Libyan giants Al Ahli Tripoli have submitted a lucrative offer to sign Nigerian midfielder Onuche Ogbelu from Tunisian powerhouse ES Tunis, in what is rapidly developing into a heated transfer battle.
Sources close to the negotiations reveal that Al Ahli Tripoli have tabled a two-year contract worth $3.5 million per season in a bid to lure the highly-rated midfielder away from Tunisia. Club officials were reportedly already in Tunis to finalise the deal and conclude formalities with ES Tunis.
However, the proposed transfer has taken a dramatic turn following the emergence of another top Libyan club, which has moved behind the scenes to hijack the deal. The rival outfit is believed to be engaging Ogbelu directly with an improved personal package, setting the stage for an intense bidding war between Libyan heavyweights.
Ogbelu has been a key figure in ES Tunis’ midfield setup, earning plaudits for his consistency, tactical intelligence, and physical presence in the centre of the park. The Nigerian international prospect is widely regarded as one of the country’s most promising midfielders playing abroad, a reputation that has drawn strong interest across North Africa.
With negotiations now intensifying, the coming days are expected to be decisive as both Libyan clubs push to secure his signature, while ES Tunis consider their options amid the prospect of a potentially record-breaking sale.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
