Izuchukwu OkosiThe leagues across Europe will serve us some exciting games on Saturday after few games involving Nigerian players were witnessed on Friday evening.
In England, which of the players, especially those that have donned the green and white jerseys of the Super Eagles would shine today?
Prime Business Africa presents the matches on offer on Saturday.
West Ham vs Chelsea
(Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka, Chelsea)
The duo of Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke will hope to get some playing time when Chelsea visit London side, West Ham United at the London stadium.
The game is the first game of the day in the English Premier League, kicking off at 1.30pm.
Of the two Super Eagles-eligible players, Madueke seems the likelier one to start on Saturday as the Blues still miss some of their forward players through injuries like Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic.
Chukwuemeka could get some minutes off the substitute bench but with the injury crisis not as bad in central midfield where new record signing, Enzo Fernandez and Mason Mount would hold sway, the former Aston Villa will hope to get into the action.
Matteo Kovacic might be available for this game which adds to the odds being against the youngster starting from kickoff.
Chelsea have kept clean sheets in their last three matches in the Premier League and have only won once in their last six matches in the Premier League, drawing the last two back-to-back 0-0.
The Blues have failed to win a league match away from home since mid-October.
Stop press: Noni Madueke has been named in the Chelsea starting line up as predicted by Prime Business Africa while Carney Chukwuemeka takes his place on the bench.
Southampton vs Wolves
(Paul Onuachu, Southampton)
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu came off the bench in Southampton’s last Premier League game but will be looking forward to starting from kick off when the Saints welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The match is a relegation dogfight and one that Southampton need to salvage a win if they intend to drag themselves out of the foot of the table.
Southampton have won one of their last ten Premier League games, losing eight and find themselves bottom of the league coming into this weekend’s action. Only Bournemouth (43) have conceded more than Saints (38) in the league so far this season.
Onuachu is a striker that loves to feed off services form the flanks.
Therefore, James Ward-Prowse (captain) and Walker Kyle-Peters who are both blessed with good ball deliveries from midfield and the right wing could do the Nigerian a huge favour by their output.
Onuachu arrived Saint Mary’s as the leading scorer form the Belgian Pro League. He has the ability to stop Southampton’s frustrating run of eight defeats in nine matches.
Leicester vs Tottenham Hotspur
(Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi; Leicester City)
Kelechi Iheanacho made the Premier League team of the Week last weekend after scoring once and assisting twice as Leicester City beat Aston Vila 4-2.
Iheanacho was also in the team of the week for so many pundits fantasy teams.
Fellow Super Eagles star, Wilfred Ndidi is a doubt for the game but if indeed he gets to play Saturday evening, it should be a good time to start regaining the trust manager Brendan Rodgers and the fans all have in him after some below performances.
On Saturday, the Foxes play against Tottenham Hotspur who will be without first choice goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham have scored at least three goals in their last four matches against Leicester in all competitions.
Leicester ended a five-game winless run in the win against Villa and it might be another opportunity for Iheanacho to get more goals on the goalscorers chart.
Arsenal vs Brentford
(Frank Onyeka, Brentford)
Arsenal lost only their second league game last weekend against Everton that paraded Super Eagles forward cum midfielder, Alex Iwobi.
On Saturday, the Gunners will welcome London side, Brentford at the Emirates but Super Eagles midfielder, Frank Onyeka is a doubt for this game but could make the bench.
Brentford have kept a clean sheet in their last three matches but England international of Nigerian descent, Bukayo Saka is expected to start for Arsenal and is one of the players tipped to score for the league leaders.
READ ALSO: Enzo Fernandez Arrives London, Unveiled By Chelsea
Fulham vs Nottingham Forest
(Tosin Adarabioyo, Fulham), (Emmanuel Dennis, Nottingham Forest)
Taiwo Awoniyi is one of eight Nottingham Forest players that will miss Saturday’s game through injury while Neeskens Kabano is the only injury concern for the Cottagers in this game.
Emmanuel Dennis may have to start from the bench as Nottingham Forest are likely to go for Premier League-experienced campaigner, Chris Wood.
Fulham are winless in their last three Premier League games, though their last league game was a 0-0 draw away to Chelsea.
Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to start for the Cottagers in defence. Would there be a ‘battle of two Nigerians’ on Saturday? In few hours time, Nigerians will find out.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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