Sports
Whither Emenike’s Goal Scoring Touch?
Without a doubt one of
the biggest posers for millions of Nigeria fans is whether the goals of Emmanuel Emenike have finally dried up.
Nicknanied ‘The New Yekini’, Emenike has not scored in the last 11 games for Nigeria after he last hit target for the African champions on October 13, 2013, in a 2-1 win over Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup playoff, where he scored a brace.
He completely bombed at the World Cup in Brazil, where he failed to score in four appearances much against pre-tournament forecasts.
Emenike’s goals drought is a major problem for the Super Eagles as they have in the past two years depended a great deal on his goals.
The highlight of Emenike’s international career was at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where he emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
He enjoyed the whole-hearted endeavour of twin striker Brown Ideye, who assisted in his goals at South Africa 2013.
His partnerships with Osaze Odemwingie and Shola Ameobi have not been as effective, and he looked all stranded and on his own at Brazil 2014.
The Fenerbache striker is also a marked man since his exploits at the 2013 AFCON and many teams believe if they could stop him, they would have neutralised the Super Eagles as well.
The lack of creativity in the Eagles midfield has equally held back the former Sparkak Moscow star because he is that kind of striker who needs good supplies from the middle for him to make hay.
Also, for all his hard work, speed, power and commitment, Emenike has not shown enough tact and intelligence to lose his markers.
He is direct and very predictable, which makes it easier for defenders to mark him out of a game.
Ex-Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie told newsmen that Emenike has to do a lot more now to end his goal drought in Eagles.
“I have watched Emenike for a long time now and personally, I believe he has a lot of power and speed, but he lacks a little in the skill department, which he needs to really work on,” said the former Wolfsburg striker.
“The midfield is not doing well enough to get balls across to him and this is contributing to his lack of goals,”
“But do we need to look for someone for him to get the goals every time? He too should try and add some skills to his power and speed and he will be among the best in the world.
“He has gone 11 games for the Eagles without a goal, and because we rely on him for the goals, we can see why our national team are not doing well at the moment.”
Akpoborie will suggest Nigeria give another player to lead the country’s strike force.
“As far as I am concerned, the coach should start looking elsewhere for another player to score goals for the team,” he said.
“This is a national team and he has to perform or the coach gets a new striker on board. We have many of them by the way.”
“A player is only as good as his last game. That’s football for you.”
After a rather slow start in his international career, Emenike has scored 15 goals in 26 games for Eagles.
His lean spell is another test of his strong character.
If he could overcome this slump, Emenike will again be on his way to becoming one of the country’s most feared goal bursters.
Alao writes for African Football. Com
Olusola Alao
Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.
Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.
However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.
Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.
Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.
Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.
The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.
City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.
But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.
Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)
Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.
Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).
In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.
The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.
And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.
Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.
But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.
Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.
Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.
Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.
Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.
The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.
PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.
Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.
Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.
Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.
