Welcome to Joeonpoint: England wins Under 20 World Cup – with Nigerian ki...

Welcome to Joeonpoint: England wins Under 20 World Cup – with Nigerian ki...: Ojo, Solanke & Lookman        Photo: Daily Mail Dominic Solanke. Ademola Lookman. Seyi Ojo. Fikayo Tomori. Ovie Ejaria. Joshua Onom...

England wins Under 20 World Cup – with Nigerian kids

Ojo, Solanke & Lookman        Photo: Daily Mail

Dominic Solanke. Ademola Lookman. Seyi Ojo. Fikayo Tomori. Ovie Ejaria. Joshua Onomah

You would be pardoned if you thought these are names of Nigerian football players. Yes, they have Nigerian heritage all right but they are playing for England. And they have just helped that country win the FIFA Under 20 World Cup – the first trophy England has won since lifting the World Cup on home soil in 1966.

After 51 long years, England has finally been able to lift a trophy in football, thanks to Nigeria’s exports. Ironically, the U-20 World Cup is the only age-grade tournament Nigeria has failed to win, reaching the finals two times – in 1985 and 2005. The country has won the U-17 World Cup a record five times. It also won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics.  

England defeated Venezuela 1-0 in a pulsating final. To reach the final, the Young Lions had come tops in a group that included Argentina, Guinea and hosts South Korea. They then defeated Costa Rica, Mexico and Italy in the knockout stages to set up the grand finale against Venezuela. Six teenagers with Nigerian heritage made this happen.

Dominic Ayodele Solanke, the son of a Nigerian father and a German mother, has been in devastating form, scoring four goals to emerge second highest scorer in the tournament.

In 2015, when he was just 17, Solanke was named England Youth Player of the Year. The Reading-born striker signed a professional contract in September 2014 with Chelsea and made his professional debut a month later in the Champions League match against NK Maribor. This made him the club’s youngest ever player to feature in the Champions League.

In spite of his undoubted talent, Solanke failed to cement a place in the star-studded Chelsea first team, spending last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem of Holland. Due to a lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge, he has decided to try his fortunes elsewhere, bagging a contract worth £20,000 a week at Liverpool.

The 2016-17 season was a breakout season for Ademola Lookman Olajade. The 19-year-old signed for Everton from Charlton Athletic for £7.5 million in January 2017. In his first game for Everton, Lookman came on as a substitute against Manchester City in the 90^th minute and scored a wonderful goal with his first touch of the ball. What a way to introduce yourself to the world!

The tricky winger, who scored a brace to help England defeat Costa Rica 2-1 in the round of 16, is also a brilliant student. He got five As in his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exam.

After holding talks with the NFF, Ademola decided to snub the Super Eagles, preferring to run with the Three Lions.

Oluwasheyi Babajide Ojo came on as a sub in the semi-final against Italy and immediately changed the game with an impressive display. He scored the second goal in the 3-1 defeat of the highly rated Italians.

The powerful and energetic winger joined Liverpool at the age of 14 and spent time on loan with Wigan Athletic and Wolves. He made his competitive debut for Liverpool in January 2016 in the FA Cup match against Exeter City.

A fracture on his back kept him sidelined and he didn’t return to first team training till November. So far he has played eight matches for the Reds. A player for the future, he could be used as an impact sub in the next season as Liverpool returns to the Champions League.

Ojo, who has played for England since U-16, has been approached by the NFF to feature for Nigeria. So far, the Federation has not succeeded in luring him “home.”

Fikayo Tomori (full name Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori) was born in Alberta, Canada. This also enables to play for Canada as well as Nigeria. In March 2016 he captained Canada’s U-20 team to a 2-1 victory over England but switched to the England U-19 team just two months later. And now he is a part of the history-making England U-20 team.

He joined Chelsea at under-8 level and has since progressed in the club’s youth system, helping the London club to win the UEFA Youth League and the FA Youth League in 2015 and 2016.

He made his professional debut for the Blues on May 15, 2016 in the 1-1 draw against Leicester City. It was the last game of the season. On August 1, 2016 the versatile defender signed a new four-year deal with Chelsea. A few months later, in January 2017, he joined championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on loan and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League.

Joshua Oghenetega Onomah is another player of Nigerian heritage who is making history for England. The midfielder, who was born in Enfield, came through the academy system of Tottenham Hotspurs and was first called up for the first team in January 2015. He made his Premier League debut on November 2, 2015 in the 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa. He replaced Dele Alli, another English player with Nigerian heritage, in the last minute of the game. A month later, he featured in the Champions League match against AS Monaco, playing all 90 minutes. So far, he has featured 10 times for Spurs.

Although he had earlier represented England at U-17 and U-19 levels, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is said to be pushing hard for him to have a change of heart and feature for the Super Eagles. But so far, Josh is happy to represent the country of his birth.

Oviemuno Dominic Ejaria is another promising midfielder who was born to Nigerian parents. The 19-year-old played for Arsenal’s junior teams for nine years before signing for Liverpool in 2014. His first competitive call up for Liverpool came on September 16, 2016 in a Premier League match against Chelsea. He was an unused substitute but four days later he made his first team debut in a League Cup match against Derby Country, replacing Roberto Firmino in the second half.

A month later, on October 25, he made his first start in the League Cup game against Spurs then appeared in a Premier League game in the 6-1 thrashing of Watford on November 6, 2016.

In 2013, Ovie trained with Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets and stated that he is ready to play for Nigeria. However, a call up from the English U-20 team made him change his mind. However, the NFF is still hopeful of taking advantage of the youngster’s patriotic zeal.

Why I chose Wolfsburg over Arsenal – Victor Osimhen

Nigeria’s U-20 striker Victor Osimhen has signed a formal contract with German club VfL Wolfsburg, ignoring the interests of English Premiership giants Arsenal as well as Serie A sides Inter and Fiorentina.

The wonderkid had signed a pre-contract with Wolfsburg in January last year because he was just 17. Under European laws a non-European cannot sign a formal contract until the age of 18.

Osimhen, who won the Golden Ball at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, turned 18 this January and is now eligible for a full contract. He has now signed a three-and-a-half-year deal worth €3.5 million from Nigerian side Ultimate Strikers Academy.

The lanky striker feels the Bundesliga side will provide him a better opportunity to develop his talents.

"There were many clubs that were interested in me, but my choice was Wolfsburg because I think that my development opportunities are highest here," Osimhen told Bild, Germany’s leading sports newspaper.

"If I had gone to Arsenal, for example, I might not have found the route to the first team so quickly. I love football and I have worked hard to get to where I am now."

Osimhen scored 10 goals at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup to set a new record at the age-grade tournament. His goals helped Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets win an unprecedented fifth title.

The next year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) named him the best young player in Africa at an awards gala in Abuja.

Picture: Complete Sports

Nigerians in Hollywood Part Five

This is the fifth part of the series, "Nigerians in Hollywood."
To check out the first four parts of the series, please see the links at the end of the page. Thank you.

Sophia Okonedo

Best known for: Hotel Rwanda

Okonedo   Picture: Hello Magazine

Sophia Okonedo (OBE) was born in London, England, in 1968 to a Nigerian father, Henry Okonedo and a Jewish mother, Joan (née Allman). She was just five years old when her parents separated. Her father returned to Nigeria, leaving Sophia’s mother to raise her in the Jewish faith.

Okonedo, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, worked across various media including film, television and theatre. Her first film was the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels (1991).

Since then, she has appeared in a lot of films. Some of them are Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) where she played the part of the Wachati Princess; The Jackal (1997) and Dirty Pretty Things (2002). She also starred alongside South Africa’s Charlize Theron in the movie Æon Flux (2005). 

Okonedo got global recognition in 2004 when she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in the historical film Hotel Rwanda.

The encomiums kept coming. She received a Golden Globe nomination for a lead actress in the miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) and BAFTA TV Award nominations for the miniseries Criminal Justice (2009) and her portrayal of Winnie Mandela in the TV film Mrs. Mandela (2010).

In 2014 her performance in the theatrical play A Raisin in the Sun earned her a Tony – the theatre equivalent of an Oscar – for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. The role also earned her a commendation from US President Barack Obama.

Although Okonedo is one of Britain’s most accomplished actors, most of her job offers come from Hollywood.

“I do notice that – over the last year – I've had maybe two scripts from England and tens and tens from America,” she said. “The balance is ridiculous. I'm still struggling (in the UK) in a way that my white counterparts at the same level wouldn't have quite the same struggle.”

Okonedo was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in Queen Elizabeth’s 2010 Birthday Honours.

Jovan Adepo

Best known for: The Leftovers

Adepo   Picture: Wikipedia

Jovan Adepo was born in Oxfordshire, England and raised in Waldorf, Maryland, USA. He is of Nigerian and African-American descent. He is the grandson of the late Fatai Adepo, who was special adviser on prison matters to Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Adepo, who majored in political science and philosophy at Bowie State University, Maryland, wanted to play professional football when he first got to college, but later changed to acting when he could not get enough game time in the school's football team.

Upon graduation he moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and started attending acting workshops to hone his skills. The Disney Channel took note and gave him his first acting job in K.C. Undercover. In 2014 he found himself playing Michael Murphy in the HBO television series, The Leftovers. He also played a part in the short film, The Youth (2015).

Then he got his first role on the big screen playing Cory, the son of characters played by megastar Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in the movie adaptation of August Wilson’s play, Fences. The film hit theatres on December 25, 2016.

Adepo said he was extremely nervous when he had to audition for Denzel, who also directed the movie. But the two-time Oscar winner pulled him aside and advised him, “I cast you for a reason. I feel that my vision for the film and for the direction I want to go, you were the best for job. So rest easy...I just want you to be mindful that you are enough.”

Adepo apparently took the advice because he landed the role – and went on to deliver a great performance.

Richard Ayoade

Best known for: The IT Crowd

Ayoade   Picture: imdb.com

Richard Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, England in 1977 and grew up in Suffolk. His father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade, is a Nigerian while his mother Dagny Amalie (née Baassuik) hails from Norway.

The multi-talented Ayoade is an actor, comedian, writer, director and television presenter. He studied law at St Catharine's College, Cambridge (1995–1998), where he won the Martin Steele Prize for play production.

His TV break came when he co-wrote, directed and starred in the cult classic Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (2004). He has also appeared in films such as The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), At The Apollo (2008), and Bunny and the Bull (2009).

He won the 2014 BAFTA (the British version of the Oscars) for Best Male Comedy Performance as the social oblivious savant Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd (2006).

He has also directed films such as Submarine (2010) and The Double (2013) – which he co-wrote – as well as several music videos. On TV, Ayoade also presents the factual shows Travel Man and Gadget Man.

For Submarine, he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer as well as the London Film Critics’ Circle Award for British Breakthrough Filmmaker.

The Double earned him a Black Reel Award nomination for Best Foreign Film as well the London Film Festivals Award for Best Film.

While most of his work is in Britain, Ayoade starred in the American comedy film The Watch (2012) alongside Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.

The versatile artist who has written two books -- Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey and A Cinematic Odyssey -- is married to actress Lydia Fox.

POSTHUMOUS MENTION:

Bolaji Badejo (August 23, 1953 - December 22, 1992)

Best known for: Alien

Badejo   Picture: Wikia.com

Bolaji Badejo was born in Lagos in 1953 to Victor and Elizabeth Badejo (née Bamidele).

His father, Victor Badejo, was the first indigenous director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

Bolaji grew up in Lagos then studied graphic arts in London when the family relocated to England. His only acting role was in Alien (1979) the blockbuster science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott.

Scott was searching frantically for the ideal person to play the title creature in the film, when he stumbled on Badejo in a London bar. Badejo, who stood at 6’10” with a skinny frame, perfectly matched the fearful insect-like creature the director was trying to portray in the film.

Although he had never acted before, Badejo warmed up to the role. He took tai chi classes and rigorously rehearsed the Alien’s gliding movement and mantis-like posture till he perfected it. With the help of physical trainers, he built up muscles in certain areas of his body to be able to move around in the massive and uncomfortable costume.

“We'd had this vision of a praying mantis," associate producer Ivor Powell told CNN in October 2016. "We needed somebody incredibly tall with very long legs, so when they crouched down it gave the impression of an insect.”

Badejo put up such an awesome performance that during filming cast members such as Sigourney Weaver and Veronica Cartwright were actually terrified of his character.

"We knew we were dealing with an iconic baddie," says Powell.

CNN says Badejo is “one of cinema’s most feared villains” following his captivating performance in the space horror classic.

The film, which had a budget of $11 million, would go on to make $100 million at the box office. It also won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Badejo returned to Nigeria in 1980 and worked with his uncle, the renowned sculptor Omotayo Aiyegbusi, for sometime. In 1983 he opened his own art gallery in Lagos and never returned to take part in the money-spinning Alien sequels.

“The fact that I played the part of Alien, for me, that's good enough,” he said.

Badejo died of sickle cell anaemia on December 22, 1992 at the age of 39. He left behind two children.

To see the first four installments of this interesting series, please click any of the following links:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four