Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi leaves Egypt’s Ahly
Egyptian giants Ahly have parted ways with Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi after a five-year spell at the club. According to Egyptian newspaper, Ahram, Ahly Marketing Director Amir Tawfik told the club’s official website that Ajayi’s departure was by mutual consent after settling all the financial and administrative details.
On the other hand, Ajayi posted a farewell message on his social media account and thanked the club and fans for his spell.
“With deep gratitude to God, I announce the end of my contract with Ahly Club, to the management who were nothing but family to me, to my teammates who were my brothers and to the fans, you were all supportive. Thank you for your solidarity with me during those years, you guys are the best in the game, I love you all,” Ajayi said.
The 25-year-old winger joined Ahly in 2016 coming from Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, he played with the Cairo giants 161 matches where he scored 41 goals and created 30 other goals.
During his spell, he won four league titles and two Champions League trophies.
He has been a key player for Ahly but fell down the pecking order since the arrival of coach Pitso Mosimane last season.
He was put on the reserve team this season to make way for a foreign player as Ahly signed South Africa’s Percy Tau and Mozambique’s Luis Miquissone.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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