Tag: Chidozie Awaziem

Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem delivered a dramatic blend of misfortune and redemption as FC Nantes battled to a 1-1 home draw against FC Lorient in the French Ligue 1 yesterday.

Awaziem, making his 12^th  appearance of the season and returning from Nigeria’s World Cup Playoff final loss to DR Congo, inadvertently put the visitors ahead after scoring an own goal deep into first-half stoppage time. But the centre-back rose to the occasion in added time at the opposite end, smashing home a powerful equaliser to rescue a crucial point for the Yellow and Greens. The draw leaves Nantes in 15^th  place with 11 points from 13 matches.

In Italy, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru remained was unavailable  as Lazio cruised to a 2-0 victory over Lecce. The win lifted the Biancocelesti to eighth position on the Serie A table with 18 points from 12 games. Tyronne Ebuehi was also absent for Lecce.

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Over in the Bundesliga, Victor Boniface made a 73^rd -minute appearance for Werder Bremen, replacing former Liverpool attacker Marco Grüll, but could not influence their 2-0 defeat to RB Leipzig. Bremen now sit ninth with 15 points from 11 games, while Boniface has contributed two assists in eight league outings.

In Turkey, Ibrahim Olawoyin came on in the 62^nd  minute but could not prevent Çaykur Rizespor from collapsing to a 5-2 home defeat against Fenerbahçe. Rizespor had led 2-0 at halftime before conceding five times in a disastrous second half. They are now 11th with 14 points from 13 matches, while Olawoyin has scored once this season from six games.

In Belgium, teenage sensation Benjamin Fredrick, who played through injury in Nigeria’s penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo the upper Sunday, was rightly rested by FCV Dender in their shock 2-1 away victory over Royal Antwerp. It was only Dender’s second win of the season, though they remain bottom with eight points from 15 games.

Fredrick, who had played all 14 previous league matches and accumulated two yellow cards, missed his first game of the campaign due to the knock sustained on international duty. His compatriot Jordan Attah Kadiri was an unused substitute. The forward has featured eight times this season, scoring once.

Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem is on the brink of a return to Ligue 1 side, FC Nantes five years after playing for the same on loan.

The Nigerian international, who previously featured for FC Nantes during the 2018/2019 season on loan from FC Porto, is now set for a second stint with the French club.

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Reports from France indicate that Awaziem is currently undergoing medical tests with the Yellow Canaries and is expected to sign a three-year contract.

The versatile defender spent last season on loan at Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids, having joined from FC Cincinnati.

Major League soccer  side, Colorado Rapids, have  announced a trade to acquire Nigeria international defender  Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy from FC Cincinnati on Monday, adding two defenders to strengthen their back end.

Cincinnati will receive $1 million in general allocation money with another $200,000 in conditional payments possible. The club also owns a sell-on fee if either player is moved abroad or traded within the league.

“We are excited to welcome Chidozie and Ian to the Rapids,” Rapids president Padraig Smith said. “Chidozie is a leader and a powerful defender with vast experience in Europe and on the international stage, while Ian has established himself as an athletic and accomplished defender in MLS.

“Both players are strong fits for our game model, and they bring added quality to our group as we look to build off a successful 2024 season and continue strengthening our team.”

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The 27-year-old Awaziem recorded two assists over seven games (all starts) for Cincinnati after being acquired from Boavista (Portugal) midseason.

Murphy, 24, appeared in 80 games over three seasons in Cincinnati, with 56 starts. He had one goal and one assist over that time period.

Cincinnati finished third in the Eastern Conference in 2024 with 59 points (18-11-5 W-L-T record) while Colorado was seventh in the West with 50 points (15-14-5).