goal.com
There was penalty hurt for Liverpool and winger Jordon Ibe, while Ikechukwu Uche and Elderson Echiejile tasted victory in midweek European action.
Being Europe’s second-tier continental club competition has always sat uncomfortably for the Europa League. More strenuous, but less worth the while for its participants; this has led most to treat it with a complacent levity at best, and outright indifference at worst.
Yet, it offers a far more pungent soup of style-clashes and dramatic undertones, all the more evident after Thursday night’s action all across Europe. More importantly, there is a wider net for Nigerian players and a few of them were on display in a decisive matchday.
Earlier in the week, the Champions League Round of 16 first legs concluded across the continent, with one Nigeria international enjoying a terrific evening.
In this feature, we look back over the week that was for Nigerian players in European continental midweek competition.
Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose was a 40th minute substitute for Celtic in their 1-0 loss at San Siro to Internazionale. Of course, following the goal-fest in the first-leg last week, this was doomed to disappoint somewhat. There was none of the suicidal, seat-of-their-pants defending that the crowd at Celtic Park were treated to; Freddy Guarin’s late strike two minutes from time was all that was required to dump the Scottish champions out.
Ambrose has struggled for game-time and consistency this term, losing his place to young Belgian Jason Denayer. Here, he was called upon as a result of the early dismissal of Virgil van Dijk following two yellow cards within ten minutes, and acquitted himself fairly well.
Ambrose | A rare opportunity
There is little shame in defeat for Ronny Deila, who has settled nicely into the job following a rough start and that infamous hiding at the hands of Legia Warsaw last summer. His side gave as good as they got, and can now turn their attentions to the domestic concerns and beating off the challenge of Aberdeen.
Joel Obi was in the matchday squad for Inter, but was not called upon by Roberto Mancini.
Ikechukwu Uche, for one, had reason to be glad, as his Villarreal side progressed 5-2 on aggregate against Red Bull Salzburg. The Nigeria international was on target in the first leg a week ago, poaching as he does best inside the box. His contribution was far more muted this time, and he was withdrawn with twenty minutes to play.
If antecedent is anything to go by, the 31-year-old will not start Sunday’s trip to the Bernabeu; coach Marcelino seems to have decided Uche can no longer play twice a week, with the wear of persistent knee injuries finally taking their toll.
There was also a favourable outcome for Super Eagles left-back Elderson Echiejile, whose Monaco side sprung an upset away at Arsenal. Les Monegasques were resilient and organised, full value for their 3-1 win at the Emirates. After a rough start, Echiejile acquitted himself fairly well against his direct opponent Danny Welbeck, filling in for regular left-back Layvin Kurzawa who failed a late fitness test and could only make the bench.
The result puts Monaco in pole position to advance to the Champions League Quarter-finals, the farthest they've gone since losing the 2004 final to Jose Mourinho's Porto in Gelsenkirchen.
Amidst all the excitement, there was a penalty shoot-out to be had; that great lottery (if you hold fast Johan Cruyff’s beliefs) of football. Liverpool’s ambitions were cut short and cauterized in the cauldron of Istanbul, with defender Dejan Lovren the villain of the piece.
There was a Nigerian element at play at the Ataturk as well, in the form of exciting young winger Jordon Ibe. Liverpool found the going tough on the night, with the Black Eagles determined to overturn a narrow deficit, and the Anglo-Nigerian had as difficult an outing as anyone. However, there is a fascination to Ibe’s quantum leap on Merseyside: why? Well, only two months before, he was turning out in England’s second division with Derby County!
Ibe | A quantum leap
Recalled and thrust straight into the limelight by manager Brendan Rodgers, the 19-year-old has repaid the Northern Irishman’s faith and then some, putting on impressive displays both in the Premier League and in Europe.
Understandably, there is a tussle to tether his international allegiance; he has represented England up to U-20 level, which makes him eligible still for Nigeria, consequent upon Fifa certification. The Super Eagles’ case is obviously not helped by the uncertainty surrounding its coaching situation, and there is a sense the Wycombe youth-product will be capped in England’s upcoming friendly against Republic of Ireland, according to the Mirror.
This is ostensibly to see off Nigeria’s interest, but so good has Ibe been since returning to the club in the winter window, one must grudgingly acknowledge he might have earned the opportunity anyway.
Also, Yussuf Ayila and Lukman Haruna remain alive for Nigeria in Europa League following Dynamo Kiev's progress to the next round past Guingamp, while John Obi Mikel and Chinedu Obasi face tricky second leg ties in the Champions League with Chelsea and Schalke respectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment