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ROAD TO RUSSIA: 10 Players Who Could Miss Super Eagles World Cup Party

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1. AHMED MUSA

Both with the Super Eagles and at club level with Leicester City, Ahmed Musa has lost his place in the first team squad and it will take more than his experience with the Super Eagles and his blistering pace on the flanks to earn him a seat on the flight to Russia with Gernot Rohr’s squad.

Musa has found game time hard to come by at club level and Leicester City’s new manager Claude Puel has even said he does not know what the former CSKA Moscow winger still has a future at the King Power Stadium. The January transfer window will offer Musa a route to seek first team action elsewhere to compete for a place in the Super Eagles star-studded attack for the World Cup.

2. BROWN IDEYE

Since providing that assist for Kelechi Iheanacho to score his first goal in the World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola, Brown Ideye has been on the fringes and is now on the verge of missing out on the World Cup party in Russia.

The Tianjin TEDA striker was sensationally dropped from the preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup but earned a recall to the team two years later, featuring in three games (against Mali, Luxembourg and Zambia).

Ideye scored four goals in 14 games in the Chinese Super League but his fallout with former coach Lee Lim-Saeng saw him demoted to the reserves where he barely featured. A move back to Europe coupled with some brilliant performances could convince the handlers, who are still in search of a back-up striker for Odion Ighalo, that he (Ideye) deserves a place at least in the preliminary squad.

3. DANIEL AKPEYI

He is considered to be the second choice goalkeeper after Carl Ikeme but Daniel Akpeyi has failed to impress with his performances and also failed to take his chance when called up to man the sticks for the Super Eagles.

The Chippa United goalkeeper may battle with Dele Alampasu and possibly Dele Aiyenugba if invited for the final goalkeeper slot.
Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa look certain to make the list.

4. UCHE AGBO

The Standard Liege defender has not featured for the Super Eagles since he has been called up to the squad a year ago. That underlines how he is regarded.

Despite featuring regularly in the Belgian Jupiler League, breaking into the first team squad of the national remains a tough task for Agbo and that could ruin his chances ahead of the World Cup.

5. KENNETH OMERUO

The Kasimpasa defender lost his place in the heart of the Super Eagles defence and had not been considered until he was called in as a replacement for the injured Ogenyi Onazi for the last two games.

Omeruo’s performance against Argentina in a 3-5-2 formation was solid. With coach Gernot Rohr already satisfied with the trio of William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Chidozie Awaziem the battle for the final place for a centre half will be between Agbo and the 2013 African Cup of Nations winner, Omeruo.

6. HENRY ONYEKURU

Despite his rich vein of scoring form for Anderlecht, Henry Onyekuru may be left out of the Super Eagles final squad for the World Cup in Russia.

This is because of the quality of players he is up against in his position.

The 20-year-old will compete with the likes of Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo, Anthony Nwakaeme and Kayode Olanrewaju for spots in the attack. And with Onyekuru not getting enough playing time to showcase his talent with the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr may not take a gamble on him.

7. KAYODE OLANREWAJU

Since he signed up for Manchester City and was shipped out on loaned to Girona in Spain, Kayode Olanrewaju has failed to hit the ground running in terms of goals in LaLiga.

Olanrewaju has only seen 12 minutes of international action since he made his debut for the Super Eagles in their 2-0 loss to South Africa in a 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier.

Odion Ighalo is the Eagles first choice striker for the World Cup barring injuries so Olanrewaju still has the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Anthony Nwakaeme to contend with.

8. MIKEL AGU

Mikel Agu has made four substitute appearances for the Super Eagles since he made his debut in June against South Africa and has not been convincing in those games. With John Ogu’s performance in the two games against Algeria and Argentina, in that same role, the Bursaspor defensive midfielder’s place in the World Cup squad is under threat.

9. OGHENEKARO ETEBO

Since he shone in Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Algeria in Uyo, Oghenekaro Etebo has struggled to replicate the form that saw him make the headlines.

Etebo possesses a great bursr of pace that can power any midfield but will that be enough to displace his captain, Mikel Obi? No. He got his chance to play himself back into reckoning against Algeria but Etebo looked lost playing in the advanced midfield role.

10. ISAAC SUCCESS

If fit Isaac Success is one forward who would give Odion Ighalo a good fight in the striking role. But the Watford star who has been ruled out until he new year is not likely to make the Super Eagles preliminary squad.

Sourced From: Complete Sports Nigeria

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Jupiler League: Onuachu Makes History As Genk Beat Royal Antwerp

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The 26-year-old becomes only the second player to score 30 league goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season and the first Nigerian to reach that mark after he scored in Genk’s 3-2 win at Antwerp

Paul Onuachu continues to break new grounds in what has been a remarkable season after he scored his 30th league goal to help Genk to a 3-2 win over Royal Antwerp in the opening game of the Jupiler League Championship playoff round.

After coronavirus ended the Belgian top-flight abruptly last season, the championship round resumed again this season, with Antwerp playing host to Genk.

Theo Bongonda put Genk ahead in the 20th minute following a ball from Junya Ito, but goals from Maxime Le Marchand and Koji Miyoshi in the space of four minutes turned the tie around for Antwerp.

However, Onuachu restored parity for The Smurfs in the 71st minute for his 30th league goal of the season. By reaching this milestone, the former Midtjylland striker becomes the first Nigerian to reach 30 league goals in a single season in Europe.

Also, he is just the second player after Robert Lewandowski to score 30 or more goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season.

But the Nigerian international is still 11 short of the record for most goals in a single Belgian top-flight season, set by Arthur Ceuleers and Jules Van Craen in the 1942-1943 season.

Nonetheless, Onuachu is well on course to become the third Nigerian player to finish as the top scorer in the Belgian top-flight after Tosin Dosunmu and Joseph Akpala.

Meanwhile, Bongonda, who provided the assist for Onuachu’s goal, combined once again with Ito to fire home the winner for Genk two minutes from time.

Sourced From: Soccernet.ng

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UWCL: Oshoala Scores Again As Barcelona Move Into The Semifinal Despite Losing To Man City

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The Super Falcons star was the hero in the first leg, and was again brilliant in the return leg, even though La Blaugranes lost

Asisat Oshoala was once again on target, but Barcelona lost 2-1 in the return leg of their Uefa Women’s Champions League quarterfinal clash.

However, Barcelona still progressed to the semifinals 4-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-0 in Rome.

Oshoala was the hero in the first leg, scoring once and winning a penalty. The Nigerian international picked up from where she left off as she scored Barcelona’s equaliser in the 59th minute after Janine Beckie had given City the lead.

The former Liverpool star finished off a cut back from Mariona Caldentey to draw Lluis Cortes ladies level. The 26-year-old now has 13 goals for Barcelona this season,  including four in the champions league.

Although Samantha Mewis restored City’s lead from the penalty spot, it was the Spanish champions that progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

Barcelona will now face either Lyon or Paris in the semifinals next month.

Sourced From: Soccernet.ng

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Super Eagles Forward Udoh Inspires Akwa United To Victory In Uyo

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The former Enyimba striker got the crucial opener in the first half for the Promise Keepers in their NPFL clash with southern rivals Rivers United

Akwa United secured a commanding 3-0 victory over high-flying Rivers United thanks to goals from Nigerian international Mfon Udoh, Charles Atshimene, and Morice Chukwu.

The visitors, still smarting from their CAF Confederations Cup aggregate loss to Enyimba last week, were the more enterprising team in the opening stages of the encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

But the tide changed in favour of the home side when 2014 Nigeria Premier League top scorer Udoh found the back of the net five minutes before the break.

And Kennedy Boboye’s men bagged all the three points at stake with second-half goals from Atshimene and Chukwu.

Afonja Warriors Back At The Top

It was a comfortable afternoon for Kwara United as the Afonja Warriors defeated Warri Wolves 2-0 to return to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League table.

With league leaders Kano Pillars losing 3-2 in a thrilling clash at Dakkada earlier in the day, Kwara United knew any manner of win would be enough to take them back to the prime position.

And a brilliant victory they carved out thanks to a goal in each half from Jude Steven and Michael Ohanu.

NPFL Results

Dakkada 3 – 2 Kano Pillars

Akwa United 3 – 0 Rivers United

Jigawa Golden Stars 0 – 0 Enyimba

Ifeanyi Uba 0 – 0 Plateau United

Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Katsina United

Sunshine Stars 0 – 0 Adamawa United

Enugu Rangers 2 – 0 Heartland

Kwara United 2 – 0 Warri Wolves

Sourced From: Soccernet.ng

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Dennis Delight On Bundesliga Debut; Oshoala Too Hot To Handle In Spain

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The on-loan Club Brugge striker got his Germany adventure to a bright start as he led his new club to a convincing home victory on Sunday

Super Eagles attacker Emmanuel Dennis began a new chapter in his career on a promising note as he helped Cologne to a delightful 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld in a game-week 19 Bundesliga clash at the RheinEnergie Stadion.

Cologne boss Markus Gisdol handed the Nigerian forward his first start, just days after moving in from Belgium, and the tactician was rewarded with a fine attacking display that has become a rare sight in the Billy Goats’ games this term.

A Marius Wolfe double in the opening half-hour and an Elvis Rexhbecaj effort shortly after the hour mark was all Cologne needed to secure all the three points at stake.

It was the first time the Billy Goats would score three times in the Bundesliga this term.

Dennis was replaced in the 82nd minute by Jan Thielmann, ten minutes after Cordova got the visitors’ consolation goal.

The 23-year-old will hope his performances in the coming days impress his German bosses before the expiration of his loan spell later in June.

In Spain, Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala was back to her deadly best as she found her target twice to inspire Barcelona to an exciting 4-1 home victory over ten-woman Real Madrid.

The visitors had goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez sent off in the 72nd minute, by which time Oshoala and co. had done all the damage inside the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Oshoala ensured Barcelona went into the break with a three-goal lead, profiting off a Christine Hansen pass in the 37th minute after Alexia Putella and Jenni Hermoso had scored for the hosts.

The reigning African Women Player of the Year then added a fourth goal – her 13th strike of another prolific league campaign – in the 70th minute.

Rodriguez then received her marching orders shortly after before Olga Carmona struck from the penalty spot to give Real Madrid something to cheer about on a sad day.

Oshoala is now two goals short of catching up with the league top scorer, Levante’s Esther Gonzalez.

Sourced From: Soccernet.ng

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