Nigerian-born Newport County of England striker, Adebayo Azeez could be part of history this weekend, should he and his teammates pull off a big shock win against visiting Manchester City in the English FA Cup, but the lad’s coach, Michael Flynn believes his players are up to the task.
Footballlive.ng gathered that Azeez and his pals have been rated very high for an upset, as Flynn says beating City in the fifth round of the FA Cup would represent the biggest shock in the history of the competition.
Azeez is new in the team that once had other Nigerian links through Yemi Odubade, Emma Osadebe and Deji Oshilaja, but the youngster is already being rated high among the potential giant killers.
Such it is that the League Two outfit are banking on him and other lads to stun at team that is 82 places above them and reigning champions of the English Premier League, who are also current leaders of the EPL table.
However, Flynn believes his underdogs can add Pep Guardiola’s side to a list of recent scalps his layers have drawn into the closet, among whom are Leeds United, Leicester City and Middlesbrough.
Born Adebayo Linford Kazim Azeez on January 8, 1994, the tall striker began his career with Charlton Athletic, from where he was on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, Leyton Orient, Torquay United and Dagenham & Redbridge before being released in 2014.
Azeez, who has played for England’s under-19 team, then played for AFC Wimbledon before signing for Partick Thistle in 2016.
Fondly called ‘Ade’ by close pals, the 25-year-old attacker under focus joined Newport on deadline day, after initially starring on loan from The Exiles, whose coach, Flynn, says the new arrival has blistering pace.
Azeez, whose contract with Newport runs until June 30, 2020 and is valued at €150,000 would find his stock rising much higher should he part of history in dumping out Man City this weekend.
Although Newport have won only twice in the league since the end of November and have slipped to 15th in the table, but Flynn insists his side are to make history this weekend.
Flynn stressed: “Who said we were going to draw with Tottenham or beat Leicester, Leeds and Middlesbrough?
“These players have a knack of rising to the occasion and are fantastic. I don’t care how we do it, it will be the biggest shock in FA Cup history.
“I say that with the biggest respect to other big giant-killings, because of the sheer gulf in finances, the quality of the players Man City have.
“The level they are playing, and they have the best manager in the world. So, it will be the biggest shock the FA Cup has ever seen.”
