Naija Lads who shone across Europe this Saturday (Sept.17)

▶️Arthur Okonkwo Cleansheet: Crewe Alexandra (EFL League Two)

▶️Josh Maja Goal: Girondins Bordeaux (Ligue 2)
*Maja now has 5 goals, 3 assists in 9 league games (all starts)


▶️Tolu Arokodare Goal: Amiens SC (Ligue 2)
*Tolu now has 5 goals in 9 league games (all starts).

▶️Ajibola Joshua Alese Goal: Sunderland (Skybet/EFL Championship)

▶️Stephen Eze Cleansheet: Queen's Park FC (Scottish Championship).

▶️Emeka Eze Brace: Eyüpspor (Turkish TFF.1 Lig).

▶️Jesse Sekidika Goal: Eyüpspor (Turkish TFF.1 Lig).

▶️Bruno Onyemaechi Solid Defensive Performance + 3pts (LWB-LCB): Boavista (Portuguese Liga Portugal Bwin).

▶️Abbas Ibrahim Solid Midfield Performance (CM): Paços de Ferreira (Portuguese Liga Portugal Bwin).

▶️Zaidu Sanusi Decent LB Performance: FC Porto (Portuguese Liga Portugal Bwin).

Additionally, he's been impressing for the Arsenal's U18s and U21s. An attacking midfield player who has very decent goals and assists stats at U18-U21 levels.

For him to be on the senior bench at 15 in an EPL game means Arteta reckons with this lad seriously. So we watch and see how much more the lad grows.

Another Highly Interesting prospect.

TheSuperNerd:
15 y/o Anglo-Nigerian Ethan Nwaneri makes the bench for Arsenal in their EPL fixture vs Brentford.

Yep. You read it right! 15 Years old!!! Kid is An AM.

As usual for now, Frank Onyeka benched for Brentford.

Game on in 36mins.

Fweshest3:
@supernerd, who is this Evan Nwaneri on Arsenal's bench today? Got anything on him? Learnt he is just 15

Arthur Okonkwo, GK FT Stats for Crewe Alexandra yesterday.

Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Crawley Town - EFL League Two Matchday 10.

90mins+ played.
Cleansheet.
32 touches.
19/24 accurate passes.
79% passing accuracy.
8/13 accurate long balls.
2 saves.
2 saves inside box.
1 diving save.
1 punch.
1 clearance.
5 throws.
7 recoveries.

*Arthur keeps his 4th cleansheet in 9 league games.

Abbas Ibrahim FT Stats for Paços de Ferreira yesterday.

Santa Clara 1-1 Paços de Ferreira - Portuguese Liga Portugal Bwin Matchday 7.

*Solid Midfield Performance

84mins played.
49 touches.
34/35 accurate passes.
97% passing accuracy.
5 passes into final third.
100% accurate long balls (2/2).
100% dribbling success (2/2).
4/5 ground duels won.
2/3 aerial duels won.
4 recoveries.
1 clearance.
1 headed clearance.
1 interception.
Was fouled twice.

Bruno Soporuchukwu Onyemaechi FT Stats for Boavista yesterday.

Boavista 2-1 Sporting CP - Portuguese Primeira Liga Bwin (AKA Liga Portugal BWIN) Matchday 7

(Left footed defender who started the game as LWB, but finished the game as LCB)

90mins+ played.
34 touches.
11/19 accurate passes.
58% passing accuracy.
1 pass into final third.
1 shot blocked.
100% dribbling success (1/1).
100% Ground duels won (3/3).
100% aerial duels won (2/2).
9 recoveries.
3 clearances.
1 headed clearance.
2 interceptions.
2 tackles.

His 4th consecutive start for Boavista since he joined.

TheSuperNerd:
15 y/o Anglo-Nigerian Ethan Nwaneri makes the bench for Arsenal in their EPL fixture vs Brentford.

Yep. You read it right! 15 Years old!!! Kid is An AM.

As usual for now, Frank Onyeka benched for Brentford.

Game on in 36mins.

TheSuperNerd:
Additionally, he's been impressing for the Arsenal's U18s and U21s. An attacking midfield player who has very decent goals and assists stats at U18-U21 levels.

For him to be on the senior bench at 15 in an EPL game means Arteta reckons with this lad seriously. So we watch and see how much more the lad grows.

Another Highly Interesting prospect.

Goal just released a feature on Ethan Nwaneri 10mins ago.

So consider that a follow-up to my posts above.

Posting it next...

Who is Ethan Nwaneri? The 15-year-old Arsenal wonderkid on the bench for Brentford clash
By Charles Watts.



Arsenal have named 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri on the bench for Sunday's Premier League clash against Brentford.

▶️Nwaneri only made his Under-18s debut in May
▶️Teenager is an attacking midfielder
▶️17-year-old Lino Sousa is also on the bench

WHAT HAPPENED? The midfielder would become the youngest player ever to play for Arsenal should he come on, as well as the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Nwaneri is still on schoolboy terms at Arsenal, but has made rapid progress with the club in recent months.
He started the season with the u18s and impressed throughout pre-season, starring in some friendlies. One of which was against Slough Town, with Rebels boss picking him out as a potential star of the future.

“Their number 10 has got great feet, he’s only a real youngster,” Neil Baker said after the game. “He’s a real high hope for them at Arsenal. He’s got absolutely unbelievable ability."

AND WHAT'S MORE: Nwaneri, who has represented England at U16s level, has broken into the U21s in recent weeks and his performances saw him called up to first-team training by Mikel Arteta.

WHERE DOES HE PLAY? Nwaneri is an attacking midfielder who is known for his flair and his ability to run with the ball at his feet. He likes to operate in the No.10 role, but can play across all the attacking positions.

This will likely be the expression on Arteta's face if Nwaneri makes an impact at Brentford...


THE VERDICT: This is obviously a big moment for Nwaneri, but the fact Arteta has had to name him on the bench for a Premier League highlights how small Arsenal's squad still is. They have a few injuries at the moment and Martin Odegaard dropping out at the last minute hasn't helped matters, but even so - Arteta shouldn't really have to be turning to a child to him plug the gap.

It shows that there is still plenty of work to be done before this Arsenal squad can get close to competing with the best there is to offer in England.

WHAT NEXT FOR NWANERI? Should he come on against Brentford, Nwaneri (15 years, 5 months, 23 days) would surpass Cesc Fabregas (16 years 5 months 24 days) as Arsenal's youngest ever player. He would also become the Premier League's youngest player, beating Liverpool's Harvey Elliott (16 years, 30 days).

Battle of the Nigerians: Belgian Edition again

It's Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk) vs Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent) in Jupiler Pro League Matchday 9 action.

Both big lads start.

Mujaid Sadick still nurses an injury.

Game on in 20mins.

Danielnino00:


The most goals any player has ever scored in a single premier league season (20 teams format ) is 32! Just 32! .. Compared to other leagues..In laliga for instance, Messi scored 50 goals in 37 games! Even serie A that is adjudged to have the toughest defence has had 36 goals scored in a season... So no be by mouth say premier is tough! Some of the world best strikers have played in the premier league...
Make una hold una tities down... There's still plenty of time left for the season to end...

What's the difference between 36 and 32? If you can call 32 'just',then I can also call the diff between 36 and 32 'just'. It's just 4 goals bruv the gap isn't even much. And as for La Liga,it's no coincidence that Messi is the player with that record, prime Messi will replicate that numbers in EPL, even prime Ronaldo will.

BOOOMNAIJA:


The problem we have in Nigerian football is ignorance of administrators... people who know nothing about d sport running our football.

These people look up to Patrick paschal and Salisu Yusuf as d right personnel to suggest players to foreign coaches who don't know any Nigerian player they can call up in d first place.

Imagine a Salisu Yusuf being d person who suggests players to foreign coaches for invitation... now Compare this scenario to when we have someone like sunday oliseh or Seyi olofinjana or even peterside Idah being at d helm of affairs of d NFF...people like Salisu Yusuf would not even smell that position they currently enjoy.

The NFF elections has been zoned to the north so don't expect Oliseh, Olofinjana or Idah.

Danielnino00:


Prime Ronaldo also played in the premier league..How many did he manage? Forlan scored 32 in the laliga how many did he manage in the premier league?
You keep saying Salah found it easy in the EPL yet you forget the obvious fact that at Liverpool,Salah was assigned a more offensive role than at any other team he played for..After his first season, how many did he score in the subsequent ones?

Maybe Haaland will be the one to break the league all time record, but still calm down... Season never end..

Ronaldo best years was at Madrid sir ,Ronaldo wasn’t good at anywhere as he was good at Madrid

Look for better example use and not Forlan that doesn’t have game time at man united ,you for Kuku call iago Aspas to complete the joke

It still doesn’t change the fact that salah found scoring in the epl more easier than anywhere else

Mohammed salah has won 3 epl golden boots ,no be juju be that ?

Captain of CD Leganes, Kenneth Omeruo drops to the bench for the first time this 22/23 La Liga Smartbank season after starting all previous 5 league games.

Leganes takes on Burgos CF in Matchday 6 of La Liga Smartbank Action with Skipper Omeruo starting from the bench.

Game on in 23mins.

Tosin Kehinde starts his 10th league game of the 22/23 Danish Super Ligaen as his side, Randers FC takes on Silkeborg in Matchday 10.

A win for Tosin and Randers would take them to first place on the league table.

Game on in 12mins.

Remo Stars and Vandrezzar FC are easily the best professionally run clubs we have in this country... We need more of them here...Not all these wuruwuru state owned clubs...

TheSuperNerd:
Anwan was in the top 5 of the Russian 2nd tier for Tackles and interceptions while playing for Olimp-Dolgoprudnyi before his recent Jan/Feb move to FK Khimki.
He is more naturally a CDM and then a CM as well. AM is not his natural forte. I have watched him as well.


And you are right. It has been the pattern for sometime now since the emergence of the Iheanacho set of 2013. Following the success of our 2013 Eaglets on the world stage, and further reinforced by the 2015 success of the Osimhen set, the pattern became permanent.... Genuine young talents from various football academies across the country will be snapped up by European teams into their youth sides or feeder sides from where they make their climb (some rapid, some gradual) into the Senior teams of these euro clubs.

The pattern remains till this day.


But I must point out that one or two clubs are trying to get it right.


One of them is NPFL side, Remo Stars FC. Two of their lads Lekan Oyedele (LCB/LB) and Tolulope Ojo are products of Academy sides.

Lekan Oyedele especially came from Beyond Limits Football academy, which happen to be the Academy/youth team of Remo Stars FC.

He was a member of the Amazing Beyond Limits FA team that finished second in the 2022 Torneo di Viareggio Cup held in Italy.

He also won the award of best defender of the tournament and now balls for Remo Stars in the NPFL.

That's the kind of talent moulding and blooding our other NPFL clubs can tap into.

Notice the finest high yield youngsters among your academy lads or evem from academies near you including your feeder teams from the NPFL U-15 promises and more and begin blooding them in with time and a good strategy.

Remo stars is doing this already and they are now responsible for giving the Naija U20 two of the finest players we have in that squad. A LB also adept at CB (LCB) in Oyedele, MVP defender of an international youth tournament and also a lovely RW prospect in Tolulope Ojo, Wafu B finals hero.

So, my dear philosopher, we can get it right if we really want to.


All our finest talents don't need to go straight to Europe from Academies.

Some would still go through such route but others can still fall into good clubs locally before eventually finding their way to Europe.

Our NPFL clubs could tap in and also enjoy the benefit of having a hand in their development before eventually selling then to Euro clubs for huge profits akin to the Brazilian method.


It is well.

May 21....


I remember making the above comment in May, earlier this year and made keen reference to Remo Stars FC. They are a club on a mission across all facets be it on the pitch and off it. Their academy side, Beyond Limits FA is very well run and churning out some really exciting talents both for the local league and for Naija's young contingent abroad.

A few of the finest U17 talents I have reported here are also linked to Remo Stars' Beyond Limits FA academy.

Remo Stars is indeed a well run side. Not calling them perfect but they are on the right track.

P.S: I hope they can send ASFAR packing today.

Danielnino00:
Remo Stars and Vandrezzar FC are easily the best professionally run clubs we have in this country... We need more of them here...Not all these wuruwuru state owned clubs...

Cyriel Kolawole Dessers and David Okereke start for Cremonese vs SS Lazio.

Austrian-Nigerian, Emanuel Aiwu also starts.

The Nigerian Double Threat look to get Cremonese out of the relegation zone.

Okereke has 2 goals in 6 games. Dessers has 1 assist in 6 games.

Game on in 42mins.

Iwobi to school that Brazilian Usher, Paqueta.

Onyeka in

TheLoneCitizen:
Iwobi to school that Brazilian Usher, Paqueta.

Lol

TheSuperNerd:
Once I saw Gana Gueye on the touchline, I knew it was Tom Davies coming out. Onana has been a warrior all game so far. Iwobi has been "his usual" cruise control self. Just had to be Davies.

Iwobi-Onana-Gueye midfield. Hmmm... won't be surprised if this becomes Everton's starting midfield 3 after a few more games.

That didn't take long at all. Sept 3rd comes alive on Sept 18 just as I predicted.

The first choice 3 man midfield of Blue Merseyside is here.

Let's go there. ALEX THE GREAT AND his Midfield Lieutenants get set for battle.

TheSuperNerd:



May 21....


I remember making the above comment in May, earlier this year and made keen reference to Remo Stars FC. They are a club on a mission across all facets be it on the pitch and off it. Their academy side, Beyond Limits FA is very well run and churning out some really exciting talents both for the local league and for Naija's young contingent abroad.

A few of the finest U17 talents I have reported here are also linked to Remo Stars' Beyond Limits FA academy.

Remo Stars is indeed a well run side. Not calling them perfect but they are on the right track.

P.S: I hope they can send ASFAR packing today.

With an owner like Kunle Soname who has many years of experience in making money in the football world, one can't really be surprised at their progress..
Its a shame our league isn't well structured yet to allow clubs like these make profit of their investment...

They will definitely send AS FAR packing today...It's about time we get one back at these North African teams...

Ethan Nwaneri... Record Breaker.

15 yrs of age. EPL debut.

▶️Becomes the youngest player ever to play for Arsenal.

Nwaneri at 15 years, 5 months & 23 days beats Cesc Fabregas' record set at 16 years, 5 months & 24 days.

▶️Becomes also the Premier League's youngest player beating Liverpool's Harvey Elliott (16 years, 30 days).

What a huge moment for the young lad.

The EPL is the most overrated league in the world. A long-term injury is the only thing that can stop Haaland from scoring more than 30 league goals this season.

Why is it always Nigerian kids

TheSuperNerd:
Ethan Nwaneri... Record Breaker.

15 yrs of age. EPL debut.

▶️Becomes the youngest player ever to play for Arsenal.

Nwaneri at 15 years, 5 months & 23 days beats Cesc Fabregas' record set at 16 years, 5 months & 24 days.

▶️Becomes also the Premier League's youngest player beating Liverpool's Harvey Elliott (16 years, 30 days).

What a huge moment for the young lad.

You mean this kid will come into his prime in the next 12 years, mindblowing

TheSuperNerd:
Ethan Nwaneri... Record Breaker.

15 yrs of age. EPL debut.

▶️Becomes the youngest player ever to play for Arsenal.

Nwaneri at 15 years, 5 months & 23 days beats Cesc Fabregas' record set at 16 years, 5 months & 24 days.

▶️Becomes also the Premier League's youngest player beating Liverpool's Harvey Elliott (16 years, 30 days).

What a huge moment for the young lad.

He looks mixed which means if he turns out right he will never play for Nigeria unless if he is crap like Aribo and the likes....sorry , guys but I had to point it out. We are always left with the rejects

Subzero047:


You mean this kid will come into his prime in the next 12 years, mindblowing

More like 10yrs

If I start now una go say I hate foriegn born but I am actually misunderstood.

I dont get my hopes high with these players, especially the quality ones amongst them. If the are quality they England will never allow them leave, they will rather cap them and end any chances of them ever playing for Nigeria. The players themselves dont want to play for Nigeria because our country is a failure, and nobody want to associate with failure.

Our Naija Robben, Samuel Chukwueze starts his first La Liga game of 22/23 for Villarreal CF in his 6th league appearance vs Sevilla today.

He has 1 assist in 5 la liga games so far (Zero starts).

Across all competitions, in 9 games (4 starts), he boasts 2goals, 3 assists.

Game on in 1 hour.

IDENNAA:



He looks mixed which means if he turns out right he will never play for Nigeria unless if he is crap like Aribo and the likes....sorry , guys but I had to point it out. We are always left with the rejects

Do you know Calvin Bassey?

Battle of the Nigerians: Russian Edition

Olakunle Olusegun #40 (FC Krasnodar) vs Bryan Idowu (FC Khimki) in Russian Premier League Matchday 10 action.

Both lads start.

Game on in 5mins.

Kog45:
Yes very good match,really like what I saw in Inaki Williams and his bro Nico Williams who just got invitation to Spanish national team.

Especially the Nico boy, huge potential. I thought Inaki Williams switched to Ghana from for WC?

Subzero047:

You enjoyed the game abi