Nigerians Abroad: Emenike, Osaze & Mba paint Europe with goals

By Shina Oludare

Mar 17, 2014 2:38:00 PM

It was a splendid weekend for Nigerians in foreign leagues as they matched goal scoring feats with impressive displays

ENGLAND

Peter Odemwingie was on target twice for Stoke City as they spanked West Ham United 3-1 in the Premiership on Saturday afternoon. An acrobatic effort from Peter Crouch deflected off Odemwingie to put the home side level in the 32nd minute after Andy Caroll had put the visitors ahead in the fifth minute. The Nigerian completed his brace with 11 minutes to the end of the match with a thunderous strike from the edge of Hammers’ penalty area. It was his fifth goal of the season since joining the Potters from Cardiff City.
Joseph Yobo was on for the entire duration of Norwich City’s 4-2 defeat in the hands of Southampton. It was his sixth start of the season since joining the Yellow Canaries from Fenerbahce of Turkey.
Victor Anichebe featured for 89 minutes as West Brom secured their first win of the season under new manager Pepe Mel in their 2-1 defeat of Swansea City. Going into this game, the former Everton attacker  had scored 3 goals for the Baggies in his 18th appearance of the season.
Victor Moses was nowhere to be found on Liverpool’s bench as the Reds spanked host Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in Sunday’s big game. The Chelsea loanee last featured for Brendan Rodgers’ men in their 4-3 home win against Swansea on February 23. Moses has made 15 appearances for the Red this season.
Sone Aluko made a 46th minute appearance for Hull City in their 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon. Aluko who recently made a return from injury boasts of a goal in 13 English Premier League matches for the Tigers.
Shola Ameobi was on parade for Newcastle United in their defeat to Fulham in the English Premier League. The lanky forward was a 71st minute substitute for Pappiss Cisse in the tough encounter. Ameobi has played 19 times for the Magpies this season without a goal.
Kenneth Omeruo got his fifth start with English Championship side Middlesbrough in their 0-0 draw with AFC Bournemouth. The Super Eagles defender was so impressive that he got a pass mark from manager Aitor Karanka.
Mikel Obi was not fielded by Jose Mourinho in Chelsea’s shock defeat to Aston Villa at the Villa Park on Saturday evening. The Nigerian has got his playing chances reduced since the arrival of Nemanja Matic in January. Obi has chalked up 19 EPL appearances for the Blues this season with a goal to his name.

SPAIN

Ramon Azeez featured for Almeria in their 3-1 defeat to Rayo Vallencano in the Spanish Liga. The pint-sized player who recently made his debut for the Super Eagles has featured in 23 league matches this season.

FRANCE

Vincent Enyeama was superb in goal for OSC Lille as they played a 0-0 draw with Nantes in Ligue 1. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper boasts of 18 clean slates this season having conceded 18 times in 29 games for the side currently placed third in the French League.
Sunday Mba was on target for CA Bastia in Saturday’s Ligue 2 encounter against Troyes. The goal scored in the early minutes of the game was all Les Douges needed to secure maximum points despite remaining at the base of the Ligue 2 table. The former Rangers player has played nine league games for his side this season.

ITALY

Ogenyi Onazi  was on parade for SS Lazio in their 2-0 spanking of Cagliari in the Italian Seria A game played at the San Elia Stadium. The Super Eagles midfielder replaced Alvaro Gonzalez in the 81st minute of the encounter to grab his 23rd Italian league appearance of the season.
Joel Obi replaced Marco Marchionni in the 72nd minutes of Parma's 4-2 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium. The injury prone former Inter Milan player has featured five times this season in the Italian topflight.

TURKEY

Emmanuel Emenike was on target for Fenerbahce in their 2-1 victory over Erciyespor on Saturday night. The Super Eagles hitman scored the winner for his side in the 64th minute to record his tenth goal of the season.
Godfrey Oboabona saw action for the entire duration in Rizespor's 2-2 draw at home versus Besiktas on Saturday. Rizespor surrendered their two-goal lead in the first half of the encounter to see the visitors come back in the second half of the game. Oboabona has featured 12 times for the Turkish based outfit this season and has a goal to his name.

SCOTLAND

Efe Ambrose was on parade for Celtic in their 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock. The Super Eagles player was in fine form as he helped his team remain at the summit of the Scottish league. Efe has featured in all Hoops' games this season with a goal to his name.

GERMANY

Chinedu Obasi was a second half substitute for Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga as his side romped to a 2-1 win against Augsburg. The fringe Super Eagles player has played seven German league matches for Die Knappen in a season that has been plagued by injuries and fitness concerns and it would be recalled he got one of his side's goal in their home victory last week. --------------------- goal.com