Nigerians Abroad: Emenike and Akpala score first goals as Enyeama extends clean run

By Babajide Alaka

Oct 21, 2013 9:31:00 AM

The Two Nigeria internationals got their first league goals in Turkey over the weekend as the Lille goalkeeper continued his heroics in France

ENGLAND

Victor Moses was on show for all 90 minutes as Liverpool got a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle on Saturday. Though the Magpies were reduced to 10 men after the dismissal of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Liverpool had to come from behind twice to rescue the game. The Nigerian was the orchestrator of the second equalizer in the 72nd minute as his ball freed Luis Suarez who then crossed for Daniel Sturridge to head in.
Moses had 84% pass accuracy from 65 touches on the ball and won 33% of his aerial duels. He also attempted two shots and successfully completed two dribbles.
Chelsea did not list Mikel Obi for the 4-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday but Peter Odemwingie played 67 minutes before he was replaced by Frazier Campbell. His only attempt on target came in the 21st minute when his header from the centre of the box was parried for a corner kick by Petr Cech. Odemwingie had 92% pass accuracy from 24 touches on the ball.
Victor Anichebe started his third game for West Brom as they went to the Brittania Stadium and got a 0-0 result against Stoke City on Saturday. Anichebe missed the 1-1 draw against Arsenal but started against Stoke to preserve the Baggies’ five-match unbeaten run. Shane long replaced him in the 75th minute. The Nigerian is yet to score for his new club.
Sone Aluko played his eighth game for Hull City in City’s 2-1 away defeat to Everton on Saturday. Aluko was on for 75 minutes before Stephen Quinn replaced him. The Nigerian left-footer was instrumental to City’s equalizer on 30 minutes as Yannick Sagbo diverted his cross to goal. Aluko had 80% pass accuracy from 27 touches and attempted two shots. He also won one tackle while he committed one foul.

FRANCE

Vincent Enyeama continues to hog the headlines as he saved a penalty for his side last Saturday to help Lille defeat Montpellier 1-0 away. It was the Nigerian’s seventh clean sheet in the league. The highlight of Enyeama’s day was his penalty save in the 85th off Rémy Cabella. He made the save in the bottom left corner to preserve his side’s narrow win. He was also shown a yellow card for arguing with the referee after Florent Balmont had committed the foul that led to the penalty call.
Enyeama was given the Man of the Match award with a rating of 8.7. Altogether Enyeama made four saves from 40 touches on the ball.

TURKEY

Finally, Emmanuel Emenike is off the mark on his return to Turkey to join Fenerbahce from Spartak Moscow. The Nigerian announced his first goal in dramatic fashion – scoring in the 95th minute of their away encounter against Kaycerispor to give the Yellow Canaries a 2-1 win.
Emenike came on as a substitute for Emre Belozoglu in the 77th minute and applied the coup-de-grace with a diving header five minutes into added time to give his side the win and a four points cushion at the top of the league table.
Joseph Akpala kicked off his career in Turkey by scoring a goal for Karabukspor against the defending champions Galatasaray, though it was not enough to prevent a 2-1 away loss.
Akpala’s goal, in the 52nd minute was the equalizer but Wesley Sneijder popped up in the 83rd minute to help Galatasaray to another win. Furkan Ozcal replaced Akpala in the 81st minute of the encounter.

UKRAINE

Lukman Haruna came off the bench in the 70th minute to help Dynamo Kiev triumph 2-0 away to Arsenal Kiev on Sunday. Haruna was shown a yellow card in the 93rd minute. His compatriot, Brown Ideye was not listed as he is still serving a three-match ban for a red card.
Michael Babatunde played all 90 minutes for Volyn in their 1-0 home loss to Hoverla on Friday and former junior international, Harmony Ikande came on for Hoverla in the 85th minute to record his fifth league appearance. Ikande has scored once while Babatunde has scored twice for the 13th placed team.

RUSSIA

Ahmed Musa and CSKA Moscow’s season has fallen off the rails in the last few weeks as they again lost at the weekend 2-0 away to Zenit, who lead the league standings. Musa, with five league goals last scored in the league against Amkar Perm on August 30.
Dele Adeleye was dropped to the Anzhi bench as they lost 1-0 at home to Spartak Moscow to remain at the bottom of the league table with six points from 13 matches. Adeleye has played four times in the league for the former billionaire club.

BELGIUM

Michael Uchebo scored his first league goal on Saturday at the Jan Breydelstadion to help Cercle Brugge to a 1-1 draw with Zulte Waregem. Uchebo scored in the 44th minute but Thorgen Hazard scored the equalizer for the visitors in the 71st minute. It was the Nigerian’s first goal in the league since February 2, when coincidentally, he scored against Waregem in a 2-1 loss.
Imoh Ezekiel played all 90 minutes but could not help Standard Liege get a win over Standard Charleroi. The match ended 2-2 and the league leaders had to come from behind twice to rescue a point and preserve their unbeaten run at their home stadium. Ezekiel has scored four goals in 11 league appearances.

ITALY

Ogenyi Onazi played all 90 minutes as Lazio came unstuck 2-1 away at Atalanta. The Nigerian midfielder also got a yellow card in the 82nd minute for his troubles. The loss was Onazi’s sixth league appearance and he is yet to score though he has scored in the Europa League.
Joel Obi was on the substitute’s bench for all 90 minutes of Parma’s 3-2 away loss to Hellas Verona. Obi has played just 26 minutes on this loan stint from Inter Milan.

NORWAY

Daniel Chima scored the only goal and winning goal in Molde’s 1-0 away win over Honefoss on Sunday. Chima scored in the 54th minute to give hisside the win and they now occupy fifth place with 41 points from 27 matches.
Fegor Ogude played three minutes for Valeranga on Sunday as he continued his rehabilitation from an injury. Ogude came on for Vålerenga’s goal scorer, Bojan Zajic in the 87th minute as Valerenga ran away with a 2-1 win over Sogndal. ----------------- goal.com