Kyrgyz striker Kojo set to join Esteghlal
Kyrgyzstan international Joel Kojo is nearing a deal with Persian Gulf Pro League club Esteghlal.
The Ghana-born striker bid an emotional farewell with Dinamo Samarqand fans on Saturday, after scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Sogdiana in the final round of fixtures of the Uzbekistan Super League.
Dinamo head coach Vadim Abramov confirmed Esteghlal’s interest in Kojo after the game, saying the clubs have had an “oral agreement” on the move, according to Varzesh3.
“Kojo is looking for a new challenge in his career, and we don’t want to force him to stay. He has one year left on his contract, but he will be released if his $300,000 asking price is met,” Varzesh3 quoted the Uzbekistani coach as saying.
Kojo, 26, netted 10 goals and provided his teammates with four assists in 26 domestic appearances to help Dinamo finish eighth in the Uzbekistan top-flight table.
Capped 23 times for Kyrgyzstan, Kojo has 10 goals under his belt since making his international debut in June last year – including a double in the 3-2 home defeat against Iran in November’s World Cup qualifier.
Esteghlal struggles in the 10th place of the Iranian league standing with 11 points after 10 games, while sitting seventh in the West Zone’s 12-team table in the AFC Champions League Elite ahead of today’s game against Al Ahli Saudi in Jeddah.