After booking the ticket for the 2019 African Nations Cup, Super Eagles players returned to action for their various clubs abroad. Despite scoring a goal at the weekend, Adeleke Akinyemi may be playing in the Norwegian lower division following the relegation of his club, IK Start. Also on target in the Scandinavian country are; Babajide David of Haugesund and Molde’s Leke James.
In India, former Super Eagles striker, Bartholomew Ogbeche continued his consistency in the less fancied league with yet another goal at the weekend.
Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi appeared to be improving after every match as he helped Arsenal to another 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premiership, yesterday.
In yet another comprehensive report, the NEWS EDITOR, ADEBAYO OLODAN writes on the performances of Nigerian players abroad.
ENGLAND
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): Iwobi was substituted in the 82nd min of his team’s 2-1 defeat of Bournemouth.
Isaac Success (Watford): He was introduced in the 57th min of the 0-3 loss to Liverpool. Meanwhile the player has taken to the social media to reflect on the result on his Instagram. He wrote; “Not the result we wanted but we go again next weekend.”
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) & Leon Balogun (Brighton): Substitute Iheanacho helped Leicester earn a late spot kick as the Foxes forced Brighton & Hove Albion to a 1-1 draw. The former Golden Eaglets striker climbed off the bench to make a lasting impression for his team while his compatriot Ndidi played a crucial role for Leicester City as he came on for Vicente Iborra two minutes after the half hour. Central defender, Balogun was benched for the entirety of the game.
Victor Moses (Chelsea): He was not considered for a place in his team’s squad when they suffered a 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the London derby.
Rohr urges out-of-favour Chelsea star to return to Eagles
Ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr is hoping Victor Moses will reverse his decision in August to quit the national team.
The 27-year-old decided to call time on his international career in order to be able to focus fully on his Chelsea career and his young family as well as to allow the next generation of Super Eagle stars the opportunity to step up and to flourish.
Rohr hurriedly went in search of his replacement and handed a call-up to Bordeaux winger, Samuel Kalu and also tested Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze in a recent friendly against Uganda.
”He told me, I was surprised after the World Cup that he wanted to stop. I tried to convince him that it was not the moment for him to stop, I didn’t succeed,” Rohr said at a media parley organized by Sports Editors.
”Even his agent told me now he has to focus on the club and I hope he will have the opportunity to play again in his club or in another one.
”The transfer window will open in January, so perhaps he can change club and find a club where he’ll play and he can change again his mind.
”He’s only 27 years old, he’s too young to stop his international career.”
In 2013, Moses was a key player as Nigeria won their third Africa Cup of Nations title, scoring twice, and was named to the Team of the Tournament.
Man City, Spurs keep tabs on Maja: Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton are all watching closely 19-year-old forward, Josh Maja for a possible January transfer, according to reports.
The Sunderland forward is in terrific form having scored 11 goals already – becoming the first teenager to reach double figures in the top four divisions in England this season.
Maja, whose contract comes off with Sunderland at the end 2018/19 season, has also caught the eye of Championship side Bristol City.
The Black Cats’ owner, Jack Ross, admits the club will find it hard to keep the teenage sensation amid interest from top English clubs but confirms contract talk is currently ongoing.
Ross said: “He will be here minimum until January. I would expect him to be here longer than that. I am confident of that.
“I know he is enjoying it. He is playing and contributing. He is only young. To get 11 goals so far, he deserves huge credit.”
Maja was discovered by Manchester City but moved to Sunderland in 2015 and was immediately absorbed into the Black Cats’ U-18 side.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City) & Eberechi Eze (QPR): He was left out of his team’s match day squad for their 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers that paraded Eze for 89 minutes. Etebo has made 13 appearances for the Potters so far this season. Eze provided two assists and made a pass accuracy of 69.2% in the match.
Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United): He lasted the duration of his team’s 2-2 draw at home to Sheffield United. The game was Ajayi’s 18th start of the campaign.
LOWER LEAGUES
Aribo, Ladapo, Adebayo, Oshilaja hit target: In a League One tie at The Valley in London, Charlton Athletic made it three league wins in a row after seeing off Bristol Rovers 3-1 with Joe Aribo among the scorers for The Addicks.
Charlton were in front on the stroke of half-time when Aribo headed home from six yards out with Nicholas Ajose playing a part in the goal when his cross was nodded back into the danger area.
At Home Park (Plymouth), former Flying Eagles invitee Freddie Ladapo continued his blistering form by scoring a brace as Plymouth Argyle returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Fleetwood Town.
Ladapo beat goalkeeper Cairns from eight yards out to open the scoring in the 72nd minute, then headed home a second from a corner with nine minutes left.
The 25-year-old has averaged a goal per game in his last eight matches in the division.
Fejiri Okenabirhie closed the scoring but his goal was not enough as Shrewsbury Town lost 3-2 to Fred Onyedinma’s Wycombe Wanderers.
The former Nigeria Football Federation target slotted a low shot past Stockdale in the 73rd minute to give Shrewsbury Town hope but the home team held on to secure three points.
Also, Fulham loanee Elijah Adebayo scored for the fifth time this season to help Swindon Town beat Port Vale 1-0 in a League Two clash at Vale Park.
The tall striker tapped into an open net in the 11th minute after the ball was parried by the keeper.
SCOTLAND
Efe Ambrose (Hibernian): He made his 13th Scottish Premier League start and was on for the duration of his team’s 2- 2 draw at home to Dundee FC. Ambrose who has won four Scottish Premier League titles has played 20 games in all competitions scoring two goals and providing one assist.
SPAIN
Moses Simon (Levante): He was not included in his club’s squad for the 2-2 away at SD Huesca. Moses who made a cameo appearance for the Super Eagles in their goalless draw against Uganda in an international friendly has played four games and has scored once.
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes): The central defender posted another fine performance as his club secured a 1-0 win over Deportivo Alaves. The 25-year-old was part of a back five which frustrated Alaves for the duration of the match as Leganes extended their unbeaten run to seven matches.
DIV 2
Ramon Azeez (CD Lugo): The former schoolboy international lasted 90 mins as his team defeated Cordoba 2-1.
ITALY
William Troost Ekong (Udinese): He helped his Italian club, Udinese end their seven-game winless streak in the Serie A with 1-0 win over AS Roma. The game was Ekong’s 13th Serie A start of the season for Udinese.
SERIE B
Kingsley receives double awards at Perugia: Ex-U-17 star, Kingsley Michael has been officially presented with the Man of the Match awards for the games against Cosenza and Crotone while featuring for Serie B side, Perugia.
The 19-year-old is on a season long loan deal from Bologna and he has wasted no time in settling down to life in his new surrounding as he remained ever present for Perugia since his move.
Kingsley scored his first professional goal in the 1-1 draw against Cosenza and was by far the best player for the team on that day, same way he bossed the midfield against Crotone to help his side to a 2-1 win.
Though he is in line for a call-up to the Nigeria U-20 team, Kingsley already has his sight on the Super Eagles but specifically the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
GERMANY
Anthony Ujah and Karim Onisiwo (Mainz 05): Ujah was an unused substitute while Onisiwo was introduced in the 71st min of their club’s 1-2 loss at home to Borussia Dortmund.
AUSTRIA
Bright Edomwonyi (FK Austria Wien): The former Flying Eagles star was introduced in the 63rd min of his team’s 2-1 away win at FC Admira Wacker Modling.
BELGIUM
Uche Agbo (Standard Liege): He came off the substitutes’ bench in the 30th min of his club’s 3-0 defeat of Eupen.
Imoh Ezekiel and Abdul Ajagun (Kortrijk): The duo were unused substitutes when their club secured a 2-1 win at Oostende.
DENMARK
Marvin Egho (Randers FC): He lasted the duration of his club’s 1-0 win at Hobro.
Emmanuel Ogude and Seyi Adekoya (Vendsyssel FF) & Daniel Anyembe (Esbjerg FB): Ogude was substituted after 63min while Adekoa was introduced with four mins left to play as their club drew 1-1 with Esbjerg for whom Anyembe played the last 21 mins of the match.
NORWAY
Daniel Omoya Braaten (SK Brann): He was introduced in the 76th minute as his club secured a 1- 0 win over Odds Ballklubb.
Ifeanyi Matthew and Raphael Ayagwa (Lillestrom): The team survived the dreaded drop after they beat Kristiansund 2-0 on final day with Matthew lasting the entire duration of the match while Ayagwa was an unused sub. The team finished 12th on the table with 32 points.
Akinyemi relegated, James, Babajide on song: IK Start will be playing in the Norwegian 1. division next season after losing 1-3 to Haugesund on the final day of the 2018 campaign, a result that left them 15th in the 16-team standings.
Adeleke Akinyemi gave IK Start a 12th minute lead only for the goal to be cancelled out by another Nigerian striker, Babajide David just before the hour mark.
It was Akinyemi’s 13th start of the season. His compatriot Aremu Afeez came on for Kasper Skaanes in the 87th minute of the defeat. Afeez made 25 appearances scoring three goals.
Akinyemi was replaced after an hour. IK Start finished 15th on the table with 29 points from 30 matches and were relegated along with bottom team Sandefjord.
Izuchukwu Anthony was left on the substitutes’ bench for the entire duration of the game for the winners.
Molde earned a 3-1 road win against Sandefjord at Komplett Arena with Leke James bagging his first brace for the club he joined in April.
Molde were trailing by one goal for 41 minutes but James restored parity three minutes after the restart before scoring a second on 72 minutes.
SLOVENIA
Chris Ondong Mba and David Nwolokor (SKF Sered): Mba was brought on in the 86th min while his teammate, Nwolokor was a non playing substitute when their club was held to a 1-1 draw by Zilina.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha): The former U-23 invitee scored a crucial goal in the 75th minute, three minutes after his introduction. It was his third goal in all competitions following his summer move from KAA Gent.
His team has now opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table after beating Karviná 3-1 at Mestský Stadión.
SLOVAKIA
Abdulrahman Taiwo (Nitra): The former Kwara United forward took his tally for the season to four goals in the league after scoring in the first minute of stoppage time in a dramatic 3-2 away win at Spartak Trnava.
INDIA
Philip Njoku, Bala Dahir and Edafe Egbedi (Minerva Punjab): Njoku, a midfielder scored in the 75th min while Egbedi provided an assist in the 45th min for the defending champions in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Shillong Lajong FC on Friday. Bala was a second half substitute for the away team but was a minute later called back as it was clear the Minerva management had miscalculated and were playing with six foreigners on the pitch, instead of the allowed five. As a result, they were penalised and forced to play the rest of the game with 10 men.
Ex-PSG star, Ogbeche, continues brilliant run: Former Super Eagles striker, Bartholomew Ogbeche was on target as North East United earned a dramatic 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters on game week eight in the Indian Super League on Friday.
A 93rd minute strike from the former PSG wonderkid and Juan Mascia’s 96th minute goal helped NorthEast United turn the tables on Kerala Blasters in a pulsating match at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium (Guwahati).
Poplatnik broke the deadlock with 17 minutes remaining but Ogbeche leveled matters from the spot for his seventh league goal this season.
The experienced striker is the second leading marksman in the Indian Super League behind FC Goa’s Ferran Corominas Telechea who has tallied eight goals.
The victory was NorthEast United’s first three points at home in the new season and earned the Eelco Schattorie led side a spot in the top four.
Ogbeche has played for clubs in France, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Greece, England and the Netherlands.
