…Onuachu sees red in Denmark
Former schoolboy international, Taiwo Awoniyi appeared to have rediscovered his goal scoring form as he netted his fifth goal in six matches for his Belgian club, Royal Mouscron. As it stands, the Liverpool loanee is in line for a recall to the Super Eagles ahead of the 2019 African Nations Cup in Egypt.
Meanwhile in the Dannish League, FC Midtjylland lanky forward, Paul Onuachu had a bad day in office as he was issued a red card in the 64th min in a match that also involved two other Nigerians in Rilwan Hassan and Frank Onyeka.
In another extensive report, the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN captures the performances of Super Eagles stars and hopefuls from various leagues abroad.
ENGLAND
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal): He lasted 75mins before he was substituted for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in his club’s 2-0 win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.
Isaac Success (Watford): He was not listed as his club secured a 5-1 away win at Cardiff City.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City): Ndidi lasted the duration while his teammate Iheanacho was introduced with 16 mins left to play in the 1-4 loss at home to Crystal Palace.
Balogun on song for Arsenal
Balogun on target as Arsenal brighten hopes of place in UEYA Youth League. Nigerian attacker Folarin Balogun continued his impressive showings for Arsenal youth teams after netting a sumptuous goal for the club’s U18s in their 3-1 win over Southampton in the U-18 Premier League on Saturday.
The youngster who has been in blistering form of late beat Jack Bycroft in the rival goal after 32 minutes to double his team’s lead.
The goal took his tally to seven in his last ten games across all competitions.
While he was replaced with six minutes left to play, Arthur Okonkwo and Ryan Alebiousu were non-playing substitutes for the Gunners here.
For the Saints, midfielder Roland Idowu was introduced from the bench after 84 minutes of play.
In the provisional standings, the Gunners,U-18s who have won five games on the bounce, lead the way with 39 points from 15 matches, one more than Tottenham Hotspur who have a game in hand.
Arsenal would be guaranteed qualification for next season’s UEFA Youth League if they are crowned national champions of the U18 Premier League.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ovie Ejaria (Reading) & Semi Ajayi (Rotherham Utd): Ejaria is finally off the mark for the Royals, finishing inside the box to make it 1-0 in the 31st min before Super Eagles defender, Ajayi restored parity from close range with 10 mins left on the clock. The match ended in a 1-1 between the two sides.
DIVISION 1
Freddie Ladapo (Plymouth): He took his tally for the season to 15 goals after bagging a brace against Rochdale. The former Flying Eagles invitee lashed home in the 26th min to make it 1-0 and slotted beyond the goalkeeper after picking up on a loose ball in the 75th min.
GERMANY
Karim Onisiwo and Anthony Ujah (Mainz 05): He opened and closed the scoring in the 18th and 84th min respectively as his team registered a 3-0 win against Schalke 04.
Onisiwo was partnered in attack for 64 mins by Super Eagles fringe striker, Ujah.
SPAIN
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes): Was on for 90 minutes as his team secured a 1-1 draw against Valencia.
FRANCE
Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja (Bordeaux): Kalu was substituted in the 72nd min while Maja rose from the substitutes bench in the 81st min as their club suffered a 1-0 defeat at Nantes.
DENMARK
Daniel Anyembe (Esbjerg): He lasted the duration of his team’s 0-2 loss at Hobro.
Paul Onuachu, Rilwan Hassan and Frank Onyeka (Midtjylland): Leggy forward, Onuachu was issued a red card after second bookable offence in the 64th minute, Hassan was substituted six minutes later while Onyeka and came in as a 64th minute substitute.
PORTUGAL
Benfica drop’s Ebuehi from Europa League
Tyronne Ebuehi is facing more problem following his long term injury as Benfica has left the defender out of its squad for the next stage of the UEFA Europa League.
Ebuehi, who is yet to play a single competitive match for the club as he copped a long-term injury after arriving from ADO Den Haag of Netherlands last summer.
The fair skinned Holland-born lad will not be in action for Benfica against Dinamo Zagreb on March 7.
Benfica will travel for the first leg away then return home to settle scores with the Croatian side but Ebuehi will miss both games as he is going through post-surgery rehabilitation.
The 23-year-old defender, who can play as a wing back or full back on either side of the pitch has already missed his initial return date of 29th January, which has ruled him out of many ties for Benfica and Nigeria.
TURKEY
Rizespor featured Awaziem and Azuibuike tonight. Both have been amazing signings for Rizespor as they have won 5 out of 6 games since January when both made their move. Awaziem is averaging 82% pass accuracy and 7 clearances per game, azuibuike had an assist tonight. @patomiliki
BELGIUM
Awoniyi scores 5th goal in six matches
Former U-23 forward, Taiwo Awoniyi made it five goals in six matches in the Belgian First Division after netting the winner for Royal Excel Mouscron as they claimed a 1-0 victory against Lokeren on Saturday.
The Liverpool loanee benefited after the Lokeren defense failed to clear the ball from danger following a corner kick in the 52nd min.
Awoniyi had missed a chance to open the scoring just before half-time after a lovely pass from Manuel Benson and could have doubled the advantage in the 82nd minute but his shot went over the bar.
Two minutes later, the number fourteen made way for Haitian attacker Frantzdy Pierrot, and there’s a possibility he was replaced to avoid a red card as he was shown yellow in the 21st minute.
Only Victor Osimhen’s Sporting Charleroi has stopped Awoniyi from scoring since his return to Royal Excel Mouscron in the January transfer window but he still had an impact in the game.
Nigerians dominate Team of the Week
Due to their scintillating performance for their various clubs, the trio of Taiwo Awoniyi, Imoh Ezekiel and Victor Osimhen have made the Team of the Week in the Belgian Jupiler League.
Former Dream Team VI striker, Awoniyi continued his rich vein of form for his club, Royakl Mouscron as they pummeled Cercle Brugge 3-0 penultimate weekend.
He scored the opening goal before Selim Amallah and Frandytz Pierrot added two further goals.
Similarly, Osimhen was instrumental to his club, Sporting Charleroi’s 2-1 win over Kortrijk.
His compatriot, Imoh Ezekiel also netted the opening goal in the game against Kortrijk before Charleroi rallied back through Osimhen’s effort.
This will be the third time consecutively that Awoniyi will be making the Team of the Week in the Jupiler League.
AUSTRIA
Emmanuel Aiwu (Admira Moedling): The promising right back scored his first professional goal for his club in the 35th min as his team defeated FC Wacker Innsbruck 3-0.
Aiwu, who has caps for Austria U18 and U19 teams, played his 13th game as a professional at the weekend.
Emeka Eze (Sturm Graz): Came in as a 61st min substitute when his club secured a 1-1 draw at Mattersburg.
NORWAY
Adeleke Akinyemi (IK Star): He scored a consolation goal for his club in the 1-3 loss to FK Haugesund in a pre-season friendly. The striker was on the score sheet in the 43rd min.
SLOVENIA
NK Aluminij captures Amuzie
After spending two years in the Switzerland top division side, FC Lugano, former Dream Team defender, Stanley Amuzie, has joined Slovenian side, NK Aluminij on a one and half year deal.
The lanky left back made his mark with Italian side, Sampdoria before moving to Portuguese club, Ohanese.
The Slovenian club confirmed the signing of Amuzie through its official website.
“I watched the profiles of the players and saw that this is a very young team, young players like me and that is why I’m here.
“I want to play and advance and also to help NK Aluminij in achieving good results,” Amuzie said.
Amuzie made his debut for the Super Eagles in the 2015 AFCOn qualifier against Egypt under the tutelage of Samson Siasia.
CYPRUS
Uzoho wins one-match ban appeal
Super Eagles net minder, Francis Uzoho has won his appeal against a one-match suspension imposed by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) for playing with an invalid health certificate.
Uzoho was handed the ban and a fine of €1,000 ($1,130) after the CFA upheld an appeal by Apollon Limassol who claimed the 20-year-old played with unauthorized paperwork when making his debut for Anorthosis Famagusta in a game between the two sides earlier this month.
“It’s been a tough period but I only want to concentrate on football now,” Uzoho, who missed Saturday’s 3-2 win at Ermis disclosed.
However, his club’s appeal over a nine-point deduction was rejected, according to the CFA.
The penalty has seen Anorthosis drop into the bottom half of the 12-team league, which sees six clubs play each other twice more to decide who is relegated.
The keeper, who has missed three matches since his debut, is now expected to feature in the Cypriot club’s fight against the drop.
The Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper joined Anorthosis on loan from Spanish side, Deportivo La Coruna on deadline day in search of regular top-flight football ahead of the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
Capped 12 times by Nigeria, Uzoho played all three matches as the Super Eagles exited the 2018 World Cup in the group stage.
CHINA
Ighalo wins on debut
2019 Africa Cup of Nations leading scorer, Odion Ighalo has made his debut for Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.
The former Changchun Yatai man rejected advances from top European clubs before sealing a transfer to Shanghai Shenhua on February 14 for a fee of 15 million euros, with two young Chinese players moving in the opposite direction.
Ighalo was handed his debut Saturday afternoon as Shanghai Shenhua thrashed Dalian Yifang 3-0 in their final warm up game ahead of the new season.
A minute after the interval, the new Shanghai Shenhua number nine missed a chance to increase the lead when his shot was blocked.
Shanghai Shenhua’s season opener comes up Friday, March 1 against city rivals Shanghai SIPG, which will be Quique Sánchez Flores’ first competitive game in the dugout since his appointment as coach in December 2018.
Ighalo was the second highest goal scorer with 21 goals in 28 appearances in his second full season in China.
SAUDI ARABIA
Musa comes through comeback game unscathed after 7 weeks out
Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has been handed a major boost by Ahmed Musa, with the winger coming through his comeback game unscathed on Saturday.
His last game for Al Nassr was against Al-Jndal in the King’s Cup on January 3 prior to Saturday’s tie against Al Feiha.
Musa was introduced in the 78th min as replacement for Hamdallah, who grabbed the winning goal from the spot midway through the second half in the 1-0 victory vs Al Feiha.
Writing on social media after the game, Musa said: ”Important win mates! Good to be back on the pitch. Thank to all the fans for your prayers!”
Musa has now played 15 matches in the Saudi Professional League since he was recruited from Leicester City last summer, scoring 5 goals while providing four assists.
The 26-year-old captained the Super Eagles in their last five international fixtures and had a hand in four goals (2 goals, 2 assists).
