Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem kicks off Turkish adventure in style

The versatile Nigerian star only signed for Alanyaspor a few days ago but has made his impact felt already with his first goal for the club

Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem enjoyed a brilliant debut for Alanyaspor after scoring the only goal in his side’s 1-0 triumph over Giresunspor at the Bahcesehir Okullari Stadyumu on Monday evening.

Awaziem completed a stunning season-long loan switch to Alanyaspor on September 8 from Portuguese side Boavista, a team he had captained a few times this season.

But the 24-year-old needed just eight minutes to score his first goal for his new club, heading home an Emre Akbaba free-kick from close range.

And pairing Nemanja Milunovic at the heart of the home side’s defence, Awaziem then helped Bülent Korkmaz’s men keep a clean sheet for the remaining 82 minutes in the encounter.

Alanyaspor had conceded nine goals in their last two matches before Awaziem’s arrival, including a 5-0 drubbing at Hatayspor just before the international break.

This is Awaziem’s second spell in Turkey, with the FC Porto academy product spending the last six months of the 2018/2019 season at Caykur Rizespor.

Awaziem’s strike against Giresunspor is, however, is first goal at club level in almost four years.

The last time the versatile defender hit target was while he was on loan at Nantes in a Ligue 1 clash against Guingamp on October 21, 2017.

It would be recalled that the Enugu-born centre-back featured from start to finish as Nigeria secured a crucial 2-1 win over Cape Verde in Mindelo on Tuesday