed Premiership to the Chinese Super League and the PSL in South Africa.

ENGLAND

Isaac Success (Watford)& Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City): Success was an unused substitute when his club secured a 2-1 win at home to Leicester for whom Iheanacho played the last seven minutes as substitute while his teammate, Ndidi lasted the duration of the match.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal):  The versatile player lasted the duration of his team’s 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a fiercely contested North London derby at the Wembley Stadium.
Iwobi was an attacking threat for the Gunners all through the game and tested Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris twice but was unable to convert the rebound from Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang’s saved penalty.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi Ajayi (Rotherham Utd):  He scored twice as his team defeated Blackburn Rovers 3–2 in a nervy encounter. The Super Eagles defender scored two headers in the 2nd and 83rd minutes of the game. Ajayi has scored three goals in his last two appearances and four in seven also helping the team stay unbeaten in six games as they continue to battle the drop.
John Mikel Obi (Middlesbrough): He was once again instrumental as Boro secured a point away from home against 19th placed Wigan Athletics. The game which ended goalless saw Mikel orchestrate the midfield for his team in their push for a return to the EPL.
Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa): He ended a three-game goal drought by getting on the score sheet as Aston Villa thrashed Derby County 4-0. Abraham tapped home at the back post to make it 2-0 in the 37th minute and it became 3-0 a minute before half-time when Hourihane scored off an assist from the Chelsea loanee.
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City): He was on target for his club in their 2-0 home win over Nottingham Forests in the English Championship on Saturday. Etebo who was substituted for Charlie Adams in the 66th minute scored a screamer for the Potters in the 15thminute of the game before DR Congo striker Benik Afobe completed the rout for the home side in the 74th minute.

Pulis: Mikel has proved doubters wrong
Middlesbrough manager, Tony Pulis insists he was confident Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi will make a big impact at club despite doubts in some quarters following his arrival at the club in January.
Mikel penned a short term deal with Pulis’ side after leaving Chinese side Tianjin Teda.
The former Chelsea star turned down overtures from a host of sides, including Premier League Crystal Palace, Wolfsburg and Roma as well as Championship rivals Aston Villa.
When Mikel arrived after his long sabbatical in China there were some doubts expressed about whether he would be fit enough or motivated enough to excel in the Championship – and whether Boro even needed another central midfielder, especially one who was just topping up his pension pot.
But Pulis insists he knew that Mikel had the character and the quality to shine and to bring the best out of the team.
“I’m not surprised about the impact he has had,” Pulis told gazettelive.co.uk.
“I spoke to a lot of people before I spoke to John.
“When you have been out of the country for two years and haven’t played competitive football – no disrespect to the Chinese League – then there is always some doubts but everyone I spoke to said he was a wonderful person, very grounded, very down to earth.
“That’s the big issue with players: it is character, character, character. And John has that in his locker.
“People here will be able to say better than me whether there have been players over the years who have turned up just to take the coin.
“John is not going to do that. He isn’t about the money. He just seem to be enjoying it. I was 100 per cent it was the right move.
“It was difficult to convince everyone it was right because we have so many midfield players and I am not sure what the supporters thought of us bringing another one in, but he was never going to be a gamble for me. He was always going to help us.”

ITALY
Ola Aina (Torino): The Chelsea loanee was not listed when his team secured a 3-0 win over Chievo.
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese): He lasted the distance as his club secured a 2-1 win over Bologna.

Okereke attracting Juvy, Crystal Palace interest
Former schoolboy international, David Okereke is presently attracting interest from Serie A champions, Juventus.
The Spezia striker, who is just 21 was in line for a move to Premier League club Crystal Palace but the two clubs could not agree a deal. However, Okereke may quit his present club in the summer after Spezia rejected a €6.5m offer from Cagliari in January.

SPAIN
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal): He was a second-half substitute in his team’s 2–1 home loss to Alaves. The winger who lost his starting role to Cameroonian Karl Tako Ekambi came on for Ramiro Funes Mori in the 75th min but failed to impact the game with a goal.

GERMANY 
Anthony Ujah and Karim Onisiwo (Mainz 05): Ujah played all 90 mins while Onisiwo was substituted after 66 mins of their club’s 1-2 loss at Hertha Berlin.

DIV 2 
Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn): He was on defensive duty but was unable to save his side from losing 0-1 at home to FC St Pauli.

Rohr made me snub January move away from Paderborn –Collins 
Paderborn defender, Jamilu Collins said the words of the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr made him turn down the chance to move away from the second division German side.
Collins who is now the first choice left- full back of the Super Eagles was linked with a move away from Paderborn, the club where he has spent the past two seasons.
His consistent performance caught the interest of clubs in Germany particularly top division teams but the 24- year-old opted against a move away from Paderborn in January as he aims to establish himself fully.
Speaking to newsmen, he said Rohr warned them not to be in a hurry to move in January as he believe it could cost them regular run of games, which will in the long run affect their chances in the Nigeria national team.
“It’s better to move in the summer when you have the chance of going on pre-season with the team than in January. The coach of the Super Eagles Rohr always remind us of the need to go to clubs where we are certain to get game time, because he won’t call any player not playing regularly.
“Moving in January isn’t entirely bad but a move in the summer is the best for players breaking into top division. For now I’m very happy at Paderborn and that is also why I wasn’t interested in talks about a move away in January”.

PORTUGAL 
Opara confirms U-23 invitation 
20- year-old Vilar de Perdizes defender, Bede Opara has been called up to the squad of the Nigeria U-23 team who are presently in camp preparing for their upcoming Africa U23 Cup of Nations Qualifiers game against Libya.
The player will join the home based players in their Abuja camp on the 7th of March as he is among the foreign based players called up by coach Imama Amapakabo for the back to back qualifiers game against Libya.
Opara confirmed his invitation and described it as a dream come true but insist he now has to work hard to nail a spot in the team for the game.
” It’s a dream come true for me as it was part of my goals in 2019. I sincerely believe I didn’t achieve this call up by my efforts alone that is why I want to thank the entire set up of my club Vilar de Perdizes for their support. This will no doubt help me to grow as a player,” he said.
The president of his Portuguese team Marcio Rodrigues was also filled with joy and described his invitation to the Nigeria U23 as a testament of the good work the club is doing as it’s not easy to notice a player who is playing in the 4th division in Portugal.
“The news of the invitation of Opara fills the club with joy and satisfaction, it’s an achievement to us as club because to have a player called up to the Nigeria U23 team despite the options available to them shows how well we are working here”, he said.
A member of the Nigeria U17 team of 2015 at the formative stage, Opara turned out for top division side GD Chaves as a youth player before penning a two-year deal with non-league side Vilar de Perdizes last year.

TURKEY
Victor Moses (Fenerbahce): The former Super Eagles winger is in cloud nine as his late goal secured all three points for his club. With the game tied at 2–2 Moses stepped up to coolly slot in an 84th-minute penalty past Rizespor’s goalkeeper, Gokhan Akkan.
Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor):  He was on target in his team’s 3–2 comeback win over Sivvaspor. This was Shehu’s first goal for the Turkish side since joining the club in January 2018.

DIV 2
Olarenwaju Kehinde (Danzalispor): He opened his account for his new club in style, scoring twice as they beat Elazigspor 2-1 to maintain their strong push for automatic promotion. The 24-year-old joined the club as a free agent during the winter transfer market and started just his first game after coming off the bench for his four previous appearances.
He did show why the coach was right to put him in the starting XI as he fired the visitors into the league on the 35th minute, few seconds after Mehmet Akyuz missed from 12 yards for the host.
Kehinde then doubled his side’s lead six minutes later when he scored his second of the game as Denizlispor went into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead. He was withdrawn five minutes after the hour mark.

RUSSIA
Brian Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow): He was an unused substitute in his team’s 2–2 home draw against Krylya Sovetov Samara. The left-back is yet to feature for the Russian club in 2019.

BELGIUM
Victor Osimhen (Charleroi): The former youth international was in action when his team drew 1 –1 at home to table toppers Genk. The lanky forward failed to get his name on the score sheet.

Awoniyi scores again
Former U-17 forward, Taiwo Awoniyi continued his scoring form in Royal Excel Mouscron 1–1 draw away to third-placed Standard Liege as the club remain unbeaten in seven games in the Belgian Pro League on Friday.
Awoniyi featured in his seventh game for the side and continued from where he stopped scoring his team’s equalising goal as they continued their unbeaten and fairytale run in 2019.
With the first half ending goalless, the home side took the lead in the 54th minute through Razvan Marin but the lead only lasted six minutes as Awoniyi ensured both teams shared the spoils netting the equaliser in the 60th minute.
Awoniyi has scored six goals in his last seven appearances for the club scoring against top sides such as Gent, Genk and Standard Liege.

BULGARIA
Stephen Eze (Locomotiv Plovdiv): The lanky defender provided an assist as his club demolished Beroe  4–1. The former Kano Pillars defender provided an assist for Dimitar Vezalov who scored the team’s equaliser in the 32nd minute of the game.

SWEDEN
Flying Eagles star, Jamilu studying offers from Sweden, Switzerland
Representatives of Flying Eagles midfielder, Jamilu Mohammed have disclosed that they are currently studying offers from Sweden and Switzerland for the player.
Combative defensive midfielder Jamilu was one of several Flying Eagles stars who caught the eye at the recent U20 AFCON in Niger.
“We are currently working on some interesting offers from Sweden and Switzerland for the player,” disclosed his agent Labib Rabiu Yarima of Football Transfer Company.
“We hope we can take a decision which will be the best for the career of the boy before the U20 World Cup.”
There have also been interests for the former Kano Pillars Feeders player from Portugal, but his agent said he has yet to be contacted in this respect.
“Neither me nor the player has been contacted from Portugal,” he said.

NORWAY 
Aremu eyes U-20 World Cup glory 
IK Start star, Afeez Aremu said he is now focused on how to do well at the U20 World Cup in Poland after posting a “bad” U20 AFCON.
Aremu was one of the top stars to watch at Niger 2019 having already been capped by Nigeria at ‘B’ level, but injury and poor form meant he lost his starting place in the Flying Eagles at the AFCON.
“I was not myself at the U20 AFCON after many expected a lot from me. It was a bad competition for me.
“I have fully recovered from injury now and I am with my club in Spain (for preseason training).
“I am back playing again and getting set for the new season in Norway.
“I am also looking forward to a better outing at the World Cup in Poland.”
The Flying Eagles will open their World Cup campaign on May 24 against Qatar. They are also drawn in the first round against the USA and Ukraine.

CYPRUS 
Ajagun bows with Omonia Nicosia in playoff
Former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles attacking midfielder, Abdul Ajagun put up a below par performance as Omonia Nicosia fell 3-1 to Apollon Limassol in the Cyprus 1. Division Championship.
The playmaker gave way for Cris Montes in the 74th minute of action.
Emilio Jose Zelaya, Adrian Sardinero Corpa and Fotis Papoulis all got on the score sheet as the homers established a three-goal lead after 58 minutes.
David Ramirez made the result look respectable with a consolatory strike in the 74th minute.
FK Kortrijk of Belgium loaned Ajagun to Cyprus side, Omonia Nicosa in the January transfer window.
Ajagun who was one of the outstanding players for Kortrijk last term suffered poor form in the first stanza of the current season which limited his first team chances.
He represented Nigeria U17 in 2009 and U20 in 2011 and 2013.

CHINA 
Aluko, Ighalo suffer opening day defeats
It was a disappointing debut for Nigerian duo of Odion Jude Ighalo and Sone Aluko as both players lost on the opening day of the 2019 Chinese Super League season.
Aluko, a former Reading forward, was first to taste defeat in his new club debut for new club Beijing Renhe as they lost 1-0 away at Shandong Luneng with Aluko playing for 87 minutes before being replaced by Xiu Xinyu.
At the Shanghai Hongkou Stadium, Super Eagles’ forward Odion Ighalo endured a difficult debut as his side lost 4-0 in what was a bitter home debut for the former Changchun Yatai forward.
An own goal from Fredy Guarin put the visitors ahead in the first half before second-half strikes from Chinese forward, Lu Wenjun made it 2-0, with Oscar and Odil Akhmedov completing a resounding 4-0 win for the visitors.
Ighalo will be hoping to surpass his last season’s haul of 21 goals as he bids to return Shanghai Shenhua to the pinnacle of the Chinese League.

Samuel Aaron joins Sichuan Longfor
Chinese League One club, Sichuan Longfor has completed the signing of Super Eagles fringe striker, Aaron Samuel for an undisclosed term.
The 24-year-old joined the Chinese club as a free agent after mutually terminating his contract with Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem in December 2018.
In his first spell in China with Guangzhou R&F from 20147-2017, Samuel contributed to 22 goals (15 goals, 7 assists) in 35 appearances.
He later moved on loan to CSKA Moscow in February 2016 before joining the Russian club on a permanent deal in January 2017.

VIETNAM 
Olaleye helps Ha Noi TT share spoils
Lanky striker, Samson Kayode Olaleye helped rescued a late point for Ha Noi TT who drew 1-1 with QNK Quang Nam in the Vietnam League 1.
Olaleye scored with five minutes left on the clock at the Sân von dong Tam Ky with 14,000 spectators in attendance.
Former CSKA Moscow attacker, Ganiyu Bolaji Oseni was unlucky not to hit the back of the net in the week 2 V-League 1 match after coming on in the second stanza.
The first half failed to produce goals as the two sides missed guilt edge chances.
Thanh Trung Dinh raced the hosts in front in the 55th minute of the electrifying battle.
With his side needing inspiration, Olaleye handed them the lift for his second goal of the season.
Ha Noi TT are second on the log with four points from two games.
Meanwhile, former Abia Warriors forward Olaha Michael fired blanks as his side Song Lam Nghe An drew 0-0 with Than Quang Ninh.

EGYPT
Babatunde gets assists in Wydad’s slim victory
Michael Babatunde got his fourth assist of the season as he helped his team Wydad Athletic Club to record their sixth consecutive league win, defeating Mouloudia Oujda 3-2 away from home.
Having started the last game off the bench, the 26-year-old returned to the starting XI in place of the injured Azubuike Ockechukwu with the visitors taking the lead through the first attack via the boots of Walid El Karti.
Wydad soon doubled their lead halfway into the first half when babatunde unselfishly fed Zouheir El Moutaraji to give the visitors a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the break.
Chieck Camara then put through his own goal 20 minutes from time to set up a bervy finish before the impressive Babatunde was withdrawn four minutes later after picking up a yellow card.
Badr Gaddarine then made it 3-1 to the league leaders on the 74th minute before Abdelhadi Halhoul added more respect to the score line by netting Oujda’s second but Wydad ran out 3-2 winners.
The win sees Wydad stretch their lead at the summit of the table to 17 points with 45 points from 20 games played so far.

SOUTH AFRICA
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs): He was in full time action as his team secured a 3-2 home win against Highlands Park. The 32-year-old was making his third consecutive start for the Amakhosi as they continue their chase for the PSL title. The win lifts Kaizer Chiefs to fifth in the PSL table with 32 points from 22 games.