The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nwakali

  • Malaga plots to snatch Nwakali from Arsenal

    Malaga plots to snatch Nwakali from Arsenal

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Spanish La Liga side, Malaga have opened a line of communication with representatives of  Nigeria U20s skipper Kelechi Nwakali regarding a deal this summer.

    The Diamond/ASJ Academy midfielder and his camp have claimed that the player’s proposed move to the Emirates is more or less in the bag but that is far away from the reality on the ground on face value, with Arsenal officially communicating that they are still locked in talks with the Nigerian teams.

    It can be revealed that Stellar Group brokered the deal that is supposed to take Nwakali to Arsenal but the ex-Golden Eaglets skipper had already signed a player/agent representation contract with Belgian-based intermediary Klay Ekeocha, which was still running by the time Gareth Bale’s agent came into the picture.

    Now, Ekeocha has contacted Arsenal through his lawyer, informing the Gunners suits that he spent a lot of his personal resources on Kelechi Nwakali before he was handed over to Stellar Group and needs to be compensated in one way or another before the deal will sail through.

    Malaga are hoping to profit from the ongoing impasse and are preparing a bid for the 2015 Fifa Under 17 World Cup Golden Ball winner.

    Los Boquerones have a good relationship with Kelechi Nwakali’s entourage, having struck a deal with Manchester City for his elder brother Chidiebere to play on loan at the club in January 2015.

  • Amuneke to drop Osimhen, Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Amuneke to drop Osimhen, Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Recently appointed head coach of the Nigeria U-20, Emmanuel Amuneke won’t call up the trio of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze when he announces his first set of call up to the U-20 next week.

    The Flying Eagles coach from scoop gathered by owngoalnigeria.com will leave out the trio to help them focus on their club careers after their recent transfers but might subsequently call them up in the future.

    We gathered he will instead call up players from his last all conquering U-17 side who are still clubless to help keep them in shape before qualifiers for the next Africa youth championship begins later in the year.

    Captain of Nigeria U-17 team to the last World Cup,  Kelechi Nwakali has already penned a five-year deal with Arsenal while Chukwueze is expected to do same in the coming days.

    Team’s topscorer, Osimhen is presently in Germany although not eligible to play for his new side, Wolfsburg he has been training with their B team but trains twice in a week with the main team of the Bundesliga side.

  • Arsenal-bound Nwakali donates boots, jerseys to academy

    Arsenal-bound Nwakali donates boots, jerseys to academy

    Golden Eaglets skipper,  Kelechi Nwakali visited his nursery team, ASJ Academy on Wednesday to bid the players and officials farewell before he travels to the United Kingdom to link up with Arsenal. He did not come empty-handed.

    The central midfielder presented 30 pairs of boots, three sets of jerseys and other training materials to ASJ pupils as a parting gift.

    Nigeria U-17s teammate, Chukwudi Agor accompanied Nwakali to Owerri and splashed ASJ with 20 pairs of boots.

    “This was done to show gratitude to the club that brought them to limelight and on behalf of the management of the academy we have set aside Friday for prayers to wish him well as he returns to Arsenal soon,” Emeka Amajiriaku told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    Nwakali has agreed a five-year deal with Arsenal for a transfer fee in the region of 2.5 million pounds.

  • Nwakali, Chukwueze to join Arsenal in January

    Nwakali, Chukwueze to join Arsenal in January

    Arsenal are set to sign Nigerian starlets Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze in the January transfer window, according to reports.

    The Gunners had already been set for new arrivals this month, with Egyptian international Mohamed Elneny on track to finalise his move to the Emirates in the coming days.

    And according to AfricanFootball.com, Arsene Wenger is set to boost his squad further by adding Nwakali, 17, and Chukwueze, 16, in the January window.

    It’s claimed that the duo are currently having their visas processed so they can travel to London and sign with Arsenal this month.

    Both players will have to wait until their 18th birthday to be handed professional contracts at Arsenal, but are expected to sign long-term deals with the club imminently.

    Nwakali and Chukwueze were two of the standout players in Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup triumph in Chile last year, with the former being named the tournament’s most valuable player.

    The duo are understood to have attracted interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but Arsenal look to have beaten them to their signatures.

  • Amuneke wants N1.1bn for Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Amuneke wants N1.1bn for Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, could strike it rich if Nigeria Under 17 internationals Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze are sold to a European club in the near future, as he has demanded  a cumulative transfer fee of 5.3 million euros (about N1.1billion) for both players.

    It has been revealed that Kelechi Nwakali’s economic and sporting rights are owned by Diamond Academy, Umuahia and ASJ Academy Owerri in the ratio 70 : 30 but both teams are only acting as proxies on Amuneke’s behalf.

    If the corporate veil of Diamond Academy is pierced, a certain Tony Adele, who works hand-in-hand with Amuneke, runs the grassroots club in partnership with Frankie Stephen , better known as the United Kingdom – based intermediary of Flying Eagles winger Bernard Bulbwa.

    As for ASJ Academy, the club is owned by Amuneke’s family and the former Barcelona midfielder is represented there by Emeka. They own 30 per cent of the sporting rights of Kelechi Nwakali.

    The ex-Zamalek star only wants to divert attention following the dispute in the sale of Chidiebere Nwakali and Bernard Bulbwa to Manchester City and Esperance respectively.

    The Nigeria Under-17s manager has told teams interested in Nwakali to cough up 3.5 million euros to sign the player, while he will not accept an offer less than 1.8 million euros for Samuel Chukwueze and the agency commission he is expected to receive for the sale of both players is 700,000 euros.

    Amuneke has demanded that the European clubs that finally snap up the players must sign a partnership agreement with his Academy, stipulating that two players from his academy must go on trial with the buying club every year, accompanied by the coach.

  • Nwakali heads for Standard Liege

    Nwakali heads for Standard Liege

    It has been gathered the four World Cup-winning Eaglets led by skipper Kelechi Nwakali will stop over at Belgian club Standard Liege before they are farmed out to various top European clubs.

    Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze, David Enogela and Joel Osikel have been signed by foremost players’ agents Stellar Group, who manage several top stars including Gareth Bale.

    A top source informed: “The players have been invited to Europe by Standard Liege and it is from there that the players will be moved to other clubs in other leagues.”

    Midfielder Nwakali was the MVP of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and he has been variously linked with several top English Premier League.

    Despite the tightening of restrictions on foreign youngsters moving to England, Nwakali is expected to be granted a work permit when he turns 18 using the special talent clause.

    Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho was MVP of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and used this clause to get a work permit this year.

  • Chelsea, Udinese,Olympiakos chase Nwakali

    Chelsea, Udinese,Olympiakos chase Nwakali

    • As Man City, West Ham pull out of race

    Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Chelsea are leading the race to sign Golden Eaglets sensation Kelechi Nwakali but face serious competition from Udinese, Olympiakos and one of the powerhouses of Portuguese football.

    Manchester City and West Ham have both been credited with an interest for the talented teenager but it can be revealed that they have pulled out of the race due to problems they will encounter in securing a work permit for the player, while there have not been any positive feedback from Arsenal.

    “We are in contact with Chelsea, Udinese and Olympiakos. We have to wait and discuss with all the clubs, then, decide with the family and academy, ” Klay Ekeocha told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “Udinese made a ridiculous offer of 800,000 euros for the Most Valuable Player of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.”

    The Belgian – based agent added: “We are working hard for the player, his family and academy. City and West Ham are no longer involved because of work permit issues.

    “We got in touch with Arsenal and there’s no feedback yet.”

    According to FIFA, Nwakali was the standout player at the FIFA U-17s after helping the Golden Eaglets win the tourney for the fifth time, with three goals and three assists to his name in seven matches.

  • Siasia invites Nwakali, Osimhen, 2 Others

    Siasia invites Nwakali, Osimhen, 2 Others

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, has called up four Golden Eaglets stars to the Nigeria U23 national team ahead of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    Golden Ball winner Kelechi Nwakali, Golden Boot winner Victor Osimhen and first- choice fullbacks Udochukwu Anumudu and John Lazaraus have all been invited for a get – together in Gambia, where the U23s will hold a training camp prior to the tourney.

    Speaking on their invitation, Siasia told thenff.com : “I have been monitoring the progress of these boys while the team was being built by my brother, Emmanuel Amuneke.

    “Don’t forget we were in the same hotel and used the same pitch to train and I have been impressed with what I saw them do in Chile, so I think what I just did was rewarding them for a job well done.”

    The four invited players have been given one week to rest with their families before linking up with the Olympic squad.

  • CHILE 1-5 NIGERIA: Chukwueze, Nwakali, others hailed

    CHILE 1-5 NIGERIA: Chukwueze, Nwakali, others hailed

    THE GOLDEN Eaglets blistering start to the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup has been hailed by Prince Martin Apugo, the President of Diamond Football Academy, Umuahia which produced the Eaglets duo of Samuel Chukwueze and skipper, Kelechi Nwakali.

    Nigeria’s cadet side trounced USA 2-0 in the first game played last Saturday before another blockbuster performance against hosts, Chile on Wednesday morning at the Estadio Sausalito Vina Del Mar which produced a 5-1 win.

    Two goals from Chukwueze in the first and 61st minutes, additional brace from Victor Osimhen in the 66th and 86th minutes and a goal from the captain of the side, Nwakali in the 17th minute from the penalty spot put the Eaglets five goals up while Marcelo Allende’s 81st minute strike was only a consolation for Chile.

    Apugo pointed out that the performance of the Golden Eaglets and especially two  products of his academy shows that talents abound in the country and that if they are properly annexed they can go places.

    He said he was specially impressed with the form of Chukwueze who produced a man of the match performance to score two goals including a strike after 25 seconds which is till date the quickest goal of the current competition, and also assisted  the Eaglets additional two goals.

    He said the form of Nwakali, Chukwueze and the rest of the Golden Eaglets’ players at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup is serving as inspiration to other young players  and in his academy who are now eager  to train all day in their attempt to emulate them and also become stars of tomorrow.

    “I am happy with the feat of the Golden Eaglets in Chile and I want to specially congratulate Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Nwakali who are players of my academy. They have set a good example to emerging players that hard work pays. They have distinguished themselves, especially Chukwueze who scored two goals and was felled three times in the 18 yard box for three spot kicks to Nigeria.

    “The players in my academy have derived additional motivation from the performance of the Eaglets in Chile and they have started coming to us daily for training even though we are on break,” Apugo told SportingLife.

    The Golden Eaglets are top of Group A with maximum  six points from two matches and are through to the second round but they will play their last group tie against Croatia on Friday also at the Estadio Sausalito Vina Del Mar.

  • Nwakali set to debut for Spanish club

    Nwakali set to debut for Spanish club

    Nigeria U-20 star Chidiebere Nwakali could make his debut on Saturday for Girona after training with the Spanish Secunda Liga side for a week.

    “I could probably play my first match for Girona this weekend. I have trained with the team for a week now and the training has been going great,” Nwakali told AfricanFootball.com.

    “I was not really excited when I first heard I would be dropping down to the second division and not playing for Malaga, where I was last season.

    “But after my short time here, I am very delighted to have joined this club. I hope I can play first-team football regularly here.”

    Girona are away at Leganes on Saturday.

    They are 17th on the 22-team Spanish lower league with nine points from eight matches.

    Nwakali,18, is on season-long loan from EPL side Manchester City to Girona.

    He has been handed jersey number 12.