OMDURMAN: Nigerian striker Stephen Worgu, the hottest football property in Africa, has arrived in Sudan for transfer talks with leading local club Al-Merreikh.
Teenager Worgu took the African Champions League by storm this year, scoring an unrivalled 13 goals for Enyimba before their semi-final loss to Al-Ahly of Egypt at the weekend.
He has been linked with five-time African champions Ahly, but talks stumbled over demands for a $1.5-million transfer fee plus an annual salary of one million.
Worgu waved a Merreikh flag when he arrived at Khartoum airport and was met by officials, who have reportedly held extensive talks with his agent about a January transfer.
I prefer Merreikh to Ahly because the Sudanese club chairman demonstrated how serious he was about a deal by bringing me here, Worgu told the Sudanese media.
The warm reception I received was delightful and I hope to live up to the expectations of Merreikh, added Worgu, who is six goals ahead of Daouda Kamilou from finalists Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon in the scorers table.
Nigerians have made a major impact in Sudan for several seasons with Endurance Idahor among the stars of Merreikh while Kelechi Osunwa is the leading scorer of bitter rivals and defending champions Al-Hilal.
Merreikh trail Hilal by three points entering the closing stages of another two-team title race, but have played one fixture less and boast a superior goal difference. -AFP
