Nigerian Football
Another Nigerian, a teen sensation shines as Saka’s backup on first start for Arsenal
Arsenal may not have injured talisman Bukayo Saka back until the end of the season but 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who is of Nigerian parentage, showed glimpses of what he could offer in his stead with a sparkling performance in Wednesday’s 3-1 win away at Brentford.
Saka is often the first name on the team sheet but after being sidelined for “more than two months” following hamstring surgery, Arteta needed a quick solution as Arsenal look to erase Liverpool’s six-point lead in the title race.
Gabriel Martinelli auditioned for Saka’s role but the right flank did not suit the right-footed winger when they beat Ipswich Town and the Brazilian thrived on his return to the left wing at Brentford, finding the net with a neat finish.
With Arsenal also dealing with injuries and illness in the squad, Arteta handed Nwaneri his first start as the teenager’s nascent Premier League career came full circle at the ground he made his debut as a 15-year-old.
“It was a decision I made because I thought he was the best player to play in the position to start the game and because there was a story there with his debut here,” Arteta said.
“He made his Premier League debut and sometimes that feeling comes in and you feel it is the right one and then who knows.
“I think he was really composed, really determined, taking risks, taking initiative. Very impressive.”
Nwaneri showed no signs of nerves on his first start as the teenager kept busy on the right flank, carrying the ball with sublime ease as he dribbled past Brentford’s midfield and defence, particularly left back Keane Lewis-Potter.
PACE AND MOVEMENT
Mixing pace with clever movement, there were times when the bold English winger was not even touching the ball with his feet on the dribble but making rapid body movements as he slithered past and left Brentford players for dead.
Nwaneri was the only player to complete all his passes in the first half despite Brentford’s press while he was also on corner duty in a team that has thrived on set-piece goals.
He continued to impress in the second half, with his corner leading to Mikel Merino’s goal that put Arsenal ahead before his dangerous cross into the box which Brentford failed to clear allowed Martinelli to make it 3-1.
At 17 years and 286 days, Nwaneri is the third-youngest player to start for Arsenal in the Premier League after Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.
With nine games in all competitions in a hectic January, Arteta will need all the help they can get and even if Saka may be irreplaceable, Nwaneri’s potential gives Arsenal another option.
Even if Arsenal seek a temporary replacement for Saka this month, they will rest easy knowing they did not have to pay a penny for an unpolished gem in Nwaneri who has come through the academy ranks having joined the club at the age of eight.
“He was really good. In training, he gives us all the right reasons (to play). We could’ve signed a player from any country, he would be playing,” Arteta added.
“We’re building him, he’s already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for that age… And he fully deserves that.”
-Reuters
Finidi George, former Super Eagles coach and handler of Rivers United was given the red card 80 minutes into a near misadventure by the Port Harcourt side who rallied to a 1-1 draw at home in Monday’s Nigeria Premier League match against Plateau United.
The home side were trailing 1-0 in a failed catch-up bid for the top position on the league log when Finidi and his Plateau United counterpart, Mbwas Mangut were sent to the stands by the referee, Olawale Fawole after booking them for dissent.
Rivers United were aiming for a win which would have put them at par on points with leaders, Remo Stars and then hoped for a high scoreline that could have given the Port Harcourt side the top position at the end of the first stanza of the league.
Remo Stars are therefore the leaders at the end of the year and the first stanza.
Vincent Temitope put the Plateau United ahead after 51 minutes. Handsome Surveyor rescued a point for the home side who are now two points behind Remo Stars.
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Nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Enyimba FC have bolstered their squad with the signing of former Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye.
The 36-year-old, who played for several clubs in Europe, joins the Aba-based club on a short-term deal aimed at strengthening their campaign for the remainder of the season.
“We are delighted to officially announce the addition of former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye to our fold,” the club stated on its official website on Monday.
“We are confident in the experience and professionalism he will bring to our remaining matches this season, especially under the guidance of our new coach.”
Ideye returns to the NPFL after nearly two decades, having last featured for Ocean Boys in the 2006/07 season.
Since then, he has enjoyed an illustrious career with stints in top leagues across Europe, including the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion and Ligue 1 with Montpellier.
Most recently, he played for Kuwaiti side Al-Yarmouk.
-CAF
After a hard-fought 2-1 win over Akwa United, Remo Stars remain atop the Nigeria Premier Football League. They could have their leadership position rolled into 2025 if Rivers United fail to make mincemeat of visiting Plateau United in the last Match Day 19 duel scheduled for this Monday in Port Harcourt.
Remo Stars have 36 points. If they beat Plateau United in the last NPFL match of the year, Rivers United can also score 36 points.
But to upstage Remo Stars at the summit, Rivers United will need a heavy goal margin against Plateau United owing to the goal-difference advantage currently in favour of Remo Stars.
In their match with struggling Akwa United in Ikenne on Sunday, Remo Stars had a dream start. After just three minutes, they were already a goal ahead. Opening the game with a ferocious attack, they earned a penalty kick when a defender of Akwa United handled the ball in the penalty box.
Shuaibu Ibrahim made no mistake in converting the spot kick. They continued to pile pressure but could not double the lead.
Late into the first half, Akwa United fought back with a fantastically taken free kick that could go on television exhibition.
A little outside Remo Stars’ penalty box, a player feigned, before Kabir Osoba curved the ball past the defensive wall and beat outstretched goalkeeper Serge Obassa in goal.
Remo Stars had to dig deep before it could secure a 2-1 win against Akwa United through Raymond Tochukwu.
Defending Champions, Enugu Rangers are on the front foot after last week’s defeat at home as they nicked in a lone goal win away at Niger Tornadoes in Minna on Sunday.
After enduring its second home defeat in the ongoing season against eternal rival, Shooting Stars of Ibadan last week, it was Bashiru Usman’s lone strike in the 34th minute that erased the memories of his penalty miss in Enugu and put the team back in front line for the title with 31 points from 19 matches.
In Ibadan Shooting Stars extended their fifth-match winning run with a lone goal win against visiting Kwara United of Ilorin.
The only goal of the match came off the boot of Adam Mustapha on the dot of half-time.
In Lagos, Ikorodu City played its first of the two mandatory matches without fans, which they had to endure until late in the match. Nevertheless, they secured a 2-1 win against Sunshine Stars at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
It was Shola Adelani who opened the score for the home side in the 39th minute but the lead was cancelled in the 45th minute. However, with time running out, the home side won a penalty deep into injury time which was converted again by Adelani.
El-Kanemi Warriors returned to winning ways with a lone-goal win over Kano Pillars. Umar Al Amin scored the only goal of the match in the 38th minute and the win thus pushed the side to fifth position with 29 points.
Azeez Faolu’s late goal in the 79th minute assured Katsina United the maximum points against Nasarawa United. Lobi Stars had to endure a goalless draw at home against Heartland FC and the result of the match did not have any meaningful impact on their respective position on the log.
Earlier on Saturday, Bayelsa United missed the opportunity to improve their position on the log as they were beaten by a lone goal by visiting Abia Warriors of Aba.
Kennedy Sheddy’s 35th-minute goal gave the side their first away win of the season.
This evening, former champions, Rivers United will attempt a catch-up at the top as they welcome Plateau United to Port Harcourt home ground.
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