Turkey: Ofoedu shine, Aminu and Ehiosun lose in Opener
It was mixed fortunes for Nigerians at the start of the Turkish second division as Chikeluba Ofoedu scored, while Umar Aminu and Ekigho Ehiosun fell at home.
Ofoedu’s Karsiyaka drew 2-2 at S.Urfaspor, Samsunspor parading Aminu and Ehiosun lost 1-0 at home to Istanbul BB and the club of Akeem Agbetu and Sani Gideon fell 1-0 at Balikesisspor.
Ofoedu told MTNFootball.com he was excited with his goal-scoring debut and dedicated his goal to his mother.
“I am excited to score on my debut for Karsiyaka. I am happy to help my team get an away draw, it was not easy,” Ofoedu told MTNFootball.com
“The goal is for my mother. I dedicate the goal to her because she prayed for me and blessed me before the game when I called her and she told me I am going to score and I did. She has always been there for me.”
The former Enugu Rangers striker joined Karsiyaka this summer after he played for 1461 Trabzon last season.
Nigeria stars Umar Aminu and Ekigho Ehiosun were also on parade for Samsunspor as they lost 1-0 at home to Istanbul BB.
‘Iron man’, as Ehiosun is called, was denied twice by the goalkeeper from getting on to the scorers’ sheet when his ninth minute header off Aminu’s cross was well gathered by the goalkeeper and in the 85th minute, he was stopped from hitting the target as a defender came between him and the goal for a corner.
Nigeria U20 star Aminu was also denied a goal by the Istanbul BB defender who blocked his powerful goal-bound shot in the 31st minute with both players lasted the full game.
Akeem Agbetu and Sani Gideon were on the losing side as their team Tavsanli Linyitspor lost 1-0 away at Balikesisspor.
Agbetu was on for the entire duration, while Gideon was on for 78 minutes.
Sani Gideon told MTNFootball.com they will bounce back after this opening day setback.
“We tried our best in the game. I think we still need to work more as a team to get better,” he said.
“I managed to play the game with a thigh pain, but hopefully I will be 100% fit for next game.”
