Awaziem clears air on ‘evil’ report

Nigeria international Chidozie Awaziem has opened up about what really happened after his medical at French Ligue 1 side Nantes.

The 20-year-old defender, who is on loan from Portuguese giants FC Porto, dismissed the reports stating that they were wide off the mark.

Awaziem feels that the Nigerian media that ran the story apparently didn’t get a perfect translation of what was reported by the French media.

”I think there’s a confusing somewhere in the translation by the Nigerian media,” Awaziem said.

“I read the story and I don’t want to believe the writer deliberately wrote that, it’s wrong to assume such. I feel he got the wrong translation.

“That said at no point did I abscond from Nantes after medical, they were issues with my visa and the terms of my contract which took a while to clear with Porto,” he added.

“Since then I have been here. We just finished playing Hull City in a friendly game as I speak to you now.”

The highly-rated defender was part of the Super Eagles team that suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to South Africa in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo, Nigeria last month.

”My move to Nantes was on even before the game against Corsica, not even the South Africa game. Everybody know about the deal that took me to Nantes,” he added.

“As for the calamity tag labelled on me, what can I say?, you can’t be loved by all but I can promise Nigerians that I will be at my best anytime I’m called up to play for Nigeria.”

BEN NWACHUKWU with Agency Report