Tag: Taye Taiwo

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Super Eagles wing-back Taye Taiwo has started individual training ahead of HJK Helsinki’s Finnish Veikkausliiga clash against HIFK today.

The former Marseille and Queens Park Rangers star suffered an ankle injury during last weekend’s Cup final with SJK and had to be substituted in the first minute of extra time.

Before this latest setback, Taiwo had spent about two months on the sidelines due to an injury he sustained in a Europa League clash against Beroe on July 21.

This season, the free-kick expert has scored 8 goals across all competitions, including six in the top-flight.

HJK Helsinki fullback, Taye Taiwo opened his account for the Finnish powerhouse in the 1-0 victory over IFK Mariehamn in the League Cup.

On 69 minutes, the referee awarded a penalty which was converted by Taiwo though goalkeeper Marc Nordqvist guessed the right way.

For the 12th straight game in all competitions, the free-kick expert worked a 90- minute shift in defense and there was a debut today for new signing Vincent Onovo, who went the distance as well.

HJK, who are the current holders of the League Cup, are third in Group B with three points but have played one game less than Lahti who lead the way.

HJK Helsinki have extended the contract binding them with Nigeria international Taye Taiwo after the defender impressed in the last two months.

In other words, the 27 – time Finnish champions have activated a clause which was inserted into his earlier contract that allows them to prolong his stay by an additional season.

Despite lacking match practice for more than a year prior to his arrival at the Sonera Stadium, Taiwo has gone the distance in every single game contested by HJK in the Veikkausliiga and has not been cautioned once.

This website understands that the 30 – year – old’s intermediary will begin to evaluate the offers on the table in December, with an eye on the January transfer window.

Taye Taiwo’s Bursaspor crashed out of the UEFA Europa League Thursday night after they lost 0-3 at home to FK Vojvodina of Serbia.

The 20,000 Bursaspor fans, who came out to cheer their team to victory on Sallah day, went home disappointed as their club were shown the exit door in the UEFA Europa League third round by Vojvodina.

Taiwo gave the Turkish club hope of advancing to the play-offs when he scored a stoppage-time equaliser to end the first leg away in Serbia 2-2, but he could not help his team from a heavy defeat at home.

Wonderkid Imoh Ezekiel helped his Belgian club Standard Liege make it to the play-offs, so also Kehinde Fatai’s Astra Giurgiu, who made it to the play-offs on their European debut with the ex-Nigeria U-20 striker getting one of the goals in a first leg 3-1 win for the Romanian side.

They are to join Michael Eneramo (Besiktas, Turkey), Chidi Osuchukwu, Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal), Haruna Lukman and Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Kim Ojo (Genk, Belgium), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain), Nurudeen Orelesi (Skenderbeu Korce, Albania), Daniel Chima and Emmanuel Ekpo (Molde, Norway) in the Europa League play-offs.

Taye Taiwo has described his adaptation at his new club Dynamo Kiev as fantastic and hailed his team mates for their team spirit!

”We have a wonderful team. We have a collection of very skilled players from all over the world. Atmosphere in the team is great, we hit it off.

”On the field, we are also beginning to understand each other better and better. Together we train, spend time together, joking and laughing.”

The Tornado has also hailed the competitiveness of the Ukrainian top flight: ”The games are very difficult because we are expected to win no matter the situation.”