Emenike Happy To End 3-month Goal Drought, Ameobi on target

Ameobi, Simons also on target; Omeruo, Oboabona return; Onazi, Joel Obi benched, Ejide keeps sixth clean sheet

ENGLAND

Mikel Obi (Chelsea): Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi was not included in Chelsea’s squad that played out a 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Stamford Bridge to maintain a five-point lead going into February. Mikel has chalked up 13 EPl appearances so far.

Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough); Moses Odubajo (Brentford): Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo returned to Middlesbrough’s starting line up for the first time this year after missing four games in all competitons as the Riverside team completed the double over promotion rivals Brentford with a 1-0 win. The win sees Middlesbrough move to second in the Championship table. Odubajo has scored twice in 27 Championship games while Omeruo has made 17 appearances so far.

Brown Ideye Victor Anichebe (West Brom): Nigerian forward Victor Anichebe played all 90 minutes and fired blanks for West Brom who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at The Hawthorns. Recall that Anichebe scored a brace in the Baggies FA Cup win against local rivals Birmingham City.

Shola Ameobi (Crystal Palace): Ex Nigerian international Shola Ameobi watched from the stands as his new team, Crystal Palace suffered their first defeat under new manager Alan Pardew at Selhurst Park. Romelu Lukaku scored the winner by bundling home from a Steven Naismith cross after only two minutes.

Odion Ighalo (Watford): Former Olympic international Odion Ighalo played for 68 minutes for Watford in their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth who moved three points clear at the top of the Championship table at Dean Court on Saturday.

Victor Moses (Stoke City): Super Eagles winger Victor Moses played all 90 minutes for Stoke who trounced QPR 3-1 at the weekend. Moses has played 12 games and scored once on loan at the Potters.

Sammy Ameobi (Newcastle United); Sone Aluko (Hull City): Nigerian born winger Sammy Ameobi scored his second EPL goal of the season for Newcastle United who defeated Hull City 3-0 at the KC stadium. Ameobi doubled the visitors’ advantage five minutes into the second half when he let fly from distance to compound frustrations at the KC in what was his 16th game of the season. His compatriot, Aluko came on for David Meyler in the 56th minute of the defeat for his 14th appearance. He has a goal to his credit.

FRANCE

Vincent Enyeama (Lille): Super Eagles skipper Vincent Enyeama conceded his 20th goal of the season in action for Lille who played out a 1-1 draw against Nantes. Enyeama has been in goal for Lille 23 times so far this season in the Ligue 1.

ITALY

Joel Obi  (Inter Milan): Nigerian midfielder Joel Obi was an unused substitute for Inter Milan who suffered a fourth league defeat under Roberto Mancini as Sassuolo ran out 3-1 winners in Sunday’s Serie A clash. Obi who has scored once so far in the Serie A has played 10 games.

Nnamdi Oduamadi (Latina): Super Eagles winger Nnamdi Oduamadi provided two assists in Latina’s 3-2 win at home to Livorno. It was his second game since switching from Crotone to the Rome based side. He was awarded the man-of-the match award in his second start for Mark Iuliano’s side.

Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio): Nigerian midfielder Ogenyi Onazi watched from the bench as Lazio crashed 2-1 at Cesena. The former My People Fc star has played 10 Serie A games this season.

BELGIUM

Moses Simon (K.A.A Gent): Nigerian youngster, Moses Simon, went home with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick during his side’s 3-3 draw with Sporting Lokeren.

The 19-year-old making his first start for his new side took just six minutes to make his mark. He restored his side’s lead in the 17th minute before completing his treble ten minutes from time.

Wilfred Ndidi (Genk): Nigerian defender Wilfred Ndidi made his debut for Genk in their 1-0 away loss to Sporting Charleroi. He was replaced by Jarne Vrijsen in the 74th minute.

SPAIN

Kalu Uche (Levante): Nigerian forward Kalu Uche debuted for Levante on Sunday as his side fell 2-0 at home to Atletico in a Spanish La Liga game. The 32-year-old striker, who wore jersey number 5, was a 57th minute substitute for Austria striker Andreas Ivanschitz.

Ikechukwu Uche (Villarrel): Nigerian forward Ikechukwu Uche and a brother to Kalu was an 89th minute substitute as they lost 3-2 to a resurgent Barcelona.

TURKEY

Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbache): Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike ended his eight games goal drought when he fired home his third goal of the season for Fenerbache in their 2-1 win over his former team Karabukspor. Emenike who last found the back of the net in the Yellow Canaries 2-0 win away at Besiktas in November last year was on target against Karabukspor in the reverse fixture in August last year. He has chalked four yellow cards in 15 games this season.

John Chibuike, Gbenga Arokoyo (Gaziantepspor); Michael Eneramo (Sivasspor): The duo of John Chibuike and Michael Eneramo were both introduced in the second half of Sivasspor’s 3-1 away win Gaziantepspor who benched Gbenga Arokoyo for the entire duration of the encounter. While Chibuike has scored three goals in 13 games, Arokoyo is yet to score in 14 games.

Chikeluba Ofoedu (Samsunspor): Nigerian striker Chikeluba Ofoedu scored a brace for Samsunspor in a 4-0 thrashing of hosts Giresunspor in a Turkish second division matchon Sunday. Giresunspor paraded ex-Nigeria youth international Solomon Abwo. Former Enugu Rangers striker Ofoedu, 22, scored his team’s second goal from a spot kick in the 82nd minute and he completed his brace in the 89th minute. Samsunspor are now seventh on the league table with 26 points in 18 games.

Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor): Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona returned to action for the first time this year for Rizespor in the Super Lig 1 as they thumped Gençlerbirligi 2-0 on Saturday. The Nigerian international who last featured for Rizespor in November last year in their 3-1 loss to Kasimpasa has played nine games with a goal.

Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor): Nigerian midfielder Raheem Lawal made his 16th appearance for Eskisehirspor when he replaced Goran Causic in his side’s 1-0 win over  Konyaspor. He has scored two this term.

ISRAEL

Austin Ejide, John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva): Nigerian duo of Austin Ejide and John Ogu were on from start to finish for Hapoel Be’er Sheva who defeated Hapoel Acre 3-0. While Ogu has three goals to his name in 19 games Ejide kept his eight clean sheet of the season having conceded 16 goals in 20 starts.

GREECE

Abduljeleel Ajagun (Panathinaikos): Former junior international Abduljeleel Ajagun provided an assist for Viktor Klonaridis on 78 minutes in Panathinaikos 3-0 home win against Platanias. The former Dolphins player saw action for 90 minutes but was however booked in the 52nd minute. The game was Ajagun’s 15th of the current campaign, scoring three goals.

Daniel Adejo (Kalloni): Nigerian defender Daniel Adejo featured for 90 minutes as his side Kalloni pipped Asteras Tripolis 1-0. The game was Adejo’s 21st, and he has scored just one goal.

Christian Obodo (Xanthi): Former Super Eagles midfielder Christian Obodo was an unused substitute as Xanthi beat Levadiakos 2-1. Obodo has featured 18 times this season, netting twice.

PORTUGAL

Michael Uchebo, Gabriel Reuben (Boavista): Nigerian striker Michael Uchebo was on from the start but couldn’t prevent his team from going down 3-0 to Benfica. The former junior international who has appeared 11 times this season, has scored three goals so far. His Nigerian team-mate Gabriel Reuben was not dressed for the match.