Summary Of How Nigerian Players Fared Across Europe This Weekend

ENGLAND

John Obi Mikel (Chelsea): Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel returned to Chelsea's substitute's bench after six weeks out due to injury in Sunday's 1-0 win at Loftus road.

Odion Ighalo (Watford): Super Eagles and Watford striker Odion Ighalo was handed a cameo role in Watford's 2-0 win over Millwall on Saturday. Ighalo has 18 goals in 30 Championship appearances for the Hornets.

Brown Ideye, Victor Anichebe (West Brom): Nigerian strikers Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe fired blanks in West Brom's 3-2 loss at home to Leicester City. Anichebe who came on for his compatriot on the hour mark has made 18 appearances this term, scoring five goals while Ideye has seven goals in 24 games.

Sone Aluko (Hull City): Nigerian midfielder, Sone Aluko played for 84 minutes before being replaced by Abel Hernandez in Hull City's 2-0 loss to Southampton.  

Victor Moses (Stoke City): Super Eagles winger Victor Moses was replaced on 44 minutes by Mame Biram Diouf in Stoke City's 1-1 draw against West Ham.

 

Shola Ameobi (Crystal Palace): Nigerian striker Shola Ameobi was an unused substitute in Crystal Palace's 4-1 away win against Sunderland. He has made only one substitute appearance for the Eagles.

Hope Akpan, Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Reading): Nigerian international Hope Akpan replaced Garath McCleary in the 84th minute of Reading's goalless draw against Blackburn Rovers. His compatriot Yakubu Aiyegbeni was an unused substitute. Akpan has made 20 appearances as against Yakubu's five for Steve Clark's side.

Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough): Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo was not listed for Middlesbrough's 2-0 win at home to Rotherham United. He has made 17 Championship appearances.

Ukraine

Michael Babatunde (Volyn): Nigerian winger Michael Babatunde played all 90 minutes for Volyn who were forced to a 1-1 draw away at Metalurh Zaporizhya. The former Kryvbas star has now played seven games in 2015.  

Lukman Haruna (Horvela): Nigerian midfielder Lukman Haruna played his fourth game for Horvela in their 2-1 win against Illichivets. The Dynamo Kiev loanee provided an assist for his side's opener before being replaced by Dmytro Khlyobas in the 63rd minute.

France

Vincent Enyeama (Lille): Vincent Enyeama kept his 14th clean sheet in goal for Lille who defeated Evian 1-0 on Sunday. The Lille keeper has now conceded 27 goals in 32 Ligue 1 games.

 Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco): Nigerian defender Elderson Echiejile played his 11th Ligue 1 game of the season for AS Monaco who thumped Caen 3-0 on Friday night. He has scored once this season for the fourth placed team on the French log.

Italy

Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio): Nigerian midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was an unused substitute as Lazio defeated Empoli 4-0 to earn their eight straight win in the Serie A. Onazi has made 14 Serie A appearances so far this term.

Joel Obi (Inter Milan): Super Eagles midfielder Joel Obi watched from the bench as Inter Milan humbled Hellas Verona 3-0 at the Bentegodi stadium. He has played 10 times for the Nerrazuri scoring once.

Nnamdi Oduamadi (Latina): Nigerian winger Nnamdi Oduamadi came on in the 57th minute for Nabil Jaadi in Latina's 1-1 draw at Virtus Lanciano. It was his ninth appearance for Mark Iulliano's side albeit scoring once.

Spain

Ramon Azeez (Almeria); Success Isaac (Granada):Super Eagles midfielder Ramon Azeez was an 82nd minute substitute for Javier Espinosa Gonzalez in Almeria's 3-0 win over Isaac Success' Granada. It was the 14th game for Azeez while Success has scored once in 16 La Liga games.

Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal): Nigerian striker Ikechukwu Uche scored his sixth goal of the season from the penalty spot to earn Villarreal a 1-1 draw against Getafe on Sunday. The Nigerian was fouled by Medhi Lacen in the 52nd minute. It was Villarreal's first goal in five league games but it was not enough to give them their first La Liga away win of the year.

Germany

Anthony Ujah (Cologne): Nigerian forward Anthony Ujah scored his 10th Bundesliga goal of the season for Cologne who edged Hoffenheim 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the RheinEnergie stadium.

Ujah could have doubled the home team’s lead shortly before the interval after Marcel Risse’s driving run into the box, but the Nigerian striker could only hit the foot of the post from inside the six-yard box, despite having the goal at his mercy. Both sides continued to attack right up until half-time, albeit without seriously threatening to add to the scoreline.

Kazakhstan

Michael Odibe (Atryau): Nigerian defender Michael Odibe was sent off for simulation as Atryau lost 2-1 at home to Tobol Kostanay in a league match in Kazakhstan on Saturday. The former Arsenal Kiev player was given a straight red card in the 88th minute. Odibe’s Atryau are 10th on the league table with six points from as many games, while Tobol are fifth with eight points.

BELGIUM

Wilfred Ndidi (Genk): Nigerian defender Wilfred Ndidi replaced Timoty Castagne on 46th minutes as Genk defeated Waasland-Beveren 2-0 in the play-offs. The game was Ndidi second since joining Genk.

Moses Simon (Gent): Nigerian forward Moses Simon replaced Benito Raman in the 46th minute as Gent lost 2-1 to Sporting Chaleroi. Simon has featured 11 times this season, scoring seven goals.

Imoh Ezekiel (Standard Liege): One-cap Super Eagles striker Imoh Ezekiel bagged a brace and provided an assist for Standard Liege who defeated Anderlecht 3-1 in the Belgian play-offs 1.

He was however replaced by Julien De Sart in the 73rd minute. It was his fourth goal since arriving on loan from Al Arabi. They are now fourth on  the log.

PORTUGAL 

Sunday Abalo (Rio Ave): Nigerian midfielder Sunday Abalo was an unused substitute as Porto beat Rio Ave 3-1 away. Abalo has seen action five times so far.

Simeon Nwankwo (Gil Vicente): Nigerian attacker Simeon Nwankwo was on for 90 minutes but couldn't help his side from losing 2-0 at home to Sporting Braga. Nwankwo who has scored seven goals, has featured 23 times for the Primera Liga side.

Michael Uchebo, Gabriel Reuben (Boavista): Nigerian duo of Michael Uchebo and Reuben Gabriel were in action for Boavista but couldn't prevent them from losing at home 2-0.Michael Uchebo who played 90 minutes, has now featured 20 times, netting four goals, while Gabriel Reuben who came off for Marek Cech, has appeared 13 times.