Nigerian players in dull weekend

September 23, 2013 by Kazeem Busari Leave a Comment

   

Osaze Odemwingie

It was a weekend many of the Nigerian players in Europe had little to celebrate as some of them failed to get any action for their sides, while the others had their teams beaten.

Many of them had sad tales to tell except for Mikel Obi who had every reason to celebrate after scoring his first league goal in eight seasons for Chelsea on Saturday. Mikel made it 2-0 over Fulham, momentarily lifting the London club to the top of the English Premier League table.

Osaze Odemwingie was a 65th minute substitute for Cardiff City in their loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. It was the first time the former West Brom striker would be listed in the squad since joining them in the summer transfer window.

Dundee United’s Olalekan Kudus Oyenuga was an unused substitute for the Scottish giants as they thrashed visiting Motherwell 2-1 at the Tannadice Park on Sunday.

The striker, who moved to the Scottish outfit from Haye & Yeading United where he scored 15 goals last season, was listed for the first time in the squad on Sunday.

Nosa Igiebor was not listed for Real Betis as they hosted Granada, who were also without Odion Ighalo, in their goalless match. Ighalo is serving a match ban after bagging a red card last week.

Ikechukwu Uche did not get off the bench on Sunday for Villarreal as the Yellow Submarines picked an away point against Celta de Vigo at the Estadio de Balaídos. The goalless draw put Villarreal in fourth with 10 points in the Spanish league table.

Midfielder Joel Obi made his first appearance for Parma on Sunday, coming on for Marco Parolo in the 64th minute in their goalless draw at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

His compatriot, Ogenyi Onazi, sat out Lazio’s game on Sunday as they lost 2-0 to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

It was a bitter-sweet feeling for Yakubu Aiyegbeni on Sunday after netting a hat trick for Guangzhou R&F in their 5-3 loss at home to Guizhou Renhe in the Chinese Premier League. He scored a penalty in the sixth minute before doubling it in the 46th for his side. He completed the hat trick in the 90th minute through another penalty.

The former Everton forward has now scored 12 goals this season for the Chinese outfit.

The Moscow derby on Sunday left Ahmed Musa disappointed as Spartak Moscow thrashed CSKA 3-0 to displace Musa’s club from the top of the Russian league table. Both teams now have 20 points apiece but Spartak are leading with superior goal difference.

Musa played all 90 minutes but the hosts simply had answers to all his ideas, leaving him with nothing to cheer about.

Michael Eneramo was not available for Beşiktaş on Sunday as they managed a 1-0 victory at home over Galatasaray. The 27-year-old striker has only made one appearance for Beşiktaş this season.

Former Marseille defender, Taye Taiwo, played for 90 minutes as his side, Bursaspor, lost 2-1 to Rizespor on Sunday.

Both Godfrey Oboabona, formerly of Sunshine Stars, and former Enyimba striker, Uche Kalu, were not listed for Rizespor. While Kalu has made three appearances for the club, Oboabona has yet to kick a ball in a competitive game in Turkey.

Both Emmanuel Emenike and Joseph Yobo were not listed in the Fenerbahçe squad that defeated Elaziğspor 4-0 on Sunday at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

The duo of John Utaka and Kalu Uche also did not show up for their respective clubs on Saturday as Sivasspor fell 2-1 to Kasimpaşa.