Shehu Bids Former Teammates Farewell
Nigeria defender Shehu Abdullahi on Sunday has bid his former teammates and fans at Cypriot First Division outfit Anorthosis Famagusta an emotional farewell as he gets set to join Turkish Super Lig side Bursaspor.
The Super Eagles right-back joined the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium from Portuguese second division side Uniao Madeira in August 2016 and made 54 appearances across all competitions and added four goals to his name.
The 24-year-old, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, is expected to sign an agreement with Bursaspor on Monday (today), where he unites with two of his international teammates, William Troost-Ekong and Mikel Agu.
After signing on Monday, Abdullahi will become the ninth Nigerian player with Bursaspor. He reportedly agreed a four and half year deal to join them from Anorthosis.
According to reports in Cyprus, the former Nigeria youth international will pocket €400,000 a year as salary. Reports added that Anorthosis would have a share of the money FIFA will pay to the club if Abdullahi plays for the Eagles at the World Cup 2018 in Russia in June.
In his last game for the club on Saturday, Shehu wore the captain’s armband and scored from the penalty spot to help Ronny Levy’s men secure a 3-1 victory over EthnikosAchna.
The former Kano Pillars player took to the social media to send his heartfelt appreciation to the club and their fans for their love and support.
“I just want to thank everyone at Anorthosis Famagusta – the club, the manager, my teammates and most of all the supporters for an incredible two years,” he wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
“As you know, I am leaving the club to start a new challenge but this club will forever be in my heart. The love you gave me in my final game yesterday (Saturday) was beyond my wildest dreams. So again,Thank You all!”
Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, said in an interview last week that he assisted in facilitating Abdullahi’s move to Turkey to enable the player develop more ahead of the World Cup.
“We are watching all our players and we want to step in when they need help to ensure that they have a sense of belonging – which is why we are looking at getting a bigger club for our right back Shehu Abdullahi, who is in Cyprus,” he said.
“I have a good relationship with Paul Le Guen, the coach of (William) Troost-Ekong and (Mikel) Agu at Bursaspor and I think they are interested in signing Shehu from his Cypriot club.”
Abdullahi started his career with Nigeria Premier League champions Plateau United before moving to Sokoto United. He joined Kano Pillars from Sokoto, were he left for Al-Qadsia in Kuwait.
He left Kuwait for Portuguese second division side Uniao Madeira, where he spent two seasons before heading to Cyprus.
Nigeria defender Shehu Abdullahi on Sunday has bid his former teammates and fans at Cypriot First Division outfit Anorthosis Famagusta an emotional farewell as he gets set to join Turkish Super Lig side Bursaspor.
The Super Eagles right-back joined the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium from Portuguese second division side Uniao Madeira in August 2016 and made 54 appearances across all competitions and added four goals to his name.
The 24-year-old, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, is expected to sign an agreement with Bursaspor on Monday (today), where he unites with two of his international teammates, William Troost-Ekong and Mikel Agu.
After signing on Monday, Abdullahi will become the ninth Nigerian player with Bursaspor. He reportedly agreed a four and half year deal to join them from Anorthosis.
According to reports in Cyprus, the former Nigeria youth international will pocket €400,000 a year as salary. Reports added that Anorthosis would have a share of the money FIFA will pay to the club if Abdullahi plays for the Eagles at the World Cup 2018 in Russia in June.
In his last game for the club on Saturday, Shehu wore the captain’s armband and scored from the penalty spot to help Ronny Levy’s men secure a 3-1 victory over EthnikosAchna.
The former Kano Pillars player took to the social media to send his heartfelt appreciation to the club and their fans for their love and support.
“I just want to thank everyone at Anorthosis Famagusta – the club, the manager, my teammates and most of all the supporters for an incredible two years,” he wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
“As you know, I am leaving the club to start a new challenge but this club will forever be in my heart. The love you gave me in my final game yesterday (Saturday) was beyond my wildest dreams. So again,Thank You all!”
Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, said in an interview last week that he assisted in facilitating Abdullahi’s move to Turkey to enable the player develop more ahead of the World Cup.
“We are watching all our players and we want to step in when they need help to ensure that they have a sense of belonging – which is why we are looking at getting a bigger club for our right back Shehu Abdullahi, who is in Cyprus,” he said.
“I have a good relationship with Paul Le Guen, the coach of (William) Troost-Ekong and (Mikel) Agu at Bursaspor and I think they are interested in signing Shehu from his Cypriot club.”
Abdullahi started his career with Nigeria Premier League champions Plateau United before moving to Sokoto United. He joined Kano Pillars from Sokoto, were he left for Al-Qadsia in Kuwait.
He left Kuwait for Portuguese second division side Uniao Madeira, where he spent two seasons before heading to Cyprus.
