Utaka, Odemwingie remind Keshi what Eagles miss in AFCON with goals
Kalu Uche, Akpala, Nwofor, Ighalo fire blanks; Ebagua on target for Varese




Osaze Odemwingie (West Brom): Out-of-favour Super Eagles striker Osaze Odemwingie was on top of his game on Saturday for West Bromwich Albion in their 2-2 draw against Midlands neighbours, Aston Villa. Odemwingie scored a 83rd minute goal which ensures his club settled for a draw in the derby. The Baggies were at the time trailing by 2-1 and the Nigerian was even involved in the build-up to West Brom's first goal when the score was still 2-0 advantage for Villa. It was Odemwingie's 18th Premier League game of the season while the goal was his fifth of the season. He played for 90 minutes.

Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United): One-cap Super Eagles striker Shola Ameobi played for 90 minutes but could not salvage Newcastle United as they slumped to a 2-1 loss to Reading to move closer to the relegation zone over the weekend. The game was Ameobi's 15th Premier League game of the season. The Kabba, Kogi State-born striker has scored just once for the Toons this season. Nigerian-born Hope Akpan set up Reading's second goal scored by Andre Le Fondre.

Danny Shittu (Millwall): Danny Shittu who turned down the chance to represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations played for 90 minutes in Millwall's 2-0 loss at home to Burnley at The Den Stadium. The big defender has thus played 23 npower Championship games for Millwall this season.

Seyi Olofinjana, Sone Aluko (Hull City): Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi George Olofinjana was an unused substitute on Saturday in Hull City's 1-1 away draw against Peterborough at the London Road Stadium. Sone Aluko was ruled out through Achilles injury. Olofinjana has played 11 times this season for The Tigers while Aluko has played 23 games and scored eight goals thus far.

Dickson Etuhu (Blackburn Rovers): Dickson Etuhu was not listed in Blackburn Rovers 1-2 home loss at Ewood Park against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. Etuhu has played 20 league games and has scored one goal so far this season.  

Chinedu Obasi (Schalke): Super Eagles forward Chinedu Obasi whose injury setback ruled him out for a place in the Nigerian team for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations was an unused substitute in a nine-goal thriller on Friday as Schalke beat Hannover 96 by 5-4 at the Veltins Arena. Obasi has played only three times and 89 minutes in total for the Glesenkirchen side so far this season.

Joseph Akpala (Weder Bremen): Super Eagles fringe striker Joseph Akpala played for only 20 minutes on Saturday when he came off the bench to replace Neil Peterson in Weder Bremen's 5-0 loss in the hands of Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund. The game was Akpala's 14th Bundesliga game of the season. He has scored just once this season.


John Utaka (Montpellier): Super Eagles forward John Chukwudi Utaka had one of his best performances for Montpellier over the weekend when he scored a goal and assisted the other In Montepellier 2-3 loss to Olympique Marseille on Saturday. The former Portsmouth winger assisted clubmate, Emmanuel Herrera to score in the 15th minute before he personally added the second in the 56th minute. The goal was his fourth of the season in 16 Ligue 1 matches. Utaka has played a total of 1, 152 minutes thus far this season.

Simon Zenke (Nancy): Former Flying Eagles player Simon Zenke was not listed in Nancy's 2-1 away loss away to Tolouse on Saturday at the Stadium Municipal in Tolouse. Zenke has played nine times for Nancy this season and has scored just once.

Onyekachi Apam (Stade Rennes): Injury-prone Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam was not listed for action on Sunday as his side boosted their bid for a UEFA Europa League place with a 2-0 win over Bastia at the Stade Jean Laville. Apam has started six of the seven games he has played this season for Rennes.



Odion Ighalo (Granada): Former Flying Eagles and U-23 striker Odion Ighalo played for 90 minutes on Saturday in Granada's 2-0 home win over Rayo Vallecano. The game was his 10th of the season in the La Liga. He is yet to score a goal this season.

Sunday Stephen (Numancia):  One-cap Super Eagles player Sunday Stephen played his 12th game of the season for Numancia in their 1-1 draw away to Sporting Gijon at the El Monilon stadium on Sunday.The former FC Ebedier star was however yellow carded in the 86th minute of the encounter.

Ramon Azeez (Almeria): Former Flying Eagles midfielder Ramon Azeez was not listed for Almeria as his side played out a 2-2 draw at home to Barcelona B at the Mediterrano stadium on Sunday. He has so far made two substitute appearances for the Segunda side.

Uche Nwofor (VVV Venlo): Former Flying Eagles striker Uche Nwofor played for only two minutes on Saturday for VVV Venlo when he came off the bench to replace Japanese midfielder Yuki Otsu in Venlo's 1-0 away loss to NAC Breda. The game was the 14th of the season for the former Rangers of Enugu star who has scored three goals this season.

Oluwafemi Ajilore (Gronigen): Super Eagles midfielder Oluwafemi Ajilore was an unused substitute for Gronigen in their 2-0 home loss to FC Utrecht at the Euroborg stadium on Sunday. The former Brondby player has so far chalked up seven appearances.


Kalu Uche (Kasimpasa): Kalu Uche was in impressive form on Saturday in Kasimpasa's 2-1 home win over Galatasary but the skilful player was not on the score sheet. The game was Uche's 18th of the season. The former Bordeaux ace whose younger brother, Ikechukwu, is in Nigeria's team to the 2013 AFCON, has scored nine goals for Kasimpasa this season.

Michael Eneramo (Sivasspor): Out-of-favour Eagles striker Michael Eneramo played for 90 minutes on Saturday in Sivasspor's 0-0 home draw against Gaziantepspor. Eneramo has played 16 league games for his team this season and has scored five goals.

Isaac Promise (Antalyaspor):  Nigerian striker Isaac Promise scored his fifth goal of the season for Antalyaspor in their 5-3 home loss to his former employers Gençlerbirlig(i on Sunday. He has so far played 15 times in the Turkish Super Lig this term. He was replaced in the 62nd minute by Emrah Bassan.


Nnamdi Oduamadi, Osareiten Ebagua (Varese): Nnamdi Oduamadi made his return from a leg injury and provided the  assist for Varese’s fourth goal scored by Osareiten Ebagua against Grosseto in a 4-0 win on Saturday against Grosseto at Varese's Stadio Franco Ossola. The game was originally played on 15th December 2012 but had to be suspended in the 82nd minute due to fog with Varese leading at 3-0 at the time. The goal was his eighth in 14 matches.

It was Oduamadi’s first game for the Serie B side whom he  will play for till the end of the season.

Derick Ogbu(OH Leuven): Nigeria's Derick Chuka Ogbu played for 90 minutes on Saturday in OH Leuven's 6-2 home defeat to Lokeren. The striker has played 22 matches in the Belgium Jupiler for his club and has scored five goals so far.

Kim Ojo(Genk): Nigeria's Kim Ojo was not listed for Genk in their 3-1 win at home over Sporting Charleroi. He is yet to play for the side that had Kennedy Nwanganga on their books last season.

Emmanuel Okoye (Panionios): Emmanuel Ndubuisi Okoye played for 52 minutes on Saturday when his team Panionios were defeated 2-1 by OFI Crete that once had in their ranks Nigeria's Joseph Nwofor. It was Okoye's 12th league game of the season for his team but he is yet to score a goal so far. Okoye has played a total of 762 minutes this season. The 21-year-old Nigerian was replaced by Greek midfielder Dimimtris Kolovos.