Eagles In Chinese League: Ideye missing, Mikel shines, Ighalo fires blank

The much anticipated start of the Chinese Super League (CSL) witnessed games involving teams where Nigerian players ply their trade.
It would be recalled that five Nigerian players moved to China during the last CSL transfer window, with John Obi Mikel and Brown Ideye joining Tianjin Teda while Odion Ighalo moved to Chanchung Yatai.
Their teams were in action in the opening day of the CSL, and while Ideye who concluded his move to Tianjin Teda on transfer deadline day in China wasn’t dressed, Mikel was on from start to finish in their 0-2 loss to Shandong Luneng.
The Super Eagles captain was however praised in the Chinese media for his performance in the game despite the loss suffered by his team, as he stood head and shoulder ahead of his teammates.
He won most of the duels he contested in the midfield, and defended well when he had to, particularly in aerial battles where he negated the aerial threat of Grazianno Pelle who led the line for Shandong Luneng.
In the other game involving a Nigerian player, Odion Ighalo failed to live up to his price tag of the highest earning Nigerian player as he fired blank for his side Chanchung Yatai who were thrashed 5-1 by fellow big spenders Shanghai SIPG.