Turkish Super Lig basement side Çaykur Rizespor have announced the capture of Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem from Portuguese side FC Porto on loan till the end of the season, reports www.aclsports.com
Awaziem who was part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia returned to his parent club, Porto after a successful loan spell at French side Nantes last term but has failed to break into Sergio Conçeçaio’s first team at the Estadio do Dragao.
With the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations coming up this summer in Egypt, Awaziem needs playing time in order to guarantee himself a spot in Nigeria’s squad, hence his move to Turkey.
“Çaykur Rizespor has secured a loan agreement with Portuguese Primeira Liga team FC Porto for Nigerian defender Chidozie Collins Awaziem. Awaziem joins the team until the end of the season.
“We welcome Chidozie Collins Awaziem to our club and wish him success,” the Turkish club wrote on their website on Tuesday.
Rizespor are two points adrift of safety in the Super Lig as they currently languish in bottom spot in the top division. The Okan Buruk led side have another Nigerian, Aminu Umar in their squad and it was the Rio Olympics star who scored the team’s only goal in a league win over Kasimpasa on Monday night.
Awaziem will hope to find some succour in Turkey after what has been a season of inactivity back in the Porto first team. The 22-year old made just one notable appearance for Porto, an eight-minute cameo against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on December 11, 2018.
The El-Kanemi Warriors product has five caps for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, scoring one goal last August against Seychelles in Victoria.
