Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has put his failed transfer to Birmingham City behind him by making an impact for both club and country.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old, who plays for Turkish club Trabzonspor, was denied a work permit to play for the English Championship side last month<\/p>\n
On Sunday he came on in the 88th minute for his club and scored the last goal in their 3-1 win over Genclerbirligi.<\/p>\n
“Every disappointment is a blessing. I’m not disappointed,” he told the BBC.<\/p>\n
“I’m still strong, working hard, because I know there are better chances ahead.”<\/p>\n
“Somehow you can call it disappointment because there was an opportunity for me to go to England to start another life, another football entirely, but nevertheless there is never a dull moment.”<\/p>\n
His first goal of the season came after he played in all but three minutes of Nigeria’s two 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon, which the Super Eagles won 4-0 and drew 1-1.<\/p>\n
Indeed the Super Eagles vice-captain has played in all four their 2018 World Cup qualifiers as they lead Group B in Africa.<\/p>\n
Onazi started his professional career in Italy with giants Lazio before switching to Turkey in August 2016 by signing a four-year deal with Trabzonspor.<\/p>\n
Despite his failure to earn a move to England, Onazi is confident he will move away from Trabzonspor soon and has not ruled out playing in the English Premier League.<\/p>\n
“I believe in the next transfer window it’s going to happen. Now we know what we need to do to make everything happen.” he added.<\/p>\n
“Of course that [England] is one of the places I want to play before thinking about retiring.<\/p>\n
“I can only keep working hard to help my team now; I know and believe by the special grace of God it’s going to happen soon.”<\/p>\n
He played for Nigeria at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup on home soil and has scored once since making his senior debut against Liberia in October 2012.<\/p>\n
Onazi, who has 43 international caps, helped Nigeria win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, and played in all four of his country’s games at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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