Taiwo Awoniyi says he would have earned more money if he took up the option of remaining in England as opposed to his move to German side Union Berlin.

Awoniyi made a permanent move to the German side where he spent last season on loan. A move which came as a shock to many because after five years he was finally granted a work permit.

Many expected him to push for a spot in the Liverpool side or better still accept the option of going on loan to another English side but the 23 year old revealed he insisted on a move to Union Berlin.

According to Awoniyi he want to go to a team where he is sure to play and also develop further instead of staying in England where he would have made more money.

“It was an easy decision, but also a difficult one”, Awoniyi told the Berliner Morgenpost.

German giants Bayern Munich will make a decision on signing of Nigeria U17 midfielder Daniel Francis who is also called “Dada” by close friends and associates.

He has been impressive for the Bayern Munich world squad and most recently wore the captain’s armband as they secure a 6-2 win over Ismaning.

In that game he scored and also provided two assists as part of special training tour organized by the German side with players picked from the 2019 Bayern Munich World Youth Cup in Germany.

The squad started training since the 26th of July and have played series of test games, the last of which will be played on Friday against the U19 of the German champions.

Dada like every other player who is a part of the Bayern Munich world squad will know their fate after the game with the potential of some of them signing temporary deals. Some could however end up elsewhere as they were watched by clubs of other teams.

Enyimba FC of Aba is presently holding transfer talks with Tunisian giants Esperance who are interested in signing Anayo Iwuala.

The Aba giants place a hefty €1 million price tag on the 22 year old winger who has four senior international caps to his name. The price tag according to Enyimba is what is contained in his contract.

A host of teams from Belgium, France, Denmark and Sweden made checks on the possibility of signing Anayo but didn’t in anyway come close to matching Enyimba’s valuation.

Unconfirmed reports has it that Enyimba have agreed to drop the asking price to as a low as $350,000 and talks with the Tunisian giant is progressing nicely as the winger is also pushing for the move.

Although Enyimba fancy selling him to a club in Europe but with no concrete offer coming for him, they will let him leave for Esperance on a deal that includes a sell on clause.

Rangers of Scotland defender Leon Balogun has explained the reason why he is seen as a troublemaker in the camp of the Super Eagles.

Balogun caused a stir last week when he went in hard on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over non payment of bonuses of the senior national team of Nigeria.

It forced the NFF to release a statement where they explained the reason why they are owing the team and promise to pay up as soon as their financial situation normalizes.

During the course of same interview where Balogun spoke about the issue of unpaid bonuses he also said it’s for the simple fact that he speaks out a lot that many see him as a trouble maker in the team.

“If I feel like something is wrong, I might at one point talk just about it and then they will always like okay this boy is a troublemaker but I’m not a troublemaker because at the end of the day I stand in for my teammates”, he explained.

“I do that with pleasure and if I have to take the fall, I probably did in the past and it’s always also motivated by personal issues not issues but things I feel like I don’t have to deal with this now and any of us should. So there is lot of work to do.

Argentina global football icon Lionel Messi has picked the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the difficult teams he has faced at international level.

The 34 year old has played against Nigeria in three World Cups namely in 2010, 2014 and 2018 with three goals from those meetings including a brace in the 2014 game.

He also faced Nigeria at U20 level when his brace from the spot in the final helped Argentina to triumph over Nigeria and at the Olympics in Beijing he assisted the winner scored by Angel Di Maria to hand his team the gold.

Speaking on the back drop of his recent Copa America feat with Argentina, Messi was asked about the teams he has faced from all continents and what he made of them. In Africa he picked Nigeria.

“ Nigeria because it’s always intense. They are a physical, skillful and unpredictable side. Never easy to get past them even though we have the edge over them in recent games”, he said.

Captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa has made an instant impression on his new teammate at ambitious Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk.

Musa joined the Turkish side on a free transfer from Nigeria Professional Football League side Kano Pillars last month as he bid to relaunch himself in Europe.

He left Europe in 2018 for Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr but after two not too happy years, he terminated his contract with the Al Nassr in order to return to Europe and he got his wish with his move to Fatih Karagumruk.

Already former Liverpool star Fabio Borini has been blown away by the Nigerian as he has shown an unusual sharpness and pace which has taken the entire team by shock.

“ We know he is a good player but his level is remarkably very high. His pace is extraordinary. He will be a weapon for us when the league resumes”, Borini said.

Former Nigeria U17 forward Femi Olatubosun Joseph has emerged as champions with unfancied Angolan side Sagrada Esperanca following their 1-0 win over Petro de Luanda yesterday.

The 30 year old who was a part of the Yemi Tella U17 team of 2007 but failed to make final cut for the tournament was pivotal in helping the team to what was their second league title in 16 years.

Despite suffering a global record loss of 2 million carats of diamonds in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Endiama the prime sponsor of the team gifted each player a bonus of $62,000.

Femi has been in Angola the past few years and he now carries an Angolan passport but the league title is his first in the country he now calls home.

Fluent in Portuguese, the left footed dazzler says he hope to force his way into the national team of Angola in the nearest future as he has given up all hope of playing for Nigeria.

“ My dream is to represent Angola. I have been here for a very long time and it’s best for me because I don’t think I stand a chance with Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Frank Onyeka is slowly making himself a fan favourite at newly promoted English Premier League side Brentford with another strong showing in his second pre season game for the team.

Signed from Midtjylland this summer. His start to life at the new club have seen him play in their last two pre season games and in both games he gave a hint of why he is so highly rated in Denmark.

Onyeka introduced himself to the club faithfuls with an above average showing in their 2-2 draw against Manchester United in what was his first pre season game for the team.

Yesterday despite his team losing 0-1, the 23 year old Nigerian put up a performance that drew praises from fans of the team with his passing range, tackles success and his work rate.

“ He (Onyeka) is way better than we thought. Man can pass, tackle, intercept and also initiate attack. He covers everywhere. Super Frank”, one fan commented on Twitter.

Frank Onyeka has covered every blade of grass on his Brentford home debut, looks like he'll be a brilliant signing. Interceptions, tackles, passing range all superb.

— Daniel Blackham (@DanBlackham_) July 31, 2021

Really like Frank Onyeka for @BrentfordFC so far. Looked a cut above an outclassed Midtjylland in last season’s @ChampionsLeague. He’ll do great in @premierleague. #BREWHU

— Dan O'Hagan (@danohagan) July 31, 2021

@BrentfordFC frank onyeka. What a absolute beast of a man

— Jdt1709 (@jamiet1709) July 31, 2021

https://twitter.com/bambaball/status/1421482675374854150?s=21

Leicester City new signing Patson Daka has joined the bandwagon of faithfuls who call Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho by his new moniker “Seniorman Kelz”.

Daka had a storming performance in Leicester City’s 3-3 draw against QPR in a pre season friendly set up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for the Foxes first goal with scores at 0-2.

He drew Leicester level with a goal of his own few minutes later before QPR restored their lead again. With scores at 2-3 Daka was once again forced to use his pace to good effect and it resulted in him winning a penalty.

Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up and buries the resultant spot kick to bring scores to 3-3 and after the game he thumbed up the Zambian with a post on Twitter which drew a “Seniorman Kelz” response from the Zambian.

“Naija 🇳🇬 Zambia 🇿🇲 @PatsonDaka2020 Pattoo”, he posted on Twitter, “ Seniorman Kelz” was the reply from the year old who will lead the attack alongside the Nigerian in some games next season.