…nets fastest goal in Belgian League history
The curtain was finally drawn over a number of less fancied leagues in Europe such as the Israeli Ligat and Turkish League at the weekend as former schoolboy international, Victor Osimhen scored his 20th goal of the season for Charleroi. With such return, Osimhen ended the 2018/19 season as Nigerian top scorer in Europe.
In Turkey, Super Eagles outcast, Anthony Nwaekeme ended the season on the high as he was among the goals for Trabzonspor.
In Israel, Nwaekeme’s former teammate, John Ogu scored on the wrong side of the post (own goal) as he bid supporters of Hapoel Beer Sheva bye.
Meanwhile, Everton loanee, Henry Onyekuru may become the first Super Eagles player and the second Nigerian-born player to feature for Bayern Munich after reports surfaced that the German club is presently monitoring his situation.
The News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN reports the performances and news surrounding the future of Super Eagles players and hopefuls abroad.
ENGLAND
Arsenal youngster, Olowu chooses Nigeria over England
Arsenal youngster, Joseph Olowu has shunned an approach from England by choosing to represent Nigeria instead.
A product of the Gunners Hale End Academy, Olowu was born in Ibadan nineteen years ago but travelled to England with his parents when he was five years old.
The player was among the new players pencilled down by Nigeria Football Federation officials ahead of the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup but he was ruled out of the tournament due to fitness issues after suffering a serious injury that ended his hope of featuring at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with the Flying Eagles in Poland.
Following the injury, reports has it that the player and his representatives are expected to travel to Poland to watch one of the matches involving the Flying Eagles.
Olowu joined Arsenal at U-14 level and has trained with the main team after signing professional contract with the Gunners back in 2017.
Stoke City keen on Aribo
Championship side, Stoke City has joined the race to sign Joe Aribo in the summer transfer window.
Aribo appeared to have played his final game for Charlton Athletic against Sunderland in the League One Play-off final at Wembley yesterday.
The 22-year-old looks set to leave after four years as he has rejected signing a new contract with The Addicks.
It is understood that Stoke City have opened talks with Aribo about the possibility of joining the club.
But the Potters have a difficult task in their bid to win the race for his signature as he is also on the radar of English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City, plus clubs in Scotland, France, Portugal and Germany.
Aribo is willing to represent the Super Eagles if he is approached by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Europa League FInal: Iwobi, Saka, Amaechi makes squad
Arsenal players and officials have traveled to Azerbaijan for the upcoming Europa League final against Chelsea.
Three wingers of Nigerian descent in the shape of Alex Iwobi, Bukayo Saka and Xavier Amaechi were pictured boarding the plane to Baku on Saturday morning and are in contention to be named in the match day squad vs Chelsea.
The three young stars have been training with the first team following the conclusion of the 2018-2019 Premier League season.
While Iwobi and Saka have made ten and two appearances respectively in this season’s Europa League, Amaechi missed out because he returned from a long-term injury in December.
No Nigerian player has featured for a winning side since the competition was rebranded the Europa League in the 2009-2010 season, so a bit of history would be created if Arsenal beat Chelsea and Unai Emery hands playing time to one of the aforementioned players.
The Europa League final will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on Wednesday, May 29.
ITALY
Aina plays last match with Torino
Ola Aina made his final appearance for Torino in the 2018/19 Italian Serie A season, yesterday as his team secured a 3-1 win over Lazio.
The game was the Chelsea loanee’s 30th league game of the season for the Bulls who finished seventh on the log with 63 points from 38 games.
After a goalless first half, two goals in two minutes from Iago Falque and Sasa Lukic in the second half gave Torino a 2-0 lead, but Ciro Immobile reduced the deficit for Lazio six minutes after the hour mark.
Lorenzo Silvestri’s 80th minute strike ensured Torino ended the season on a winning note.
Aina who is currently on a season loan deal from Chelsea is expected to return to Stamford Bridge ahead of next season. He scored one goal and provided two assists during the season.
Aina goes for his trademark long throw-in for Torino against Lazio
Aina has been included in Nigeria’s 25-man provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament billed for Egypt next month. He is expected to arrive the Super Eagles camp in Asaba on June 2.
The former England U-17, U-19 and U-21 star has made seven international appearances for Nigeria since his debut in 2017 against Zambia in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo.
SPAIN
Liverpool targets Chukwueze
Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze has been listed among the top 12 attacking targets for Liverpool this summer according to a source.
Chukwueze is one of the most coveted young players playing in Europe and he is presently valued at £30m.
The one-cap Nigeria international made 46 appearances for Villarreal across all competitions and has scored 10 goals making four assists.
The 19-year-old alongside Bertrand Traore, Maxwell Cornet, Ryan Fraser top the list of players being considered by Liverpool according to the report.
Other players are Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Joao Felix, Nicolas Pepe, Julian Brandt, David Neres, Maxi Gomez and Felipe Anderson.
ISRAEL
Austin Ejide (Hapoel Hadera): The former Super Eagles goalkeeper was an unused substitute when his team suffered a 0-1 loss at Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Chikeluba Ofoedu (Maccabi Tel-Aviv): He was introduced after 75 mins of his team’s 1-1 draw with Macacabi Haifa in the playoffs.
John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva): He scored an own goal in the 23rd min of his club’s 0-4 loss at home to Maccabi Tel-Aviv in his final game for the Israeli club.
Ogu bids Be’er Sheva fans, teammates goodbye in tears
Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu was in tears as he said goodbye to Hapoel Be’er Sheva fans after appearing for the club for the last time in Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli league.
Ogu will become a free agent next month after opting not to extend his contract with the Israeli club.
The 31-year-old who was honoured after the game on Saturday also later took to the social media to thank the club and his teammates.
“Came as a boy and am leaving as a man. Thank you @HBS_ , thank you my teammates,” Ogu tweeted on Sunday.
The player who joined Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 2014 from Portuguese side, Academica scored 13 goals in 140 appearances for the club.
Ogu won three Israeli Premier League titles with Be’er Sheva and two Super Cup titles.
He has been linked with a move to Turkish side Trabzonspor where he will re-united with former Hapoel Be’er Sheva teammate, Anthony Nwaekeme and another Ogenyi Onazi.
TURKEY
Bayern Munich closes in on Onyekuru
Henry Onyekuru, who scored 16 goals in all competition, may be playing for Bayern Munich according to reports.
The striker whose contract with Everton is still running might be leaving Galatasaray at the end of the loan deal.
He is actually being chased by a plethora of clubs in Europe but leading the race is the Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
If the deal comes through, Onyekuru will be the first Super Eagles player to play for the Bundesliga giants
The former Aspire Academy graduate who is close to making the 23 man list of players who will represent Nigeria at the Nations Cup, judging by his current form in his club side, having won two trophies already in this season, the Cup Game and the Super Lig trophy.
Conte wants Moses reunion at Inter Milan
Inter Milan-bound new manager and former Chelsea gaffer, Antonio Conte is eyeing a reunion with former Super Eagles forward Victor Moses as one of his primary targets for the 2019/2020 league season.
According to reports in the Italian press, Conte wants the Fenerbahce loanee to form part of the nucleus at Inter Milan with the hope of returning the club to the pinnacle of Italian football.
Moses was a regular for Chelsea during Conte’s time at the club, establishing himself as the right wing-back as they won the Premier League in 2017.
However, the Nigerian lost his place following the appointment of Maurizio Sarri this season, featuring just twice in the Premier League before being shipped on loan to Fenerbahce in January.
The 28-year-old has been a regular at the Turkish side and his deal there runs until 2020, meaning Inter would have to negotiate his release from Fenerbahce if they want to take him to the San Siro.
Nwakaeme ends season on high with Trabzonspor
Anthony Nwakaeme ended his first season in Turkey in style as he grabbed two assists to help Trabzonspor come from behind to defeat Caykur Rizespor 3-2 with Chidozie Awaziem and Azubuike Okechukwu also starting for the hosts.
Fernando Boldrin opened the scoring for Rizespor after 16 minutes but the visitors leveled four minutes after when Nwakaeme setup strike partner Hugo Rodallega to make it 1-1.
Dario Melnjak then put through his own net to gift Trabzonspor the lead on the 24th minute before the impressive Nwakaeme grabbed his 10th assist of the season when he set up Abdülkadir Ömur for 3-1 just before the half time whistle.
Vedat Muriqi then reduced the deficit for hosts but it was Trabzonspor who held on to seal all three points.
Having moved from Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the summer, Nwakaeme finished in double figures for both goals and assists for the first time in his career, netting 10 goals and providing a further 10 in 27 league games.
Meanwhile, former U-23 skipper, Azubuike Okechukwu has called time on his Çaykur Rizespor career with Turkish Super Lig club,
BELGIUM
Osimhen nets Goal No 20 for Charleroi
Victor Osimhen was on target as 10-man Sporting Charleroi failed to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League after going down to 3-2 to Antwerp in the play-off final, yesterday.
Osimhen opened scoring for Charleroi after just nine seconds – the fastest goal scored in the history of the Belgian League.
It was the forward’s 20th goal in 36 league appearances for Sporting Charleroi this season.
Dorian Dessoleil doubled the advantage for the visitors in the 12th minute.
The home side however pulled a goal back through Dieumerci Mbokani six minutes later.
Charleroi was reduced to 10-men when Gjoko Zajkov was sent off in the 20th minute.
Lior Refaelov got the equaliser for the hosts in the 22nd minute before Mbokani netted the winning goal for Antwerp in the 67th minute.
Osimhen is now expected to return to his parent club, Wolfsburg following the completion of his loan deal.
… emerges Nigerian top scorer in Europe
Sporting Charleroi striker, Victor Osimhen has won the ‘Nigerian Golden Shoe’ after finishing the 2018-2019 campaign as the country’s top scorer in European Leagues.
Osimhen’s 18 goals in 33 league games meant he accumulated 27 points in the European Golden Shoe rankings to place first ahead of FC Midtjylland’s Paul Onuachu and Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru.
Onuachu, who tallied 17 league goals over the course of the 2018-2019 campaign, would have played his final game on Saturday but was left out of the squad against Esbjerg and was also not in the 18 man squad vs Brondby on Monday.
As for Onyekuru, he needed to score five goals in his final league game on Friday to surpass Osimhen but fired blanks in a 4-3 loss to Sivasspor.
Blessing Eleke (Luzern), Stephen Odey (FC Zurich) and Anthony Nwakakeme (Trabzonspor) started for their respective clubs on the final day of the season but failed to add to their goal tallies.
Nwakaeme became the only Nigerian player to reach double figures for goals and assists in the European Leagues this season after setting up two goals against Rizespor on Friday.
Nigerian Top Scorers in Europe
S/No Player Club Goals Points
1. Victor Osimhen Charleroi 18 goals 27 points
2. Paul Onuachu FC Midtjylland 17 goals 25.5 points
3. Henry Onyekuru Galatasaray 14 goals 21 points
4. Blessing Eleke FC Luzern 13 goals 19.5 points
5. Anthony Nwakaeme Trabzonspor 10 goals 15 points
6. Stephen Odey FC Zuerich 10 goals 15 points
DENMARK
SonderjyskE signs Hassan from FC Midtjylland
Through a statement on their official website, Danish Superliga side SonderjyskE has announced the signing of FC Midtjylland winger, Rilwan Hassan.
He penned a one-year contract with SonderjyskE with an option for another year inserted into the deal.
The 28-year-old reunites with Glen Riddersholm, who coached him at FC Midtjylland from 2011-2015.
In his first words as a SonderjyskE player, Hassan told the club’s official website: ”I am very happy to have signed a contract here in SønderjyskE.
”I hope I will play a lot of games and I will do my best and work hard to help the team. I look very much forward to playing for the club.”
Hassan has 222 Superliga games under his belt and is credited with 23 goals and 30 assists.
The FC Ebedei product was on the books of FC Midtjylland for 10 years winning two league titles with the club.
Paul Onuachu, Rilwan Hassan and Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland) & Daniel Anyembe (Esbjerg FB): Onuachu was not listed, Hassan played the last 15 mins while Onyeka was an unused substitute when their team suffered a 1-2 loss at home to Esbjerg for whom Anyembe lasted 90 mins and was cautioned in the 39th min.
Onuachu wins Midtjylland top scorer award for 3rd consecutive season
Paul Onuachu has won FC Midtjylland’s top scorer award for the third consecutive season.
Onuachu scored 17 goals and recorded five assists in 30 league appearances for the club. Overall, he netted 22 times in 40 appearances across all competitions.
“Paul Onuachu has – for the third consecutive season – won the award as Top Scorer of the Year in FC Midtjylland,”reads a tweet on FC Midtjylland’s official Twitter handle.
Last season, he scored 17 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions for the club.
During the 2016/2017 campaign, Onuachu hit the back of the net 23 times in 45 games across all competitions.
The 24-year-old joined Midtjylland in 2012, on a scholarship, from their affiliate team, FC Ebedei.
He was a prolific scorer for their youth team, and made his first-team debut in the Cup later that year, before making his league debut in December 2012.
In June 2013 he signed a new three-year contract with the club, before extending it for a further three-years in August 2015. In early 2015 he was loaned to Vejle BK, before returning to FC Midtjylland ahead of the 2015–16 season.
He is in Nigeria’s 25-man provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
SWITZERLAND
Eleke scores 15th league goal
Blessing Eleke dealt a huge blow to the European hopes of fellow compatriot Stephen Odey as he scored his 15th league goal to help FC Luzern to a comfortable 3-0 home win against FC Zuerich.
With both sides chasing a Europa League qualification spot on the penultimate game of the league, the hosts raced into an eight-minute lead when Ruben Vargas reacted quickest to tuck home a Tsiy-William Ndenge pass for 1-0.
They then doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when the impressive Tsiy-William found Eleke and the Nigerian made no mistake in making it 2-0.
The game was then put beyond Odey and his teammates when Ruben Vargas completed his brace and his side’s third of the night six minutes after the break to leave Zurich needing to win their final league game and hope results elsewhere favour them to return to the Europa League next season.
The win takes Luzern to the third position on the log with 46 points ahead of their final league match away to champions Young Boys.
