Emenike Meltdown: 19 Games and Counting = 0 Goals. . . .

Two years ago, Emmanuel Emenike was one of Nigeria's heroes in the improbable Cup of African Nations' triumph. During that competition, his scoring in five consecutive matches tied a Nigerian record. But that was two years ago!

He is still Nigeria's top choice for striker. However, he has now played 19 games without scoring a single goal. This drought is far more than any top Nigerian striker has ever endured in a national team shirt. The table below lists the 19 games played by Emenike without getting on the scorers sheet. His drought began against Ethiopia in a World Cup qualifier on November 16, 2013 and has continued. Before that fateful date in 2013, Emenike scored twice in Addis Ababa to win a critical game for Nigeria.

So what has happened since?

1.  Emenike has played 1,353 minutes of soccer for the Super Eagles without scoring!

2.  Nigeria has won 14 games but surely not through Emenike's scoring.

3.  Ahmed Musa has scored 5 goals in games played by Emenike.

4.  Moses Simon has  scored 2 goals, Sone Aluko has scored 2 goals and a defender, Efe Ambrose, has scored two goals in games played by Emenike!!

5.  Nigeria has scored 45 goals in games played since. None came from Emenike.

6.  Nigeria was at the 2014 World Cup and reached the second round without an Emenike goal.

7.  Nigeria failed to reach the finals of the 2015 Cup of Nations perhaps because Nigeria failed to count on an Emenike goal.


Fans may have ideas of other important things that occurred since Emenike's drought begun. Fortunately, a game with Swaziland is coming up and it will be yet another opportunity for Emenike. Will he get out of the funk? Perhaps, the next penalty kick awarded to Nigeria should be taken by Emenike.













Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lookman with a Brace as Nigeria Overcomes Cameroon 2-0......

Image
Abidjan -- Nigeria moved into the African Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter finals with Ademola Lookman scoring a brace in a 2 - 0 win over Cameroon. Nigeria played a clinical game and remained focused allowing Cameroon to dominate possession but offered the losers few real opportunities. Desperate to measure up, Cameroon made Osimhen suffer several fouls and the increasing desperation led to a caution for Nkoulou who fouled goalie Nwabali in midair. Nwabali, unable to continue, was replaced by goalie Uzoho. _____________________________________________________ Desperate to measure up, Cameroon made Osimhen suffer several fouls and the increasing desperation led to a caution for Nkoulou who fouled goalie Nwabali in midair. Nwabali, unable to continue, was replaced by goalie Uzoho. ____________________________________________________ The game started with Nigeria indicating its intention. After only eight minutes, Nigeria appeared to go ahead as Ajayi scored during a goalmouth scr...
Read more

Nigeria Scraps Through Deservedly....

Image
Abidjan -- Nigeria pipped Guinea Bissau 1-0 in Abidjan at the Houmphouet Boigny Stadium to progress to the second round of the AFCON before an estimated 20,000 spectators. With Ivory Coast going down 0-4 simultaneously to Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria was forced to finish second in the group because of a poorer goal difference compared to the Equatoguineans. Nigeria was clearly the better team using their new structure of 5-3-2 in defense and 3-5-2 in attack. In truth, the losers, who finished without a point in the group, were thoroughly outclassed. The difference in margin could be down to pitiful officiating by referee Ms. Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) intent on balancing the game with poor officiating. Although, to be clear the referee with assistance of VAR officials ended up making the correct calls after Nigeria had put the ball in the net two other times and fortuitously did not call for a VAR check after the losers had a goal ruled off. Replays indicated the goal by Guinea Bissau sh...
Read more

Junior and Simy Needing Prayers and Minutes

We now have a very good idea who Manager Gernot Rohr plans to take to Russia for the 2018 World Cup, barring injury. His decision to name 30 players for the World Cup camp has done little to disguise his final list. In reality, the only unknown is injury and Rohr's decision at just two positions. Rohr's tendencies, from his first day of appointment in Nigeria, is to be conservative and that has increased the predictability of Nigeria's final squad to Russia. Only Two Spots Still Open It is quite clear that 21 of the invited 30 players are already on Rohr's final list to Russia. The nine left are the likes of Dele Ajiboye, Stephen Eze, Ola Aina, Elderson Echiejile, Uche Agbo, Mikel Agu, John Ogu, Simy Nwankwo, and Junior Lokosa. It is among those that the final cut of seven players will come. But even then, we already know the five that are on the list of certain cuts. Those five are Dele Ajiboye, Stephen Eze, Uche Agbo, Mikel Agu, and Junior Lokosa. Of that list,...
Read more