Taiwo Awoniyi has reached the Premier League through the scenic route.
Liverpool supporters will likely be reminded this weekend that it was a Nottingham Forest striker who scored the successful aim in opposition to them to mark the primary televised Premier League recreation on Sky Sports activities, 30 years in the past.
Three many years on from Teddy Sheringham’s trademark end, Awoniyi will hope to announce himself in entrance of the Sky cameras as West Ham go to the Metropolis Floor on Tremendous Sunday, after his six-year spell at Liverpool left him with a way of unfinished enterprise in England.
Again in 2015, he joined the Merseyside membership for a charge of round £400,000 after impressing on the U20 World Cup in New Zealand for Nigeria. Then, aged simply 17, he was instantly loaned out to German group FSV Frankfurt – the primary of seven loans earlier than he made a transfer to Union Berlin everlasting solely final summer season.
The ahead has solely simply been granted a UK work allow, so his year-long mortgage strikes previous to becoming a member of Union have been out of necessity greater than design. Awoniyi could have puzzled whether or not his Premier League dream was over.
Sunday 14th August 1:00pm
African soccer journalist Usher Komugisha tells Sky Sports activities: “So much has been achieved to guard homegrown gamers in England. Six years in the past, it wasn’t very straightforward for an African participant to acquire a UK work allow and that is nonetheless the case.
“There have been lots of conversations on the FA to guard the Premier League and particularly English gamers. We have seen within the final 4 years, in reality ever since England received the U20 and U17 World Cups in 2017, lots of English gamers have gone on to make England a powerful contender for the World Cup.
“To do this, you have to tighten up a number of the guidelines on international gamers allowed into the nation. Now, it’s important to be taking part in for one of many prime 75 nations within the FIFA world rankings, and you have to have performed no less than 50 per cent of video games for that nation over a set time period.
Awoniyi didn’t play in six years at Liverpool
“This gives a restrict, and it was the case when Awoniyi first joined Liverpool. It was unlucky for him as the whole lot was going very well on the time.”
Forest’s determination to make the 24-year-old striker their club-record signing earlier this summer season marked the most recent chapter in a whirlwind journey for the boy from Ilorin, the town in western Nigeria.
Awoniyi, a religious Christian, would sew his personal boots as a toddler and arrive to coaching on the Kwara Soccer Academy early with mending instruments. His resilience is a narrative re-told by many African gamers.
Awoniyi scored 20 objectives in 43 video games final season
“Sadio Mane had the identical boots for years,” Komugisha reveals. “Typically, you’d see his toes by way of his footwear. He ran away from residence, borrowed some cash and went to the town of Dakar to attempt his luck at soccer although his dad and mom needed him to go to highschool.
“It was the identical for Odion Ighalo, who got here from one of many largest slums in Nigeria – Ajegunle (a densely-populated suburb in Lagos). There, you might have individuals promoting sachets of water the place if they will elevate £1 throughout two days, they’re able to feed their households.
“That is the type of background that offers the likes of Awoniyi his combating spirit.”
There have been a number of sliding-door moments.
In July 2009, Jose Mourinho visited Kwara State as a visitor of the ex-Governor Bukola Saraki, who had simply created Kwara Soccer Academy.
Taiwo is a participant who we actually imagine in and we sit up for him happening to fulfil his potential and develop into a prime Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest.
In 2010, he would star at a soccer event in London, successful the MVP award in addition to the Golden Boot. It has felt a matter of when, and never if, he can be given his probability to shine on a better stage.
“Nigeria have achieved an unimaginable job at youth tournaments all through the years,” says Komugisha.
“They’re five-time winners of the U17 World Cup and in 2013 he was a part of the group that received within the UAE. He was in the identical group as Kelechi Iheanacho, however he was truly taking part in second fiddle till Isaac Success obtained injured.
Solely 5 gamers scored extra objectives than Awoniyi’s 15 within the league final season
“This allowed him to get into the core of the group and he helped them win the event. He was subsequently a part of the U20 group in New Zealand two years later. They upset as a group however he was within the dialog then as a part of the brand new era to take over from the senior group.”
Having struggled throughout mortgage spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Mainz, Mouscron (twice) and Gent, Jurgen Klopp performed a task in convincing Awoniyi {that a} everlasting transfer from Liverpool to Union Berlin would play to his strengths.
Fifteen objectives in 31 Bundesliga appearances final time period opened the door for one more crack on the Premier League.
Awoniyi struggled in his first mortgage at FSV Frankfurt
Steve Cooper and Forest have signalled their intent this window as they give the impression of being to make their return to the Premier League following a 23-year absence not a short lived one.
Awoniyi has put pen to paper on a five-year contract following his £17.5m transfer from the Bundesliga’s Union Berlin – and Forest have gone on to finish 12 new signings in whole. This quantity is about to rise within the close to future.
Emmanuel Dennis, who has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League newcomers, got here from the identical Kwara Soccer Academy as Awoniyi so a reunion might effectively be in retailer to additional support his interval of adaptation in new environment.
Not that Komugisha feels the participant will want a lot adjusting, nor really feel the stress of his club-record charge.
She continues: “If you have a look at Nigerian footballers, certainly African footballers, they know methods to take care of unlucky circumstances.
Awoniyi taking part in at this yr’s AFCON in opposition to Egypt
“That is to not make it sound like these from different locations on this planet do not, however to offer you a little bit of context, Nigeria is a rustic of 220 million individuals. By the point you make it to any nationwide group, you should be fairly good.
“You could’ve gone by way of unimaginable sacrifices and circumstances to make it to the nationwide group. Taiwo grew up on the streets of Ilorin attempting to verify he might make it to the large stage.
“Nigeria had huge gamers throughout completely different generations which have wowed the world. We have had the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel – these have been all inspirations to Taiwo.
Awoniyi impressed in the course of the U20 World Cup
“At any time when they have been confronted with a giant problem, all of them seemed for options in the identical manner Taiwo has. He acknowledged he could not play for Liverpool, however he checked out alternate options to maintain the dream alive.
“His aim was all the time in some unspecified time in the future to return again to the Premier League. You should utilize Mohamed Salah as the right instance. He performed for Chelsea, issues did not actually work out for him, he went to Fiorentina after which Roma earlier than coming to Liverpool.
“Now, he’s actually ruling the Premier League.”
The striker shone on the U17 World Cup in 2013
Cooper opted to play a two-man ahead line final weekend within the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle with Brennan Johnson taking part in near Sam Surridge.
It was noticeable how remoted former Forest man Michail Antonio was throughout West Ham’s 2-0 reverse in opposition to Manchester Metropolis because the lone striker, so it will likely be fascinating to see if Cooper retains the identical form in a bid to outscore the opposition.
Awoniyi was launched from the bench after 63 minutes at St James’ Park, so what system most accurately fits the striker?
“I really feel Taiwo might make Nottingham Forest one of many huge surprises of the Premier League season,” Komugisha ends. “I really feel his circumstances of the previous few years have ready him for this second.
“He works effectively in a two-man assault however he may regulate to no matter he’s offered with. He’ll attempt his finest to suit into the membership’s philosophy but in addition it is dependent upon the opposition Forest are dealing with.
“There have been experiences that Forest are about to signal Emmanuel Dennis, his compatriot, from Watford. If they’ve that duo up entrance, Forest followers needs to be very excited. It might be raining objectives!”
What’s going to Awoniyi carry to Forest?
European soccer journalist Andy Brassell to Sky Sports activities Information:
“I feel it’s a assertion of intent. Awoniyi has been terrific for Union Berlin within the final couple of seasons and significantly final season.
“He is their prime goalscorer of all time within the prime flight. You have a look at his energy and the number of objectives he scores, and he was the person who made positive they certified for the Europa League on the finish of the season.
“He is somebody who can create his personal shot and choose up the items. What actually impressed me about him is his actually inventive strike accomplice did loads for him – Max Kruse. He moved on and went again to Wolfsburg in January, and Awoniyi took centre stage and is comfortable to actually take accountability for the assault.
“I feel he’ll be completely terrific for Nottingham Forest.”
