Chikwelu: Nigerian midfielder joins Spanish side Madrid

 The 31-year-old midfielder has completed her move to the Spanish top-flight after agreeing on terms with the Madrid based outfit.Rita Chikwelu has joined Spanish Primera Iberdrola club Madrid from Swedish Damallsvenskan side Kristianstads for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, Goal can exclusively report.The Nigeria international spent the last three seasons with the Swedish top-flight outfit, scoring 12 goals in 64 outings and helped them finish as 2019 Swedish Women's Cup runners-up.Chikwelu starred in Nigeria's 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations triumph and at the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, where the country reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1999.Following her arrival on Thursday, Oscar Farnadez will be counting on her experience to revive the team's dwindling fortunes in the second stanza after the Nigerian's successful medical.The 31-year-old, previously played for FC United, scoring 28 goals, including 22 to finish as the Finnish Naisten Liiga topscorer in 2009 and scored 16 goals in 141 matches for Sweden side Umea.At Madrid, Chikwelu will reunite with her compatriot Chidinma Okeke, who joined last summer but was out for at least six months due to a knee injury suffered last October.She...
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EPL Wrap : Saka, Koiki Benched; Iheanacho's Goal Ruled Out; Idah Full Debut; Iwobi, Balogun, Ndidi On The Mend

A round-up of Nigeria-eligible players that were in action for their respective clubs in the English Premier League on Saturday, January 11.In the early kickoff at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace came from behind to draw 1-1 with 10-man Arsenal.The Gunners talismanic leading scorer Pierre-EmerickAubameyang opened the scoring on 12 minutes beforeJordan Ayew restored parity through a deflected shot on 54 minutes. Bukayo Saka was a non-playing substitute. The four other Nigerian players that trained with Arsenal's first team on Friday were not in the matchday eighteen. At Old Trafford, Republic of Ireland U21 international Adam Idah had a tough day on his full Premier League debut as Norwich City suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United. A brace from Marcus Rashford and additional tallies from Anthony Martial and super sub Mason Greenwood secured a win for Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side. Idah was hooked off in the 65th minute. Let's go to the King Power Stadium. Leicester City without the injured Wilfred Ndidi were beaten 2-1 by Southampton. After coming off the bench in the 58th minute, Kelechi Iheanacho thought he had given the Foxes a 2-1 lead but his goal was ruled out by...
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Uwakwe Opens Chelsea Account For 2019-2020 Season; Man City's Ogbeta Scores Own Goal

In a Premier League 2 clash involving five players of Nigerian descent, Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 at Electrical Services Stadium (Aldershot, Hampshire) on Saturday afternoon to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign.Fit again midfielder Tariq Uwakwe started for the Blues, while former Flying Eagles invitee Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, Nat Ogbeta and substitute Felix Nmecha featured for the visitors.Chelsea led 1-0 at the break thanks to Uwakwe, who was making his seventh appearance in this season's PL 2.On 12 minutes, the former England U18 international started and finished off a move to score his first goal of the season in all competitions.The home team doubled their lead after an Ogbeta own goal in the 68th minute, before Rogers headed home a corner to half the deficit with 18 minutes left on the clock.Chelsea, who have 30 points from 14 games, travel to Everton in their next fixture on Friday, January 24.Meanwhile, Nigeria U17 international Daniel Jinadu was impressive as West Ham recorded a  2-1 win against Chelsea U18 at the Little Heath Sports Ground this afternoon.The Golden Eaglets star spent time at the Chelsea Academy before joining the Hammers Academy...
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Rohr Backs Kalu To Rediscover Best Form For Bordeaux

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has backed Samuel Kalu to get back to his best following his struggles at French Ligue 1 outfit Girondis Bordeaux this season.Kalu has scored just one goal in 16 league appearances for Bordeaux this season.The winger also incurred the wrath of Bordeaux manager Paulo Sousa last week after returning late from holiday in Nigeria.He has been included in Bordeaux’s squad for Saturday’s (today) home clash against Olympic Lyon.Also Read: Bordeaux Coach Sousa Pardons Kalu After Late Resumption From HolidayRohr, who handed Kalu his international debut with the Super Eagles is adamant the winger will hit the ground running once again.”Samuel Kalu needs human warmth, to be well surrounded. The difficulties he encountered may be as a result of lack of confidence, not feeling loved enough,” Rohr told L’Equipe.“I’m surprised he however that he has all these problems at Girondis Bordeaux because he has a good relationship with the manager (Paulo Sousa). In my opinion, it is not a lack of discipline, it is a bit of nonchalance.”
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Official : Huddersfield's Olagunju Loaned Out; New Deal For Rotherham United's Kayode

Through their official website, Championship club Huddersfield Town have confirmed that Nigerian defender Mustapha Olagunju has joined Tadcaster Albion on loan.The talented center back, who plays for the Terriers Academy, will spend the next one month at the Northern Premier League Division One North West club.Olagunju has made 26 appearances in total for Huddersfield Town's development, U19 and U17 teams this term, scoring two goals.Signed by Huddersfield Town from XYZ Academy in the summer of 2018, he was rewarded with his first professional contract the following year after starring for the youth team.Meanwhile, still in England, League One club Rotherham United have announced that Joshua Kayode has signed a new contract with the club.The 19-year-old is now committed to the Millers until 2022, subject to EFL and FA ratification.Lagos-born Kayode has enjoyed loan spells at Chesterfield and Gateshead since joining Rotherham United, for whom he has made three first team appearances.
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(Photo) Arsenal Coach Arteta Runs The Rule Over Five Nigerian Players Pre-Crystal Palace

Our sports team understands that Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta ran the rule over five Nigeria-eligible youngsters, including Bukayo Saka, on Friday ahead of this afternoon's Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.Joining Saka in the final workout held at London Colney were Folarin Balogun, Tolaji Bola, James Olayinka and Tobi Omole.Mikel Arteta was pictured by Arsenal's official website, arsenal.com having a chat with Balogun, Bola, Olayinka and Omole during the workout.With the exception of Olayinka and Omole, the aforementioned players have played internationally for the Young Lions and are provisionally cap-tied to England.Though Bola and Olayinka have yet to make their professional debuts for the Gunners, they have been knocking on the first team door, having trained with the squad several times over the festive period.With Bosnia left-back Sead Kolašinac shaking off his injury problems, it remains to be seen whether Saka will be included in the starting line-up against the Eagles.The Hale End Academy product has appeared in nineteen first-team games so far this season.
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Exclusive : Sporting Lisbon, Olympiakos Keeping Tabs On Super Eagles Left-back

Nigeriasoccernet.com can exclusively report that Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and Greek powerhouse Olympiakos are keeping tabs on Super Eagles left-back Chima Akas.However, it is understood that Akas will be staying put at Belenenses SAD until at least the end of the 2019-2020 campaign as he cannot play for three different clubs in the same season.The defender started the season with Kalmar in Sweden before switching to Belenenses SAD in August 2019.Sporting Lisbon manager Jorge Manuel Fernandes has a complete dossier on Akas as he was coaching Belenenses before he took over the reins at The Green and Whites in September 2019.Fernandes is monitoring the performance of his former pupil with a view to a move in the summer.Greek Super League side Olympiakos as well as a top team in Serbia that has played in the Champions League both have their eyes on the former Enyimba and Shooting Stars man.Akas has logged ninety minutes in each of the last four games played by Belenenses in the Liga NOS and provided an assist in his team's loss to Sporting Braga last weekend.
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