Super Eagles watch: Onyeka celebrates, Iwobi benched, Maja subbed on in Cup loss

While some Nigerian internationals are already in the Super Eagles Abuja camp ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, others were in action for their club on Sunday. 

Frank Onyeka featured for the first 80 minutes of the Premier League match between Brentford and Aston Villa, with the Bees picking up a hard-fought 2-1 win over Steven Gerrard's men.

Danny Ings got the opener for the visitors early in the first half, but Wissa equalised for the home side shortly before the interval, before Rasmussen struck an 83rd-minute winner.

The win leaves Onyeka in high spirit as he takes the next plane to Abuja to join his international teammates.

At Goodison Park, it appears like there was no point in keeping Iwobi in England until January 2 as the former Arsenal winger was kept on the bench in Everton's 2-3 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albon.

Also at the Hawthorn, Semi Ajayi, who was called up to replace injured Leon Balogun in Nigeria's Afcon squad, did not see a minute of action as West Brom played a 1-1 draw against Cardiff City.

In the Coupe de France, Anglo-Nigerian forward Josh Maja was a second-half substitute as Brest handed a 3-0 defeat to Bordeaux to send them packing from the competition.

Compatriot Samuel Kalu did not make the matchday squad. Both players were not invited for the Super Eagles' Afcon challenge.

In Spain, Almeria lost for the first time in 13 matches as Cartagena claimed a shocking 1-0 away win at the home of the La Liga Smartbank leaders.

The Rojiblancos' talisman Umar Sadiq is currently at the Super Eagles camp in the FCT, having earned his international call-up following his brilliant performances for the Spanish side.

Elsewhere, former Chelsea academy star Kenneth Omeruo was nowhere near the pitch as Leganes fell to a slim 1-0 defeat at Real Valladolid.

Omeruo is one of the most experienced Super Eagles players around. He is one of the two surviving members – Ahmed Musa is the other – of the Nigerian team that triumphed at the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.