2016 TOP 10 Mid-Season NPFL Transfers

Published on: 09 July 2016

IKECHUKWU EZENWA (GOALKEEPER) SUNSHINE STARS TO  FC IFEANYIUBAH The Nigeria international ended his two-year romance with Sunshine Stars by joining big-spending FC IfeanyiUbah. The Owena Waves were reluctant to let him go, but he forced through the move after he  allegedly claimed  he was owed several months salaries by his former employers.

TOPE ORELOPE (MIDFIELDER) SHOOTING STARS TO FC IFEANYIUBAH A consistent performer for Shooting Stars since their promotion to the top flight two years ago, he was lured away from the club by FC IfeanyiUbah bankrolled by the business mogul Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

 

IDRIS ALOMA (DEFENDER) ENYIMBA TO RIVERS UNITED The left-back, who was part of the home-based Super Eagles side that qualified for  the African Nations Championship, but was surprisingly  left out of the squad for the finals, was a constant feature under Kadiri Ikhana last season, helping Enyimba a win a record seventh Nigeria Professional Football League title. He however struggled to pin down a regular spot in the team this term following the arrival of Chima Akas from Sharks, prompting a move to Rivers United.

 

ABIODUN AKANDE (GOALKEEPER) SUNSHINE STARS TO WARRI WOLVES The second goalkeeper who left Sunshine Stars during the mid-season transfer window. Just like at Sunshine Stars where he had to contend with Ikechukwu Ezenwa for the number one position, he also faces tough competition at Warri Wolves as former junior international Dele Ajiboye has already established himself as the club's first choice. There is also Rhiogberi Tejiri who has distinguished himself in the few games he has featured in this season.

 

WASIU JIMOH  (FORWARD) SHOOTIN STARS TO FC IFEANYIUBAH The third player from Shooting Stars to have linked up with FC IfeanyiUbah during the mid-season transfer window. Jimoh scored a number of vital goals for Shooting Stars last season, a key factor in the Oluyole Warlords maintaining their top flight status. He is one of the five players to have recorded a hat-trick in Nigeria Professional Football League this season.

RAZAK ADEGBITE  (FORWARD) SUNSHINE STARS TO KANO PILLARS It is still a surprise Sunshine Stars accepted the offer from former champions Kano Pillars for the talented forward after only linking up with them  from Rangers at the start of the season. Adegbite alongside the side's top scorer, Okiki Afolabi, who has also left the club for a stint in Argentina, has shouldered the goal scoring responsibilities for the Owena Waves after they sold reliable pair Tunde Adeniji and Prince Aggreh at the start of the season. Though he is yet to score a goal for Pillars since the switch, his impressive showing has confined the team's skipper, Gambo Mohammed, to the substitutes bench. The 23-year old once had a stint with Jomo Cosmos in the South African League.

 

OJO OLORUNLEKE (GOALKEEPER)

GIWA FC TO SUNSHINE STARS With Sunshine Stars losing their first and second choice goalkeepers, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Abiodun Akande, to FC IfeanyiUbah and Warri Wolves, Ojo Olorunleke has come in to fill the void left by the two. Ojo whose impressive showings for Giwa FC in the 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League season earned him an invitation to the Nigeria's U-20 side then is rated as one of the best young goalkeepers in the land. He had to sever ties with the Jos Elephants following their expulsion  from the NPFL by the League Management Company.

ISMAIL  GATA  (FORWARD) NIGER TORNADOES TO FC IFEANYIUBAH The forward who once played in the Albanian League with FC Kukesi  only  joined Niger Tornadoes from relegated Kwara United at the beginning of the season. His impressive performances for Abdullahi Biffo's men where he netted 10 times in the first stanza of the season have earned him a lucrative deal with big-spending FC IfeanyiUbah.

IFEANYI ONUIGBO (FORWARD) HEARTLAND TO ENYIMBA Enyimba's only acquisition during the mid-season transfer window, Ifeanyi Onuigbo joined from Oriental rivals Heartland Football Club of Owerri. The forward has also played for Sudanese side, Al-Hilal and Libya's Ahly Benghazi in the past.

CHRIS MADAKI (DEFENDER) GIWA FC TO KANO PILLARS The left-back who was a member of the home-based Super Eagles side that featured at the African Nations Championship in Rwanda was tracked by Kano Pillars before the start of the season, but Giwa FC failed to sanction the move. He was however the first Giwa FC player to join Pillars after he and his teammates were freed to join any club of their choice till the end of the season following the expulsion of their club from the NPFL.

 

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