A former Egypt-based midfielder, Innocent Azuonye was reeling in a sea of tears at the weekened, after burglars invaded his home and made away with all his football kit, Sports247 reports.

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The shock development, which occurred at his residence in Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos, is another major setback for Azuonye, who returned to Nigeria early this year, after an ill-fated sojourn in Egypt.

Although his days in The Land of The Pharaohs began on a bright note, with huge prospects ahead of him, it was soon spoilt by what he referred to as discrimination against him by officials of the club.

Azuonye alleged in an exclusive chat with Sports247 that the club in Egypt frustrated him, then withheld his international transfer certificate when he insisted on leaving, thereby making it impossible for him to sign for another club.

He then came close to dumping football, with a thought of turning to trading at one of the popular markets in Lagos, until friends prevailed on him to pick up his career once again from the grassroots.

He eventually dusted his boots after months of hesitation, but that move has now been hit with a huge blockade, following the theft of all kit he had been using in his spirited bid to get his career back on track as a free agent in this summer’s transfer window.

“I’m not really happy right now. Someone came to my house and stole my bag that all my kits are in. My boots, my socks, my two yellow jerseys and white playing pants.

“Even my shin guard, my bandage and my tights were taken by the thief. Now I am back to ground zero, like I was when I left Egypt,” Azuonye lamented.

The once-promising lad at White Sand Field, Orile-Iganmu also shot his mind back to the ugly experience he faced in Egypt and recalled that it was simply a case of ethnic bias that he faced from a coach who preferred using his indigenous players.

“I was playing for a club in Egypt, but they frustrated me and they did not like me. They said I should play out of my position and go to right-full-back in defence.

“My agent argued with them, and they agreed to let me stay. I got an offer in Togo, but they did not want me to go and refused to release me.

“I also refused to play for their team again, and that’s how I left them. I could not get another team because they did not release my transfer certificate. That’s how I returned to Nigeria.

“I could not get a club because they were all asking for my transfer certificate. That’s when I started thinking about going into business. I used to do some business before travelling and I started thinking about starting it again.

“I eventually decided to start playing grassroots football again, so that I will get a transfer this summer as a free agent, but see what those wicked thieves have done to me,” Azuonye whimpered.

Sports247 recalls that Azuonye made top marks some years back when he featured for the under-15 squad of National Grassroots Dream Team in a competition at Olusosun Primary School, Oregun, Lagos.

He and his colleagues were in sparkling form and reached the final of the competition on the same pitch where Galatasaray of Turkey striker, Victor Osimhen started his football journey.

Global crude oil prices recorded a steep decline on Monday following a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, bringing an end to more than two months of hostilities that disrupted global energy markets and fuelled inflationary pressures across several economies.

Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, dropped by nearly four per cent to trade at $79.50 per barrel as of 9:54 a.m. Nigerian time.

An analysis of market data showed that Brent crude, which opened at $80.24 per barrel on Sunday, climbed briefly to about $81 before declining steadily to $79.39, its lowest level within the last 24 hours.

The sharp decline followed Sunday’s announcement by Washington and Tehran that they had agreed to end the conflict between the two countries.

The agreement also effectively halted the war between Israel and Iran and brought an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

The peace deal, reportedly brokered by Pakistan alongside several Middle Eastern countries, paves the way for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic oil transit routes through which roughly 20 per cent of global crude oil supplies are transported.

The strait had remained closed since the outbreak of hostilities on 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran.

The disruption triggered significant volatility in global oil markets, pushing Brent crude above the $100-per-barrel threshold and driving energy costs to multi-year highs.

The surge in crude prices led to corresponding increases in the prices of refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, across several countries.

In Nigeria, the spike in international oil prices translated into higher domestic fuel costs, triggering concerns among consumers, transport operators and businesses already grappling with rising living expenses.

As global crude prices fluctuated during the crisis, Dangote Refinery adjusted its ex-depot prices several times to reflect changing market conditions.

READ ALSO: US, Iran agree on deal to end war

Petrol, which sold for about N870 per litre before tensions escalated in the Middle East, now retails for approximately N1,350 per litre or higher in many major Nigerian cities.

The increase in fuel prices contributed to higher transportation fares and pushed up the cost of food, goods and services across the country.

The crisis also prompted governments around the world to introduce measures aimed at shielding their economies and citizens from the impact of rising energy costs.

With the conflict now officially ended and the Strait of Hormuz reopened, analysts expect global oil prices to moderate further in the coming weeks.

A sustained decline in crude prices could eventually translate into lower petrol prices and reduced energy costs in Nigeria and other oil-importing economies.