…Kayode faces 3–match ban in Ukraine
With the 2018 World Cup barely 40 days away, CSKA forward, Ahmed Musa seemed to have hit form in good time as he scored yet another brace at the weekend. The Leicester loanee is joined by a Super Eagles prospect, Ademola Lookman who also scored twice for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
ADEBAYO OLODAN once again reports on the displays of Nigerian players in Europe at the weekend.
ENGLAND
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): He scored the fourth goal in the 64th minute and played his part in the second goal of his team’s 5-0 defeat of Burnley in Arsene Wenger’s last match at the Emirates Stadium.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): Provided an assist in the 32nd minute in only his 24th league match as Chelsea secured a 1-0 win over Champions League finalist, Liverpool
Shola Ayoola (Stoke City): He was not listed when his team suffered a 1-2 loss to Crystal Palace, a result which confirmed the relegation of the team from the topflight.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City): Crocked Ndidi was left out of the hosts squad while his compatriot, Iheanacho came on after the hour mark when their team suffered a 0-2 loss to West Ham Utd.
Tammy Abraham (Swansea): The Chelsea loanee was introduced in the 59th minute of his team’s 0-1 loss to Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium.
Michael Obafemi (Southampton): Finally, in the late kick-off at the Goodison Park, young striker, is not included in traveling party as Everton welcome the Saints.
Chima pens 2-yr Burnley deal
Burnley has announced via their official website that Udoka Chima has penned a two-year deal with the club with effect from the 2018-2019 season.
Signed from a grassroots club in London, the central defender and 10 other players will be full time members of the Clarets Academy as from July 1, 2018.
Next season, Chima will represent Burnley’s U18 team who are coached by Danny Cadamarteri.
Speaking on the new intake of scholars, Head of Academy Jonathan Pepper said : ”We are really looking forward to the new intake of scholars coming in next season.
”We have a large number of exciting attacking players to add to our existing group, as well as a whole new defensive line and goalkeeper to bolster the squad.
”There will be a lot of competition for places for the U18s next season.”
Three players of Nigerian descent Richard Taylor, Tunde Bayode and Ali Koiki played for Burnley’s youth teams this season.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ovie Ejaria and Joel Esoro (Sunderland) & Bright Enobakhare (Wolverhampton Wanderers): The former U-17 invitee, Ejaria netted his first professional goal as relegated Sunderland beat second tier champions, Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the season. His teammate, Esoro also put in a full shift for the Black cats while Enobakhare entered into the fray, 10 minutes into the second half. Ejaria broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he slotted home a rebound after the goalkeeper spilled the low cross.
Aina confirms Chelsea return
Hull City has confirmed that promising right-back, Ola Aina will be returning to his parent club, Chelsea at the end of the season.
Hull said the player will not be signed on a permanent basis in the summer, meaning he has to return to his parent club and mull over his options.
”Chelsea is a big club and they have a lot more to focus on than just me,” Aina told Hull City’s official website.
”They have a lot of other players out on loan, as well as the players currently there.
”For me personally, I’m working hard towards the dream of playing for Chelsea because they are the club that I have always supported, long before I was scouted by them.
”We don’t know what the future holds, but Hull City has been my bread and butter this season and all I want is for us to finish strongly at the weekend.”
Aina appeared in 44 matches across all competitions for the Tigers, had a hand in four goals and logged 3,831 minutes in total.
EFL LEAGUE 2
John Akinde (Barnet): He was among the goals when his club secured a 3-0 victory over Chesterfield at the Hive Stadium. The striker scored off a Curtis James assist to open the scoring after 42 minutes of play, his seventh goal tally in 32 league outings this season.
David Amoo (Cambridge Utd): The former Liverpool man opened the scoring for Cambridge Utd in a 5-0 trouncing of Port Vale. The striker picked up a Jake Carroll pass after 33 minutes to rifle home and open the floodgates. He was replaced after 72 minutes of action.
ITALY
Joel Obi (Torino): He was not listed when his team drew 2-2 with Napoli.
SPAIN
Brown Ideye and Isaac Success (Malaga): Ideye was introduced in the 46th minute while Success played no part as their team lost 0-3 at home to Alaves.
RUSSIA
Ahmed Musa (CSKA): He scored twice, one either side of the break to help his team to an emphatic 6-0 annihilation of Arsenal Tula.
GERMANY
Leon Balogun and Anthony Ujah (Mainz 05): Balogun was not listed while Ujah was an unused substitute as their club secured a shocking 2-1 win over Dortmund to survive relegation. Despite the survival, Balogun who recently recovered from injury is likely to join another club.
Ujah expects Russia 2018 snub
Mainz 05 striker, Anthony Ujah has said he will not be surprised should coach Gernot Rohr leave him out of the players to be invited for the Super Eagles World Cup party.
The player has been restricted to cameo appearances on his return to the German club from China in January.
Speaking with newsmen at the weekend, Ujah said, “I’ll understand the situation if the Super Eagles Coach decides to leave me out of the World Cup because since I just joined Mainz, I am yet to be playing regularly for the team.”
Lookman hits double for Leipzig
Everton loanee, Ademola Lookman hogged the headlines in Germany for an awe-inspiring display, scoring a double for his loan club, RB Leipzig in their 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in their Bundesliga clash.
Another youngster courted by Nigeria, Felix Uduokhai, was on from start to finish for Die Wölfe in the cracker while former Flying Eagles wonder kid, Victor Osimhen was not listed in the visitors 18.
The striker opened the scoring at the Red Bull Arena after 24 minutes, sending a sizzling right-footer into the bottom corner after picking up a pass from teammate, Jean-Kévin Augustin.
The England U-21 international would then notch a brace in the 52nd minute, prodding in another effort from the centre of the box off a Timo Werner’s assist.
Lookman’s loan spell with the Bulls have reaped much dividends, it must be said, with his latest string of goals taking his tally for Leipzig to four in ten appearances.
HOLLAND
Fred Friday (Sparta Rotterdam): He opened scoring for his team but his goal was not enough to save the club from a 2-5 loss at home to Heracles.
NORWAY
Man Utd legend, Solskjaer delighted with James’ signing
Former Manchester Utd star and Molde FK club manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed the signing of Leke James.
The striker signed on a two-year deal, which has been confirmed by the club’s website.
While reacting to the development, Solskjaer said, “Leke has shown earlier that he is a top-grade, top-level leader,” “We are pleased that he is now in Molde and we are confident that we will get him in the same good form as he was in Aalesund.
“He is now free of injury and ready for action and will be in a hurry if not so long. Leke is a boy with a wonderful personality, which will provide a lot of positive energy in the group.” He added.
BELGIUM
Peter Olayinka (Zulte –Waregem): The leggy forward scored the winner for the visitors as they defeated Kortrijk 2-1 in the Belgian league play-offs. The 22-year-old scored the second goal in the 34th minute to give his team a second straight win. The goal was his 10th of the campaign in 36 matches in addition to 15 assists.
Anderlecht, Gent keen on Gong
Belgian giants, Anderlecht and KAA Gent are at the moment battling for the services of workaholic combative midfielder, Hilary Gong.
The Belgium news outlet, HLN reported that Gent who maintains close relationship with the Slovakia club, Trencin who owns Gong are in discussion with his parent club about a possible transfer.
Trencin in the past sold Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon and compatriot, Samuel Kalu to Gent. It however remains to be seen if the Simon and Kalu who have impressed in the league will remain at the club judging by the transfer speculations around them.
Also monitoring the situation of Gong is Anderlecht who has identified after the Nigerian as a direct replacement for the departed Marc Coucke.
The owner of Trencin, Tscheu La Long recently confirmed that many clubs have been following the youngster.
Gong has scored nine goals in 19 appearances for Trencin this season.
Onyekuru recovers, makes bench
Everton loanee, Henry Onyekuru made a surprise return from a ligament injury to feature on the substitutes’ bench for Anderlecht as the club secured a 2-1 win over Club Brugge in the play-off.
The striker recently returned after 17 weeks absence due to injury but suffered a knock which again ruled him out for three days. Before his injury, the 20-year-old scored nine goals in 19 appearances.
UKRAINE
Kayode faces 3–match ban in Ukraine
Super Eagles striker, Kayode Olanrewaju has been punished after he struck the head of Artem Shabanov in the game between Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv on Saturday, April 14.
The 24-year-old is on loan at Shakhtar Donetsk till the end of the 2017/18 football season from Premier League outfit Manchester City to get more game time.
Kayode confronted Shabanov in stoppage time of the 0-1 defeat and received no disciplinary action after the game after he reportedly hit his opponent.
A statement on the Football Federation of Ukrainian (FFU) website last Tuesday, confirmed that Kayode has been punished for his action.
Dynamo Kyiv reportedly wanted Kayode banned for up to five matches for his actions and sent a complaint letter to the FFU.
The message by the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the FFU stated that Kayode will miss one match and possibly two more.
“Considering the behavior of a Nigerian striker who struck Artem Shabanov’s player on the head of the Kiev, KFC FFU decided to remove O. Kayode for one match plus two matches conditionally.” the statement read.
Kayode who scored on his debut for Shakhtar Donetsk has contributed a total of three goals since his arrival.
He missed the game against Mariupol and could miss further games against Zorya and Veres.
Kayode has turned out for ASEC Mimosas, Luzern, Heartland, Maccabi Netanya, Austria Wien and Girona before his move to Shakhtar Donetsk.
SLOVAKIA
Christopher Udeh (Tatran Prešov): The young defender opened his league account for his Slovakian club, Tatran Prešov in a Super Liga 1-1 draw with Podbrezová.
The 20-year old struck five minutes from time to cancel out the opposition’s 21st minute goal and salvage a share of spoils for his side
