…Musa makes Team of the Season in Saudi Arabia
With one round of matches left to play in Turkey, Everton loanee, Henry Onyekuru has won a domestic double (League and Cup) with Galatasaray. The League and Turkish Cup are the first major trophies to be won by the AFCON 2019-bound forward.
Elsewhere, former Kano Pillars defender, Stephen Eze won the Bulgarian Cup with Lokomotiv Plovdiv even as William Troost-Ekong’s Serie A club, Udinese moves a step towards safety after a hard earned victory at the weekend.
Meanwhile, the duo of Belgium-based Taiwo Awoniyi and Victor Osimhen have continued to attract interest from clubs across Europe with Serie A Lazio and AC Milan the likely destination of the youngsters.
The News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN reports the performances and news surrounding Super Eagles players and hopefuls abroad.
ENGLAND
Everton set to offload Lookman for £20m
Everton winger, Ademola Lookman will be available for £20million just as the Toffees look to offload around 15 of their squad this summer according to a report on The Daily Mail.
Other players poised to leave Goodison Park include Cenk Tosun, Oumar Niasse, Jonjoe Kenny, Leighton Baines, James McCarthy, Yannick Bolasie, Sandro Ramirez, Kevin Mirallas, Muhamed Besic and Maarten Stekelenburg
The 21-year-old, Lookman has interest from Crystal Palace, Southampton and Red Bull Leipzig as he evaluates his next move having failed to cement a first team place under Marco SIlva.
The latter is set to be replaced by Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Jonas Lossl on a free transfer.
Everton are among the clubs interested in Lyon’s Bertrand Traore but the French side want around £40m for the former Chelsea forward.
Tomori linked with Celtic move
Scottish champions, Celtic are exploring ways to sign Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) target, Fikayo Tomori in the summer transfer window, according to reports.
The Mirror says The Hoops are plotting a move to land the signature of the England U-21 star on a permanent transfer.
Tomori has had an amazing season on loan at Derby County, whom he helped reach the Championship playoffs final and the semi-finals tie vs Leeds United at Elland Road was his 54th appearance of the season in all competitions.
Born in Calgary, Canada, the central defender started his career at the Chelsea Academy in 2005 and was handed his first team debut in a Premier League clash against Leicester City at the age of 18.
Celtic are in the market for a central defender with Dedryck Boyata set to leave the club in the summer upon the expiry of his contract.
Named Derby County Player of the Year last month, Tomori is contracted to Chelsea until the end of the 2020-2021 season.
The Rams could join the race for his services if they beat Aston Villa in the Championship playoffs final.
Arsenal to extend contract of Bayern target, Amaechi
Arsenal are looking to extend the contract of an important player in their Academy, Xavier Amaechi, 18.
According to reports, Arsenal are attempting to tie down two of their brightest young talents, teenagers Tyreece John-Jules and Xavier Amaechi, amid interest from Bayern Munich.
Amaechi, who is of Nigerian descent, penned his first professional contract with the Gunners in January 2018 and it is claimed that the deal is due to expire in 2020.
The right winger was monitored by at least fourteen Bundesliga clubs, including Bayern Munich in Arsenal U23s 2-2 draw against Swansea City in April.
Known for his blistering pace and ability to go past defenders, Amaechi’s playing style has been compared to Arsenal’s Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,
At the European U-17 Championship in England last year, Amaechi was selected to the Team of the Tournament.
West Brom extends Ojebode’s deal
Through a statement on their official website, Championship club West Brom have confirmed that they have made a decision on the future of Nigeria Football Federation target Yusuff Ojebode.
The Baggies have extended the contracts of Ojebode and eleven other players, meaning they are all expected to report for pre-season training.
Ojebode struggled with injuries during the 2018-2019 campaign but still managed to make five appearances for West Brom in the U18 Premier League, logging 173 minutes.
The Baggies blocked the versatile winger from making his international debut for Nigeria at the 2018 WAFU U20 Nations Cup in Lome, Togo because he had just returned from a long-term injury.
He was omitted from the Flying Eagles provisional roster for the 2019 U20 World Cup in Poland.
Meanwhile, Tosin Adarabioyo, who helped West Brom qualify for the Championship playoffs, has returned to his parent club Manchester City.
The centre back featured in 36 games in all competitions and had two assists to his name.
SPAIN
Omeruo plays down injury scare ahead AFCON 2019
Kenneth Omeruo is expected to be fit for Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations preparation despite picking up an injury in his Spanish club, Leganes La Liga clash against Huesca on Saturday.
Omeruo, who is loan at Leganes from English Premier League club, Chelsea was replaced by Ezequeil Munoz in the 53rd minute of the encounter as a result of the injury.
There were concerns that the versatile defender who has enjoyed a fine season for Manuel Pellegrino’s men could miss out on a place in Nigeria’s squad for AFCON 2019 but he has come out calm frayed nerves on his fitness.
“Kenneth didn’t pick any serious in the game against Huesca on Saturday. It was not something serious and he will be fit for the AFCON,” a reliable source close to the defender disclosed.
Omeruo made 28 league appearances for Leganes in the 2018-2019 season.
The Super Eagles camp for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt will open in Asaba on June 2nd.
The three-time African champions will face the Warriors of Zimbabwe in a friendly encounter at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on June 8.
Rohr’s charges will travel to Ismaila, Egypt the next day to begin their final preparation for the AFCON finals.
Their final build up game is against the Terangha Lions of Senegal on June 16 at the Ismaila Stadium. The West Africans will face Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi in Group B at the competition.
ITALY
Troost-Ekong’s club moves closer to Serie A safety
William Troost-Ekong’s Udinese moved closer to Serie A safety following a hard fought 3-2 home win against SPAL at the Dacia Arena on Saturday, Completesports.com reports.
Udinese raced into a three goal lead in the first half through a Samir Caetano’s strike and Stefano Okaka’s brace.
But SPAL fought back after the break getting two goals from Andrea Petagna and Mattia Valoti.
Igor Tudor’s men will maintain their top flight status should Empoli failed to beat Torino.
Udinese occupy 15th position in the table with 40 points from 37 games.
Troost-Ekong has featured in 34 league games for Udinese this season but is yet to find the back of the net.
GERMANY
Collins’ club secures Bundesliga promotion despite defeat
Jamilu Collins will play in the German Bundesliga next season following SC Paderborn’s promotion to the top flight yesterday despite a 3-1 away defeat to Dynamo Dresden.
Paderborn’s closest rival for the automatic promotion ticket, Union Berlin held their hosts Bochum to a 2-2 draw at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
Nigerian forward, Suleiman Abdullahi, who plays for Union Berlin came in as a substitute for Florian Hubner in the second half.
Both teams finished on 57 points each, but Paderborn picked the ticket on the basis of their superior goal difference.
Paderborn first earned promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2013/2014 season
but were relegated the following season, and then again to the 3. Liga the season after.
Collins featured in all of Paderborn’s 34 Bundesliga B games in the 2018/2019 season but failed to find the back of the net.
The 24-year-old is in Nigeria’s 25-man provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
TURKEY
Onyekuru completes double with Gala
Henry Onyekuru sealed the 2018/19 league title for Galatasaray yesterday with a controversial goal in the second half against rivals, Basaksehir inised a packed Turk Telkom Stadium.
Onyekuru appeared to have been offside before a free kick swung into the far post took a touch from a Basaksehir player and falling kindly for the winger who produced a dare devil dive to put his side ahead.
The goal which came in the 64th min after the Super Eagles forward had gone into the referee’s book, proved to be enough as Galatarasay held on to win a 22nd league title with a game to spare.
The win capped a fantastic season for the player who is on loan from Premier League side, Everton, as he secured a domestic double, having won the Turkish Cup last week.
So far this season, Onyekuru has made 29 appearances for Gala scoring 13 goals and he will hope to take that blistering form to the 2019 AFCON with Nigeria.
Kehinde’s Denizlispor promoted to Super Lig
Lanre Kehinde has helped his club, Denizlispor to gain promotion to the Turkish Super Lig next season.
This became a reality after their thumping 5-2 victory over Istanbulspor at the Necmi Kadioglu Stadyumu.
The 25-year-old striker who joined Denizlispor from Ankaragucu in the January transfer window scored the first goal on Saturday and lasted 71 minutes on the final match day of the Turkish second tier campaign.
Denizlispor ended up with 72 points in first position. The Roosters have now qualified to the top flight next season.
Kehinde made a huge impression after netting 10 goals in 15 matches.
BELGIUM
Lazio steps up chase for Awoniyi
English Premier League side Liverpool are ready to listen to offer from Italian Serie A side Lazio for Taiwo Awoniyi in the summer transfer window.
Lazio have been trailing the former U-17 World champion for sometimes now and it’s believed that they are ready to meet Liverpool’s valuation for the player.
Awoniyi has scored 12 goals and registered three assists across all competitions this season for KAA Gent and Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium.
The player has not make an appearance for Liverpool since joining in 2015 , he has been loaned out to FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Royal Excel Mouscron and Gent and it’s looking like Jurgen Kloop doesn’t fancy the attacker as part of already established attack.
Lazio are also be interested in another Nigerian-born players in the book of the kop Ovie Ejaria and Bobby Adekanye.
… grabs goal No 11
Taiwo Awoniyi has scored his 11th goal in the Belgian league, but his club. Royal Excel Mouscron still lost 2-4 at home to Waasland-Beveren.
Awoniyi was on target in the 35th and 71st minutes for Mouscron.
The 21-year-old Liverpool loanee scored four goals in the Europa League playoffs and seven in the regular season.
In the first half of the season in Belgium, the Nigeria U23 striker failed to score in the league for KAA Gent forcing his switch to Mouscron.
Osimhen named Charleroi’s Player of the Year
Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has been named Sporting Charleroi Player of the season following his impressive outing in the just concluded 2018/19 Belgian first division campaign.
On-loan from German club, VFL Wolfsburg, the 20-year-old took the Belgian League by storm to fire Charleroi to the top of the first Division 2A playoffs after they narrowly missed out on the championship playoffs rounds.
Osimhen’s recognition comes as no surprise to many who have followed the AC Milan target with the striker already scooping four Player of the Month awards and was in superb form as the Zebras finished the season on a high after winning seven of their eight last games of the season.
The striker also finished as the club’s top scorer in all competitions, netting 17 goals in 34 appearances whilst his 16 league goals meant he finished as the third most prolific goal scorer in the league after Hamdi Harbaoui won the award with 25 goals.
BULGARIA
Eze wins Bulgarian Cup
Former Kano Pillars defender, Stephen Eze was part of the victorious Lokomotiv Plovdiv side that defeated city rivals, Botev Plovdiv 1-0 in the final of the 2019 and 79th Bulgarian Cup final played at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia on Saturday.
DENMARK
Onuachu wins Danish Cup
Paul Onuachu has won the 2018-19 Danish Cup title with Midtjylland after his side defeated Brondby IF 4-3 on penalties on Friday.
With six minutes into the game, Kian Hansen opened the scoring for the Wolves before Dominik Kaiser levelled for the Boys from the Westside in the 21st minute.
Locked at 1-1, the game proceeded into a penalty shoot-out after extra-time with Anthony Jung, Kamil Wilczek and Besar Halimi converting their kicks for Brondby IF while Jakob Poulsen, Marc Dal Hende, Awer Mabil and Alexander Scholz scored for the Wolves.The victory saw Kenneth Andersen’s men clinch the title for the first time in their history.
Onuachu featured for 100 minutes in the encounter before he made way for Artem Dovbyk.
The 24-year-old attacker has scored 21 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions this season.
LATVIA
Atlético, Liege, others keep tabs on ex-U-17 defender, Zakari
A plethora of European clubs are keeping tabs on 2015 U-17 World Cup-winning defender, Lukman Zakari ahead of a potential transfer in the summer transfer window.
The FK Metta starlet has been in impressive form since the start of the 2019 season and was named to the Virsliga Team of the Week for the last round of matches in the division.
He was the best player on parade at the Hanzas vidusskolas laukums as Metta defeated Ventspils 2-1 on Sunday.
A scout representing Atlético de Madrid has watched Zakari this season and he would join the B team of the Spanish giants if a transfer materializes.
FC St. Gallen chief scout Nnamdi Aghanya, who is a Nigerian, is monitoring the progress of the centre back with a view to a transfer.
The 20-year-old has been proposed to Belgian clubs KAA Gent and Standard Liege and is being watched by KS Cracovia and Slask Wroclaw in Poland.
Zakari could be considered for a call-up to the Dream Team VII for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan in September, if he continues to post impressive performances.
SAUDI ARABIA
Musa makes Team of The Season
Ahmed Musa has been named in the Saudi Arabia Professional Football League team of the season.
Al Nassr defeated Al Batin 2-1 on Thursday to clinched their eighth league title.
Musa who linked up with Al Nassr from English Premier League side Leicester City last summer scored seven goals in 24 league appearances for the club.
Five other African players also made the shortlist including Musa Al Nassr’s teammate Abdelrazak Hamdallah.
Hamdallah finished as the league top scorer with 34 goals in 26 appearances.
The other Africans who made the shortlist are; Farouk Ben Mustapha (Tunisia), Djamel Belamry (Algeria), Leandre Tawamba (Senegal) and Djaniny (Cape Verde).
Musa is expected to link up with his international teammates in Asaba on June 2 for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations camping exercise.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Since Vincent Kompany’s first season with the club, Man City have won more domestic trophies than any other side in England (4 Premier League titles, 4 League Cups, 2 FA Cups).
2. Manchester City has become the first men’s team to win the domestic treble in England, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup all in 2018-19.
3. Man City is the first English top-flight side in history to win 50 matches in a single season in all competitions, six more than they managed in 2017-18.
4. Gabriel Jesus is the third Man City player to score 20+ goals in all competitions this season (also Aguero and Sterling) – the most they have had to reach the total in the same season since 2013-14 (Aguero, Dzeko, Negredo, Toure).
5. David Silva has ended a run of 27 games for Man City without scoring in all competitions, attempting 34 shots and playing 2066 minutes since he last found the net against Southampton on December 30th.
6. Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 39 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions this season (24 goals, 15 assists), a figure bettered only by Sergio Aguero among Premier League players (42).
7. Watford’s 35-year wait for a second FA Cup final appearance is the longest since 1967, when Chelsea appeared in their second final 52 years after first featuring in 1915.
