U20/U23 Watch - Ones for the future Home and Abroad
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 6:03 pm
by Sunset
Well I've just been thinking of doing a thread like this for those who don't know about some of these guys, and for now i'll only limit it to those i've watched extensively. Feel free to add to the thread
Valentine Ozornwafor - 22
For his senior career (Enyimba, Galatasaray, Almeria) so far has struggled to get consistent playing time, but that might seem to change at Charleroi as he's seeing some regular action with Charleroi with his second consecutive start of the season after struggling with illness and injury at the start. In both games he has been in the center of a Back three and has been given a lot of responsibility in the buildup phase of their attack. One things for sure he's very comfortable on the ball averaging at least 90% pass completion, I would like to see how he fares against the better attackers in the league as the only thing he seems to be lacking is experience of playing consistently in the senior game.
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Igoh Ogbu - 21
He's a player I noticed around the same time as Ozornwafor who was his partner for Aigbogun's AYC team, they not only formed a strong partnership but were both also individually talented in their own right. While Ozornwafor would often play as a the sweeper he'd be the one stepping in to make the challenge of which he'd rarely lose so of course I was keen to see how he'd develop. And he has really grown in leaps and bounds in Norway from playing in the second division to making the best XI in his debut in the top division.
Ishaq Abdulrazak - 19
While Samuel Adegbenro and Akinkunmi Amoo grabbed most of the headlines wrt Nigerian exploits in Sweden, Ishaq IMO was equally as impressive for what he brought to his team, started off originally as an AM/SS he was converted to a Right wing back and has unlocked a different dimension to his game, while playing a whole lot minutes in the senior game.
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Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:09 pm
by EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA
What hapoenned to Adegbenro? Dude still in Sweden? He looked giod a couple yrs ago.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:39 pm
by Sunset
EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:09 pm
What hapoenned to Adegbenro? Dude still in Sweden? He looked giod a couple yrs ago.
He won the golden boot with 17 goals in the just ended season
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:18 am
by oscar52
Adegbenro is the type of player SE needs on the wings. Skillful, experienced and older. The team is too young.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:53 am
by The YeyeMan
Thanks Sunset. Will check out the clips.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:12 am
by Sunset
The YeyeMan wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:53 am
Thanks Sunset. Will check out the clips.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:13 am
by Sunset
Ozornwafor with his 2nd clean sheet in 3 matches He's a really good footballer
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 4:00 pm
by Sunset
Adebayo Adeleye - 21
He's wearing the captains armband for his club for the 2nd game in a row now, which says a lot about how much they rate him in their push to avoid relegation.
Tolu Arokodare - 21
After a tough experience in the Bundesliga last season he's starting to get used to the higher level of football at Ligue 2 side Amiens. He spends more time coming off the bench (12 times) with only 5 starts but he has 5 goals to his name which isn't too bad, its a huge step up from playing in the Latvian league.
Ishaq Rafiu - 21
The only one of the three that stayed in the country after the NPFL U17 tournament and he had been pretty quiet in the league until his exploits this season where he has been the most dangerous home-based player in the final third with 8 goals and 4 assists in 12 appearances for Rivers United. He won't be in the country for very long at this rate.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 5:37 pm
by bushboy
Nice! Thanks you for this.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 8:10 pm
by Sunset
Alhassan Yusuf - 21 https://mixture.gg/v/61f6b1fda35a0
He scored what was the match winner against Gent today which is really the confidence booster he needs after a pretty hot and cold season so far. Seeing how the Belgian league is a big step up from Sweden he has done pretty well to adapt, he has a really good football brain in terms of ball distribution/progression, its only really his defensive presence and positioning that he is lacking in so far
Aliyu Ibrahim - 20
He scored today which is his 5th league goal of the season so far, and has been showing more consistency already outdoing last seasons tally. He was part of Paul Aigbogun's AYC squad but was amongst those dropped for the the World cup so its good to see how much he has developed. He ranks amongst the best dribblers in Croatia + has assisted 4 goals so far.
Michael Ologo - 18
There's not much I know about him except for how well he has been doing in the Turkish 2nd division in his first season of professional football. I've only seen him once but from what I saw he is very good at reading a game both in possession and off it. And for a player that was only playing Academy football until this season that is quite the feat in itself.
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 8:27 pm
by bret- hart
Adeleye is captain of his team. Thats my boy
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:01 pm
by Sunset
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Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:38 pm
by Enugu II
Sunset
Could you please provide more info on this Oligo guy? Where did he play in Nigeria and what is his progress like in Europe?
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:49 pm
by Tobi17
Man I'm tired of wingers/fwds, we need more midfielders
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 6:58 pm
by fabio
Tobi17 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:49 pm
Man I'm tired of wingers/fwds, we need more midfielders
Tobi17 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:49 pm
Man I'm tired of wingers/fwds, we need more midfielders
It's not too late to become a midfielder.
Not sure Nigeria is ready for me, my weekend soccer mates always tell me I'm the second coming of Zinedine Zidane
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:29 pm
by fabio
Tobi17 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:02 pm
Not sure Nigeria is ready for me, my weekend soccer mates always tell me I'm the second coming of Zinedine Zidane
Could you please provide more info on this Oligo guy? Where did he play in Nigeria and what is his progress like in Europe?
He's a CB and has played for at least two academy teams in the country, Fresh Talents Football Academy & Imperial Soccer Academy as there was even some contorversy in his move to Turkey: https://www.completesports.com/agent-th ... ifa-court/
Could you please provide more info on this Oligo guy? Where did he play in Nigeria and what is his progress like in Europe?
He's a CB and has played for at least two academy teams in the country, Fresh Talents Football Academy & Imperial Soccer Academy as there was even some contorversy in his move to Turkey: https://www.completesports.com/agent-th ... ifa-court/
I just found this sef
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 3:04 am
by Sunset
This one is going to be of guys that have been signed in this transfer window:
Taofeek Ishmael - 21
Probably the most interesting of the signings this season joining Terem Moffi and Innocent Bonke at Lorient, after having a very good performance in the Norwegian 2nd division with 20 goal contributions in the league. He's definitely one to watch, as more times than not when French teams do pay for a Nigerian player they do their due diligence.
Akinkunmi Amoo - 19
I don't think there's anything to say that hasn't been said yet, from the U17's only him and Tijani really caught my eye with what they did there as well as their potential for growth, its good to see how much he's developed and he's not close to his ceiling.
Yira Collins Sor - 21
He joins Peter Olayinka at Slavia Prague, which was pretty surprising at this stage of his career as he hadn't fully nailed his spot in the starting XI for his club, though it's probably his speed as well as his goal threat that caught their attention. The move seemed like a straight swap with Ubong Ekpai going to his former team.
Akor Adams - 22
Another player from Aigbogun's U20 set who I had a lot of hopes for seeing how well he did as a striker at the U19 youth level in Norway with the likes of Igoh Ogbu, but wasn't given much playing time at the World cup. And in Norway he missed two whole seasons with injuries but with his first full season of senior football he had a breakthrough season with 15 goal contributions in the 2nd division, he joins Ifeanyi Matthew and Igoh Ogbu at Lillestrom.
(This is a bit old)
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 8:41 pm
by Sunset
Raphael Onyedika - 20
He's someone i've monitored since he played in the UEFA Youth league for Midtjylland's U19's not too long ago, and its amazing to see how much he's since then, from his successful stint on loan to a 2nd division side. There he got a lot of playing time for a player of his experience and following the departure of Onyeka to Brentford the next season that position in midfield was open for him. While the jump in quality was huge compared to what he faced the previous season he has managed to adapt to it pretty quickly and becoming a crucial member of the starting XI. The biggest difference between him and his predecessor Onyeka is that he is naturally a midfielder for most of his career and it shows in his game as he's pretty comfortable regardless of the role he is given in the center of midfield.
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Charles Atshimene - 20
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Atshimene was a player in the NPFL that two seasons ago I tipped to be on to watch the following season with his impressive goals to minutes ratio with a poor Warri Wolves side, but I didn't think he would perform how he did ending the season with 19 goals and as the joint-top goalscorer despite missing 3 matches (Mexico friendly). He joined Feirense in Portugal and already has a goal to his name, he's now been sent on loan.
Silas Nwankwo - 18
He tied with Charles Atshimene for the Golden Boot last season in the NPFL and even though he played more matches he made up with it more with assists. He's a real all-action forward so i'm interested to see how he develops.
Oche Ochewechi - 20
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Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 5:07 pm
by Sunset
Samson Tijani makes the Champions League squad for Red Bull Salzburg
Re: 🇳🇬U23 Prospects Watch
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 5:52 pm
by olu
The three players on this thread with the most potential are Amoo, Yusuf, and Onyedika.