After a week break, for international friendlies, Eagles in Europe returns as we continue to follow the progress of Super Eagles players in Europe.
We kickoff this week’s review in Belgium, where Uche Agbo helped his club to a narrow win in the Belgian playoffs.
For almost two years, he’s been constantly invited to the national team camp since Franco-German coach, Gernot Rohr took charge of the team. However, he’s hardly played a second, but in his club, Standard Liege, Agbo remains a main stay.
He was on from start to finish as Liege pipped Charleroi 1-0 in the playoffs.
Still on the Belgian playoffs, Moses Simon was on for 72minutes as Gent proved too difficult for defending champions, Anderlecht.
Gent defeated Anderlecht 2-0, but Simon had no hands in either of the goals before making way in the second half.
Simon also had the company of his fellow Nigerians at the club, the duo of Samuel Kalu and Anderson Esiti, both of whom lasted the duration of the game.
Germany
Leon Balogun, Mainz 05
Having missed Nigeria’s loss to Serbia due to illness, Balogun was considered fit enough for the bench, and he watched from there as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Borussia Mochengladbach.
France
Chidozie Awaziem, Nantes
Youthful defender, Awaziem was not listed as his Ligue 1 outfit, Nantes, were put the sword by a Remy Cabella led Saint-Etienne, who thrashed them 3-0 at home.
Netherlands
Tyronne Ebuehi, ADO Den Haag
It’s been a difficult week for Tyronne Ebuehi, whose not too impressive outing for Nigeria against Serbia during the break was followed by another poor outing in the league, this time against AZ Alkmaar.
Alkmaar went, saw and conquered their host, Ebuehi’s ADO Den Haag, 3-0, with the 22-year-old fullback on for less than an hour.
He was replaced by Elson Hooi in the 50th minute of that encounter.
Russia
Ahmed Musa, CSKA Moscow
Musa continued his search for a first league goal for CSKA Moscow, after firing blanks over the weekend.
Playing for 84minutes, the on loan Leicester City forward wasn’t involved in any of the goals as his side defeated FC Rostov 2-1.
Bryan Idowu, Amkar Perm
Idowu played his 19th game of the season for Amkar, helping them to a memorable 2-1 win over league leaders, Locomotiv Moscow.
The Russian-born Nigeria international lasted the duration of the game, playing as a wingback.
Turkey
William Troost-Ekong, Mikel Agu & Shehu Abdullahi, Bursaspor
Super Eagles stand-in captain against Poland, Troost-Ekong, and his compatriots at Bursaspor were at the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Antalyaspor.
The trio started and finished the game, but were helpless as they lost away from home.
Kenneth Omeruo, Kasimpasa
Omeruo was in brilliant form, helping his modest side, Kasimpasa to a clean sheet, as they beat Goztepe with Omeruo on parade for 81minutes.
Finally, we end this week’s review with a trip to England, where Victor Moses’ Chelsea were humbled at home.
Moses and his Chelsea team saw their hopes of playing in Europe all but ended after they were beaten for the first time in almost three decades at home by Tottenham.
Moses, who played for 81minutes, provided the cross which Alvaro Morata headed in to put his side 1-0 up, but a second half Dele Alli double turned the game around for Spurs, who went on to secure a 3-1 win.
At the Emirates, Alex Iwobi was a spectator as Arsenal won back-to-back games for the first time since November.
The Gunners defeated Stoke City 3-0, with Iwobi as an unused substitute, it’s the second consecutive games he will be watching from the bench, having done same when AC Milan were beaten 3-1 in the Europa League.
A day earlier, Leicester City‘s Mr consistency, Wilfred Ndidi, had a torrid day when the Foxes visited Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ndidi could have cost his side after he was booked twice, and eventually sent off against Brighton.
However, Jamie Vardy’s late minute goal saved Ndidi’s blushes as Leicester emerged 2-0 victors.
