Sodiq Ismail’s Move From Remo Stars To Albania Suffers Setback

Super Eagles defender, Sodiq Ismail, is facing a delay in finalizing his transfer to the Albanian club FK Partizani.

The reason for this hold-up stems from ‘fresh minor details’ that remain to be negotiated between Ismail’s representatives and the Albanian side.

Initially, Ismail was slated to undergo a medical examination on Friday, which would pave the way for him to officially sign a three-year contract with FK Partizani.

However, according to a reliable source close to Ismail and his parent club, as well as insights from Mike the Pundit, a respected figure in the Nigeria Premier Football League transfer scene, these plans have now been postponed.

Mike shared the update on social media platform X, stating, “Medicals and official announcements initially scheduled for Sodiq Ismail today (Friday) will no longer hold. Fresh minor details need to be reached with FK Partizani. Otherwise, the transfer will not happen!”

Should the negotiations not conclude favourably, Ismail risks missing out on participating in the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship.

This prestigious tournament will take place from February 1 to 28 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It’s particularly significant for players currently active in their country’s domestic leagues, and by the time Ismail completes his transfer from Remo Stars, he will no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

Sodiq Ismail made a notable impact in helping Nigeria secure their place in the tournament, contributing as one of the key goal scorers in the decisive match against Ghana, which Nigeria won with an aggregate score of 3-1.

Since his rise in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in 2023, the 21-year-old central defender has earned the nickname “the assist king,” thanks to his remarkable ability to contribute to his team’s offensive plays.

During the 2023/24 season, he recorded an impressive 13 assists and one goal, helping his team finish in a strong second place in the NPFL.