Tag: David Okereke

• By Joshua Osinowo

Nigeria international David Okereke has enthused on how  his loan stint  at Turkish side, Gaziantep , rejuvenated his career after a tough spell in Italy.

Currently on the books of Italian club Cremonese, Okereke who  is on loan to the Turkish Ligue 1 side, is unperturbed  with rumours linking him with a move away from  his  new  abode.

“Uh, I would say it’s more like a rumour,” the striker stated when pressed  over his status. “I had the opportunity to train under the new coach of this team and we spoke just some minutes ago.

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“ He asked me if I would like to return to Italy, and I said we’ll see.”

The 27 year-old, however, did not rule out a return to Turkey, where he spent the second half of last season on loan with Gaziantep FK.

“I had an experience in Turkey that was really interesting,” he continued. “It won’t be bad to go back, but for now, I will weigh my chances. I don’t want to think too much about that right now.”

Okereke revealed he struggled to find form and consistency during his time at Torino earlier in the season  .

“I had a difficult season in Torino, and I needed a place where I could find the limelight again,” he said.

That opportunity came with his move to Gaziantep, where he was warmly received: “I got the opportunity to be among the Gaziantep family – they really welcomed me. The coach (İsmet Taşdemir) was true to his words and gave me the chance to regain my confidence.”

The Nigeria international credited  that support system for helping him rediscover his rhythm and return to form.

 “He gave me the opportunity to come back to the limelight. Thank God, everything is going to be fine.”

Newly promoted Turkish Super Lig side Kocaelispor are closing in on a deal to sign Nigerian striker David Okereke, following a productive loan spell at Gaziantep FK, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 27-year-old forward spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan from Serie A outfit Cremonese, where he impressed with nine league goals and three assists — the highest tally at Gaziantep.

The former Club Brugge star’s performances played a key role in the club’s successful bid to avoid relegation, securing a 12th-place finish.

Okereke made headlines in December when he scored a crucial first-half equaliser against Fenerbahce at the Ulker Stadium.

That goal etched his name into the history books as the first Nigerian player to score against José Mourinho’s teams while representing three different clubs — Venezia, Cremonese, and now Gaziantep.

The Nigerian’s ability to consistently find the net against Mourinho’s sides has reportedly earned him a reputation as a player the Portuguese tactician prefers to avoid.

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While Gaziantep had the option to make his loan deal permanent, reports in Turkey suggest they have not acted on that clause.

Instead, Kocaelispor have emerged as front-runners and are said to have reached a verbal agreement with Okereke ahead of a final round of talks scheduled for Monday, as per DemokratKocaeli.

Okereke, who joined Cremonese for €2.50 million in 2022, is currently valued at €2.20 million by Transfermarkt.

Nigeria international  David Okereke notched his seventh league goal of the season from 19 games  as Gaziantep whipped Eyupspor 3-1 ahead of their upcoming game  with Besiktas.

Courtesy of the victory,  Gaziantep has moved to the 10^th  spot with 32 points from 24 games and knowing the enormity of their away tie with Besiktas in Istanbul, the club trained for over one hour to keep the players in shape ahead of the tie.

Though the players will be having time off from training today the club’s objective remain to have a squad that is ready to face Besiktas and secure a positive result in Istanbul next Monday.

“Our Gaziantep Football Club has started preparations for the match against Beşiktaş, which it will host in the 27^th  week of the Trendyol Super League,” the club wrote on its official website.

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“Since our Technical Director Selçuk İnan was at the UEFA Pro License Seminar, the training session, which was held under the management of our coach Volkan Kazak, lasted approximately 1 hour.

“The training started with warm-up and activation movements and ended with Renewal runs.

“Our team will have Wednesday, March 5^th  off. Our preparations will continue where they left off on Thursday, March 6^th .”

Two goals from Emmanuel Boateng in the 52^nd  and 78^th  minutes and the third from Okereke in the 94^th  minute helped Gaziantep FK to an important win with Tayfur Bingol scoring Eyupspor’s lone goal in the 65^th  minute.

Super Eagles attacker  David Okereke was on the score sheet for the fourth time this season to help Gaziantep FK to an important 2-2 draw at Kasimpasa.

Okereke netted the game’s opening game and it was his fourth from 12 games with two assists to ensure his Turkish club are eighth on the log with 22 points from 17 games.

In another Turkish Super Lig tie, Bright Osayi Samuel came up face to face with his fellow countryman, Funsho Bamgboye when Fenerbahce locked horns with Hatayspor.

Samuel’s Fenerbahce won the game 2-1 to put pressure on first placed Galatasaray with the Nigerian playing his 19th game of the season in all competitions for Jose Mourinho led side. He was replaced in the 70th minute of the game.

Bamgboye on his part played his 17^th  league game and 20 in all competitions with two goals to show for his efforts.

In England, Alex Iwobi was on for 63 minutes for Fulham who were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Ipswich Town. It was his 20th game of the season and he has five goals and three assists under his belt this term.

Iwobi’s teammates and compatriot, Calvin Bassey was on for the entire duration of the game and has only missed a game from 20 games being when he served his one game suspension for five bookings.

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The draw ensured the Cottagers are ninth on the log with 30 points from 20 games.

In Scotland, Cyriel Dessers was an unused Substitute while Leon Balogun was nowhere near the bench for Glasgow Rangers who were held to a 3-3 at Hibernian.

The result came barely a few days after the Gers thrashed Celtic 3-0 but the draw yesterday has seen them fall behind 13 points behind Celtic in the race for the SPL title. Rangers are second on the log with 40 points from 20 games.

In France,  Monaco and George Ilenikhena were on the losing side to serial champions, PSG who pipped them 1-0 in the Trophee des Champions, otherwise known as French  Super Cup. Ilenikhena and his teammates fell to a 92nd minute goal scored by Ousmane Dembele.