Nigerian Football
Nottingham Forest target Awoniyi with £17.5m club transfer record
Super Eagles’ fringe striker and Union Berlin goal poacher, Taiwo Awoniyi, could be heading back to English Premiership, following the interest from newly promoted Nottingham Forest.
The side, according to Daily Mail reported that are closing in on the club-record signing of Awoniyi with significant transfer funds earmarked for the newly-promoted club this summer.
Awoniyi, who was part of Super Eagles’ second round exit at the last AFCON tournament in Cameroon had scored 15 goals to help Union Berlin punch above their weight in the Bundesliga last season and is thought to have set his heart on a move to the Premier League, despite interest from RB Leipzig. He is expected cost about £17.5million.
Awoniyi, 24, joined Liverpool in 2015 and had loan spells at six different clubs without making the breakthrough at Anfield.
There have been suggestions that Liverpool are entitled to a percentage of any transfer fee, as part of his move to Union for nearly £6m last summer.
Forest are thought to have at least £70m available to strengthen the squad this summer to help Steve Cooper establish them in the top flight, as they prepare to compete in the Premier League for the first time this century.
They are still haggling with another Bundesliga club, Mainz, over the price for Moussa Niakhate, with Mainz chasing at least £13m for the defender.
Forest are looking at other reinforcements in defence and are thought to have registered an interest in Argentina international Nicolas Tagliafico, who is set to leave Ajax this summer. Tagliafico, 29, has two years left on his contract in Holland.
With the future of Brice Samba unclear – the French goalkeeper is wanted by Lens – Forest have also registered an interest in Dean Henderson, who is available on loan from Manchester 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.
The Nigerian Premier Football League burst into life this Sunday with eight matches on the card and contrasting results. Three of the eight matches resulted in away wins signalling level playing field of the league.
It is a sharp departure from the past seasons when it is almost predictable that home teams would win. Remo Stars, Enyimba and Niger Tornadoes have away wins and with scoring multiple goals.
Remo Stars won against Abia Warriors by 2-0. Enyimba came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Heartland while Niger Tornadoes beat Kwara United 2-1 away from home.
- Kwara United 1-2 Niger Tornadoes
- Sunshine 3-0 Bayelsa: Saidu Salisu
- Bendel Insurance 0-0 Rivers United
- Heartland 1-3 Enyimba
- Abia Warriors 0-2 Remo Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Katsina United
- Kano Pillars 3-0 Ikorodu City
- Nasarawa United 1-1 Shooting Stars
Austin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team
IOC set to block Sebastian Coe’s presidential bid
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week agoPoints of Interest as Napoli’s coach apologises to Victor Osimhen
-
AFCON1 day agoSuper Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON1 day agoWhy I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON17 hours agoAustin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week agoLukaku pays respect to Osimhen
-
PARALYMPICS1 week agoHow Mikano powered Eniola to Nigeria’s first medal at Paris 2024
-
AFCON4 days agoHurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
-
Nigerian Football19 hours agoWesterhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job