European television sports network, Eurosport, has published a list of coloured athletes that have played in Russian, and were proficient in the language.

Included on the eight - man list was Nigeria international Peter Odemwingie, who has Russian blood flowing in his veins, as well as Ivory Coast international midfielder Yaya Toure.

Odemwingie, formerly with Lokomotiv Moscow but now plying his trade with Stoke City, was born in Russia before moving to Nigeria at the age of one.

The 33 - year - old also speaks several other languages including French, having turned out for La Louvière (Belgium) and Lille (France).

While in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow, Peter Odemwingie granted interviews to the media speaking the Russian language.