Nigeria players continue to write their names on higher pedestal across Europe as another Nigeria teenager and German-born Manchester City striker, nominated for prestigious award in Europe. The 19-year-old Lukas Nmecha alongside 100 players, including the man of the moment, Kylian Mbappe selected for Golden Boy award yesterday.
In another widespread package, HEAD SPORTS, TOYIN SAHEED look at some Nigeria teenage who is currently doing well in Europe, some players Genert Rohr should consider after World Cup exit, plus transfer of Nigeria players across Europe.
ENGALND
Lukas Nmecha
German-born Manchester City striker of Nigerian descent Lukas Nmecha is in the running for the 2018 Golden Boy award after he was named on the 100-player long list announced on Sunday, July 1.
The 19-year-old is the only player of Nigerian decent that has been included on the list of candidates for the 16th Golden Boy award.
The award, which was established by Turin-based sports daily Tuttosport, recognizes the best U21 players in Europe over the course of a calendar year and includes votes from leading newspapersย Bild (Germany), Blick (Switzerland), A Bola (Portugal), l’รฉquipe (France), France Football (France), Marca (Spain), Mundo Deportivo (Spain), Ta Nea (Greece), Sport Express (Russia), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), and The Times (United Kingdom).
Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Reiss Nelson (Arsenal), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) and others.
Lukas Nmecha made his professional debut for Manchester City in a League Cup clash vs Leicester City in December 2017, and finished last season with three appearances for the first team.
City stars Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are previous recipients of the Golden Boy award.
Afolabi delighted to sign new deal with Southampton
Nigerian striker Jonathan Afolabi says he is delighted to sign a new deal with Premier League club Southampton ahead of the 2018-2019 season.
A Republic of Ireland U19 international, Afolabi inked his first professional contract with the Saints last week, ending speculation about his future after he was listed among the players yet to pen fresh deals at the end of last season.
In a post on Instagram, Afolabi stated: ”Delighted to have signed my first professional contract at Southampton FC.
”I’d like to thank everyone who helped me along the way and most importantly God ???? Looking forward to what this season has in store… #saintsfc”.
With Afolabi choosing to remain at Southampton, he is expected to partner fellow Nigerian, Michael Obafemi, in attack for the U23 team who will play in the Premier League 2 Division 2 in the upcoming season.
The two teenagers were not included in the Southampton first team squad that flew to China last night for a two-week training camp, where they will face FC Schalke and Jiangsu Suning in friendly matches.
Chelsea dumps Mbappe for two Nigerian strikersย
Man of the moment, Kylian Mbappe has been revealed by the Mirror UK to have turned down Premier League trio of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool while he was still aged just 15 and only honing his talents with French Clairefontaine academy.
The 19-year-old boy wonder won a penalty for France and scored twice in the 4-3 victory over Argentina yesterday in a World Cup Round of sixteen game, putting Les Bleus in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Mbappรฉ had traveled to English club Chelsea for a trial when he was 11 and even played a match for their youth team against Charlton Athletic though no deal eventually materialized.
The Blues instead plumped for two other young Nigerian strikers over Mbappe, the duo of Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke.
Abraham has played two first-team games for Chelsea and spent the last two seasons on loan at Bristol City and Swansea City, while Solanke managed only one appearance for the Blues before transferring to Liverpool in 2017.
The two players, who are on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation, have made their senior debuts for England but are not showcasing their skills at the ongoing World Cup.
Liverpool make โฌ13m, player offer for Moses
Liverpool have reportedly made their interest concrete in Nigerian winger Moses Simon with a formal offer sent to Belgian side Gent.
A bid was tabled to Gent recently, according to owngoalnigeria, the offer is โฌ13m and also includes the loan of Liverpool youngster Taiwo Awoniyi. While the source is not very popular, this doesn’t mean it’s not credible as other publications have previously mentioned Simon’s name.
The 22-year-old caught the eye of Liverpool and other English clubs due to his performances for Gent last season โ directly involved in nine goals across the 33 games he featured in. Simon caught the eye in the leadup to this year’s World Cup but unfortunately missed the tournament due to a back injury.
The contest for a place in the starting 11 was between him and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi โ Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr praised Simon for his pace and defensive work-rate, two essential qualities that could have gave the Super Eagles the edge to get out of a tough group.
Iwobi bonds with family after Nigeria’s World Cup exit
Following Nigeria’s elimination from the 2018 Fifa World Cup, Arsenal star Alex Iwobi is spending quality time with his family in London.
The Super Eagles forward found a way to put his country’s disappointing exit from the football fiesta in Russia behind him.
The 22-year-old started the Super Eagles’ 2-0 defeat to Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16 and played for 62 minutes before he was replaced by Ahmed Musa.
The Gunners forward was subsequently used as a 90th minute substitute against Iceland and Argentina in a 2-0 win and 2-1 loss respectively.
After their loss to the Albiceleste, the three-time African champions kissed the World Cup goodbye as the third best team in Group D and Iwobi has resorted to have fun with his family before joining Arsenal for their pre-season camp later in the month.
Sheyi to begin pre-season training with Liverpool today
English Premier League (EPL) giants Liverpool FC have announced that Nigerian winger Sheyi Ojo and Guinean midfielder Naby Keita will be part of the 26 players, who will begin pre-season training on Monday.
Ojo, who is an England under-21 international, is still ineligible to play for Nigeria. The 21-year-old attacker spent the 2017/18 season on loan at Fulham and he helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League from the Championship.
Keita recently completed his move to Liverpool from German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. The Guinea midfielder will be hoping to hit the ground running at the English giants in the new season.
The club’s African stars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are expected to start pre-season training at a later date after respresenting Senegal, and Egypt respectively at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
A club statement read: โA total of 26 players are scheduled to report to Melwood for the first day of Liverpool’s pre-season training programme.โ
SPAINย
La Liga club enters race for Eagles star
La Liga side Celta Vigo have reportedly entered the race to sign Nigeria international, Joel Obi
It is understood that they have already initiated negotiations with Torino for Obi and the asking price is โฌ5m.
According to Toro.it, there had already been an approach during the January transfer window and Obi is not considered a first choice by Coach Walter Mazzarri.
The 27-year-old has been at Torino since 2015 and spent practically his entire career in Italy with Inter and Parma before then.
Obi who made Nigeria’s World Cup squad to Russia but was on the bench all through would be available for around โฌ5m and is also of interest to FC Porto and Sporting CP.
PORTUGALย
Boavista announces Obiora signingย
Portuguese Primeira Liga side, Boavista has announced the signing of Nigeria international Obiora Nwankwo.
The defensive midfielder has penned a contract valid for the next two seasons with Boavista.
Obiora represented another Portuguese club Acadรฉmica between 2014 and 2016, scoring one goal in 42 appearances for the club and has pent the last two years of his career with Levadeiakos in Greece.
In his first words as a Boavista player, the Super Eagle said : ”I am very happy to have signed for Boavista, it’s a great, great privilege to be here, historic club like this.
”I hope it is going to a good year for everybody and I am ready to give all for the badge of Boavista.”
The 26-year-old has played for Inter Milan in the Champions League and also numbers CFR Cluj, AS Gubbio 1910, Calcio Padova, Cรณrdoba CF and Parma among his former clubs.
He was a member of the Nigeria squad that won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
SWEDEN
Egbuchulam scores in Falkenbergs’ home loss
Nigeria forward Chisom Egbuchulam was on target for his Swedish second-tier club Falkenbergs but it was not enough as they suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Helsingborg in a league game on Sunday.
It was back-to-back goals in his last two games for Falkenbergs as he scored in their last league game which they won 2-0 away from home six days ago (Monday).
Robin Oestlind put Falkenbergs 1-0 ahead before Mamudu Moro equalised for Helsingborg in the 34th minute.
Egbuchulam restored Falkenbergs lead 10 minutes into the second half but for the second time in the game, Helsingborg were back on level terms through Andri Runar Bjarnason on 67 minutes.
And in the 72nd minute, Bjarnason bagged his second goal of the game and what proved to be the winner for Helsingborg.
Despite the defeat, Falkenbergs still seat top of the 16-team league table on 33 points, two points ahead of second-placed Helsingborg.
Egbuchulam’s goal takes his tally to six in 12 league appearances so far.
The 26-year-old was a member of the Rangers side that won the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in 2016 after last winning it in 1984.
Five overlooked S/Eagles players Rohr must consider
As Nigeria move on from the World Cup and turn their attention towards the African Cup of Nations, there will doubtless be a measure of post-tournament restructuring.
In the young and emerging Super Eagles, there are several players whose consistency has been questioned and who may now find their positions under threat.
In this feature, we profile five players who may well have a big part to play as the Eagles look to move on from the World Cup – and we name the players whose positions may be under threat due to the new faces.
Dele Alampasu might have fallen off the international radar in the past eight months due to his inactivity at club level, but he still has a future in the team if he can get enough club minutes under his belt.
Certainly, Alampasu now finds himself lower down in the pecking order after the elevation of Francis Uzoho, but the 21-year-old has the quality to unseat either Ikechukwu Ezenwa or Daniel Akpeyi to take the role as the wonderkid’s understudy.
Ola Aina might have narrowly lost out on securing a place on the plane to Russia due to the emergence of Brian Idowu, but that minor setback should spur the 21-year-old on.
He’s comfortable in either full-back position, and with experience, will doubtless rise in prominence among the full-backs.
His versatility is an asset, and with Elderson Echiejile now 30, and having been ignored during the tournament, his spot looks vulnerable.
Kelechi Nwakali could finally make his long awaited full international debut for Nigeria in the coming months, but first, he needs to sort out his immediate future at Arsenal and get adequate game time in the coming season.
Nwakali gave a glimpse of what could be expected of him with his five-star performance and stunning goal for the Super Eagles’ B team against Atletico Madrid in May.
The tactically disciplined 20-year-old midfielder isn’t only comfortable playing through the middle, but also on the right side of midfield, and he can represent a versatile asset for Rohr.
If Nwakali, captain of the FIFA U-17 title-winning side of 2015, can successfully make the transition from the age-grade team to the Super Eagles, then Nigeria could just have unearthed a worthy successor to John Obi Mikel.
Chidiebere Nwakali: The elder of the Nwakali brothers, Chidiebere might have taken a bit longer to make the grade at international level compared to some of his teamates from the Golden Eaglets’ class of 2013.
However, the Manchester City starlet might just be arriving in time to play a leading role for the Super Eagles moving forward.
Nwakali is a skilful player, whose primary role is defensive midfield, but he has been deployed in various positions due to his immense work rate, confidence and versatility.
However, what the 21-year-old ought to do is consider Kenneth Omeruo’s situation at Chelsea and decide whether it’s conducive to his career to continually be loaned out without playing for his parent club.
Olarenwaju Kayode: But for an ill-timed transfer to Manchester City from Austria Vienna in a World Cup year, Kayode might have made Nigeria’s World Cup squad.
His subsequent loan move to Girona may not have worked out, but the 25-year-old is a thoroughbred who has come through the age ranks for Nigeria and offers speed, technical quality, tactical awareness and – most importantly – a finishing touch.
A permanent transfer to Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of June could prompt a fresh start for the two-cap international. If he returns to his best, he should stake a claim for a regular spot in the side.
