Chidozie Awaziem: Second ‘Missionary’ Journey to Turkey

Everything pointed to the fact that he was going to join compatriot, Terim Moffi at FC Lorient but rather it was Super Lig club Alanyaspor that won the heart of Super Eagles’ defender, Chidozie Awaziem in his second stint in Turkey after he had earlier played for Rizespor in the 2018/19 season

Before now, speculation was rife that Chidozie Awaziem would be joining national teammate Terim Moffi at French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient on transfer deadline, that the French side will initially take him on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

It however did not come to pass as the 24-year-old immediately travelled to Alanya on a private jet to sort out his future after helping Nigeria beat Cape Verde in the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Turkish Super Lig club Alanyaspor signed Awaziem on loan from Portuguese club Boavista until the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Awaziem left the Super Eagles’ camp in Cape Verde immediately after their 2-1 victory in the second game of their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign to complete the deal before the Turkish summer transfer window closed on Wednesday night.

The former Leganes defender played the entire duration on Tuesday as Victor Osimhen’s strike and an own goal from Kenny Rocha Santos secured maximum points for the visitors in Mindelo.
Prior to his invitation to Gernot Rohr’s team earlier this month, the former Porto youth star played three Primeira Liga matches for Boavista.

Awaziem’s arrival is expected to boost Alanyaspor’s backline after they lost two out of their three Super Lig matches so far this season.
The Nigerian international joins Angola’s Wilson Eduardo, and Senegal duo Khouma Babacar and Famara Diedhiou in Bulent Korkmaz’s team.
They are currently 13th in the table with three points from three matches and they host Giresunspor for their league fixture on Monday.

“Boavista FC informs that it has reached an agreement with Alanyaspor from Turkey for the temporary transfer of player, Chidozie Awaziem, valid until the end of the 2021-22 season,” read a statement on the club’s website.
“Boavista FC wishes Chidozie Awaziem all the best personal and professional happiness in this new stage of his career. Good luck, Chidozie.”

Awaziem joined Boavista on an initial loan for the 2020-21 season, which was later made into a permanent four-year deal at the end of the season until June 2025.
The Enugu-born centre-back started his football career at El-Kanemi Warriors before he joined Porto in 2014 where he shone for their youth side. His impressive performances earned him promotion to the Dragons’ first-team as a 19-year-old in January 2016.

During his stay at the Estadio do Dragao, the Super Eagles defender was sent out on loan four times to Nantes, Rizespor, Leganes and Boavista.
On the international scene, Awaziem made his Nigeria debut in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo in June 2017. He was also part of Rohr’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where they won bronze.

Awaziem was expected to move from Portuguese Primeira Liga side this summer; but his destination was unclear as offers had come from different directions but that of France was very promising.
The delay in a deal happening before the window closed in major leagues and other factors had also affected the defender’s early resumption to the national team camp for the World Cup qualifiers.

He was flown into Turkey aboard a Private jet to immediately complete his move, a return to the country, where he had previously played for Rizespor in the 2018/19 season.
The move is yet again a loan deal, his fifth since moving to Europe, and it’ll run its course for just a season with no mandatory option to buy.

The 24 is one of Nigeria’s bright prospects ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year and in the qualifiers for the World Cup, could stunt his development with the move and play himself out of reckoning with Super Eagles coach, Rohr. The versatile player could be thrown straight into action when Alanyaspor host Giresunspor in the League on Monday.

Had his move to Lorient gone through before Tuesday’s deadline, it would have also been the second time the defender would play in France after he previously played on loan at FC Nantes three years ago.
In this summer transfer window, Awaziem was also linked with Turkish champions Besiktas, which Alanyaspor president, Hasan Cavusoglu attested to. Awaziem was officially presented as a new player of Turkish Super Lig side Alanyaspor on Thursday after completing a deadline day transfer to Alanyaspor on Wednesday.

Alanyaspor president admitted during the unveiling ceremony that it was difficult for Alanyaspor to pull off the deal to sign the centre-back from Boavista as they were competing with Istanbul giants Besiktas for his services.
“He is a football player that we believe will contribute to our team. Transferring such players will not be easy,” Cavusoglu said to Alanyaspor’s official website.

“He was almost coming to Besiktas in the past days, but we were lucky. A very good team. We think we did it.” He added: “Awaziem is now a part of Aytemiz Alanyaspor. We are together until the end of the season. I think we will have a good season”.

The Alanyaspor newcomer was unveiled with the number 16 jersey, which was last worn by Mali centre-back Mamadou Fofana in the 2017-2018 season.

He came through the ranks at FC Porto, who shipped him out on loan severally before they finally sold him to another Portuguese club Boavista after a successful loan spell this year.
He has already been capped 22 times by Nigeria and has scored a goal.