EXCLUSIVE: John Ogu Reveals Future after Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Plans NPFL Return

Free agent, Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu says he has received numerous offers from clubs around the world but remained coy about his future when pressed by the hosts of Lagos radio Metro 97.7 FM’s “The Hangout” where he held a phone-in chat on Monday.

The midfielder told the show that he is solely focused on the national team and would make a decision on his future after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

The 31-year old bid a teary farewell to Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva where he spent five years following what he described as the “worst season of his career and has since been linked with numerous clubs having previously expressed a desire to play in the English Premier League (EPL).

However, Ogu who is back in Nigeria with the national team ahead of the AFCON, told The Hangout via telephone from the team’s camp in Asaba, that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of playing elsewhere including in China.

“There are many offers but I just finished a tough season that I feel like was the worst in my career and now I’m with the national team and I just want to forget about the past season and focus on helping my country at the Nations Cup,” Ogu told the show in reply to a question about his future.

“I’ve gotten offers from many parts; it could be that I’ll make a move to China but I can’t say for sure at the moment but my only focus is on the national team. Where I’ll be playing next season isn’t official yet however, I will be making my decision known in due course and when it happens the whole world will hear about it.”

In a lighthearted exchange with the show hosts where he was asked if he had received offers from clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Ogu revealed that he would love to play in the NPFL but not for a while yet as he believed he still had a few more years left at the top level.

“Well, if it is to promote the country, I don’t mind but I believe I still have more years to play abroad before coming back to our league and I hope one day in the future, I will have the opportunity of playing in the NPFL,” he said.

Ogu made 20 league appearances for Hapoel Be’er Sheva last season scoring once. He made a total of 140 league appearances scoring 14 times in five years at the Israeli club. He has scored two goals in twenty-one appearances for the Super Eagles.