Nigeria Rio 2016 star Sadiq Umar has been praised for his role in making Italian teams believe in the talents young Nigerian players.

Well respected Italian agent Robert Smith made this known to Owngoalnigeria.com during a chat on why young Nigerian players are finally being sort after by Italian team.

” After Lazio’s experience with Sani Emmanuel and about six young Nigerians who failed to progress as expected at Inter and AC Milan. Italian teams became wary of Nigerian talents”, Robert Smith

” It’s hard to believe that before the coming of Sadiq Umar, there was only one Nigerian who progressed from the youth ranks and held his own in the first team for almost ten years, and that is Eddy Onazi at Lazio.

” However the rapid progress of Sadiq Umar at Spezia in just two months changed all of that, in just seven months he was playing and scoring for Roma in the Serie A. That changed a lot of opinion on how teams view Nigerian youngsters.

” Italian teams are no longer scared of investing in Nigerian players that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the rapid progress of Sadiq Umar.

” Now we have Orji Okonkwo at Bologna, Kingsley Michael will soon join him there, about four are doing very well at Spezia at different levels. Awua Theophilus is at Inter-Milan, I almost forgot Stanley Amuzie at Sampdoria”.

Belgian side Eupen have announced that their differences with wantaway Celtic target Henry Onyekuru has been resolved, and the striker could play against Waasland-Beveren.

The club in their statement also said that other details of his going on strike to force a move to Scottish side Celtic has been resolved internally.

Their statement could mean that the forward might yet leave the club with CSKA Moscow touted as his next destination, after his failure to secure a dream move to a club in the United Kingdom and Germany.
The transfer window in Russia is still open until the 26th of February and a move to CSKA Moscow, who were also linked with him might be accepted by the 19 year old, who has 10 goals in the first stanza of the league.

Chidozie Awaziem who was axed from FC Porto UEFA Champions League squad for the group stages has been included in the squad for the knockout stage of Europe’s elite club competition.

FC Porto will take on Juventus in March in the round of 16 , and Awaziem is eligible to play in both legs following his inclusion in their squad.

Awaziem was included in the B list of the team after spending two years with the Portuguese side, where he has struggled to get games for the first team since the start of the season.

However he has been ever present for the B team who are playing in the second division, and his progress is reportedly been monitored by coaches of the first team.

Last season Awaziem was brilliant for Porto in central defence, and earned himself a fresh four year deal with the Portuguese giants for his performances.

However new coach Nuno Espirito Santo has sidelined the 20 year old defender from his first team since taking over at the club just before the start of the new season.

Former coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Sunday Oliseh showed his inspirational side by rallying his team Fortuna Sittard from two goals down to draw 2-2 away to FC Dordrecht.

Oliseh’s team went two goals down after 32 minutes with Alvin Daniels and Joris Kramer finding the back of the net for Dordrecht, a lead which they protected uptil the half-time break.

Fortuna Sittard coach Oliseh responded to his team going two goals down in the first half by introducing Finn Stokkers who reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 54th minute, eight minutes after coming on for Sjoerd Ars.

Another inspired substitution by the coach in the 52nd minutes completed the comeback, with substitute Roald van Hoult drawing them level with 18 minutes left to play after coming on for Djibril Dianessy in the 52nd minute.

Despite the moral boost of picking a point away from home, Fortuna Sittard are still in the drop zone in 17th position with 20 points from 23 games.

On loan Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali and his MVV Maastricht teammates were left frustrated in front of their fans after visiting Achilles 29 held them to a 0-0 draw.

On loan from Arsenal to the second division Dutch side till the end of the season, he has grown into one of the influential players for the promotion chasing side.

However Nwakali was not as domineering in the middle like in previous games but the 18 year old still managed to fire three attempts at goal, although all were from freekicks.

He took three free kicks during the course of the game, and even though they were all on target, it failed to sufficiently trouble the goalkepper of Achilles 29.

The draw leaves them in 4th position on the table, and a whopping 11 point behind league leaders VVV-Venlo who are on 53 points after 23 games.

Uruguayan Primera Division giants Sud America have announced the signing of Nigerian midfielder Bruno Ibeh after a short trial.

Ibeh who was first spotted by Manchester City scouts in 2015 was announced as a player of the 8th placed team yesterday evening, bringing his stay with fellow top division side Nacional to an end.

The 21 year old Nigerian midfielder who has been likened to former France midfielder Patrick Viera joined Nacional on recommendation from scouts of Manchester City in 2015.

A meniscus injury picked up in his first months with Nacional slowed down his progress, and lead to the team sending him on loan to second division side Torque.

His move to America Sud will no doubt put him in the full view of scouts of Man City who have been keeping a close watch of his progress in view of a move to the club in the future.

Former captain of Nigeria U-17 and 20 Musa Muhammed has taken the first step towards protecting his spot in the Nigeria national team by leaving Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir.

The right full back who has three caps for the senior national team of Nigeria is among the players who have been warned by coach Gernot Rohr over their lack of playing time at their club.

20 year old Muhammed joined Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier League club FK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo on loan from high flying Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir, where he has struggled to get games.

He will spend six months with the 3rd place team in Bosnia, starting from this Saturday when he is expected to arrive at their camp in Antalya ahead of the resumption of the league on the 25th of February.

Three Bundesliga 2 games were decided today, and all games involved clubs with Nigerian players on their books.

Highly rated German born Nigerian centre back Felix Uduokhai was on from the start for 1860 Munich who were beaten 1-3 away at Arminia Bielefeld.

Uduokhai has represented Germany at various levels but the 19 year old is still eligible for Nigeria at senior level, and reports has it that he is in the future plans of Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr.

Meanwhile Erhun Obanor is still waiting for his debut with Greuther Fuerth, and wasn’t even listed in their 4-1 thrashing of Hannover who also didn’t include Fabian Senniger in their matchday squad.

However Noah joel Sarenren Bazee made his return from injury by coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute for Felix Kluas in what is his first competitive game of 2017.

Osayamen Osawe who plays for Kaiserslautern was on for 67 minute before making way for Maximillan Dittgen in their 1-0 win over Wuerzburger Kickers.

Barcelona winter signing Ezekiel Bassey has met with two top directors of Barcelona according to pictures picked up by Owngoalnigeria.com.

His meeting with the directors took place yesterday at the club office, and was swiftly followed by an interview, where the 20 year old revealed his style of play.

Although he has made a good impression on B team coach Gerard Lopez in the training sessions he has had since joining the team, his style of play wasn’t documented prior to his move.

“I’m here because Barcelona is a great club. Everyone is dreaming of playing for Barca”, the on loan Bassey said.

” My playing style? I like to dribble, find myself one on one against a defender and assist my teammates”.