Eze, Iheanacho, Sadiq, Osimhen score for fun in Europe

At a time some of the major leagues in Europe are about to go on
break, Super Eagles youngsters continued their impressive run in the
current campaign as the likes of Ebere Eze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Sadiq
Umar and Victor Osimhen were all on song for their respective clubs.
In France, the duo of Moses Simon and new Eagles sensation, Josh Maja
also continued from where they left off last weekend by contributing
an assist each for Nantes and Bordeaux in that order.
However, there was a tinge of sad news from the same France as senior
national team forward; Henry Onyekuru was said to have been relegated
to the fourth division by his employers, AS Monaco.
After another ‘extensive tour’ of Europe, Asia and Africa, the News
Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN, reports the performances of Nigerian players
abroad.

ENGLAND
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City): Iheanacho scored
one and assisted another as his club earned a comprehensive 4-1
victory over Aston Villa with his colleague, Ndidi, going the full
throttle in the midfield.
In his first start of the campaign, Iheanacho followed up his goal and
assist last weekend against Everton with another 20th min assist to
same player in Jamie Vardy to put Leicester City ahead before scoring
his second league goal of the season in the 41st min to put his side
two goals up.
Alex Iwobi (Everton) : He put up a fine performance as his club edged
out Chelsea 3-1 at Goodison Park. Iwobi was in action for 90 minutes
in the thrilling encounter. The former Arsenal player has now featured
in 14 league games for the Toffees this season and scored once.
Leicester offers Ndidi pay rise to ward off Barca interest
Leicester City has responded to an inquiry from Barcelona for their
Wilfred Ndidi by offering the 22-year-old a pay rise.
Ndidi signed a new deal in the summer of 2018 keeping him at the club
till 2024 meaning the club is in no way under pressure to lose the
Nigeria international ?but there are fears that he could get his head
turned by the interest from the Laliga giants.
In a bid to keep the midfielder settled the club plan to give him a
pay rise on his current salary which stands around £55,000 a week.
They could offer him as high as £70,000 a week to keep him settled.
Barcelona have reportedly inquired about the midfielder who is well
known to coach Ernesto Valverde who isn’t entirely satisfied with the
lack of steel in his midfield despite the big money signing of Frenkie
de Jong from Ajax last summer.
Representatives of Ndidi will in the coming days meet with the club to
thrash out the terms of the pay rise which will likely not affected
the duration of his contract but will no doubt solidify the grip the
Foxes have on the midfielder.
Mainz 05 open to Balogun’s return
Struggling German Bundesliga side Mainz 05 will fancy the chance of
having Nigeria international defender Leon Balogun back at the club
from Brighton and Hove Albion where he has struggled to get game time
this season.
German journalist Mark Rowland confirmed the club is in dire need of
options in defence and Balogun could be one of their target if he is
interested in returning to the team he left on a free transfer two
seasons ago.
The 31- year-old has only played 8 English Premier League games since
joining Brighton and Hove Albion with all his game coming during the
course of last season as he is yet to taste action in the league this
season although he has played once in Cup game.
Already the situation has cost him his spot in the senior national
team of Nigeria as he hasn’t been called up to the squad since pulling
out of the team for the friendly against Ukraine with an injury few
hours to the game.
” Safe to say Mainz 05 will take him back with open arms. Although it
will most likely be a loan deal because of their present situation on
the table and also they can’t match the spending powers of Brighton.
Balogun is still well loved at the club and maybe that will make them
push for him in January “, Rowland said.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi Ajayi (West Brom): The versatile player opened scoring for his
team as they won comfortably 5-1 against Swansea to return to the top
of the Championship log.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Blackburn): He was excellent in defence for
Blackburn, picking up the Man of the Match award in his team’s 1-0
defeat of Derby County.
Ebere Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel (QPR): Eze scored both goals just as
his teammate, Osayi-Samuel lasted 90 mins as QPR defeated Preston
North End 2-0.
GERMANY
Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn):The left-back made his 13th league
appearance of the campaign when his team earned a 1-0 away win against
Werder Bremen. Collins, who got a yellow card six minutes from time
has scored once for Paderborn in the league this season.
Taiwo Awoniyi and Karim Onisiwo (Mainz 05): Awoniyi came on as a
halftime substitute while Onisiwo made the starting line-up whne their
team suffered narrow defeat against Augsburg.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Nantes): The pocket-size winger bagged an assist for the
second time in three  matches as his team recorded a slim 1-0 win over
Dijon. Simon who lasted 90 mins teed up Ludove Blas for the only goal
of the game in the 73rd min. The former KAA Gent of Belgium star has
now scored two goals and recorded four assists in 15 league
appearances for Nantes this season.
Josh Maja and Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux): Maja provided an assist while
Kalu was a non-playing substitute when their club suffered a
Victor Osimhen (Lille): The striker found the back of the net from the
spot in the 16th min of the 1-0 win against Brest.
Onyekuru demoted to 4th division!
Super Eagles forward, Henry Onyekuru is not having the best of time at
French Ligue 1 side Monaco as he has failed to break into the team
since his move in the summer to the principality outfit.
Since his permanent transfer from Everton in the summer after a
successful loan spell in Turkey with Galatasaray where he helped the
team lift the league title by contributing 15 goals, a feat he has
struggled to match at Monaco.
Coach Leonardo Jardim has only played him in four games this season
and so far he has just one assist to his name leading to the coach
telling the 22 year old that he can leave the club in January as he is
not part of his plans.
Galatasaray are the favorite to sign him on a one and half year loan
deal with an option to sign him permanently at the end of the loan
deal but before he leaves in January he has been demoted to the youth
team who play in the 4th division in France.
Onyekuru was demoted to the B team alongside Gabriel Boschilla and
they will train with the academy and likely play games for the team in
the French 4th division called the National 2, which is equivalent to
the youth league.
HOLLAND
Cyriel Dessers (Heracles): He lasted 90 mins as his team was held to a
goalless draw in the Eredivisie. Dressers, who recently expressed his
desire to play for the Super Eagles has scored 11 times in 16 league
appearances in the current campaign.
Chidera Ejuke (Heerenven): He was in action for 73 mins of his club’s
3-1 defeat of RKC Waalwijk. Ejuke has six goals in 15 league
appearances for Heerenven this season.
ITALY
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese): The central defender was in action for
the duration of his team’s 1-1 draw against visiting Napoli.
Troost-Ekong has now made 13 league appearances so far for his club
this season.
Ola Aina (Torino): The defender came in as 12th min substitute in his
club’s 2-1 home win against Fiorentina. Aina who was cautioned in the
32nd min, provided the assist for Torino’s second goal scored by
Cristian Ansaldi 18 minutes from time.
SERIE B
Simy Nwankwo (Crotone): The leggy forward lasted 90 mins when his club
fell 0-1 to Pordenone.
SPAIN
Ramon Azeez (Granada): He was a non-playing substitute for the second
consecutive game as his team defeated nine-man Deportivo Alaves 3-0.
The diminutive midfielder has made 12 league appearances for his side
this campaign and has scored two goals.
Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem (Leganes): Awaziem saw 90 mins
action and nearly scored; hitting the post while his compatriot,
Omeruo was benched for the duration of their team’s hard fought 3-2
home win against Celta Vigo. The duo have played nine league games
each for Leganes this season.
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal): He lasted the duration of the match
when his team played out a goalless draw at home to Atletico Madrid.
DIV 2
James Igbekeme (Real Zaragoza): He played for 55 mins in his team’s
3-1 away win at Deportivo.
TURKEY
John Obi Mikel, Anthony Nwakaeme and Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor) & Paul
Mukairu (Antalyaspor): Nwakaeme grabbed the second goal in his club’s
3-1 away win at Antalyaspor.  The striker has now registered four
goals in 14 league games. Meanwhile, erstwhile Super Eagles captain,
Mikel lasted the duration of the game while Onazi was an unused
substitute. On the opposing side was Mukairu who played the opening 45
mins for his club.
Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor): He played 90 mins in midfield as his club
fell to a 2-3 home defeat against Giresunspor.
Olanrewaju Kayode (Gaziantep): He lasted 90 mins up front in his
club’s goalless draw
at Konyaspor.
DIV 2
Chukwuma Bentley Akabueze (Eskisehirspor): The former Kwara United
forward was brought on in the 46th min of his team’s 3-1 defeat of
Umraniyespor
RUSSIA
Sylvester Igboun (FC Dinamo Moscow): The Super Eagles outcast lasted
the duration of his club’s 0-3 loss at Zenit St. Petersburg.
Brian Idowu (FC Lokomotiv Moscow): The left-back was an unused
substitute when his club suffered a 4-0 thrashing at Arsenal Tula.
DENMARK
Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland): He continued his good form with a 82nd
min goal when his club secured a 2-1 away win over Brondby.
Ayo Simon Okosun (AC Horsens): He was in action for 90 mins when his
team held Hobro to a goalless draw.
Tosin Kehinde (Randers): He played the opening 45 mins of his team’s
1-2 loss at Silkeborg.
PORTUGAL
Obiorah Nwankwo (Boavista): The fringe Super Eagles player was in
action for 90 mins when his team  was crushed 4-1 at home to benfica.
Mikel Agu (Victoria Guimaeres): He played his part in the 2-0 home win
over Portimonense.
BELGIUM
David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge): They both featured
for  the club as they snatched a late 2-1 win at St. Truiden.
Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey (Genk): Onuachu played 61 mins of his
team’s 2-1 narrow win at Cercle Brugge while his compatriot, Odey was
a non-playing substitute.
Abduljeleel Ajagun and Imoh Ezekiel (Kortrijk): Imoh came off the
bench to open the scoring for Kortrijk as they were held to a 1-1 draw
by Mechelen. His colleague watched proceedings of the match from the
bench.
SERBIA
Ex- U23 striker, Sadiq Umar nets goal No 14
Former U-23 forward, Sadiq Umar, has hit a rich vein of form at
Serbian side Partizan Beograd where he is on loan from Serie A side,
AS Roma.
Sadiq took his goal count in all competitions to 14 with a goal in
Partizan Beograd 2-1 win over Rad Beograd in the Serbia top division
where he now has 11 goals from 16 games in the league this season.
In the UEFA Europa League he has found the back of the net three times
with a brace coming against Astana in the group stage. The 22 year old
is presently the joint highest goal scorer in the Serbian league with
Nenad Lukic of Backa Topola.
His form is coming at a time when it appears Roma have given up on his
abilities after struggling to make any appreciable impact while on
loan last season at Rangers of Scotland and later Perugia of Italy.
Last season he scored just three  goals in 18 games for Crotone while
in the first half of the season at Rangers he didn’t score as he
struggled for game time and only got to play once in the league.
Partizan have the option of making the deal permanent in the summer
and it’s an option they will most likely take and probably trade him
off immediately owing to the fact that teams have sounded out the
lanky striker,
ISRAEL
James Adeniyi (Ironi Kiryat Shmona): He scored an 87th winner for his
team in their 1-0 defeat of Sektzia Nes Tziona.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague): He was substituted in the 90th min of
his club’s 3-0 thrashing of Slovan Liberec away from home.
BULGARIA
Solomon Viv-Otabor (CSKA Sofia): He was unlucky not to score, striking
the post in his team’s goalless draw against Arda (Kardzhali).
NORWAY
Afeez Aremu (IK Start): His team is one step closer to promotion with
their 1st leg win over Ifeanyi Mathew’s Lillestrom, who face
relegation from the Norwegian Eliteserien.
HUNGARY
Ezekiel Henty (Puskas Akademia): Henty led the comeback for his club
with his 52nd min header as they battled to a 2-2 away draw at
Ferencvaros.
Haruna Garba (Debrecen VSC):  He played 90 mins as his club played out
a [1-1] draw at home to Budapest Honved.
Obinna Nwobodo (Ujpest): He made the difference with the only goal of
his team’s 1-0 defeat of Varda SE.
CYPRUS
Kingsley Onuegbu (Pafos FC): He lasted the duration of his club’s 1-0
defeat of Nea Salamis.
CROATIA
Samuel Eduok (Hajduk Split): He scored with a curling strike to earn a
point for his team in their 1-1 draw with Inter Zepresic.
SLOVAKIA
Rabiu Ibrahim (Slovan Bratislava): The former Golden Eaglets and
Flying Eagles star scored in the 34th min to earn his team a 2-0
victort over Dunajska Streda.
SAUDI ARABIA
Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr): The Super Eagles striker helped his club
advanced to the Saudi King’s Cup quarter finals with a comfortable
win.
CHINA
Ighalo expresses Chinese Cup delight
Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has expressed his joy
after helping Shanghai Shenhua claim the Chinese FA Cup following
there 3-0 win over Shandong Luneng.
The former Watford FC of England attacker completed a perfect end to
the year for his career as his side made amends for their
disappointing league finish, with the striker claiming his first
silverware in the Asian country.
With his side 1-0 up, the 2019 AFCON top scorer came off the bench for
goal scorer Shin Wook Kim with Shanghai going on to score two late
goals to claim their 5th FA Cup and their first since 2017.
The 30-year-old afterwards expressed his delight with the outcome of
the game as he now wants to have a wonderful off season ahead of the
New Year.
“It’s a nice feeling to end the season on a high. To even win my first
trophy here in my first season even makes it more special. It’s been a
tough season for the club and I will say the fans really deserve this
fantastic ending.
“Now it’s time to look back at the season and pick the positives and
ensure I remain sharp ahead of the New Year,” Ighalo said.
SOUTH AFRICA
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs): He was in goal as Kaizer Chiefs came
from behind to record an entertaining 5-3 win against Bloem Celtic.