The yuletide season brings lots of joy and happiness to many footballers considering the fact that some European leagues will be observing a temporary break.
It’s a time when players get to spend some quality time with their loved ones.
However, for many it’s obviously a period to reminisce over their performances thus far so as to decide whether to seek greener pastures.
Some Nigerian footballers will certainly not be in the mood for too much festivity with their eyes fixed on their next possible destinations after the yuletide.
With that in mind, here are four who might just be having their worst Christmas yet.
- Mikel Obi
For someone who has played at the highest level for the last decade, being relegated to the fringes is something unusual. Mikel Obi’s time at Chelsea is evidently coming to an end after failing to make any appearance so far this term. The 29-year-old was conspicuously missing from the Blues Christmas video and will apparently be isolated from his teammates during the celebrations. Mikel will definitely have a quiet Christmas as he aims to finalise his next move.
- Odion Ighalo
This time last season, Odion Ighalo was undoubtedly one of the Premier League’s hottest strikers. His superb goalscoring prowess triggered the attention of the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and even Atletico Madrid. But sadly, the 27-year-old has struggled to hit top form this season – scoring just once in 14 league games. If for nothing, the former Granada striker will be pondering on how to remedy his goal drought instead of partaking in much festivity.
- Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa was the reason reigning Premier League champions, Leicester City, broke their club record last summer. This was after the Super Eagles deputy skipper scored 54 goals in 168 games for CSKA Moscow in five seasons. However, since his £16m move, Musa has struggled to make any impact in England. The 24-year-old has only started five times in the league with Claudio Ranieri preference for the bulk of his title winning squad not helping the Nigerian. Musa will be aiming to do a little more in training in order to please Ranieri.
- Emmanuel Emenike
Just as it’s been in the last couple of seasons, Emmanuel Emenike finds himself at the centre of a war between the club management and fans. The 29-year-old, who has never been at ease in Turkey, is once again enduring a torrid season with Fenerbahçe. Despite having a hand in six goals thus far, the Nigerian finds himself on the rear of the team. “I am like a prisoner at Fenerbahçe. I give everything to the team, just like I have done at Spartak Moscow, Al Ain and West Ham, I don’t know why I am treated this way,” Emenike said earlier in the week.
