football. Nigerians Abroad: Two-goal salvo for Ik Uche

The Super Eagles striker continues to remind the national team coach of his goal scoring prowess with with a brace for his Spanish side

ENGLAND

Mikel Obi started his fifth league game for Chelsea and played brilliantly as the Blues won their second away match by beating West Ham 3-0 on Saturday. It was Mikel’s seventh league appearance in which he has scored once. The Nigerian midfielder had 94% pass completion ratio from 69 touches as he kept Chelsea ticking over nicely. Victor Moses came on as a substitute for Joe Allen in the 69th minute in Liverpool’s 3-3 away draw to Merseysiders, Everton on Saturday. Moses had the opportunity to win the derby late on but he could not keep his header down from a Luis Suarez cross.
He had a 100% pass completion rate from 11 touches and attempted one shot at goal. The Nigerian winger has played as a substitute in the last three league games and has scored once in eight appearances.
On Sunday, Peter Odemwingie helped Cardiff hold defending champions, Manchester United to a 2-2 draw. Odemwingie started against United but was withdrawn in the 65th minute for Craig Noone.
Odemwingie has played eight league games after his transfer and has scored once while he has been substituted seven times and entered the fray as a substitute once. 
His left-footed shot in the 23rd minute from the left side of the box was high and in the 65th minute, another attempt, this time on his right foot was also high and wide.
Odemwingie had 76% pass accuracy from 36 touches. He also successfully completed one dribble but his two shots missed the mark.

SPAIN

Ikechukwu Uche (pictured) scored two goals for Villarreal on Sunday as the Yellow Submarine beat Levante 3-0 away from home. Uche scored in the 74th and 89th minutes to help the newly promoted side record their eighth win in 14 matches. Uche also took his tally for the season to six goals in 11 league appearances.
He started tormenting the Levante defence from the 10th minute when he was fouled in the penalty area and Bruno converted. Uche could have recorded a third goal in the 91st minute but his shot missed by inches.
The striker with this performance – where he scored 9.3/10 continues to make sure that the Super Eagles coaches will not totally discountenance him from the national team as they prepare for the World Cup.
Ramon Azeez  was in the Almeria team that was hammered 5-0 by visiting Real Madrid on Saturday. The former youth international even got a bloodied nose for his endeavours in the first half. Real were just too good on the day and scored five goals from 15 shots on target.
Nosa Igiebor missed Real Betis’ 3-2 away loss to Malaga on Sunday. The Nigerian is suffering from an Adductor muscle strain.

FRANCE

The clean sheets for Vincent Enyeamaand Lille continued on Sunday as they beat Toulouse 1-0 to make it 855 minutes without conceding a league goal. The last time Lille conceded in the league was September 15 at home to Nice but have since kept nine straight clean sheets. Before the match, the Nigerian goalkeeper was presented with the Ligue 1 Player of the Month award for October.

TURKEY

Godfrey Oboabona was on the bench for all 90 minutes as Rizespor lost 2-0 at home to second-bottom Kayserispor on Saturday. The Super Eagles most consistent defender has played four league games for his new club after transferring from Sunshine Stars.
Taye Taiwo played all 90 minutes for Bursaspor in the 1-1 draw at home to Kasimpasa on Saturday. It was the left back’s 12th league game and he has scored once. Bursaspor are 10t on the log with 15 points from 12 games.
John Utaka came on in the 62nd minute for Sivasspor but they lost 2-1 away to defending champions, Galatasaray on Saturday. Utake replaced E Aydin but could not add to his two goals.
Emmanuel Emenike came off the Fenerbahce bench in the 63rd minute to help the Yellow Canaries to a 2-1 away win over Antalyaspor to maintain their six-point lead on the league table.

UKRAINE

Dynamo Kiev won 3-0 on Sunday at home to Hoverla without their two Nigerians on show. Lukman Haruna was not listed at all while Brown Ideye was an unused substitute.

Harmony Ikande came on for Hoverla in the 46th minute to make his ninth appearance from which he has scored once. Ideye has two goals in nine league appearances while Lukman has hit the net thrice in 15 league appearances. Lucky Idaho was on the bench once again as his club, Zorya were held 1-1 away to Metalurh Zaporizhya.
Idahor has made just three substitute appearances this term and is yet to score. He played 25 times last season and recorded three goals.
Michael Babatunde returned to action with Volyn after an injury spell and they were held 2-2 away to Tavriya. Babatunde came on for Eric Bicfalvi in the 46th minute as another Nigerian; Mohammed Aliyu made his third substitute appearance for Tavriya, coming on in the 62nd minute for Oleg Gumenuk.
Babatunde has scored twice in 10 league games but Aliyu is yet to score.

RUSSIA

Ahmed Musa's goal drought continued on Sunday though CSKA Moscow beat Spartak Moscow 1-0 to move to fourth on the table on goals difference. Musa started on the bench and came on for Seydou Doumbia in the 77th minute. His last league goal came on August 30 against Amker Perm and he has five goals in 17 league appearances.
Obinna Nsofor was not listed for Locomotiv Moscow as they beat Dinamo Moscow 1-0 to move to second on the table.
Anzhi Makhachkala got a precious point at home to Volga on Sunday. Dele Adeleye played all 90 minutes but Anzhi are still bottom of the league table with seven points from 17 matches.

BELGIUM

Standard Liege maintained their lead at the top of the Jupiler League by beating Mons 1-0 on Sunday. Imoh Ezekiel started on the bench and came on for Igor De Camargo in the 61st minute to continue his appearance in every league game this term.
Standard Liege are top of the leaue table with 37 points from 16 matches and Ezekiel has scored six league goals in 16 appearances.
Michael Uchebo (pictured above) scored his fourth league goal for Cercle Brugge in their 4-2 home loss to Lierse on sunday. Uchebo scored in the 80th minute to make it 2-2 but Lierse scored two goals in the 85th and 90th minutes to carry the day. It was Uchebo's 14th league appearance.