(http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Anichebe-Yakubu-and-Osaze-360x225.jpg)Anichebe, Yakubu and Osaze
| credits: File copyApart from Malta-based Obinna Obiefule who has scored 25 goals in the 2011/12 season, no Nigerian striker has reached or surpassed the 20-goal mark in Europe, writes 'TANA AIYEJINA
Unlike in the past when the likes of former Super Eagles strikers Rashidi Yekini, Richard Owubokiri, Daniel Amokachi and several others constantly hit headlines for their goal scoring form in topflight European leagues, the present generation of Nigeria's strikers have struggled to make an impact.
Only Mosta of Malta striker, Obinna Obiefule, has managed to cross the 20-goal mark, scoring 24 Malta Premier League goals and one FA Cup goal.
While the likes of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi have made goals scoring look like child's play, Brown Ideye, who plays for Ukrainian side, Dynamo Kiev, has managed just one goal in seven games for his club all through the season.
Below are the statistics and various performances of some of the country's top strikers in Europe:
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
Toffees striker Anichebe, who turns 24 on April 23, has been ravaged with injuries in recent seasons but manager David Moyes has kept faith in the powerful player. The spate of injuries has confined Anichebe to the bench most times but he has been nicknamed the super-sub, coming off the bench to help out Everton with his goals. He has managed just six goals this term: five in the English Premier League and one in the Carling Cup.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Blackburn Rovers)
Yakubu has been the most consistent Nigerian striker in recent years scoring regularly in the English topflight playing for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton. In midweek, he scored twice and missed from the penalty spot as Blackburn lost 3-2 to Liverpool. Last season, he scored 11 goals in 20 games while on loan at Championship side Leicester City before he signed a three-year contract with Blackburn last August for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old has not disappointed at the Riversiders. The Edo-born player has notched 17 goals this season; 16 in the EPL and one in the Carling Cup.
Osaze Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion)
Osaze had a blissful first season in England scoring 15 goals after moving from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2010. But the 30-year-old has struggled to repeat that performance this season. But he has had his beautiful moments though, like scoring his first hat-trick in England. He has nine goals to his name in 26 EPL games.
John Utaka (Montpellier)
The older of the Utaka brothers, John, gave his career a new breath of life when he moved from struggling English side Portsmouth to Ligue 1 side, Montpellier last year, agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The player, who can also play on the wings, has managed five goals in Ligue 1 and one in the French Cup for high-flying Montpellier's push for the title.
Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev)
Ideye came to national prominence when he represented Nigeria at the 2007 U-20 World Cup, scoring a goal as Nigeria exited the tournament in the quarterfinal. The youngster then revealed his dream to play for English giants Chelsea, but that dream has yet to materialise.
The former Ocean Boys striker joined Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax the following year and made his name with a handful of goals.
The 23-year-old also impressed at French side Sochaux before he moved to Ukraine to join Dynamo Kiev. But the goals seemed to have dried up in the wintery conditions of Russia. The Bayelsa-born player has scored just one goal this season— in the Europa League— in just seven outings.
Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow)
Emenike has been variously referred to as the new Daniel Amokachi because of his style of play. He is strong, very difficult to beat off the ball and has an eye for goal; these qualities he put to good use in Turkey, emerging as one of the most dangerous strikers while playing for Karabukspor.
The 24-year-old joined Fenerbahçe on a four-year deal in May 2011, but he was sold to Spartak two months later despite not making a single appearance for the club. He showed early signs of brilliance in Russia but the goals seemed to have vanished after being enmeshed in match-fixing and racism controversies. He has scored six goals in 16 matches.
Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow)
Nsofor has just two goals in 17 matches to his credit since joining Lokomotiv from Inter Milan on a four-year deal in 2011. The talented player struggled to impress at Inter and was variously loaned to Spanish side Malaga and West Ham before he eventually moved away from the San Siro to join the Russian giants.
He has largely fared better there; scoring twice- one in the Europa League and one in the Russian topflight league in 17 appearances for Lokomotive.
Obafemi Martins (Rubin Kazan)
Obagoal, as Martins is fondly called, has helplessly watched his career slide from its pinnacle at Inter Milan and Newcastle United to Wolfsburg and then to Rubin Kazan. The athletic striker, once feared by defenders, seems to have lost the scoring touch that made him the country's top striker.
Martins, who scored Birmingham's winner Carling Cup final winner against Arsenal while on loan at the club from Rubin Kazan, has scored three goals in nine games for Rubin Kazan.
Obinna Obiefule (Mosta)
Obiefule has been the most consistent Nigerian goalscorer in Europe this term, scoring 24 league goals to top the scorers chart in the tiny island of Malta. Even though his club have battled relegation for most parts of the season, the 24-year-old player, who is eyeing a move to one of the big leagues of Europe, has consistently found the back of the net to hold his head high as Nigeria's number one striker in Europe.
The Punch