Nigeria defender Chidozie Awaziem has joined Portuguese Primeira Liga club Boavista on a one-year loan deal , reports Completesports.com.
Awaziem moved to Boavista from another Portuguese club FC Porto.
Boavista have the option to make the loan permanent.
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The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Spanish club Leganes.
The versatile defender linked up with Porto from Nigeria Professional Football League club El-Kanemi Warriors in 2015.
He made just 10 senior appearances for Porto.
Awaziem also spent time on loan at French Ligue 1 club Nantes and Turkey’s Caykur Rizespor.
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He goes out on loan every freaking season…I swear the boy dey try…living in a different city every year….hopefully he would be signed by a good club permanently at the end of this season…He obviously has no future with Porto.
I just hope that Stupid PORTO won’t mess with our Zaidu same way. This guy has not enjoyed been in a club for 2 seasons. Always loaned out and I watched Porto match to see if Awaziem is that bad compared to there Defenders and I was shocked. He beats them well on a norm but maybe due to Coach preference. Unless that Sergio Conceceao leaves that club, I don’t think Awaziem can boldly say he have a Club. All the best in your new adventure Awy
@lloyd … Zaidu can never bench Alex Telles unless there’s loss of form / injury or transfer to another club . Porto purchased Zaidu as a cover / backup plan for Alex Telles incase he decided to move to another club as there are many offers for him .
Check their stat and watch many clips of both players . You’ll know that Alex Telles
is a better player compared to Zaidu .
Awaziem is not ruined by Porto as claimed by many , they have many better players playing in his position and last time i checked , Awaziem is not even a first team player in the Nigerian National team .
Nevertheless i wish Zaidu all the best and hopefully he can prove everyone wrong that he deserve to start every match ahead of Alex Telles
God bless Nigeria
I want to believe that Zaidu was bought by Porto to replace Telles who is likely on his way to Man Utd. I wish our boys all the best.
You can do better than this bro, even staying in Spain and playing for Elber is better than staying in Portugal where we won’t have chance to watch him anymore, he his better than most defenders in Porto as for me. But good luck bro
Personally I feel awaziem isnt a Natural central defender, I feel he will fit in better as a defensive midfielder or a right full back. In the games he has played as a central defender for the super eagles, he has been found wanting on numerous occasions. Hence his being moved to right full back where he may not be the best but he has been more dan decent. I think he should try playing in the DM. All the best to him, he is a good player to have on a team when used in the right position.
… now you all know that what our players of Black African decent suffers in European clubs atimes go beyond just football reasons. If the coach does not like your face forget it even if you Messi of Africa. Most of you here have testified he is decent in comparison to most regular guys on Porto’s defence line. Blacks from Brazil do not suffer this only African players… When you talk some will say you are racist inclined. Awaziem has improved a lot since Russia 2018 WC and his showing last Afcon was very solid.
With all due respect;
We don’t need to always play the race card.
Why can’t this be about Awaziem’s ability or the fact the coach tactically doesn’t have him in his plans!
This is the same Porto that have had Africans lead the line; Benni McCarthy,made his name in this famous club.
And right now, we got Chancel Mbemba from the Drc,Mamadou Loum of Senegal,Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon and Moussa Marega of Mali; all vital players;playing week in, week out ; even winning the recent championship for the club.
Why would Porto go ahead and acquire the service of Zaidu if they had a vendetta against Africans?
So it has nothing to do with bias against Africans but a personal issue with Chidozie.
Hahahahha…thanks Mr Hush. Dont mind these shallow minded fake ex-footballers….LMAO. Everything has to be about race. I wont be surprised if they say Omeruo and Awaziem are not first choice centre backs in the SE because of “race” too, when it is obvious they are not better in terms of technique or overall ability than Balogun and Ekong. The same porto where a number of Africans have thrived and made their name is the same porto that is now against black Africans. They should give us another excuse. If its not cold weather, it is racism….. if its not racism, its international politics….if its not international politics it is the fact that the coach doesnt like their faces….As if its not in this same Europe, with the cold weather, international politics and others, that other Nigerian players and indeed African players are thriving…..both in football, in other sports and in life in general.
Its not a curse, but even in the SE, I dont see Awaziem pinning down a 1st team shirt in CD or RB in the next 5 years, unless a big miracle happens in his skill sets & career generally. Awaziem is the least intelligent central defender we have had in the SE for a long time now…and I dont see anyone he his better than in FC Porto’s defence.
… @Drey will always never comment without insulting someone. We are all making contributions and I accept I could be wrong atimes. To call someone shallow minded is very unwarranted oga Drey. I said what I said because other guys claimed he appears better than guys playing in defence for Porto… But it is true that you have often as an African player to be 3times better than the local boy or he will get preferred to you… Yaya Toure was humiliated out of Man City… Eto’o from Barcelona… often African players are the ones who have to be converted from striker to defender, from midfielder to right/left back and honestly in teams benching some of our players you will see that those starting ahead of them are not even better… We all saw what happened to Balogun at Brighton & Hove… I maintain, if a coach does not like your face… Be Messi or Ronaldo you won’t play. For those who just started watching European football recently… There was in time past, the case of preferring Duncan Ferguson to Daniel Amokachie at Everton in the mid 90s and Patrice Loco over Samson Siasia at Nancy also in the mid ’90s… in those instances those players were never better than our boys. In Amokachie’ s case even after coming and sub to score two goals in an FA semi final against I think it was Man United in 1995 winning the game for them eventually, in the press conference after the game… the coach, I think Joe Royle said his goals does not change the fact that Duncan Ferguson will start ahead of him in the finals. Things happen ATIMES beyond football reasons… Yes blacks of African decent excel in European clubs but your game has to tower above that of all competitors in your position. What happened to Musa Yahaya and Chidera Eze at FC Porto tells a story that some of this big clubs stop believing in our players early… Just my opinion. Please, Drey, also make. Comments without attacks and insults next time. Someone has taken that up with you here in the past… No matter how sound you know the game, we are all contributors and NFF and Rohr reads comment and advice here as I would like to believe.
Porto truly might have other better players than Awaziem in that role, but from what we’ve seen of him during the loan spells,he’s proven his worth for suitors who might be interested in his services; it’s just a matter of time. Note this have been the lots of most players, especially Nigerians, coming through the ranks of big teams in Europe. Sadly, this looks to have affected many Nigerians notably Awaziem, Omeruo, until his recent football transfer to Leganes from Chelsea, Mikel Agu, Kelechi Nwakali… Like Awaziem, Mikel Agu was also one of Porto’s academics who was a subject of several loan deals from Porto until he completed a move to Victoria de Guimarães on a permanent basis. While on loan, especially in Portugal at Victoria Setubal, he got list in the player of the week on different occasions in the same league where Porto’s first players featured at the time. I do not think it’s tied down to ability or competence but some other interpretation or perspectives which the coach might only be able to explain. Again, some of the clubs too might not be able to meet the parent’s clubs valuations. So it’s a mix of different things altogether, which are not tied to the player’s ability. Remember, they’re disadvantaged on the basis of their nationality so they’ve to be twice as good as those who they’re replacing. I’ll still give it to them that they’re able to secure a first place during their loan spells, which is a validation of their ability and competence. Check out, many Nigerians who have had loan spells at different clubs, most have maintained first team shirts: Awaziem, Omeruo, Mikel Agu, Etebo, Nwakali, even the highly celebrated Zaidu Sanusi who recently completed a move to Porto had been on a loan spell at sometime in his fledging career. So it’s not rock science, slow and steady wins the race. Hopefully others,,would have their loan made permanent deal like Omeruo and Agu.
i dont.know what porto did to my musa yahaya? when ever i think of that talent, water runaway my eyes. what a talent Nigeria wasted, in the name of europe. the only realiable player in that 2013 u 17 age group. i cant forget that wonderful goal against brazil u20. again wat have they done to that guy? as for awaziem i concur with sportsfan, aweziem should move up world to the DM position he have the spead, energy and good tackling to compete as a DM. as for central defends he is the worst i have seen in eagles jersey after obina nwaneri. honestly as a CD aweziem is a flop. i dont expect porto to star him there, exept he make a strong turn around, for wat i have seen i will not play him there even in eyimba, all the games he plays in eagles as CD was flop. right from his debut against south africa to the last game i saw in lesotho all flop. his poor clearance cost us against algeria, he could have being redcarded in lesotho, his timing and awareness is always late(he is a good footballer in reality) but not a good lastman. and i dont expect porto(portugese giant) to risk him there, even his loan moves where not so sucessful as you guys are claiming. once again he should move up to a DM. his potential will rise more. as a DM i nor trust he will reach that expected level, its so sad that apart from the expected european made walls, Nigeria couldnt produce another yobo.
Awaziem played as a right back against Lesotho. Though he scored an owngoal, but he Played at right back that day. The only game he played at Center back for the SuperEagles was against South Africa in his debut. He didn’t really do back at Center back for Leganes last season
For me, complacency is part of the youngman problem as a footballer. Football is more of a business oriented these days rather than self satisfaction or thinking that you have done too well hence, being complacent. If not that gernot Rohr likes him he wouldn’t had made the list to some of the tournament he has played in the colour of Nigeria.
Awaziem really needs to be up and doing because many defenders are knocking on the door of Nigeria national team and they may dislodge him soon. The likes of Jordan torunarigha, Ohis Felix Uduokhai and not forgetting the soon to be capped Tosin Adarabioyo of Manchester City.
Dr.Drey,I think I will dissagreee with you on Awaziem.That Awaziem is the least intelligent CD in the SE is fallacious to me cos I can count the no. of times he played in that possition in the SE .The reason perhaps for this is because there are other prefered DM considered ahead of him not necessarily because they are better than Awaziem but because Rohr found a need for him at the RB where he has played fantastically.A look at his role in the RB, Awaziem has helped a lot to stabilise the defence.Dr. Will like u to pls watch some of the qualifiers and even the Afcon and u will understand the reason Rohr prefers to play him in RB rather than the CD.
An understanding of the CD role of Awaziem and his excellence at handling that area comes in Leganes where he some sometimes partnered Omeruo.He was far ahead of Omeruo in that role and his services would have been retained by Leganes if not for the purchase price put on him by Porto.There are several reasons a Coach will not want to use a player not only cos the player is not good enough. The matter will be discussed another time as time will not permit today.
This hairstyle get as e be…..guy use your mirror now!
I just don’t see how this hairstyle improves his appearance. Anyway, back to footie.
Good defender. His performance in our 4-2 friendly spanking of Argentina convinced most fans, and he has been consistently ok ever since, either in a right back or center back role. I think it is unfortunate that he has to be moving from city to city. As long as he gets to play regularly, he should be fine.
I’ve read many comments wit plenty excuses.
“From the coach does not like Awaziem’ face to the coach does not like him & all bla bla bla”
One thing we as fans, agent & our young lads fail to unstand is the fact that;
NIGERIAN players rarely make it in portuguese league ASAP.
Check the record; apart from our all time goal king “Late Rashidi”
Who else?
They always stuggle in portugal…
Imagine if CHUKWUEZE didn’t leave that porto team to start a new life in spain…
See a talented player like “YAHAYA” that shone in 2013 U17 WC still struggling in porto U23 team…
I don’t want to mention the case of NWAKALI…
Our boys are not wise…
Players from senegal, cameroun, ivory coast & most african french-speaking countries do well in LEAGUE 1, SERIE A & most of their young lads are shipped there b4 thinking of EPL & LALIGA.
Nigerian players do well in EPL quot me anywhere.
why can’t their agent look 4 a way & move them there.
Can’t they do something to cancel that work permit of a thing?
Nigerians who did good in Portugal: Rashidi Yekini, Richard Owubokiri, Oghenekaro Etebo, Obiora Nwankwo, Junior Pius Udeme and Mikel Agu off the top of my head
All others who did not do so well mainly struggled at Porto (Yahaya, Nwakali, Awaziem, Agu) the only one that comes to mind that did not play at Porto is Alampasu
Simy Nwankwo, Elderson Echeijile and John Ogu also had it good in Portugal.
I am very delighted for Awaziem to have secured this move to the Portuguese Primera Liga. The next step now is for him to play regularly (as happened in Spain last term) so as to continue in this journey towards being a well rounded defender.
Without forensically observing and analyzing Awaziem’s output, I won’t be able to make a determination as to his overall competency as a centre defender; I scarcely have the time to watch his club games week in week out.
However, something that is a matter of public records is that Awaziem plays regularly as a defender for club and country – as centre back for the former and right fullback for the latter.
Last season the 23 year old played a healthy 26 games in the Spanish La Liga and 16 times in the Turkish Super League the season before.
For Nigeria, the injury-induced absence of Shehu Abdullah has handed the right full back position in the Super Eagles to Awaziem on a platter of gold – a position he played more than 10 times for Nigeria last season (to which he often performed at least above average).
Overall, the general consensus has been that he has dispatched his duties for club and country in a manner considered to be ‘acceptable’.
Using the theory of ‘repitition being the mother of skill’, I have come to regard Awaziem as a decent multi-skilled defender based on his consistency and continuity over the past 2 seasons for club and country.
Now, as a centre back, anecdotal evidence would suggest to me that Awaziem can be more trusted in that position for Nigeria if deployed as part of a back three.
In that set up, his blushes could be spared more easily than if paired with just another centre back. He was ignominiously found out against South Africa in 2017 when paired with just Ekong however, he faired much better against Argentina in the 4-2 friendly when he had 2 other centre backs to work with.
Playing just 2 centre defenders puts huge responsibility on each centre back which some are suggesting that Awaziem can’t be fully trusted with (just yet).
The calmness, composure, cool head and craft needed to command such a delicate department are attributes I think Awaziem would need to further enhance in himself if he is to be seen as a fully cooked, capable and crackerjack centre back.
But I go back to the principle of repitition. Playing for Leganes (consistently) last season and featuring for Nigeria have helped him gain valuable exposure and experience – that is uncontestable.
So, I can only see Awaziem as working his way towards being a very decent defender in seasons to come if he continues on this trajectory.
Regular playing time at high level football should only make him add more weapons to his defensive armoury.
This move to Portugal – if he continues to play regularly – should help him acuminate his skills further.
Report from Owngoal has it that Torunarigha and Udokhai have both agreed to join the team..even likely they train with the team in Austria.
Rohr loves to balance his Team and both players are left footers. Balogun, Ajayi, Ekong and recently Tosin Adarabioyo are right footed defenders and Rohr has been looking for a left footed defender to pair them.
Even in the midfield, we have Ndidi and Etebo as a Right footed Aribo as a left footed and Ejaria will soon join him.all these will make it very difficult for Awaziem even Omeruo as Akpoguma(both), Felix Agu, a side back using both legs and even billing all ready que.
I dey fear for some existing players by the time the team is ready.
Please we do not need Phillip Billing for anything, he insulted us as a Nation
Left footed central defenders and a decent left footed full back will do our defence in SE alot of good.
Goal Keeper – Maduka, (Uzoho),(Adekunle)
Defenders – Ehizibue, (Seyi), Ekong, Torunarigha, Udokhai, Ebuehi, Balogun, (Aina), Akpoguma
Midfielders – Aribo, Eze, Onomah, Ejaria, Iwobi, (Ndidi)
Wingers – Chukwueze, Ejuke, Kalu, Simon, (Saka), Dennis/Ahmed
Centre forward – Osimhen, (Dessers)
With the above team list, I had say, we are ready for the world in QATAR
@Vince, please who is Adekunle and where does he play?
Apologies, na Yakubu, no be Adekunle
Oga it’s SEMI AJAYI not Seyi
Goal Keeper – Maduka, (uzoho),(yakubu)
Defenders – Ehizibue, Ekong, Torunarigha, Udokhai, zaidu, awaziem, (Aina), Akpoguma
Midfielders – Aribo, Eze, mikel agu, Ejaria, Iwobi, (Ndidi)
Wingers – Chukwueze, Ejuke, Kalu, Simon,
Centre forward – Osimhen, (Dessers), iheanacho
Fair enough list, but you cannot buy the experience of Musa in the market, SAKA should be there as well, same as Seyi.
Let Rohr worry about that, my own is to watch them keenly contest for the cup in QATAR