Former Super Eagles’ vice-captain, Eddy Ogenyi Onazi has signed a short-term deal in Eastern Europe, as he seeks a revival to his fast-fading career from a deal that will see him play until end of this season with FC Vilnius Zalgirus of Lithuania, megasportsarena.com reports.
The former SS Lazio of Italy as well as former star of Trabzonspor and Denzilispor of Turkey signed the deal early Friday, after arriving in Lithuania on Wednesday to put pen to paper for the country’s league winning side upon passing a routine medical.
Onazi, who got 51 caps for Nigeria before falling out of favour with the Eagles’ current coach, Gernot Rohr on account of his spate of injuries and allegations of always wanting to play with pain killing injections, will now aim to hit the ground running at his new base.
This comes after he made the move on a free transfer, as he had been a free agent since January 5, when he left SonderjyskE of Denmark by mutual agreement, sequel to his disaffecting on being limited to just two league games in six months.
Before his new deal was struck, the Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup silver medalist worked his socks off with a personal training program that he often shared on social media, but it is now down to real business with the Lithuanian A Lyga champions.
It is anticipated that his arrival will add more depth to the squad of Zalgiris, who won their eighth top-flight title in November , with the litmus test coming when The Green-Whites battle Lithuania Cup winners, Panevezys for the Super Cup on February 27.
The 28-year-old Onazi, who helped Nigeria to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where he played the distance in four matches against Zambia, Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso, could make his debut in Lithuania during next Saturday’s clash.
It would be a golden opportunity for the product of My People FC of Lagos product, who made 110 appearances and scored seven goals for Lazio, to start off on a roller-coaster with Zalgiris Vilnius, who will feature in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League for the 2021/22 season.
