Nigerian striker, Emmanuel Emenike has made his debut for Turkish Super Lig club, Fenerbahce.
Emenike, who joined the Istanbul club on August 7 from Russian side, Spartak Moscow for €13 million, played for all 90 minutes in Fenerbahce’s opening league game of the season in a dramatic 2-3 loss to Konyaspor at the Konya Ataturk Spor Kompleksi (Konya) on Saturday.
The big Nigerian forward had a debut he will not forget in a hurry as he missed a plethora of chances that could have seen him bag at least a hat-trick on the night.
The 26-year-old was unfortunate not to win a penalty for Fenerbahce in the first half as he was cynically hacked down by two Konyaspor defenders, Ali Turan and Selim Ay.
Moments later, he had a glorious chance to open his goals account for the 2013/14 season but saw his powerful shot smothered by the Konyaspor goalkeeper, Charles-Hubert Itandje after he was put clean through on goal by his Senegalese teammate, Moussa Sow.
The second half proceeded in very much the same fashion for Emenike who had yet another powerful shot from inside the penalty area again smothered by Itandje.
He however had a moment to forget in the 79th minute as he shot tamely at Itandje with time and space at his disposal. He covered his face with his hands to exemplify the shocking nature of the miss.
The dramatic evening was capped off with a penalty claim by Emenike waved away by the referee, Tolga Ozkalfa who ruled that Mehmet Uslu’s push on the Nigerian was not illegitimate.
Emenike will hope to have a better outing when he lines up for Fener against English club, Arsenal in the Uefa Champions League playoffs this week.
