Anglo Nigerian Tiago Abiola Delfim Almeida Ilori had a debut to forget for Liverpool after he was substituted in the 73rd minute of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with 4th tier side Exeter City.
ILORI DISSAPOINTS ON LIVERPOOL DEBUT
WATFORD BOSS: IGHALO WON’T BE GOING TO MAN. UNITED
Coach of English Premiership club Watford,Quique Sanchez Flores has pour cold waters on speculations linking 14 goals striker Odion Ighalo with a move to Manchester United.
DANIEL: SHOOTING STARS SPOTTED ME AS A STRIKER
Enugu Rangers and Nigeria Under-23 goalkepper Emmanuel Daniel says Nigeria premier league team Shooting Stars thought he was a striker three years ago when they invited him for trials.
Daniel told Owngoalnigeria.com that he played as an outfield player for Ranchers Bees in a league game at the end of the season after they were relegated in a game against Shooting Stars in Ibadan.
“In Ibadan I played for Ranchers Bees against Shooting Stars as a striker and after the game they invited me for trials without knowing am a goalkepper” He said
“We were short of players after our relegation as most of them refused to travel for the game,I wasn’t first choice I was second to George Michael (now at El-Kanemi) so I dressed as a player.
“It was when I arrived for trials that I told them am a goalkepper and they were shocked but still they let me try out and the rest as they say is history”.
On his future following a spectacular outing at the recently concluded Africa Under-23 championship,Daniel said he is still committed to Enugu Rangers for the time been.
SADIQ UMAR HOPES TO START AGAINST AC MILAN
AS Roma 18 year old Nigeria forward Sadiq Umar is hoping he will be given a starting role when they play serine A Giants AC Milan on Saturday at the Guissepe Meazza Stadium in the Serie A.
The three match suspension on Edin Dzeko which an appeal failed to overturn gives the Nigerian who has two goals in his last two games for Roma an edge but with Mohammed Salah returning from injury he still faces competition to start.
“Am hoping the coaches will play me from start but the teams comes first and whatever role am asked to play,I hope to give my best” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.
Many would have thought the Nigerian will be hoping to make the use of Dzeko absence but he says he is in no hurry to step into the big goals boots of the Bosnia international.
Sadiq have two goals in the Serie A while the Bosnian who has more games than the Nigerian have just three goals to his name but “Jololo” like Sadiq is called says he is focused on himself.
“I hope Edin will come back 100% better than he was before he got suspended,am focused on myself and working hard to be the best and not on replacing Edin”.
HIDDINK:MIKEL IS MY IDEAL PLAYER
Coach of Chelsea Guus Hiddink says midfielder John Obi Mikel is his ideal player after the Nigerian fine performances in his team last three games.
“He played very well today but also in previous games. He is my ideal player and option to bring balance in my team” He said after Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
“I thought John (Obi) was one of the key figures in getting back the balance. He can recover easily and he has got the eyes like a radar.
He went a step further in praising the ability of the 28 year old when it comes to reading the strength of opponents and his recovery plus his passing abilities.
“He knows where the strength of the opponent is. He has very good eyes,very good nose and a very good sense to recover and he does not do it in a very brutal way.
Hiddink however lamented the Nigerian inability to play the final decisive pass while praising his defending abilities.
“He is one player who can defend smoothly and it is beautiful to see. He does not lose many balls and does short passing. Don’t expect him to get the final decisive pass”
CHINESE TEAM MAKES BID FOR EFE AMBROSE
Nigeria international defender Efe Ambrose might be heading to China in the winter transfer window following a bid from Shanghai SIPG.
The coach of the team Sven Goran Eriksson is an admirer of the qualities of the 27 year old and backed by cash from Shanghai Port Group a deal might not be impossible.
However the team who were runners-up in the Chinese Super League last season are not having a clear run for his services as three other Chinese teams are also weighing up a move for him.
Ambrose has returned to the starting line up at Celtic following injury to Dedryck Boyata but the club will still be willing to let go of the Nigerian if they succeed in their quest to sign Aleksander Pantic of Eibar.
He has 18 months left on his contract and unlike the past when they rejected bids from Olympiakos and Maccabi Tel Aviv they appear willing to sell but only at the right price.
La-Liga,MLS And Middle East Team Chasing Chrisantus
25 year old Nigeria forward Macauley Chrisantus who is almost certain to leave Greek side AEK Athens is no short of suitors.
The Korea 2007 golden boot and silver ball winner has been frozen out of the first team at the Greek side after a reported bust up with the team football director Branko Milovanovic.
However it appears his next move might see him return back to Spain where he had a three year stint with Las Palmas in the second division and might even return to Las Palmas who are now in the La-Liga.
Also in Spain Elche are reportedly weighing up a move for him before the end of the winter transfer window but an unnamed team from the MLS and a Middle East team.
The link to the MLS side was reportedly drummed up by AEK while the interest from the Middle East have been on all summer and the club will be willing to cash in on him.
He joined the team a year ago after an unhappy time at Turkish side Sivasspor and helped them gained promotion to the top division but this season he has found games and goals hard to come by with just one goal from the 8 games he has played.
KALMAR WANTS AWONIYI ON LOAN
Swedish top division team Kalmar FF are keeping close tabs on Taiwo Awoniyi who is on loan at FSV Frankfurt in Germany from Liverpool.
Awoniyi was signed in the summer and immediately sent out on loan by Liverpool but has failed to gain the necessary game time that informed him to be loaned.
Kalmar were beaten to his signature by Liverpool despite the 18 year old spending time with them as a minor the last two years.
They appear to have still have their minds on him as manager Thomas Anderson told Kalmar24 they are in touch with Liverpool and the striker over a move.
“We are in touch with both Taiwo and Liverpool and formally he is on loan to Frankfurt until the summer” He said.
Kalmar have however completed the 2015 Swedish season narrowly escaping relegation and Awoniyi who has just 28 minutes of first team football at Frankfurt might be their short term option ahead of the new season.
The Nigerian striker have risen through the ranks from the Under-17 team of Nigeria to the Under-23 after impressing with the Under-20’s.
MAN CITY MIGHT REGISTER IHEANACHO IN UCL
19 year old Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho might be included in Manchester City UEFA champions league squad following an injury to Samir Nasri.
Iheanacho was already snubbed in the club’s initial UEFA champions league squad but Nasri’s injury which will most likely keep him out until the semi-final stage has opened a gap for the Nigerian.
Teams are allowed to register new players after the close of the winter transfer window and sources close to Man City are speculating Iheanacho might be considered by the team.
Reacting to the new Iheanacho who has four goals from just 275 minutes of action this season says he is ready to help Manchester City in all competitions.
“Football is just the same,the UEFA champions League is a big tournament and I haven’t played in it before,so you just have to do your best and keep doing what you are doing” He said.
“It’s the same players I train with,so it’s not going to be easy but I really have to help my team if I’m in”.
owngoalnigeria.com
owngoalnigeria.com
