The kind of hype Zaragoza fans are giving Igbekeme is ridiculous. After one game, they are already comparing him to Kante and Naby Keita. I will try to watch their next game.

The Fear of being ignored by the Manager... Lol.. not that his move to trabzonspor guarantees anything shaa but at least, it puts him in the fringe plans kinda... My take: Beautiful to see players thinking deeply about their international future/ambitions when making career decisions


Anthony Nwakaeme: Nigerian rejects China over Nigeria future By Oluwashina Okeleji

Nigeria's Anthony Nwakaeme missed out on a call up to the Super Eagles squad for World Cup

Nigeria's Anthony Nwakaeme has rejected big money offers from China in order to stay in contention to play for the Super Eagles again.

Instead he has moved to Turkish club Trabzonspor on a three-year deal from Israeli champions Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

"Everything is not about money, there is also the possibility of staying in contention for a place with Nigeria," the 29-year-old told BBC Sport.

"I am a very competitive person and I love to challenge myself."

He joins compatriot Ogenyi Onazi at the six-time Turkish champions.

"Trabzonspor has big ambitions and as a professional footballer this is what I need," he added.

"I saw the opening game of the season, I love the amazing atmosphere, fans and stadium here."

Nwakaeme, who began his European career in Romania, had a successful three-year spell at Hapoel Be'er Sheva winning three successive league titles as well as lifting the Israeli Cup twice.

He scored 43 goals and created 24 assists in 120 appearances for the club after joining from rivals Hapoel Raanana in June 2015.

His form in Israel caught the attention of Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr and earned a call-up to the Super Eagles squad for their 2018 World Cup qualifiers in August 2017.

Nwakaeme was an unused substitute in three games before making his debut against Algeria in November.

Unlike his compatriot and teammate in Israel John Ogu, he was omitted from the final squad to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.


Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45257114

Seedorf got rid of the China contingent including the captain

Lol... They possibly have been so starved for a while of a young quality talent with potential to become more, hence the crazy hypes.

But the lad is good shaa. He can attack and defend and has lots of running in him.. but the comparison is coming waaaaayyy too early. Lad is still a rough.

tbaba1234:
The kind of hype Zaragoza fans are giving Igbekeme is ridiculous. After one game, they are already comparing him to Kante and Naby Keita. I will try to watch their next game.

That China contingent also includes their best player at Afcon 2017, Bassogog. Such daring move by Seedorf. But I like his list. Toko Ekambi (Villareal's new buy), Aboubakar, Moting provide sharp options in attack for them. Some debutants from Ligue 1 too. Time will tell how this seedorf-Kluivert Cameroon adventure pans out.

tbaba1234:
Seedorf got rid of the China contingent including the captain

Samuel Chukwueze with another Golazo at the weekend for Villareal B.

http://twitter.com/VictorFranch/status/1031453747241775104?s=19

TheSuperNerd:
That China contingent also includes their best player at Afcon 2017, Bassogog. Such daring move by Seedorf. But I like his list. Toko Ekambi (Villareal's new buy), Aboubakar, Moting provide sharp options in attack for them. Some debutants from Ligue 1 too. Time will tell how this seedorf-Kluivert Cameroon adventure pans out.

Apart from Mikel, I think we should get rid of those in obscure leagues. That includes Musa and Ighalo.

tbaba1234:
Samuel Chukwueze with another Golazo at the weekend for Villareal B.

http://twitter.com/VictorFranch/status/1031453747241775104?s=19

Next big thing, dude is developing well

tbaba1234:
The kind of hype Zaragoza fans are giving Igbekeme is ridiculous. After one game, they are already comparing him to Kante and Naby Keita. I will try to watch their next game.

But the guy looks promising

tbaba1234:
Samuel Chukwueze with another Golazo at the weekend for Villareal B.

http://twitter.com/VictorFranch/status/1031453747241775104?s=19

This boy and golazos sef... Lol.. that left foot of his is still maturing. Our future dey sweet me...

ChrisKels:
Talent no dey hide. Nigeria's best front man


UEFA Names Onyekuru Among Key Champions League Stars To Look Out For This Season


 0 August 21, 2018 12:06 pm
By Adeboye Amosu:

UEFA has listed Nigerian forward, Henry Onyekuru among the star players that will make huge impact in the Champions League this season, Completesportsnigeria. com reports.
Onyekuru is on loan at Turkish champions Galatasaray
from English Premier League side, Everton.

The highly rated striker has settled down well at his new club and opened his goal account in the Fathi Terim’s team’s 1-0 win against Goztepe in the Turkish Super League last Sunday.

“One to watch this season? �Henry Onyekuru �❤️#UCL,” reads a tweet on UEFA Champions League official Twitter handle.

This is the first time Onyekuru will be featuring in the UEFA Champions League.
He only linked up with Everton from Belgian club, KAS Eupen last season but was immediately loaned out to Anderlecht.

He picked up a knee injury while in action for Anderlecht against his former club, Eupen in December and didn’t made an appearance again.

The injury also put an end to his chances of fighting for a place in Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Onyekuru played in more than two champions league game last year, this wont be his first. Dude is gonna be the bomb for him

Osihmen should be the final lesson for our young stars after crisantus, dont go to germany if u want to develop.

I buy the idea too but you and I know that both players will be invited for our next games in September unless Rohr does a shocking Seedorf.

tbaba1234:


Apart from Mikel, I think we should get rid of those in obscure leagues. That includes Musa and Ighalo.

And to think that Chrisantus also sounded out about his move saying it won't be easy for him in Germany now make his words uttered over a year ago vindicated.

sontoly:
Osihmen should be the final lesson for our young stars after crisantus, dont go to germany if u want to develop.

TheSuperNerd:
And to think that Chrisantus also sounded out about his move saying it won't be easy for him in Germany now make his words uttered over a year ago vindicated.

Honestly I had so much hope on crisantus than osihmen, but both are so similar, tall and good goal scorers, how they didnt breakthrough amazes me.

Yeah, Chrisantus' career just nosedived from Germany. But Osimhen is still young shaa. He may yet make the move that puts him on the path to relevance. Such a talented prospect he is. I hope he resurrects from this.

sontoly:


Honestly I had so much hope on crisantus than osihmen, but both are so similar, tall and good goal scorers, how they didnt breakthrough amazes me.

Ebere Eze (QPR), Semi Ajayi (Rotherham Utd) and Fikayo Tomori (Derby County) are all in action currently in the English Championship.

Joel Asoro is on the Swansea bench.


Meanwhile in the UCL final qualifying round (the Playoffs), Chuba Akpom starts from the bench for PAOK Salonika as they take on Ebuehi's SL Benfica. As you all know, Ebuehi is still out with a long term injury.

sontoly:


Next big thing, dude is developing well

He has a big heart...

I hope he adds scoring from free kick with that left feet of his ....

Two great left footers in Spain Igbekeme and him

sontoly:
Osihmen should be the final lesson for our young stars after crisantus, dont go to germany if u want to develop.

Chrisantus mentioned Osihmens in one of his comments sometime last year or 2 ago. He said that he had issues in his development cos they kept changing coaches in his club. He adviced osihmen to leave Germany then. I pray what happened to Chrisantus doesn't happen to him.

Pinnick's words in the aftermath of Nigeria's FIFA Ban Escape...


“The position of His Excellency, and that of the Federal Government, which was conveyed to FIFA by His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (GCON) has convinced FIFA that Nigeria is indeed ready as ever to follow FIFA’s Statutes. I want to also use this opportunity to thank the Vice President, who as Acting President, played a very key role in the resolution of the matter,

“Our appreciation also goes to the Members of the Federal Executive Council, Members of the National Assembly, Heads of the various Security Agencies, Members of the NFF Congress, all our sponsors/partners, football stakeholders, analysts and ball fans who stood solidly by the tenets of association football.” ‎

Pinnick, also the 1st Vice President of CAF and Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, disclosed that the immediate focus of the Federation is on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, starting with an away game against Seychelles on 7th September, and with home-and-away matches against Libya in October and another away fixture against South Africa in November.

“We will approach the matches one game at a time. Our objective is not only to qualify for the finals, but for the Super Eagles to also make a meaningful impact at the finals in Camerooon in the summer of next year,” Pinnick, who is also President of the AFCON Organizing Committee added.

He affirmed also that focus is on the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Ghana in November and for which the Super Falcons, reigning champions, have qualified, as well as the 2019 U20 and U17 Africa Cup of Nations championships billed for Niger Republic and Tanzania respectively.

While commending Enyimba FC of Aba and its chairman, NFF Executive Committee Member Felix Anyansi-Agwu for their brilliant outing in Bamako at the weekend that has paved the way for qualification for the quarter finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, Pinnick charged the team not to relent but instead go all out to defeat Club Athletique Renaissance Aiglons of Congo in Aba next week to assure of progress.

The former Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission used the opportunity to reiterate the long –term vision of the Federation, hinged on youth football development and financial autonomy.

“Our vision, as we have espoused from Day One, is to build a sustainable football culture for our dear nation. To do that, youth development is key. That is what we are trying to do with the U15 squad which recently reached the final of the African Youth Games in Algeria, and which will form the bulk of the next U17 National Team,”he stated.


“In the area of corporate support, we want to thank all our sponsors and partners for their love and patience during the crisis. AITEO Group, Coca Cola, Zenith Bank, Nigerian Breweries PLC, TGI Group, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, NIKE, WAPIC Insurance, Cadbury Nigeria PLC and 1XBET have done remarkably well.

“They have ensured that from about the 20% that our administration met, the NFF is now about 60% self –financing. Our objective is to work very hard to attain 100% self –financing for the Federation within the next two years, in order that football can free some money for critical areas like education, health and infrastructural renewal, upgrading and development.”


Pinnick added that the resolutions of the NFF Congress at the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly of 2nd August in Benin City still stand.

“The door remains open for those aggrieved members of the Football Family who are ready to abide by extant Football rules and regulations, as they can still pick up forms for the elections coming up on 20th September in Katsina.

“We have learnt so much during this crisis. We are more determined to run an inclusive administration where everyone can have a sense of belonging, as we work tenaciously and diligently towards taking Nigerian Football to new heights of excellence.”

While revealing that the NFF Board has met with the Reconciliation Committee set up by the Sports Ministry and outlined the steps to be taken to conclusively resolve ongoing issues in Nigerian Football, Pinnick also added that the Board has presented to the Presidency a roadmap for general reform of the country’s football system. “We have presented to the Presidency immediate, short-term and long-term plans for resolving issues in our football, to ensure that the industry not only delivers on its mandate of promoting the game in Nigeria as a key economic factor, but also avoids governance troubles and wranglings in the future.

“On behalf of the NFF Executive Committee, I apologize to all those individuals, interests and groups that we might have offended, one way or the other through our actions and inactions, over the years. Nigerian Football, and not any individual or group, is the winner.”


Courtesy: CSN.

sontoly:
Osihmen should be the final lesson for our young stars after crisantus, dont go to germany if u want to develop.

So what will you say to Ademola Lookman

sontoly:


Honestly I had so much hope on crisantus than osihmen, but both are so similar, tall and good goal scorers, how they didnt breakthrough amazes me.

Good is a very relative term.

We have very good strikers in the NPFL however good in the context of the Nigerian league.

Take them out of that league and good becomes average.

We use youth football to make senior professional players assessment. There is a big step from youth football to the senior game. A lot of players just don't make the transition.

However, players coming out of Nigeria at 18+ have a lot if learning to do. Some keep playing youth football in thier early 20's or late teens because they can not transition to the senior game. That's not progress your going backwards.

This is not unique to Nigerian players.

John Cofie was bought by Manchester United from Burnley as a teenager about 16 for £1 million. He has been at more than 10 clubs he is now playing non league. There are many examples.

Osimhen has a very long way too go.

You get few chances in football you better make use of them or be forgotten.

andrew444:
Egypt Big Spenders Pyramids FC Pushing To Sign Osimhen From Wolfsburg

I know you will say bad belle.

But why would a high flying club buy a player who has done nothing. It doesn't make any sense.

Consider all the proven strikers across the globe they can or should buy. And after a global search they bought a youth player who is not even outstanding at youth level.

TheSuperNerd:
The person playing the role of agent to Victor Osimhen is really doing that boy's career no good at all. Can you imagine this nonsense?! Such a beautiful talented player having his value going down by the minute.
First it was Zulte Waregem rejecting Osimhen because of his Injury record. Now it is Club Brugge saying no to a deal for him because they could not reach an agreement with Wolfsburg on who foots the loan bills and other variables. And at Wolfsberg, his chances will be soooooooo limited. Wolfsburg acquired a Big Target Man in Wout Weghorst, a giant of a striker from AZ I think?

I hope Osimhen does not go to waste. Too much talent is in that kid waiting to explode. I hope his career heads in the right direction soonest because right now, his reputation is on a low as he has not been given enough chances to show his stuff.
I still believe in the lad but I am afraid even my belief in his talents won't do him any good if he doesn't make the right move and soon enough too.


See what another observer said about Osimhen's situation...

From @biolakazeem:

"Victor Osimhen must have the worst agents in the history of football. To have such a young player on the books on Wolfsburg so devalued just by failing to control the narrative is tragic. That boy's reputation is in tatters. All a footballer sells is reputation. Nothing else."




Note: Josip Brekalo (remember him?) Is in the Wolfsburg team now. He is making good progress.

Brekalo starred against us at Chile 2015 U-17 WC and scored against us in that third group game in which we lost 2-1. Brekalo and Moro were the heroes that day for their displays. Osimhen also scored that day. Now, Brekalo is doing his thing at Wolfsburg while Osimhen still struggles for relevance no thanks to his previous injuries and low quality gametime.

I dont know the kind of hungry agents that we hand our players over to.

I hope that move to Wolfsburg does not end up being the step that destroys this boy's career. If Osimhen had gone to Arsenal then i am sure he would have gotten better development and exposure by now.

Egyptian Club Pyramid FC are now also interested in him. No be case of from "Grace to Grass" be this?

The NFF really has to play its part in ensuring our budding talents do not fall into the wrong agents' hands.
We need to guard jealously the development of our special talents else they will just go the same way as their predecessors.

I saw Rabiu Ibrahim score an Okocha-like goal in that U20 Clip against Germany. And I was like "what really went wrong with Rabiu Ibrahim's development?"

The NFF really needs to develop a strategy fast on how best to secure quality development of some of these our young players. Else na the same old story we go dey get o.

sontoly:
Osihmen should be the final lesson for our young stars after crisantus, dont go to germany if u want to develop.

I dont think going to Germany is the problem. Going to Wolfsburg especially when you had an opportunity to go to Arsenal was the problem.

komekn:


I know you will say bad belle.

But why would a high flying club buy a player who has done nothing. It doesn't make any sense.

Consider all the proven strikers across the globe they can or should buy. And after a global search they bought a youth player who is not even outstanding at youth level.

Lol komekn don start,you know I speak the truth despite I hardly agree with you and forgiveness

You call them a high flying club ? You see say you be bad belle,this is an African club trying to tempt a player who plays for Germany

O common sir komekn don't start ooo

nff has nothing to do with the decline of some of our ex youth players who we had much hope on. the nff gave them the platform to showcase their talents by drafting them in the nations cadet teams and many seized the opportunity while many fumbled in the process.this issue is not peculiar to nigerian football alone but world wide

Icon4s:



I dont know the kind of hungry agents that we hand our players over to.

I hope that move to Wolfsburg does not end up being the step that destroys this boy's career. If Osimhen had gone to Arsenal then i am sure he would have gotten better development and exposure by now.

Egyptian Club Pyramid FC are now also interested in him. No be case of from "Grace to Grass" be this?

The NFF really has to play its part in ensuring our budding talents do not fall into the wrong agents' hands.
We need to guard jealously the development of our special talents else they will just go the same way as their predecessors.

I saw Rabiu Ibrahim score an Okocha-like goal in that U20 Clip against Germany. And I was like "what really went wrong with Rabiu Ibrahim's development?"

The NFF really needs to develop a strategy fast on how best to secure quality development of some of these our young players. Else na the same old story we go dey get o.

Bar Okocha and Akpoborire,German football has not really favoured HOME GROWN NIGERIAN PLAYERS...Its very difficult for them...Ojigwe,Agali really tried but....

komekn:


Good is a very relative term.

We have very good strikers in the NPFL however good in the context of the Nigerian league.

Take them out of that league and good becomes average.

We use youth football to make senior professional players assessment. There is a big step from youth football to the senior game. A lot of players just don't make the transition.

However, players coming out of Nigeria at 18+ have a lot if learning to do. Some keep playing youth football in thier early 20's or late teens because they can not transition to the senior game. That's not progress your going backwards.

This is not unique to Nigerian players.

John Cofie was bought by Manchester United from Burnley as a teenager about 16 for £1 million. He has been at more than 10 clubs he is now playing non league. There are many examples.

Osimhen has a very long way too go.

You get few chances in football you better make use of them or be forgotten.

don't forget kwame Thomas, dude is now playing for a village team in Birmingham

charlesemeka85:
nff has nothing to do with the decline of some of our ex youth players who we had much hope on. the nff gave them the platform to showcase their talents by drafting them in the nations cadet teams and many seized the opportunity while many fumbled in the process.this issue is not peculiar to nigerian football alone but world wide

I know about this trend. In fact, I hammered on it a couple of years back here. And it was highly debated upon.


But you and I know some countries are achieving a better transition of players than others. I believe the NFF still has a role to play in the development of these players. There needs to be a kind of a level playing field between the NFF and these agents. But our big problem of corruption and greed will wear its ugly head. Mtcheeeew.

ojigwe was very good in the colors of leverkusen.oliseh also did pretty well for dortmund and bochum

gamaliel9:
Bar Okocha and Akpoborire,German football has not really favoured HOME GROWN NIGERIAN PLAYERS...Its very difficult for them...Ojigwe,Agali really tried but....

Icon4s:


I dont think going to Germany is the problem. Going to Wolfsburg especially when you had an opportunity to go to Arsenal was the problem.

What must be, must be. There aint no guarantee he would av been better off in Arsenal. Joining Arsenal would have denied him that benefit of being within the corridor of first team football at this very young age of his, KC Nwakali is a case study.

It's just