Spanish champions Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Super Eagles midfielder Paul Onuachu.

According to reports from Spanish news outlets Marca, Onuachu is wanted by Athletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone and contact has been made with Genk for Nigerian.

The lanky striker extended his contract with Genk to 2024, but Genk will only entertain an offer that matches their valuation for the striker.

It is understood that Onuachu will cost about 25 million euros and according to Marca, Atlético Madrid aren’t put off by the asking but will try to negotiate for a lower fee.

The 27-year-old Onuachu scored 35 goals last season and has already scored eleven in all competitions this season.

Fleetfooted Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze has returned to full training with Spanish Laliga side Villarreal.

The Yellow submarines dazzler has not played any part in the Super Eagles 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign due to a long-term injury that has kept him on the sidelines since May.

Villarreal manager Unai Emery once raised concern over the youngster’s situation, but it now appears all is now well with the Nigerian international who was pictured scoring in training on the club’s social media handles.

Central African Republic head coach Raoul Savoy is delighted with his side’s historic victory over the Super Eagles in FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.

The Wild Beats stunned the three-time African champions at home in a matchday encounter at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

A 91st-minute goal from Karl Namnganda, substitute gave the tiny African their first win of the qualifying campaign and handed Nigeria their first defeat in the process.

In his post-match presser, Raoul Savoy explained how his boys managed to get the unexpected result.

“We stood by them and know that if we cut them off and don’t allow them to be quick then we’ve got a chance. It’s a very great result for us.

“I’m very happy because we put in a strategy and it worked. And when you put in a strategy and have young players, because we have young players in our team, who listen and put their heart in, they can beat anyone.” He said.

Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has been named in the German Bundesliga Team of The Week for matchday seven after scoring a brace in Union Berlin’s 2-1 win over Mainz on Sunday.

Awoniyi scored twice in four minutes as Union came from behind to beat 10-man Mainz at the MEWA Arena handing his high-flying side their third win of the season, taking 12 points from seven game.

In a 4-3-3 formation, the Nigerian was paired with Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Breel Embolo. There was no space for Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski who failed to score as his side suffered a 2-1 loss to Frankfurt at the Allianz Arena.

In midfield, Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku, Cologne’s Ellyes Skhiri and Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz made the cut while Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro, Stuttgart’s Marc-Oliver Kempf, Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong are in defence.

Mönchengladbach’s Yann Sommer is in goal after an impressive performance in their 3-1 win over Wolfsburg.

However, Mainz 05 Sports Director, Christian Heidel, says he is disappointed his team failed to sign in-form Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, from Liverpool despite their effort to do so.

The Nigerian endured a torrid time during his loan spell at Mainz in the 2019/20 season scoring just once in 12 league appearances and was not the favoured striker by Achim Beierlorzer.

Awoniyi was on loan at Union in the 2020/21 season on loan from Liverpool but despite scoring just five goals in 22 appearances in all competition in a season plagued by injuries, the German side had seen enough of his talent as they splashed €6.5m to sign him on a permanent basis.

Despite his difficult time at the club, Heidel said they would have loved to sign the Nigerian but due to financial constraints and Liverpool’s failure to grant them a discount.

“I’ve always liked him. As you have seen, rightly, ”Heidel said about Awoniyi.

“It was on the market, but we couldn’t finance it, we talked about him, but I didn’t get a discount,” Heidel added.

Awoniyi has scored eight goals in 12 appearances across all competitions with five of them coming in the league from seven appearances while providing two assists.

Super Eagles of Nigeria’s defender William Troost-Ekong is excited to fulfill his dream of playing in the English Premier League.

Ekong started his career with English side Fulham Academy in 2008, before leaving for Tottenham Hotspurs academy, where he shared the dressing room with current Spurs captain Harry Kane.

Ekong left Tottenham in 2013, due to lack of opportunity with the first team and decided to join Dutch side FC Groningen.

Since his debut for Groningen, The Olympics bronze medalist has played for seven clubs, in five different countries , before returning to England with Watford in 2020.

The Super Eagles Vice Captain helped Watford gain promotion back to elite division and he made his Premier League debut for Watford in 3-2 victory over Aston Villa at the Vicarage Road.

Ekong was presented with his Premier League debut ball on Tuesday, and the former Udinese defender is excited to fulfill his childhood dream.

“8 YEARS, 6 Countries, 7 Clubs, 227 Club & 50 International appearances after being told I wasn’t good enough for the Premier League, I made my made my dream come” he said on his social media page.

Ekong who signed five years deal with Watford last year has featured in all Watford’s Premier League game this season.

Tochukwu Patrick Obi, the younger brother of Super Eagles and Chelsea legend John Mikel Obi, has competed his move to Croatian club NK Urania Baška Voda following a successful medical examination.

The 1999-born player agreed terms with the third-tier club before the close of the summer transfer window but was awaiting the outcome of his visa application before linking up with his new employer.

A product of Pepsi Football Academy, Tochukwu, who last wore the colours of TBC FC Abuja, has signed a one-season deal with NK Urania Baška Voda.

Speaking Tochukwu said : “I joined NK Urania Baška Voda because I want a humble beginning, learn my trade and build my football career from the scratch.

“Here I am alone so I’ll mature as a man. Croatia is a very demanding place for Nigerian players to come and adapt.

“Mikel just wants me to do what’s best for me, he allows me to make my own personal decisions.”

Asked the player he models his game after, Tochukwu answered : “I am a defensive midfielder, can also play as an attacking midfielder.

“It’s a no-brainer. I model my game after Mikel. I look up to him, if I am able to achieve half of what he’s achieved I’ll be grateful”.

Tochukwu Obi could make his competitive debut for NK Urania Baška Voda in a league match against RNK Split on Wednesday afternoon.

Paul Onuachu scored a hat-trick tonight for Genk to move to third place on the Belgian league table courtesy of a 3-0 home win over promoted Seraing.

Onuachu, 27, has now netted nine goals in the Belgian league.

He opened scoring in the 42nd minute, before he made it 2-0 two minutes later.

He then completed his treble in the 49thminute.

It could even have been four goals on the night for the giant Super Eagles centre-forward, but his effort in the 34th minute was chalked off.

He is now just a goal shy of the leading scorer in the league.

This month, he reached a milestone of 50 goals for Genk.

Last season, he was crowned Goal King in Belgium thanks to his 33 goals in the league.

Genk are now third on the table with 17 points from nine matches, a point behind leaders and champions Club Brugge.

The two top men have made fantastic starts to their respective seasons so far with Osimhen grabbing 5 goals in 5 matches and Onuachu chipping in with 5 goals in 9 appearances.

The real headache is for Nigerian head coach Rohr who has to constantly decide who to play upfront between the tow talismen with Leicester City’s Iheanacho also a contender for the starting Super Eagles jersey.

Napoli’s Osimhen is backed to have a very successful season this year with full praises from his coach for his recent performances and Onuachu rewarding his new contract with Genk with a brace over the weekend.

The scoring was opened by 21-year-old Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, a 2020 signing from Ligue 1 side Lille, after 10 minutes.

Napoli doubled their lead shortly before the whistle went for the end of the first half, and Osimhen needed just five minutes to grab his second.

Napoli doubled their lead shortly before the whistle went for the end of the first half, and Osimhen needed just five minutes to grab his second.

Piotr Zielinski then made it four with a fizzing half-volley inside the area just before the hour for an easy win over Sampdoria, who ended the game in thirteenth place.

Napoli made it five wins out of five, moving them two points clear of last year’s champions Inter Milan.

In the day’s other game, Lazio drew 1-1 away to Torino, with Lazio in seventh and Torino in ninth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnIYZU1rCSA

KikioTolunews round-up of the Nigeria-eligible players in action for their respective clubs in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

At the Den in London, Leicester City earned a 2-0 win over Millwall thanks to second half goals from Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho.

The RB Leipzig loanee was making his full debut for the Foxes and was joined in the starting line-up by Super Eagles duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.

Iheanacho was involved in the build-up to the opening goal of the game as his effort was deflected into the path of Lookman, who finished into an empty net in the 50th minute.

Two minutes from time, the Foxes number 14 belted the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.

The Super Eagles hopeful subbed out at minute 69 while Iheanacho and Ndidi put in a full shift.
At the Emirates Stadium London, goals from Lacazette, Smith-Rowe and Nketiah earned Arsenal a 3-0 win over League One side AFC Wimbledon, for whom Watford loanee Dapo Mebude was in action for the last 30 minutes.

Folarin Balogun entered the fray to replace Nketiah with seven minutes left on the clock.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea advanced to the next round of the competition after winning 4-3 on penalties against Aston Villa.

It finished 1-1 after ninety minutes as Cameron Archer cancelled out Timo Werner’s opener to take the game to penalties.

Three minutes before half-time, teenage midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka came off the bench to replace the injured Morgan Sanson, his elder brother CalebChukwuemeka was an unused substitute.