… as Sadiq goes Serbian
Football fans across the country on Saturday went into wild jubilations after the Super Eagles defeated eternal rivals, Cameroon 3-2 with China-based forward, Odion Ighalo turning out the hero with two goals and one assist.
In Spain, Kenneth Omeruo has continued to attract interest with Celta Vigo said to have joined the queue for the signature of the Chelsea centre half.
Meanwhile, after failing to hit the ground running at Rangers and Perugia last season, former U-23 and AS Roma forward, Sadiq Umar has joined Serbian giants, Partizan Belgrade on a season long loan.
The News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN captures the performances of Nigerian fringe players in less fancied leagues and also rates the Super Eagles players in the thrilling encounter against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
ENGLAND
Burnley ready to break transfer record for Tomori
Chelsea starlet, Fikayo Tomori could become the most expensive Nigerian defender in history if transfer speculations are anything to go by.
The Daily Star is reporting that Burnley is hoping to clinch a £15m deal for Tomori, who is also eligible to represent the senior national teams of Canada and England.
Should Chelsea agree to do business with The Clarets, Tomori will become the costliest defender eligible to represent Nigeria, surpassing the 12 million euros Inter Milan paid Auxerre for Taribo West in June 1997.
Tomori was loaned out to Derby County for the entirety of last season and was named the club’s Player of the Year after spending the previous season at Hull City.
With Chelsea slapped with a two-window transfer ban, it is thought that the central defender is in the plans of new Blues boss Frank Lampard as he was included in the pre-season squad for games against Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic FC this week.
Although Manuel Akanji is a Switzerland international and no longer eligible for the Super Eagles, he is the most expensive defender of Nigerian descent in history, costing Borussia Dortmund €21.5 million when he was acquired from FC Basel in 2018.
Nwakali gets provisional squad number at Arsenal
Former U-17 midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali last week trained with Arsenal U-23s squad at London Colney and has been provisionally assigned the No 98 jersey for pre-season training.
Nwakali was part of the preparations ahead of a potential debut in a pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood at Meadow Park this weekend.
He was not the only Nigerian player that participated in the workout which was watched by Arsenal Academy Director, Per Mertesacker.
James Olayinka, Bukayo Saka, Joseph Olowu, Tolaji Bola, Folarin Balogun and Xavier Amaechi have all reported for pre-season training and trained with numbers 52, 77, 53, 40, 38 and 36 shirts respectively.
Only Saka has played competitively for Arsenal’s team in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
Celta Vigo joins race to sign Omeruo
Following his impressive performance at the ongoing African Nations Cup in Egypt, Celta Vigo has joined their Spanish rivals, Leganes in the race to sign Chelsea defender, Kenneth Omeruo.
The Premier League club is said to be asking for upwards of €7 million for the central defender.
Omeruo is Chelsea’s longest-serving player but has never played for the Blues. Omeruo spent seven years at Chelsea, had six loans, appeared in two World Cups but never played a first-team game for the West-London club.
He signed for Chelsea before the likes of Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill, but seven years after his arrival Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo has yet to make a first-team appearance for the Premier League giants.
It’s unlikely the 25-year-old centre-back ever will run out at Stamford Bridge although Omeruo is establishing himself as one of the continent’s premier defenders at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He is one of three survivors — alongside John Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa — from the Super Eagles squad that won the title in 2013, when a teenaged Omeruo started five of six games including the 1-0 win over surprise finalists Burkina Faso.
Hearts linked with move for Everton’s Adedoyin
Scottish club, Hearts is set to battle it out with Dundee United for Everton starlet, Korede Adedoyin.
The Everton youngster has been described as a “wonderkid” and both clubs are said to be pursuing a season-long loan.
The 18-year-old is an English-born footballer of Nigerian descent and there are reports from Nigeria that contact has been made with the English Premier League side.
Adedoyin, is a goal-scoring winger who recently signed his first professional contract after banging in 11 goals in 17 appearances for the club’s under-18s.
Several other clubs said to be interested in the youngster include, ADO Den Haag, Cercle Brugge and Apollon Limassol.
SCOTLAND
Seyi Ojo (Rangers): The former Liverpool forward scored the fourth goal in the 70th min of his club’s 5-0 thrashing of Oxford United in a club friendly match.
TURKEY
I feel great, proud to join Basaksehir – Okechukwu
Former U-23 skipper, Azubuike Okechukwu has described his move from Egyptian side, Pyramid FC to Turkish giants Istanbul Basaksehir as a great move that he is proud of.
The former Dream Team VII captain, who spoke exclusively to AOIFootball.com, stated he was happy to have done well during his loan spell with Caykur Rizespor which has now guaranteed him a place in Europe’s premier competition next season.
“I feel great, proud of myself and thankful to God for this. It means I’m doing well and also means I have to work more.
“The Turkish League is strong and then it’s in Europe, so that’s why we have a lot of Nigerians coming into the league. I am just excited to be here and can’t wait to start playing,” Azubuike concluded.
The Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist impressed on loan at Caykur Rizespor last term, netting once and adding one assist to lift Rizespor from the brink of relegation as they finished 11th on the log following an impressive second half of the season.
The 22-year-old will now feature for the club in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers having finished second on the log behind winners Galatasaray.
BELGIUM
Odey unveiled by Genk after €3.5m transfer
Former MFM of Lagos striker, Stephen Odey, was last Thursday unveiled by Belgian side, KRC Genk, after completing a €3.5m transfer from FC Zurich, and penning a four-year contract.
Odey was presented to the club’s supporters and media after impressing in a trial game on Wednesday against Begel.
He scored a brace in the match to convince the hierarchy of the club that he has come to solve their goal scoring problem.
Odey joined FC Zurich in 2017 from MFM FC. He made 45 appearances for the Swiss club, scoring 12 times in all completions.
His first match for Nigeria was a 2018 African Nations Championship qualifier against Benin Republic on August 13 2017 in Cotonou which the home-based Super Eagles lost 1–0. Odey featured in the match as a substitute.
Odey now makes the long list of Nigerian players to have played for KRC Genk, after Blessing Kaku, Sunday Oliseh, Kim Ojo, Kennedy Nwanaga and Wilfred Ndidi.
SWEDEN
John Chibuike (Falkenbergs FF): The former Heartland midfielder was introduced in the 64th min of his team’s 2-6 defeat at Hammarby IF.
Godswill Ekpolo and Juhani Ojala (Haecken): Ekpolo played for 90 mins while his teammate, Ojala was a non-playing substitute when their club suffered a 1-2 reverse at IFK Norrkoeping.
CYPRUS
Uzoho joins Omonia on loan from Deportivo
Super Eagles reserve goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, has completed a loan move to Cypriot First Division side, Omonia Nicosia, the club announced Thursday on its official website.
Uzoho is joining Omonia Nicosia on a one-season loan period for an undisclosed fee from Spanish side, Deportivo La Coruna.
He spent the last season at another Cyprus side, Famagusta, yet on loan from the La Liga side. Uzoho will play for Omonia for the 2019/2020 season.
“We announce that an agreement has been reached to acquire the 20-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, in the form of borrowing from Deportivo La Coruna,” Omonia stated on their official website.
“He played in the first and second teams of Deportivo La Coruna and as promising in Elche and Anorthosis.
“He is active international in the men national team of his homeland, (Nigeria), recording so far 13 caps.
“In 2013 he won the U17 World Cup.
“We welcome Francis Uzoho to the Omonia family and we wish him every success.”
Uzoho is currently in Egypt where he a member of the Super Eagles squad campaigning at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
HUNGARY
U-17 World Cup winning striker joins Fehervar
2015 U-17 World Cup-winning striker, Funsho Bamgboye, has joined MOL Fehervar FC from Szombathely Haladas, where he played last season.
The duration of contract and financial terms were yet to be disclosed by the Hungarian top flight club.
Bamgboye has played in 36 NB I matches over the last three seasons in the colours of Haladas, scoring four goals and providing four assists.
Commenting on the new deal, he told the official website of MOL Fehervar FC: ”This is a big opportunity for me as I link up with Vidi. We are talking about one of the best teams in the country.
”I want to be celebrating winning the league title and it is attractive to me to be showing what I can do in Europe. My message to the supporters is that I will always give everything I have to help the team be successful.
”I have been playing in Hungary for a while now so naturally I know about this club. It was not a difficult decision to move here”.
The 20-year-old began his career at Aspire Academy Qatar and is famous for netting the second goal for the Golden Eaglets in a 2-0 win vs Mali in the final of the 2015 U-17 World Cup.
SERBIA
Sadiq joins Partizan Belgrade from AS Roma
Partizan Belgrade has completed the signing of former U-23 forward, Umar Sadiq from AS Roma on a season-long loan.
The eight-time Serbian league champions have an option of making the deal permanent.
However, the 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Scottish side Rangers.
Sadiq joined AS Roma from Spezia in 2015, making only six appearances across all competitions.
In another development, former Primeiro Agosto striker Razaq Adegbite has joined Tunisian side US Tataouine on a two-year deal while Augustine Chidi (21) is said to have impressed officials of South African club, Chippa United during a trial.
VIETNAM
Michael Olaha (Song Lam Nghe An): He lasted the duration of his club’s goalless draw with SHB Da Nang.
Ismahil Akinade (Ho Chi Minh City): He was on from start to finish as his team suffered a 0-1 set-back at Viettel.
CHINA
Sone Aluko (Beijing Renhe): The former Reading forward lasted the duration of his club’s 0-2 loss to Shandong Luneng.
