Nigerian players in dull weekend- Europe

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.