ROUND-UP OF NIGERIAN PLAYERS IN EUROPE

ENGLAND

Mikel Obi and Victor Moses played a part in Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. The reigning European champions started with Mikel while Moses was  on the substitutes’ bench.

Chelsea were given the chance to go ahead in the encounter in the 52nd minute through the penalty spot but Joe Hart in goal for City pulled off a good save from Frank Lampard’s powerful drive.

Mikel could also be said to be culpable in City’s first goal as his feeble challenge on Yaya Toure allowed the Ivorien to get a shot which resulted into the first goal but it will be argued that he was just being cautious because he was in the 18-yard box.

Moses came on for Lampard in the 68th minute with Chelsea chasing the game but he could not help matters as City scored their second through Carlos Tevez in the 85th minute to seal all three points.

Mikel had 90% pass accuracy from 66 touches on the ball and won four tackles while Moses had 78% pass accuracy from 15 touches and managed two successful dribbles.

Chelsea remain in third place, seven points from City but will be overtaken on Monday if Tottenham win away at West Ham. Chelsea will welcome West Brom to Stamford Bridge next Saturday

Everton lost out to Norwich 2-1 on Saturday without Victor Anichebe, who was absent through another injury.

Peter Odemwingie returned to action for West Brom and he was roundly booed when he came on as a substitute against Sunderland.

The Baggies won 2-1 courtesy of two goals from on-loan striker, Romelu Lukaku, whom Odemwingie replaced in the 87th minute.

SPAIN

Odion Ighalo scored his third goal on the trot but Granada still ended on the losing side as his side lost 2-1 to Celta Vigo on Sunday at Estadio de Balaidos.

The former youth international has now scored three weeks consecutively against Celta Vigo, Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna but his three goals have brought just a paltry three points – having lost two and won one.

His 28th minute equaliser via a shot from inside the box from a cross by Nyom was cancelled out by Mario Bermejo’s goal in the 81st minute which gave Celta all the three points.

Ighalo should have opened scoring in the 18th minute but his header from the right side of the six yard box missed narrowly.

And he could have doubled the lead in the 60th minute but his right footed shot cannoned off the cross bar. He also missed another chance in the 75th' minute as another header went narrowly wide.

Granada are 15th on the table with 26 points and are at home to face Mallorca next Sunday at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes.

Real Betis won without Nosa Igiebor, who is supposed to arrive in Spain this week and Obafemi Martins will be hoping to help Levante up the table on Monday when they face Osasuna.

TURKEY

Kalu Uche continued his fine goal scoring form as he scored his 13th league goal for Kasimpasa in the 3-1 loss away to Fenerbahce. Uche opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the second minute but their hosts replied with three goals to take all points.

Fenerbahce had Joseph Yobo on parade for all 90 minutes as the Super Eagles captain made his second start for the club after leading his Nigerian side to claim a third Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa.

Isaac Promise also scored Antalyaspor’s equaliser in the 20th minute against Elazigspor but they still lost 2-1. Promise has now scored six goals in 19 league appearances with his last goal before the one he scored on Saturday coming against Gençlerbirliği on January 20.

FRANCE

Rennes drew 2-2 at home to Sochaux on Saturday with Apam Onyekachi on the bench for all 90 minutes. John Boye has returned from the Nations Cup and scored in the 34th minute to record Rennes' equaliser.

Montpellier are up to sixth position in Ligue 1 courtesy of a 1-0 away win over Evian Thonon Gaillard. John Utaka played all 90 minutes but it was Younes Belhanda that got the only goal in the 80th minute to record the 12th win for the defending champions.

Utaka had 67% pass accuracy from 53 touches on the ball and won 50% of his aerial duels. He also attempted three shots in the encounter.

He went close to the opening goal in the 18th minute but his header from the right side of the box off a cross by Belhanda narrowly missed the right post.

He had a shot blocked in the 52nd minute and another header six minutes from time was saved by the Evian goalkeeper, Bertrand Laquait, who pulled off four saved in the match.

BELGIUM

Derick  Ogbu scored his seventh league goal as he helped OH Leuven to a 2-1 away win over KV Mechelen.

Imoh Ezekiel was absent from the Standard Liege side that were held to a goaless draw by Genk on Sunday. The 19 year-old is Liege's leading scorer with 13 goals.

Genk had Kim Ojo in the team and he came on as a substitute for Dani Fernandez in the 73rd minute of the encounter. Ojo was recently brought in from Norwegian side, SK Brann.