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Nigerian Football

BREAKING! MIKEL OBI RETURNS TO ENGLAND, SIGNS FOR STOKE CITY

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

 

Mikel Obi whose 15th anniversary of international appearance for Super Eagles falls on this date has signed for English Championship side, Stoke City.

International news agencies have it that the former Chelsea midfielder has arrived in Stoke for a medical as he nears return to English football after leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free exit.

Mikel Obi stands at the entrance of Stoke City club house this morning

He was pictured arriving in Stoke as he is set to complete a medical ahead of his move to the Championship side.

The Nigerian midfielder is currently a free agent after leaving Turkish outfit Trabzonspor by mutual consent back in March.

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Stoke, according to Daily News, have been in talks with Mikel for a couple of weeks and he is set to sign a one-year deal with the West Midlands club.

And a picture of the former Chelsea and Middleborough player was doing the rounds on social media as he headed to the club’s Clayton Wood training ground.

Mikel made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in an 11-year spell, which ended when he left Stamford Bridge in 2017.

Mikel having a feel of the Stoke City dugout
 

He won the Champions League and Europa League, two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and the League Cup with the London side.

After leaving Stamford Bridge he joined Chinese side Tianjin TEDA and had a brief spell at Middleborough in 2019.

Mikel played 23 times for Trabzonspor in the last year but he left the club days after expressing his concern that the Turkish Super Lig was continuing amid the global coronavirus pandemic. 

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Stoke are looking to strengthen their side after finishing 15th in the Championship under former Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill. 

Mikel’s arrival at the club could be announced today and it would be their fourth signing of the summer. 

So far this transfer window, they have already secured the signings of Morgan Fox, James Chester and Steven Fletcher on free transfers as O’Neill hopes to push the club closer towards the automatic promotion and playoff places this season.

CAREER CV AND HONOURS 

·  Lyn ( 2004-2005) – six appearances, one goal

·  Chelsea (2006-2017) – 372 appearances, six goals

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·  Tianjin Teda (2017-2018) – 31 appearances, three goals

·  Middlesbrough (2018-2019) – 19 appearances, one goal

·  Trabzonspor (2019-2020) – 23 appearances

·  Premier League – 2009-2010 and 2014-2015

·  FA Cup – 2007, 2009 and 2012

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·  League Cup -2007 

·  Champions League – 2012

·  Europa League – 2013 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Nigerian Football

Away two-goal specialists, Remo Stars win in Kano to stay atop

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Remo Stars continued their good form in the Nigeria domestic league as they snatched another 2-0 away win against one of the traditional strong sides, Kano Pillars on Sunday.

 They had earlier had another 2-0 away win when they defeated Abia Warriors in Umuahia two weeks ago. With Sunday’s win, they remain on top of the log with their nine points and five goals.

They are yet to concede any goal this season. On Sunday, Sodiq Ismail put Remo Stars in front after 26 minutes. Togolese import, Franck Mawuena doubled the lead in the 60th minute.

In another encounter, Niger Tornadoes pulled a major upset, winning 2-1 away from home as they beat former Nigerian champions, Plateau United. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. They doubled theit lead in the fourth minute of added time of the second half through Kufre Ebong.

 A minute later, Pam Samuel scored a consolatory goal for Plateau United. Hearrtland of Owerri continued their winless run as they played a goalless draw at home with visiting Katsina United.

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 Sunshine Stars also played 0-0 with Abia Warriors.

 

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Nigerian Football

Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead

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Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.

 On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.

 The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.

They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.

The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.

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 On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.

 Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.

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Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job

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Clemens Westerhof and Samson Siasia in London

BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles. 

Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.

 “I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.

  According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.

  Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.

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 Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job.  But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.

  He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.

 To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”

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