Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, will no longer count as a foreigner for Seattle Sounders after he secured a United States citizenship.
Martins obtained the Green Card at some point this year and this was confirmed when the Major League Soccer (MLS) released the roster update for all the 20 MLS teams and listed Martins as a home player, africanFootball.com reports.
MLS clubs are allowed to register eight foreign nationals in their roasters.
Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Sunderland have been linked with the signing of Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins, on a short-term loan deal in the MLS off-season.
The Magpies had been goal shy this season and manager Steve McClaren is reportedly keen to bring Martins back to St. James’ Park, where he played for three seasons between 2006 and 2009, africanFootball.com reports.
Current Sunderland manager, Sam Allardyce, worked with Martins during his spell at Newcastle and is well aware of the African’s talent.
In three seasons in the MLS with the Seattle Sounders, Martins has scored 40 goals and registered 23 assists.
He was also a runner-up in the 2014 player of the year award.
Obafemi Martins was delighted to be named the Most Valuable Player of Seattle Sounders for the second year in a row.
And the Nigeria national – teamer has refused to take the credit alone for his brilliant performances at the CenturyLink Field last season, stressing that his team-mates deserve a special mention.
“Humbled to again be named team MVP. However, all credit due to my teammates and coaches. Already focusing on 2016, ” said Obafemi Martins on Twitter.
The 31 – year – old notched 15 goals in the MLS over the course of the regular season and provided six assists.
After two years in the international wilderness, the FC Ebedei graduate was called up for the World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland and he showed flashes of brilliance after coming on as a substitute in both matches.
Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins, has been recalled by coach Sunday Oliseh to the Super Eagles squad that will play next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland.
The 31-year-old had been out of the Super Eagles since 2013 when he played in a World Cup qualifier under Stephen Keshi, Goal reports.
He had talked about retiring from the national side after being ignored by the former coach who he claimed did not like him.
The Sounders striker has been in impressive form this year scoring 15 goals in Major League Soccer (MLS).
He made his Nigeria debut more than a decade ago and has 18 goals in 39 appearances.
Oliseh announced his squad of 23 players for the double-header against Swaziland on Thursday afternoon with the inclusion of several young players such as Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, Feirense goalkeeper Dele Alampasu and Genk midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
However, Manchester City youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho, was shockingly overlooked a day after scoring for the Citizens in the 5-1 demolition of Crystal Palace in the League Cup.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Dele Alampasu (Club de Sportivo Feirense, Portugal)
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders, USA)
On-form Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins scored his 12th goal of the season to snatch a point for his MLS side Seattle Sounders at San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.
He is now just five goals shy of the record-breaking 17 goals he scored last season.
‘Oba’ scored in the 82nd minute to draw Seattle Sounders level.
Nigerian-born Fatai Alashe gave San Jose Earthquakes the lead in the 70th minute, when he twisted his body to head home Perez Garcia’s free kick.
•Says he wants to score goals for new boss
•Denies international retirement
Nigeria international, Obafemi Martins has asked new Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh to give him a chance to prove himself just as he has backed the coach to succeed with the national team.
The Seattle Sounders striker, only returned to action for the Major League Soccer (MLS) side last weekend after two months out, netting brace as they crushed Orlando 4-0.
One of the goals was voted AT&T Goal of the Week – the third time that the former Newcastle and Inter Milan man has taken home the gong.
The former VfL Wolfsburg star player believes his present form will be vital for the senior national team as he is already dreaming of scoring goals for the Oliseh’s new-look team.
“I hope I will soon get another chance to score goals for Nigeria again and I also believe that with time and a little more patience the Eagles will come back to winning ways under new coach Sunday Oliseh. He has gotten all the experience we need in a coach, he has played the game before and I am really happy to see him in eagles again.”
On the 4th of December 2014, local media in Africa and Italian sports paper misquoted Martins saying he had retired from international football.
However Obagoal as fondly called has denied ever making such announcement.
The former Levante striker last played for the Super Eagles in 2013 and since then he has not been considered by the former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.
Martins who has 39 caps with 18 goals since he debuted for Nigeria stated that he is still open for call up from the new national team handler.
“I never announced my retirement, in any form or anyway, it was not official at all, I was unhappy to be treated as if am not a Nigerian footballer, I have represented Nigeria, at the Nations Cup, World Cup, and I still want to play more, it’s a new eagles now, led by Oliseh, so why will I retire now, I am still young.”
Obagoal made a scoring debut for Nigeria on May 29, 2004 against the Republic of Ireland.
On November 17, 2007, the attacker captained his country for the first time in a friendly against Australia that marked his 19th appearance.
His 83rd minute strike on November 12, 2009 against Kenya in Nairobi ensured the Super Eagles qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has won the MLS Goal of the week award.
He returned to action for Seattle Sounders last weekend after two months on the sidelines due to injury and scored a brace in a 4-0 win over Orlando City.
One of those goals has won AT&T Goal of the Week, as well, making it the third time this season that the Nigerian has won the award, africanFootball.com reports.
Martins’ intricate footwork and passing to get through Orlando City’s defense collected 45.34 percent of the ballots, easily outpacing the rest of the field.
Seattle Sounders marksman Obafemi Martins has been omitted from the 22- player 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game roster despite being named in the Fan XI.
The former Nigeria international was axed from the squad by head coach Pablo Mastroeni after failing to recover from injury.
Designated Players Fanendo Adi (Portland Timbers) and Kennedy Igboananike ( Chicago Fire) were not picked by the coach as well as Amobi Okugo ( Orlando City), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union) and Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas).
The MLS All-Star game against Tottenham Hotspur comes up on July 29 at Commerce City, Colorado.
In 2014, Martins was named in the starting XI for the All – Star game against Bayern Munich.
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins missed Seattle Sounders’ third game of the MLS on Saturday due to a quad injury.
‘Oba’, as he is called in the USA, suffered the upper quad injury on Wednesday in his side’s 2-2 draw in a friendly against Club Tijuana.
But the much-travelled striker may not be out of action for long as the injury is a pain around the upper abdominal region. He has scored two goals in as many games this season.
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins was on Tuesday named in the 2014 MLS Best XI.
The Seattle Sounders forward ended the season as the club’s record goal scorer with 17 goals, as fifth top scorer in MLS and matched a club record with 13 assists. His five multi-goal games tied for second in MLS, and his four game-winning assists tied for fourth.
Martins started 29 of his 31 appearances and accumulated 2,600 minutes. The Sounders went 12-0-0 in games in which Martins scored a goal.
Martins was joined on the list by Sounders defender Chad Marshall. Martins was named Player of the Month for September and Player of the Week for Week 24.
The Best XI members were voted on by media, players and coaches and general managers.
MLS Best XI
Goalkeeper: Bill Hamid (D.C. United).
Defenders: Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy).
Midfielders: Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls).
Forwards: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders).