Akpom, Ideye score, provide assists in Greece

Forgotten Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, scored at the weekend for
his modest Greek club, Aris Thesaloniki. The former Ocean Boys star
will hope to bang in more goals in the coming weeks to attract the
attention of senior national team handler, Gernot Rohr. Also in
Greece, former Arsenal player, Chuba Akpom, found the back of the net
and provided an assist for PAOK Thesaloniki. There were also goals
from the boots of former Kwara Football Academy (KFA) player, Emmanuel
Dennis Bonaventure and Tunde Adeniji (ex-Sunshine striker) in Belgium
and Hungary respectively.
In Portugal, Mikel Agu will hope to forget the weekend’s match of his
club after he gave away a penalty and was substituted in the first
half.  Similarly, Salzburg youngster, Majeed Ashimeru, had a
nightmarish outing in Austria after being shown a straight red in the
16th min.
In yet another comprehensive package, the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN
takes you on a tour of Europe.

ENGLAND
Alex Iwobi (Everton): The former Arsenal man lasted 90 mins and had a
decent game as the Tofees were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester Utd.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): The youngster was introduced in the 41st of his
club’s 0-3 loss at home to Manchester City.
Tom Dele-Bashiru and Isaac Success (Watford): There was no place for
Dele-Bashiru  while his teammate, Success was a non-playing substitute
when Liverpool defeated their club 2-0 at Anfield.
Philip Billing (Bournemouth): He started and went the distance as the
visitors shocked Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City):
Iheanacho was removed after 37 mins by the coach while Ndidi lasted
the duration of their club’s 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City.

Rogers explains real reason for Iheanacho’s substitution
The first half substitution of Leicester City forward, Kelechi
Iheanacho, in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Saturday came as a
surprise to many judging by the player’s impressive performance in the
last two games of the team.
The former U-17 striker was yanked off in the 38 mins of the match,
just few minutes after he caused a storm by refusing to pass the ball
back to Norwich who were expecting hm to observe the Fair Play rule as
they were the team that kicked the ball out for Iheanacho’s teammate
to receive attention.
Iheanacho was substituted after Leicester drew level courtesy of an
own goal by Tim Krul and his substitution has led to various
insinuations on why coach Brendan Rogers pulled the Nigerian out. Some
said it was probably related to his refusal to respect the Fair Play
rule.
Rogers has however said it was a tactical move and nothing related to
the incident although he voiced his unhappiness that Iheanacho did not
pass the ball back to Norwich City but instead attacked and almost got
a chance on goal before being fouled.
“It was one where we wanted to go to 4-3-3 and when we moved him out
to the side, he is not a natural winger, he is not one who can play on
the outside.
“So, I can either leave it and wait until half-time or make the change
when I did. And then make the other change on half-time. It was purely
a tactical one.
“He was fine. He was disappointed because, he’s been terrific for us
in the past few games. He understands, he knows it was nothing
personal, just the flow of the game needed to change,” Rodgers
disclosed.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Luke Amos, Eberechi Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel (QPR): Amos bagged a
brace but ended up on the losing side as his team was beaten 5-3 by
bottom team, Barnsley. Eze and Osayi-Samuel also made the starting
line-up for the Hoops at Oakwell Stadium.
It was Amos who made the biggest impact for his side, scoring either
side of half-time, his first goals for the club he joined on loan in
the summer transfer window.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Blackburn Rovers): The Manchester City loanee lasted
the entirety of his club’s 2-0 win against Bristol City.
Semi Ajayi (West Brom): He was on from the blast of whistle till the
end of his team’s 3-2  defeat of Birmingham City.

SCOTLAND
Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo (Rangers): Aribo played for 90 mins when his
team secured a 2-0 win against Motherwell.

GERMANY
Karim Onisiwo and Taiwo Awoniyi (Mainz 05): Awoniyi was a non-playing
substitute while Onisiwo was not listed when their club suffered a 0-4
loss to Borussia Dortmund
Jamilu Collins (Paderborn 07)& Anthony Ujah (Union Berlin): Collins
went the distance while Ujah was a substitute when the two teams
shared the spoils (1-1).

FRANCE
Josh Maja and Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux): Maja lasted 76 mins while Kalu
came on for the last 18 mins to impress in their club’s 0-1 loss to
Strasbourg.
Moses Simon (Nantes): Provided an assist – his fifth of the campaign –
in the 18th min and was cautioned in the 68th min of his team’s 1-0
win at Nimes.
Henry Onyekuru (AS Monaco): He was yet again missing as his club
played out a goalless draw with Angers.
Victor Osimhen (Lille): He lasted the duration of his club’s 2-1 win
over Montpellier.

SPAIN
Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem (Leganes): The two defenders were
on for the entirety of their club’s 1-1 draw at Deportivo Alaves.
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal): The flying winger had a decent game
before he was substituted in the 66th min of his club’s 2-1 win at
Sevilla.

ITALY
Ola Aina (Torino): He lasted the duration of his team’s 3-3 draw with
Hellas Verona.
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese): The central defender was the best
player for Udinese as his club fell to a 1-3 loss to Juventus.
Troost-Ekong blocked four shots, five interceptions and three tackles.

BELGIUM
Paul Onuachu, Shwan Adewoye and Stephen Odey (Genk): 25-year-old
Onuchu ended his goal drought after scoring the second goal in the
26th min of his team’s 4-1 defeat of Beveren and was substituted in
the 83rd min. His teammates, Adewoye and Odey were unused substitute.
The goal ended a run of five matches without a goal for the lanky
striker who last found the back of the net on November 23 in a 2-2
draw against Excel Mouscron.
Abdul Ajagun and Imoh Ezekiel (Kortrijk): Ezekiel and Ajagun were
introduced in the 67th and 86th min respectively as their club lost
1-2 at home to Mouscron.
David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge): Denis was cautioned
in the 25thmin and was on song in the 30th min – his team’s second- in
the 3-0 defeat of Mechelen. His compatriot, Okereke was an unused
substitute.

AUSTRIA
Kelvin Arase (Rapid Wien): He lasted the duration of his club’s 3-0
away thumping of Admira Moeding.
Majeed Ashimeru ((Salzburg):  He was given as straight red card in the
16th min of his club’s 2-2 draw at Hartberg.

GREECE
Chuba Akpom (PAOK): After being introduced in the 6nd min, Akpom
provided an assist four minutes later and subsequently got a goal in
the 69th min of his team’s 3-0 defeat of Panetolikos.
Brown Ideye (Aris Thesaloniki): He opened scoring in the 12th min of
his club’s 1-3 loss to OFI Crete.

HOLLAND
Chiderah Ejuke (SC Heerenven): He was substituted in the 78th min of
his team’s 1-2 loss to Willem II.
Cyriel Dessers (Heracles): Dessers lasted the duration of his club’s
1-3 loss at home to FC Utrecht.
Joel Asoro (Groningen): The former Sunderland player was on for 90
mins when his team was held to a 1-1 draw by Groningen.

TURKEY
Olanrewaju Kayode (Gaziantep): The Super Eagles outcast was involved
in all three goals, scoring twice and providing an assist when his
team earned a 3-0 win over Kayserispor.
Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor): The versatile player played for 90 mins
when his club was held to a goalless draw by Altinordu FK.
Aminu Umar (Rizespor): He played for 81 mins when his team suffered a
0-3 loss at home to Kasimpasa.

BULGARIA
Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv):He was in action for 90 mins as his
club played a goalless draw with Levski Sofia.
Solomon Viv-Otabor (SCKA Sofia): The Super Eagles invitee played for
64mins of his team’s 4-0 defeat of Dunav Ruse.

PORTUGAL
Obiorah Nwankwo (Boavista): The former U-20 midfielder was not listed
when his club suffered a 1-0 reverse at Maritimo.
Mikel Agu (Victoria Guimaeres): He had a match to forget so soon after
giving away penalty before getting subbed off in the 41st min of his
team’s 2-2 draw at Gil Vicente.
Chima Akas (Belenses): The former Enyimba left-back lasted the
duration of his club’s 1-2 loss against Moreinse.
DIV 2
Sodiq Fatai (GD Chaves):He played for 90 mins when his team drew 1-1
with FC Porto B.

SERBIA
Sadiq Umar (Partizan Belgrade): The former U-23 forward lasted the
duration of his club’s 2-1 win at FK Radnik.

ISRAEL
James Adeniyi (Ironi Kiryat): He assisted a goal when his club earned
a 2-1 win against Bnei Yehuda.
Austin Ejide (Hapoel Hadera): The former Super Eagles goalkeeper kept
a clean sheet when his team defeated Ashdod 2-0 away from home.

SWITZERLAND
Tosin Ayegun (FC Zuerich): He rounded off the scoring when his team
defeated St. Gallen 3-1 away from home.

DIV 2
Sebastian Okigwe(SC Kriens):He was in goal for 90 mins as his club
wrapped up the season with a 2-1 away victory against FC Vaduz.

CROATIA
Iyayi Atiemwen (Dinamo Zagreb): He was in action as his club earned a
1-0 win against Lokomotiva Zagreb.
Samuel Eduok (HNK Hajduk Split): He played for 45 mins when his team
secured a 2-1 win over NK Istra.

NORTH CYPRUS
Moses Akinade (Binatli YSK): He lasted the duration of his club’s 2-1
loss against Baf Ulku Yurdu.

HUNGARY
Ezekiel Henty (Puskas Akademia):He lasted the duration of his team’s
0-1 loss to Zalaegerszegi.
Tunde Adeniji (Debreceni): The former Sunshine Stars forward scored a
consolation goal in the 1-4 loss to Kaposvari Rakoczi.

SLOVENIA
Player who allegedly impregnated club president’s daughter revealed!
The Nigerian player who allegedly impregnated his club president’s
daughter has been identified as John Edafe.
It was reported by various media outlets earlier this week that the
player was sacked by his second division Slovenian Club for gross
misconduct and impregnating the daughter of the club president.
In an exclusive interview with www.brila.net, the former Mighty Jets
and Nove Gorica attacking midfielder shared his side of the story.
“Thank you for contacting me, I don’t know where the story emanated from.
“I was shocked when I read the report where they said I impregnated my
former president’s daughter.
“I left Nove Gorica in 2018 and returned to Nigeria at the end of my
contract,” Edafe stated.
“I can assure you that all is fine between me and the club, the
president has no daughter, and what we share is purely professional
relationship and during my time in Slovenia, we didn’t share anything
personal.
“The story is completely false and it must be discouraged,” the 26
year-old narrated.
Edafe further revealed that he’s on the verge of sealing a move to a
club in Cyprus and will be heading out next month.

SAUDI ARABIA
Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr): He was in imperious form and lasted 77 mins
when his team defeated Al Taawoun 2-1.