Today we look at the form of Nigerians playing abroad.
Good form: Chidozie Awaziem: Nantes played host to high-flying Caen seeking a win that could take them toward the Europa League places. Awaziem played 90 minutes for the Canaries as they picked up a slender 1-0 win. The defender was directly involved in his side’s lone goal when he set up Andrei Girotto’s strike in the 73rd minute. Defensively, he was part of a watertight four-man backline that restricted Caen to taking shots from impossible angles as they couldn’t get through. Nantes moved up to seventh place on the log following the win.
Bad form: Kennedy Igboananike – Orebro travelled to title-chasing Djurgardens IF looking to throw a spanner in the works of their hosts’ attempts to keep pace with the league leaders. They lost 4-1 though, and the Blue Stripes were good value for the win. Igboananike wasn’t at the races, and his manager took him out of his misery by substituting him in the 77th minute. The forward was by and large a peripheral figure, and he just couldn’t impact the game as well as he’d have liked as his side toiled all game. Orebro remain in 10th place following the result.
Good form: Henry Onyekuru – Having broken his duck for the club in the previous gameweek, Onyekuru would’ve hoped to keep his starting berth for Anderlecht when they travelled to Kortrijk hoping to build on their previous win. However, with Sporting going 2-1 down at the hour mark, they responded by giving Onyekuru a run out from the bench. It proved to be an inspired substitution too, as the forward spared the champions’ blushes by netting the equalizer in the 76th minute. The forward has now scored in successive games, and will now fancy himself to go on a run.
284″ />284″ />Bad form: Kelechi Iheanacho – Following Leicester’s early tough run of fixtures they faced a more favorable trip to Huddersfield as they sought their first win in three games. They played out to an eventual 1-1 draw, but Iheanacho’s performance has got to worry Craig Shakespeare. The forward was deployed in the hole, but couldn’t get going in the encounter and was often guilty of losing possession against the Terriers. Hooked off in the 70th minute after an ineffectual display, the young forward knows he has to improve if he’s to stay in the side.
Bad form: Mikel John Obi – featuring in the same game was Mikel, who bizarrely lasted the duration of the 5-1 loss to Changchun Yatai even after getting booked in the 62 minute. The midfield enforcer could only stand and watch as the away side severely punished the hosts, whose individual errors let them down in the encounter. The loss now means the wait for a win extends by one more week. Tianjin Teda are 15th place on the log, and are running out of time to save their season.
