MIKEL, IHEANACHO CLASH IN FA CUP CRACKER
Topmost Nigerian football ambassador in England, Mikel Obi, will be filling out for Chelsea on Sunday in a top of the bill FA Cup clash that will see him trade tackles against Manchester City that will also be parading another topmost and upcoming star, Kelechi Iheanacho in 5th round game billed for the 41,800-capacity Stamford Bridge. Mikel, arguably the ‘king’ of Nigerian football exports will come up against much younger compatriot Iheanacho who is arguably the ‘crown prince’ of Nigerian football exports in game that pitches two of the biggest clubsides in England against each other.
Interestingly, Mikel and Iheanacho were on the losing sides for their respective club sides in their last outing ahead of this tie with Mikel going down with Chelsea 2-1 away to PSG in an UEFA Champions League outing on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes in Paris while Iheanacho also lost out with Manchester City as they went down 2-1 at home against title rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. Interestingly too, both Mikel and Iheanacho scored a goal apiece for their respective clubs but their goals were not enough to earn their clubs the maximum points.
Host Chelsea are obviously no longer in contention for the English Premier League title they won the last season and while they are also not considered as top favourites in the Champions League, the Blues are expected to take the FA Cup more seriously in other not to end the season trophyless. Manchester City however, are still in the race for the EPL title and even though they are also not favourites for a Champions League title, the erratic Citizens are still in the race for a treble and they face a daunting task against Chelsea to keep their ambitions on track.
The stage is therefore set for a highly contested game between both teams and it remains to be seen who between Mikel and Iheanacho – the king and the prince – that will carry the day.
MOSES, EMENIKE SET FOR BLACKBURN TIE
The duo of Nigerian football stars with West Ham United, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike will be filling out for the Hammers when they go on the road trip to the Ewood Park to take on host Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup date on Sunday.
Moses and Emenike featured in West Ham’s 2-2 draw away to Norwich City last weekend in an EPL and they should be in high spirit against Championship side, Blackburn who will also be looking to make home advantage count against the visitors like they did in the 3-0 spanking of Fulham on Tuesday. And while Moses who is only loan from Chelsea is really no stranger in the FA Cup, this game will however, be a debut FA Cup outing for Emenike having just secured a move to England from United Arab Emirates side, Al Ain in the January transfer window.
This tie will be a tricky one for both sides and even though West Ham will be going into this tie as favourites being an EPL side currently, they will need to be wary of their Championship opponents, Blackburn Rovers who themselves are no strangers to the EPL in former times.
The duo of Nigerian football stars with West Ham United, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike will be filling out for the Hammers when they go on the road trip to the Ewood Park to take on host Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup date on Sunday.
Moses and Emenike featured in West Ham’s 2-2 draw away to Norwich City last weekend in an EPL and they should be in high spirit against Championship side, Blackburn who will also be looking to make home advantage count against the visitors like they did in the 3-0 spanking of Fulham on Tuesday. And while Moses who is only loan from Chelsea is really no stranger in the FA Cup, this game will however, be a debut FA Cup outing for Emenike having just secured a move to England from United Arab Emirates side, Al Ain in the January transfer window.
This tie will be a tricky one for both sides and even though West Ham will be going into this tie as favourites being an EPL side currently, they will need to be wary of their Championship opponents, Blackburn Rovers who themselves are no strangers to the EPL in former times.
OGU, NWAKAEME PRIMED FOR YEHUDA VISIT
Nigerian international, John Ogu and compatriot Anthony Nwakaeme will be leading Hapoel Beer Sheva’s title charge in the Isreali Ligat Ha’al when they play host to Bnei Yehuda in a late kick-off game billed for Turner Stadium on Monday. Both players were in action last weekend as Beer Sheva secured a valuable 2-1 away win over Hapoel Haifa.
Ogu and Nwakaeme have been instrumental in Hapoel Beer Sheva’s climb to the top of the Ligat Ha’al table where they currently occupy with 57 points after 23 matches. The league leaders are in top form having won their last five games to open a 5 points lead over closest rivals, Maccabi Tel Aviv who are 2nd on the log with 52 points.
Bnei Yehuda could not make home advantage count last weekend as they lost 0-2 to visiting Bnei Sakhnin but the result still see them retain their 6th position on the log with 30 points. Hapoel Beer Sheva are favourites to pick the maximum points at stake in this tie but they must not be complacent against a Bnei Yehuda side who will be content to at least share the points with their hosts.
Ogu, playing as a midfielder has 2 goals to his credit in 21 games for Beer Sheva while striker Nwakaeme has scored 7 goals in 23 league games for the title-chasing side.
Nigerian international, John Ogu and compatriot Anthony Nwakaeme will be leading Hapoel Beer Sheva’s title charge in the Isreali Ligat Ha’al when they play host to Bnei Yehuda in a late kick-off game billed for Turner Stadium on Monday. Both players were in action last weekend as Beer Sheva secured a valuable 2-1 away win over Hapoel Haifa.
Ogu and Nwakaeme have been instrumental in Hapoel Beer Sheva’s climb to the top of the Ligat Ha’al table where they currently occupy with 57 points after 23 matches. The league leaders are in top form having won their last five games to open a 5 points lead over closest rivals, Maccabi Tel Aviv who are 2nd on the log with 52 points.
Bnei Yehuda could not make home advantage count last weekend as they lost 0-2 to visiting Bnei Sakhnin but the result still see them retain their 6th position on the log with 30 points. Hapoel Beer Sheva are favourites to pick the maximum points at stake in this tie but they must not be complacent against a Bnei Yehuda side who will be content to at least share the points with their hosts.
Ogu, playing as a midfielder has 2 goals to his credit in 21 games for Beer Sheva while striker Nwakaeme has scored 7 goals in 23 league games for the title-chasing side.
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