Amid recent ‘racism scandal’ rocking Argentina, a teammate of Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup winning team in 2015 is set to become the first African player to be signed by Argentine side Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
Osinachi Christian Ebere is on the verge of joining the Argentine club, following a request from manager Marcelo Méndez Russo.
Ebere will be arriving on loan from Uruguay’s Club Nacional de Football, marking his second spell in Argentina, after his previous move to Rosario Central.
Ebere to become Gimnasia’s first African player
While players from Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico have played for Gimnasia in the past, Ebere will be the team’s first African player, despite recent ‘racism scandal’ associated with the country’s national team where the players were seen chanting an offensive song targeted at French players with African descent.
Gimnasia have reached verbal agreement with Nacional, whereby they would retain the former Golden Eaglets star on their roster through December 2025 in exchange for a $150,000 loan fee and the option to buy the player outright.
The 26-year-old Nigerian striker finds himself at the back burner of attacking hierarchy at Nacional since club manager Martín Lasarte hasn’t trusted him, even with first-choice attacker Gonzalo Carneiro (injury) and Federico Santande out of the picture.
Instead Lasarte, decided to rely on Gonzalo Petit, favouring the young Uruguayan striker over Ebere.
Christian Ebere, Victor Osimhen star at the 2015 U-17 World Cup
Osinachi Christian Ebere was a member of the 2015 U-17 World Cup winning squad, scoring one goal in five appearances.
The team also produced stars like Super Eagles attackers Victor Osimhen, who won the Golden Boot at the competition with 10 goals, Samuel Chukwueze, and former Arsenal academy product Kelechi Nwakali, who was crowned best player of the tournament.
