The new Premier League season kicked off last weekend, one week earlier than usual. This is to compensate for the one-month pause which will occur during the 2022 World Cup which will take place in November and December. While the start of a new season is undeniably a time of great excitement for players and fans alike, it also marks the return of another scintillating season of Fantasy Football. This season is promising to be especially exciting considering the number of new players joining the League alongside seasoned talent. There are also once again a number of Nigerian players that are worthy of a spot on any Fantasy League squad.
Joe Aribo is a Hot Commodity
If you are looking for a reason to create your own virtual soccer team and take a stab at Fantasy Football, Joe Aribo may be it. While playing for Scottish team Rangers last season, Aribo caught the eye of four clubs: Aston Villa, Southampton, Brentford, and Crystal Palace. He consequently signed a 4-year deal with the Saints which fulfils his life-long dream of playing in the Premier League. Aribo scored 26 goals during his time with the Rangers which spanned 149 appearances. Upon his signing with the Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl stated: “We believe Joe can bring energy and creativity to our side. Feeling comfortable in so many different positions is very helpful for a manager and shows he has a high level of football intelligence, with the ability to take on new information quickly.”
Malcolm Ebiowei is One to Watch
During the early days of the Premier League, an attacking midfielder often had no place in a formal 4-4-2 formation. Today, powerful attacking midfielders play a pivotal role in PL matches (and Fantasy Football rankings). Malcolm Ebiowei got a lot of attention from Premier League operators thanks to his incredible performance during the second half of his last season with Derby County. After beating out some stiff competition, Palace ended up signing the 18-year-old for five years after he made a very big impression on club boss Patrick Viera. After starting off his career at Arsenal, Ebiowei had England, the Netherlands, and Nigeria all enticing him with national prospects by the time he was 15 years old.
Great Things are Expected from Frank Onyeka
Fantasy Football managers can’t go wrong by including Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka in their team. Although he only has one Nigerian cap under his belt, the strong box-to-box midfielder is bound to get a lot more time on the pitch while playing for the Bees. Big things are expected of Onyeka, who signed with Brentford last summer after. The newly promoted team may have a lot to prove but manager Thomas Frank is confident that the likes of Onyeka will help them make a lasting impression and assist them in keeping their Premier League status for another year at the absolute least.
The new Premier League season is off to an exhilarating start. At the same time, new and seasoned Fantasy League managers are hard at work compiling their teams for a heated competition of their own.
