Nigerian players fail to hit the heights in the Premier League this weekend. Only one Nigerian player saw action on the winning side.
The goals seem to have dried up as Nigerian strikers in the Premiership are currently facing a drought.
As it stands, only two sides with Nigerians within their ranks find themselves in the top ten on the log.
With a handful of the Nigerian players invited for the upcoming international ties by the Super Eagles, a good chunk of the players will get some deserved rest and opportunity to recharge their batteries. Perhaps, the rest will help them get back into match-winning form.
Players on the winning team
Crystal Palace may have found their feet after another professional performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Patrick Vieira-led side won 2-0, with Michael Olise getting a ten-minute run-out. He came on in the 80th minute to replace forward Odsonne Edouard.
Without the distractions of European football, Mikel Arteta has been able to mold his team into a formidable force. The Gunners have come from a disappointing start to the season to become challengers for the top four.
Two players with Nigerian descent who ply their trade with the London side, Folarin Balogun and Tim Akinola, were not on duty for the team. Folarin was on U23 assignment in the Premier League 2 on Saturday. Tim, who has trained with the first team, was also not in action. Balogun did grab a last-gasp equalizing goal for the Gunners u-23 side in a 3-3 draw against Leicester City.
On the losing side
Watford under Claudio Ranieri has been unable to stem the slide, and at the Emirates Stadium, it was another familiar tale.
Emmanuel Dennis was back in the starting line-up following a one-match ban but failed to hit the target in his 74 minutes appearance. William Troost-Ekong was an unused sub while Oghenekaro Etebo also missed the Arsenal game as he is still out injured.
Another player on the losing side this weekend is Frank Onyeka of Brentford. The Nigerian midfielder was an unused sub as Brentford fell 1-2 at home to Norwich City.
Young Carney Chukuemeka was also an unused sub as Aston Villa fell to Southampton 1-0 on Saturday.
Dismay for Lookman, Iheanacho's goal-drought continues
Ademola Lookman has reportedly switched his representation from England to play for Nigeria.
Lookman has switched his National team representation from England to Nigeria 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/TVKrgjxfzx
— #TouchlineFracas (@touchlinefracas) November 4, 2021
Over the weekend, the player on loan from RB Leipzig was in action for Leicester City alongside senior man Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Leicester City could only nick a point in their tie against Leeds United. None of the Nigerian contingents in the side registered a goal. The closest they came to scoring was a VAR disallowed goal by Ademola Lookman off Tielemans' corner kick in the second half.
Wilfred Ndidi got his second yellow card of the season with 15 minutes of the game left to play in his first Premier League start since September 25, while Kelechi Iheanacho was an unused sub. After enjoying a fine start to the Premier League season, senior man ‘Kelz' has now failed to score in his last seven games for the Foxes across all competitions. He will be eager to put that stat to bed in the upcoming international fixtures with the Super Eagles.
Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi looked on from the bench as Everton finished the game with ten men in a 0-0 draw with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
