From France to Italy, from England to Russia, From Spain to Israel, all over Europe, Nigerian players will be in action for their various clubs as the 2015-16 season hit the home-run.
Musa and Samuel are seeking to be crowned Russian champions. Moses and Emenike are in the thick of West Ham’s push for a Continental finish. Isaac and Uche are swimming against relegation waters in Spain.
It promises to be an exciting weekend.
Vincent Enyeama, Lille vs Reims (France)
The retired Super Eagles skipper, who recently restated his resolve to not return to play for the national team despite the resignation of Sunday Oliseh as head coach, will lead his French side against Reims on Saturday.
Enyeama kept an impressive three clean sheets in five games including the tie against runaway leaders PSG before Monpellier handed a crushing 3-0 defeat to Frédéric Antonetti’s men.
In Reims, Lille face an inspired opponent who enjoy a better head-to-head record having won four of their last five games against Lille.
Mikel Obi, Chelsea vs Stoke City (England)
The Super Eagles midfielder, one of Guus Hiddink’s most dependable players, is expected to be in the line-up as Mark Hughes brings his Stoke side to West London.
Chelsea have recorded two away wins on the bounce (against Southampton and Norwich) and will look to down the Potters as they continue their surge up the table.
It’s all looking good for the Blues, though.
Chelsea have won all seven Barclays Premier League matches against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge, with the Potters scoring just two goals in that run.
While Guus Hiddink remains unbeaten in his 11 Premier League games as Chelsea manager in this spell – no manager has gone 12 unbeaten at the start of a single spell as a manager at a Premier League club.
Aaron Samuel & Ahmed Musa, CSKA Moscow vs Spartak Moscow (Russia)
The Nigerian skipper and his club return to Premier League action in a derby against their eternal archrival.
The champions have only lost three games so far this season out of 18 played and are on a five match-winning streak. A win will take Musa and co ten points clear of Spartak and that would be what coach Leonid Slutsky and his boys will aim for.
CSKA bought Aaron Samuel as a possible replacement for Manchester United target Musa, who already has 10 goals in just 23 appearances. Samuel will be hoping to make his league debut in the encounter.
Victor Moses & Emmanuel Emenike: Everton vs West Ham (England)
Former Everton defender Slaven Bilic has listed both Nigerian forwards in the squad he takes back to Goodison Park to face Roberto Martinez’s Everton.
Both Emenike and Moses were involved on Wednesday in the Hammers’ 1-0 win over title challengers Tottenham and the former Fenerbeche striker will be aiming to get his first Premier League goal against the Liverpool-based side.
Ogenyi Onazi vs Joel Obi, Torino vs Lazio (Italy)
The energetic Nigerian midfielder travel to Turin with his capital club to face a side they have not lost to in their last five matches, four of which were wins.
Onazi missed Lazio’s surprise 0-2 loss at home to Sassuolo last weekend due to a knock and is expected to return to a side that’s not playing at their peak. Lazio will need to raise the tempo to conquer a Torino side enjoying life in 12th position on the log.
However, his compatriot will likely start the game on the Turin bench. Joel Obi has been a peripheral figure at Torino this season, the 24 year-old, former Inter Milan midfielder having only featured four times this season.
Odion Ighalo; Watford vs Leicester (England)
The Nigerian forward missed a couple of key chances in their tough 1-0 loss to Manchester United in midweek and will look to set things right as Watford hosts the league leaders at Vicarage Road.
Watford’s tie against the Foxes is never a dull affair as there have been 26 goals netted in the last six matches between the pair. Ighalo will pray for more of the same.
Isaac Success & Uche Agbo; Real Betis vs Granada (Spain)
Relegation-threatened Granada travel to 13th placed Betis knowing that three points would lift them just behind their hosts on 14th.
Granada’s biggest goal threat has been Moroccan Youssef Al-Arabi who has banged in 8 goals but Watford target Isaac Success who has mostly been used as a winger has been impressive with 5 goals.
The 20 year-old Flying Eagles forward is expected to join the Premier League at the end of the season.
The other Nigerian in the squad, midfielder Agbo has only featured 6 times so far this term.
