NIGERIAN YOUNGSTER JOINS MANCHESTER UNITED TOUR SQUAD

United State of America Junior international Matthew Olosunde who is of a Nigerian father has joined Manchester United in their pre season training in the United State of America.

The 16 year old New York Red Bulls defender is popularly referred to as Matt by the press in the USA and has been part of the USA junior squads since he was 13 and is expected to be part of their squad at the U-17 World Cup in Chile in October.

He can play in the centre of defence and as a right back but started his career as a winger and he is training with Manchester United with the hope of impressing the coaching staff of the English based giants lead by Dutchman Louis Van Gaal.

Olosunde really arrived last December when he joined the U.S. U-17 team in a Nike U.S. Friendlies team. accepting to switch role from forward/midfielder to defender, then starred in games against Portugal and wins against England and Brazil.

Whether as a vibrant attacker or perfectly placed defender, Olosunde continues to make his mark as a dream builds. World Cup performers fight for words to describe the experience of playing for one’s country against the planet’s best soccer players.

He is still eligible for Nigeria at senior level even though he has over 10 caps for the junior teams of the USA.

ESTORIL DENIES MONACO INTEREST IN ESITI

The president of Estoril has moved swiftly to deny French giants and big spender Monaco are interested in Nigeria midfielder Anderson Esiti.

President of the Portuguese side Tiago Ribeiro said the alleged interest of Monaco and Sporting Lisbon are no more but speculations as they are yet to receive an offer for the newly capped Nigeria midfield powerhouse.

"There is nothing concrete,there were only approaches by some clubs but there was no bid for Esiti" He told the media in Portugal.

Esiti joined Estoril from Leixoes last summer and made 17 appearances in the league however his best performances was in the Europa League where he reportedly caught he eyes of a lot of European teams.

ANDERLECHT CONFIRMS LOAN DEAL FOR IMOH EZEKIEL

Belgium giants Anderlecht have moved swiftly to replaced Alexsander Mitrovic who left for Newcastle United by agreeing a season long loan deal for 21 year old Nigeria striker Imoh Ezekiel.

Ezekiel a firm fan favourite at Anderlecht rivals Standard Liege where he spent the last six month on loan  from Al-Arabi of Qatar reportedly agreed to stay in Belgium despite interest from other European countries as he will be eligible for a Belgium passport by the time his current loan deal expires.

The Nigerian has high hopes of moving to the English Premier League in the nearest future and a Belgium passport will help him beat the work permit red tape rule as he will be treated as a player from an EU member association.


Anderlecht announced his signing on their websites and social media and the player himself posted his delight at moving to the team via twitter and he will be hoping he help them have a nice run in UEFA European competitions this season.

Spurs Extends Deal Of Nigeria Youngster

18 year old Joshua Onomah who is of Nigerian parents has extended his stay with English premiership giants Tottenham Hotspurs till the summer of 2019.

Onomah was handed his senior Spurs debut last season against Burnley in the FA Cup by manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Spurs boss then took Onomah on the club's post-season tour of Malaysia and Australia, with the midfielder featuring in both the club's matches.
 
A regular for Tottenham's Under-21 side, Onomah made 16 appearances in the Under-21 Premier League last term and captained the side which reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup.

Onomah will be looking to kick on at White Hart Lane next term and firmly break through into the club's first team.

And in Pochettino he appears to have a firm fan after being handed a long-term deal.

Onomah has represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 level.
 

AARON SAMUEL BRACE RESCUES TEAM FROM DEFEAT

Super Eagles forward Aaron Samuel appeared to have put behind his failed move to CSKA Moscow of Russia as he scored twice to help his team Guangzhou R&F draw 2-2 Guizhou Renhe in a Chinese Super League game.

The want away forward reportedly agreed personal terms with Russia top team CSKA Moscow but his team failed to agree on a fee with the Russians costing him the chance to move away from China.

Aaron scored twice in six minutes in the 70th and 76th minute to put his team 2-1 up after they have gone behind to a Ricardo Santos opener in the 62nd minute but his team were denied all three points when Xavier Chen scored with two minutes left to end the game 2-2.

He was on the score sheet for the fourth time this season and a consistent goal scoring run will aid his chances of staying in the Super Eagles team following the appointment of Sunday Oliseh who replaces Stephen Keshi,the man that gave the 21 year old his senior national team debut.

AKPOM FEELS HE IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ARSENAL MAIN TEAM

After Arsene Wenger said he was not going to send Chuba Akpon on loan this season, the young striker says he feels he’s ready to make the step-up at Arsenal.

Having already outgrown youth level football, it’s all about the first team now and Akpom, having signed a new contract earlier this year, wants to make the breakthrough at Arsenal.

“I’ve been at Arsenal since I was six years old, so that’s a few years and I really want to stay here," He told Arsenalplayer.

“This season could be a big season for me and with a lot of hard work it could be a breakthrough season for me. The main thing is to stay here and I think the loans have helped me gain experience. I’m just getting better every time.

“It was a good team performance but it was even better to get a hat-trick. I’m just hoping I can carry on my form for the rest of the pre-season and take it into the season.

“You’ve got to give 100 per cent because you don’t get this chance often, so when you get it you have to make the most of it.

“Hopefully the boss has seen that I’ve been working hard in training, that I’ve been working hard on the pitch, and hopefully I can get more game time in the season.”

AKANJI MAKING GIANT STRIDES AT FC BASLE

Little known Nigeria teen Murphy Akanji is slowly gaining inroads into the first team set up at top Swiss side FC Basle after impressing in a pre season game against Germany's Bayern Leverkusen.

He started alongside Argentina's veteran defender Walter Samuel and the 19 year old Swiss Nigerian held his own against the Bundesliga team attackers and even though they conceded he set up his team second goal that gave them a 2-1 win.

The game was his first for the team since he joined them from Winterthur in April after impressing their scout he signed a three year deal with the option of a further year with Basel after playing 24 games for Winterthur in the fourth division last season.

Akanji will be hoping to keep up his superb showing in pre season to help convince the coaches to give him a look in ahead of their campaign in the UEFA champions league this season.

Highly rated in Switzerland he has already played for the country's Under-21 side but still qualifies to play for Nigeria at senior level.