IDEYE ON HIGH! Dynamo Kiev star in superb form ahead Nations Cup With the African Cup of Nations just around the corner, if there is one player whose club form will guarantee him an automatic shirt in the Super Eagles, that player is no other than Dynamo Kyiv forward, Brown Ideye. As at the last count, the fleet footed ace has banged in 12 league goals for his Ukrainian club - the last two being the brace he scored against Arsenal Kiev last weekend. What is even more interesting is that the goals have been scored in just 17 games. In other words, Ideye has already equalled his last season’s total goals haul where he grabbed 12 goals in 27 league games! And with 13 rounds of matches still to go, one can be sure there’s yet more goals to come from Ideye who is currently his club’s leading goleador and also the second highest scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League after Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mkhitaryan now on 17 goals. But the Nations Cup will no doubt constitute a hinderance to Ideye’s ‘goalrious’ run and you can bet that Kiev will have mixed feelings when their prized asset would have to go and represent his country. While the club does not stand in the way of Ideye’s international career and has expressed delight at the player’s rising profile with the Eagles, Kiev will surely feel the impact of Ideye’s absence especially as he is the club’s main arrowhead. However, Kiev’s loss would be Nigeria’s gain for the period the former Sochaux star will be away on interndational duty and coach Stephen Keshi would be banking on Ideye to replicate his superb club form when he puts on the green-and-white jersey of the Eagles in South Africa. Meanwhile, Ideye would be in action on Tuesday as Kiev travel to Stadion Maksimir to take on Dinamo Zagreb in what is an inconsequential Champions League tie as they will be dropping to play in the Europa League. IN THE BALANCE! Obasi, Joel Obi in race against time for Nations Cup shirts Super Eagles forward, Chinedu Obasi is back from his ‘usual’ injury spell and would be looking to return to action today for Schalke 04 as they play the host to visiting Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga. Having recovered from his problematic shin surgery which has limited his outing to just 3 games which totalled a paltry 89 minutes in the current season, Obasi is desperate to feature actively for Schalke to give him a chance of earning a recall to the national team ahead the African Cup of Nations in January. But the former Hoffenheim forward faces a strong competition even in his club which he has to surmount if his hopes of returning to international football would be realised in earnest. In Obasi’s absence, Schalke are currently 3rd on the league table no thanks to Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Jefferson Farfan who have struck a good partnership which has seen them score 9 goals between them. And having yet to play for the Eagles since Stephen Keshi took charge of the team a year ago, Obasi’s chances of making the South Africa party indeed looks bleak aside the competition he would also face from several forwards available in the team. While the player’s quality is not in doubt, it might be better for the player to concentrate on his club career for now until after the Nations Cup. Besides, Obasi needs to show his gratitude to Schalke which has been patient with him all these while by committing himself to help the team’s title chase. BATTLE ROYALE Ahmed Musa dares Eto’O, Traore As CSKA engage Makhachkala in top of the table clash Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa will today lead his side’s assault as CSKA Moscow invade Anzhi Makhachkala in a top of the bill clash in the Russian league. CSKA currently sit atop the table with 40 points in 17 games but they’ll be in for a stiff challenge from homers Anzhi who are second with 37 points. Aside the clubs’ rivalry in the on-going title race, Musa will also have his hands full competing against the likes of Cameroun’s Samuel Eto’O and Cote d’Ivoire’s Lacina Traore both of whom will be spearheading Anzhi’s attack against the visitors. The three African stars are currently jostling to outscore themselves on the scorers’ chart where Musa and Traore currently have 8 goals apiece with veteran and three-time African Footballer of the Year, Eto’O trailing just behind with 7 goals. Musa has been a revelation with CSKA this season, as the winger has transformed and fitted well into the position of the club’s pointman where he has become the leading scorer. The encounter promises lots of firecrackers and Musa must be at his very best not only to avoid getting sandwiched and stiffled by his fellow African rivals in Anzhi, but also to ensure CSKA don’t leave Stadion Dinamo empty-handed. BROTHERS’ AFFAIR Will the Uche brothers make Keshi’s Nations Cup squad? With pressure already mounting on Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to name his Nations Cup squad early enough to beat CAF’s January 9 deadline for submission of players list, fans are watching with batted eyelids to see if the former Togo gaffer will take the Uche brothers to the party in South Africa. Ikechukwu Uche, the younger sibling who plies his trade with Villareal looks a sure-bet following his good runs in the qualifiers coupled with his superb form for his Spanish Segunda B team. His elder brother, Kalu, however, remains a big doubt as the Big Boss has continuously shunned the versatile midfielder cum attacker despite his consistent splendid displays in the colours of Turkish side, Kasimpasa, where he now has 7 goals to his credit in 13 games. Kalu is yet to play for the Eagles since Keshi assumed duties as national team coach a year ago and what is even more frustrating is that the coach has not at any time given a reason why he chose to keep the player out of the team - all Keshi has said so far is that Kalu remains in his plans. But with Keshi reportedly considering giving estranged left wing back, Taiye Taiwo, another chance in the Eagles after the Dynamo Kiev defender has apologised for his not showing enough commitment to the national team cause, there is hope that Kalu might also be given a chance to fight for a place in the Nations Cup-bound team. PROMOTION SHOWDOWN IK Uche leads Villareal assault against leaders Elche Villareal of Spain Nigerian forward, Ikechukwu Uche is enjoying a new lease of life at the Segunda B side where he has rediscovered his scoring touch. The younger of the Uche brothers who could only muster a paltry 3 goals in 34 games for his former club, Granada, last season already has 5 goals in 13 games for Villareal this term. And as the Yellow Submarines go on the road to Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero to confront league leaders Elche tomorrow, Uche would be leading the visitors’ forwardline against Elche who are on the summit with 35 points from 15 matches. 8 points currently separate the two sides and Villareal, now 5th on the table with 27 points, would be out to reduce the gap and enhance their promotion aspiration. The Super Eagles striker is currently Villareal’s leading goleador with old warhorse, Marcos Senna trailing him on 4 goals. On the international scene, Uche also has his eyes set on leading Nigeria’s attack at next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa. It would be a good opportunity for the skillful forward to erase the sad memories of the injury that held him back from featuring in his first FIFA World Cup which held in the Rainbow country two years ago, despite being the Eagles’ joint top scorer with 4 goals in the qualifiers. The same injury also made him to miss the 2010 Cup of Nations earlier held in Angola. Uche is currently one of Nigeria’s topmost scorers with 18 goals in 40 games. CONSOLATION TIME? Eagles stars in the EPL look to better outings after midweek gloom Midweek fixtures results did not favour the host of Super Eagles stars in the English Premier League all of whom will be hoping for a better outing this weekend to erase their gloomy memories and provide some measure of succour. First are the Chelsea duo of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses both of whom watched helplessly from the bench as the Blues failed to make home advantage count against visiting Fulham who ran away with a point after forcing the homers to a scoreless draw. New coach, Rafa Benitez confined the Nigerians stars to the bench as he embarks on the unenviable task of bringing Chelsea out of the woods. As the Blues go on the road trip to West Ham today, Mikel and Moses would be hoping to regain their places in the team. Another Eagles star, Osaze Odemwingie also had a bad time and featured for West Brom Albion who were brought down to earth after getting battered black and blue by hosts Swansea City Wednesday. The loss against 8th placed Swansea saw the Albions miss the chance to move upward on the table as they remain 4th on the log. The Baggies will today face another stiff test at home against visiting Stoke City who defeated Newcastle 2-1. Victor Anichebe’s Everton were also left frustrated as they could only share the points at home with bitter rivals, Arsenal, who forced the Toffees to a 1-1 draw. The Eagles forward was not even listed for the game and would most certainly continue his spell on the bench today as Everton travel to the Etihad Stadium to confront title defenders, Manchester City. One cap Eagles star, Shola Ameobi did not fair any better as he was also not listed as Newcastle threw away their 1-0 lead to succumb to the superior firepower of hosts Stoke City who scored two late goals to send their visitors back home empty-handed. Newcastle would be looking to make amends for that defeat against Wigan Athletic, who will be coming to the St. James Park on Monday.