Young players expected to hit new heights in 2016

                                                                                Kelechi Iheanacho

These players are already household names to certain extents but are expected to really hit the ground running in 2016 after showing traces of brilliance in the past year.

Kelechi Iheanacho - last year was an unforgettable year for Iheanacho, he not only got his first senior debut for Manchester City in an English Premier League game, he also scored two dramatic goals that not only confirmed six points for City in their push for the EPL title but also cementing his place alongside the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and David

Silva on the weekly team sheet.
This year, the player is expected to go one step further by claiming a starting line up shirt among City’s elite players and with the club’s ageing squad and plans of inculcating young players into the first team, Iheanacho might just to be closer to realizing his dream of becoming a ‘starter’.

Taiwo Awoniyi - No one will be happier than this player for the fact that Jurgen Klopp is now Liverpool manager given his history of unearthing gems. When the youngster signed for the English giants last year, Brendan Rodgers was still in charge and he was hurriedly rushed to Bundesliga 2 on loan.
Awoniyi will return to the Anfield club by May (at the end of the season) and as everyone know about Klopp, he loves his young players, if Awoniyi is able to replicate some of his scoring exploits for Nigeria during the next pre-season with Liverpool he would be in the Kop’s senior team for the next season.

Victor Osimhen - this year, the FIFA U17 World Cup record goal scorer will finally turn 18 which will enable him to sign his first professional contract. The question on many people’s lips is which of these two will he finally settle for, Wolfsburg or Arsenal.
Each of the aforementioned clubs have amazing history in terms of nurturing talents for the game and many believe signing for any will be a step in the right direction for the Ultimate academy striker.

Kelechi Nwakali - another player from the 2015 U17 class whose talents cannot be questioned. He is presently linked with Arsenal and Manchester City which has his brother Chidebere Nwakali in their ranks. He is a player who can be likened to a young ‘Mesut Ozil’or the Dutch maestro ‘Dennis Bergkamp’ due to his vision on the field of play and ability to create something out of nothing. Nwakali is expected to finally settle for one of his suitors early this year, move over there and continue to dazzle with his amazing talent.

Moses Simon - some Nigerian football fans claimed not to have heard of him before his thunderbolt free kick that ensured the Super Eagles overcame a stubborn Swaziland and qualify for the final FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying round.
Fans of Gent in the Belgian top flight already have a song for him after hitting double figures for the club in the last two seasons which culminated in the northern side winning the country’s FA Cup.
For two years now, some of the biggest sides in Europe have been on Moses’ trail and many believe Chelsea, Liverpool or Porto might finally get their man this year.

Zaharadeen Bello - like Iheanacho, Bello is another player from the 2013 U17 World Cup winning side that has the world at his feet. An amazing defender that can only get better.
Was unlucky to have joined Kano Pillars in a ‘not too good’ season but despite that emerged one of the few bright sparks in what was a disappointing term for the former NPFL champions.
His performances whenever he was called upon have been commendable and it’s expected that Bello will go ahead to establish himself as a regular with the one-time CAF Champions league semifinalist who will be looking to redeem themselves in the 2015/2016 season.