Nigerians Abroad: Efe Ambrose and Joseph Akpala score in lean weekend

By Babajide Alaka

Dec 9, 2013 9:15:00 AM

It was a lean weekend in terms of scoring for Nigerian players across Europe

ENGLAND

Victor Moses continued in his role as a substitute as he came on in the 72nd minute of Liverpool’s 4-1 over West Ham last Saturday. Moses started the season in the first XI but has been relegated to the bench after the return of Luis Suarez and the resurgence of Raheem Sterling whom he replaced. The Nigerian had 83% pass accuracy from 19 touches and successfully completed one dribble.
Mikel Obi started for Chelsea away to Stoke City on Saturday but was replaced in the 70th minute by Frank Lampard with the score at 2-2. Chelsea went on to lose 3-2 via a last minute goal by Oussama Assaidi.
Mikel has started five matches in his ten appearances and has been a substitute five times while he has made way in two.
Mikel provided the assist for Chelsea’s first goal by Andre Schurrle in the ninth minute. He also provided a pass to Ramires in the 38th minute but Asmir Begovic saved the shot.
Before he was removed, Mikel had 91% pass accuracy and won just 27% of his aerial challenges against Peter Crouch and company.
Peter Odemwingie came on for Kim Bo-Kyung in the 69t minute for Cardiff as they lost 2-0 away to Crystal Palace. It was Crystal Palace’s second consecutive win for the season and the defeat left Cardiff in 16t position, just one point from the relegation zone.
Odemwingie had 79% pass accuracy and won all his aerial duels. He also took three shots – two were blocked and one went high and wide. He has one goal from 11 league appearances.
After his first league goal in midweek against Manchester City, Victor Anichebe started against Norwich but the Baggies lost their third consecutive game 2-0.
Anichebe made way for Matej Vydra in the 81s minute. The Super Eagles striker had a header saved in the 20th minute from a cross by Morgan Amalfitano. He carved out another chance in the 35th minute with a right-footed shot that was also saved.          
Another shot in the 64th minute, this time from his left foot was again saved by John Ruddy. In all, he had 57% pass accuracy, won 63% of his aerial duels and had six shots.

SPAIN

There were no La Liga matches at the weekend but there were Copa del Rey matches. Former U-23 captain, Odion Ighaloscored two goals to help Granada beat Alcorcon on Sunday. Ighalo, with one league goal in seven league appearances, scored in the 30th and 81st minutes to help his lowly La Liga side into the
Villarreal drew 2-2 with Elche on Friday with Ikechukwu Uche coming on for Giovanni dos Santos in the 73r minute.
Almeria beat Las Palmas 3-1 on Sunday with former junior internationals, Macauley Chrisantus for Las Palmas and Ramon Azeez for Almeria. The second legs are scheduled for December 17.

FRANCE

Finally, Vincent Enyeamaconceded in Ligue 1 away to Bordeaux on Sunday. Lille were beaten 1-0 with Landry N'Guémo scoring the only goal in the 27th minute. Enyeama’s unbeaten run had spanned 11 consecutive league matches, dating back to September 15. Enyeama was beaten by Landry N'Guémo's deflected strike in the 27th minute of the encounter to end the Nigerian's dream of beating Gaetan Huard's overall record of 1,176 minutes without conceding a goal. Simon Kjaer deflected a harmless looking shot by the Cameroonian which hit the post before entering the net.
Enyeama had broken Salvatore Sirigu's 948 minutes without conceding setting by setting a new second best mark of 1061 minutes, though a little short of the all time record of Gaetan Huard's 1176 minutes.

SCOTLAND

Efe Ambrose celebrated the birth of a baby daughter by scoring his first league goal in Celtic’s 5-0 whitewash of Motherwell. Ambrose scored the second goal of the encounter in the 54th minute. Ambrose has played 14 times this season; starting all 14 and substituted in one. The Nigerian defender marked the occasion with a back-flip celebration.
Kilmarnock secured a precious 2-1 win away to Ross County on Saturday with Super Eagles midfielder, Reuben Gabriel making his debut for the season. Gabriel played for 73 minutes before Barry Nicholson replaced him. The other Nigerian at Kilmarnock, Rabiu Ibrahim was an unused substitute.

TURKEY

Joseph Akpala scored his third league goal to help Karabukspor to a 1-0 win over Kayserispor on Sunday. Akpala scored the only goal of the encounter in the 45th minute.
Emmanuel Emenike helped Fenerbahce to a 2-1 away victory over Godfrey Oboabona’s Rizespor on Saturday. Both Nigerians played all the 90 minutes.
Isaac Promise came on for Antalyaspor on Saturday as they drew 1-1 at home to Kasimpasa but Promise got a straight red card in the 87th minute.
Taye Taiwo played his 14t consecutive league game and helped Bursaspor to a 0-0 draw at home to Genclerbirligi on Sunday. The defender has scored twice.

PORTUGAL

Sporting Braga lost 2-0 away to Porto on Saturday with Elderson Echiejile playing 90 minutes for Braga. It was the defender’s sixth league game of the season and he received his first yellow card of the season in the 50t minute.
John Ogu’s Academica are in action on Monday away to Vitoria Setubal.

BELGIUM

Imoh Ezekiel endured another frustrating time in front of goal on Sunday as Standard Liege were held 0-0 away to OH Leuven. Though the point kept them top of the league table, Ezekiel has now gone five weeks without scoring. He started with Igor de Camargo as the two strikers but Ronnie Stam replaced the young Nigerian striker in the 79th minute. Ezekiel has scored six goals in 18 league games. Michael Uchebo played all 90 minutes for Cercle Brugge in their 2-0 away loss to KV Oostende on Saturday. Uchebo has scored four goals in 16 league appearances. ----------------- goal.com