Nigeria Content Online

Super Eagles and
West Bromwich Albion striker, Osaze Odemwingie on Sunday, grabbed his
15th goal of the season to surpass his all-time record for goals scored
in a single season.

The Nigerian
international had never scored more than 14 goals in a single season,
ever since he first attained the mark while playing for French side
Lille back in the 2005/06 season.

He, however, equalled the seemingly elusive mark in the penultimate weekend’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa at the Hawthorns.

He, thereafter,
expressed his readiness to finally reach the 15-goal personal
milestone, which he finally did on Sunday at the Molineaux where West
Brom suffered a 3-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 29-year-old
Nigerian scored in the 55th minute from the penalty spot for what
eventually turned out to be a consolatory goal for West Brom.

It was the fifth
goal in five successive matches for Odemwingie, who recently won the
April Player of the Month award in the Premier League but the Baggies
were not in their element as Wolves capitalised on their poor defending
to score twice in 13 first-half minutes through Stephen Fletcher and
Adlene Guedioura before Fletcher added a third goal after another
defensive mistake by Abdoulaye Meite two minutes after halftime.

The win improved Wolverhampton Wanderers’ chances of staying in the Premier League as they pulled out of the relegation zone.

Although they are
still not safe with two games to play, Wolves are now 17th with 37
points, with Blackpool dropping into the bottom three on 36. Wigan
Athletic are 19th on 36 and West Ham United bottom with 33.

Bittersweet

But despite
suffering a bitter defeat at the hands of their neighbours, Odemwingie
is glad that West Brom will be playing Premier League football next
season having already guaranteed their safety prior to Sunday’s game.

“Nothing can take
away our joy this season,” posted the Nigerian on his Twitter page. “We
staying in [the Premier] league, that was the target.

He added: “It wasn’t our day obviously, but it’s all good.”

Meanwhile, West
Brom’s manager, Roy Hodgson has vowed to pull out all the stops to keep
Odemwingie at the Hawthorns and has revealed that the Nigerian is in
line for a bumper pay rise at the end of the season – reportedly worth
£40,000 a week.

But whether it will
be enough to persuade the ex Locomotiv Moscow ace to stay at the
­Hawthorns is another matter, as he is wanted by Newcastle and Aston
Villa, as well as Italy’s Juventus.

“I wouldn’t be
surprised if big clubs are interested,” said Hodgson. “But there would
be a price to pay and, of course, we’ll be doing everything to keep him.

He added: “(Odemwingie) will be rewarded here. He will be offered a
new ­contract and we have to hope he doesn’t get tempted by offers that
come his way.”