Akwa United of Uyo’s top scorer in the recently concluded season of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Charles Atshimene is set to join Anayo Iwuala at Esperance of Tunisia, megasportsarena.com reports.
So soon after Esperance captured Iwuala from Enyimba of Aba, latest information out of the North African country indicates that the Super Eagles’ rookie could have a compatriot in the Tunis-based side this season.
This is sequel to a report emerging from Tunisia that The Red & Gold are already locked in talks with Akwa United over a possible deal for Atshimene, who emerged joint-highest goals scorer of the NPFL with Silas Nwankwo from Nasarawa United of Lafia.
Aside helping The Promise Keepers win their first ever league title this past season, Atshimene put himself into the transfer spotlight with his haul of 19 goals in 27 matches, which gave him a club record that surpassing the previous mark of 17 achieved by Akarandut Orok 11 years ago.
Atshimene sealed his place in history against Lobi Stars of Makurdi on the last day of the season, when he scored his 19th goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute to cancel out Chinonso Okonkwo’s 32nd minute opener.
Austin Ogunye, however, sealed victory for Lobi Stars from the penalty spot and, though Akwa United suffered their fifth defeat of the season during the game at Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, they had already gained an unassailable number of points that saw them crowned champions the week before.
It was Atshimene’s second campaign in Nigeria’s top flight, after he featured for Warri Wolves of Delta State the previous season and scored seven goals, and he could have notched more had he not missed 11 matches due to a minor injury at the beginning of the term and his involvement in the home-based Eagles’ trip to USA for a friendly against Mexico.
