Monday 25th Oct.2021: Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis and Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi were among the Nigerian footballers that continued their impressive form in Europe over the weekend, while for some others it was a different ball game. In this report Kelvin Ugo Ubaka gives a round up of how Nigerian players fared in their various club over the weekend.
ENGLAND
Emmanuel Dennis, William Troost-Ekong (Watford), Alex Iwobi (Everton)
Super Eagles Striker,Emmanuel Dennis grabbed two assists before wrapping up Watford’s 5-2 triumph over Everton with a goal on Saturday at Goodison Park.
Dennis came on for Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr in the 64th minute and his impact helped Claudio Ranieri secure his first win at the club as the Hornets ended a four-game winless run in all competitions.
He was later rewarded for his assists as he wrapped up maximum points for the visitors with his goal in stoppage-time.
The 23-year-old has now scored three goals in nine league appearances, following his arrival from Club Brugge in June. Also, Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong was in action for 90 minutes in the win, while Everton introduced Alex Iwobi as a substitute for Demarai Gray in the 77th minute.
The victory took the Hornets to 14th in the league table, with 10 points after nine games, while Everton dropped to eighth after suffering their second straight defeat.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Kelechi Iheanacho played the entire 90 minutes of the game as Leicester City recorded a 2-1 win over a resilient Brentford side in the English Premier League on Sunday.
The Nigeria international was involved in the Foxes’ winning goal, holding up play before feeding Patson Daka, who assisted James Maddison for his first goal of the season. His compatriot, Wilfred Ndidi, didn’t feature as he’s yet to return from injury.
It was Iheanacho’s ninth game of the season. He has found the back of the net once.
For the Bees, Frank Onyeka featured for 76 minutes, before coming off for Saman Ghoddos. It was Onyeka’s eighth appearance of the season with the Nigerian starting six of them.
GERMANY
Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin)
Taiwo Awoniyi scored his seventh Bundesliga goal of the season in Union Berlin’s 1-1 stalemate at 10-man Stuttgart on Sunday.
The in-form striker found the back of the net in the 37th minute, but Union could not hold on for their fifth win of the season, as the hosts equalised in the third minute of added time.
It’s Awoniyi’s 11th goal of the season in all competitions.
His current form caught the eye of Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, who handed him his first call-up earlier this month in the World Cup qualifying double-header against the Central African Republic.
Aremu Afeez (St. Pauli)
Midfielder, Aremu Afeez, was on for 90 minutes as St Pauli thrashed Hansa Rostock 4-0 in the German Bundesliga 2 on Sunday.
The hardworking player has made 10 league appearances in 11 matches for the German topflight promotion chasers, helping them sit on top of the league table, three points ahead of second-place Jahn Regensburg.
SCOTLAND
Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo (Rangers)
Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo both featured for the entire duration in Glasgow Ranger’s 2-1 comeback win over St. Mirren in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday to help the Gers return to the top of the table.
The result sees the champions lead second-place Hearts with three points after 10 league games. It was Aribo’s 10th game of the season, while Balogun made his eighth appearance. Aribo has featured in all of Rangers league games this season.
Semi Ajayi (West Brom)
Semi Ajayi was in action for the entire duration of West Brom’s 3-0 victory over Bristol City in a Skybet Championship game on Saturday. The game was Ajayi’s 12th of the season.
Tom Dele-Bashiru, Ovie Ejaria (Reading)
Nigerian duo Dele-Bashiru and Ejaria played for 90 minutes in Reading’s 2-0 defeat to Blackburn in the English Championship on Saturday.
Dele-Bashiru, 22, has scored twice in 11 games for the Royals, while Ejaria has played three games fewer with same number of goals.
RUSSIA
Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow)
Chidera Ejuke scored his fourth goal of the season for CSKA Moscow’s in their 3-1 win against visiting Krylya Sovetov in the Russian Premier League on Saturday.
Ejuke got on the score sheet to make it 1-1 in the 57th minute after Krylya Sovetov took a first half lead. The Nigerian has now scored four goals with four assists in 12 league games.
HOLLAND
Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam)
Maduka Okoye couldn’t clean a clean sheet again as Sparta Rotterdam suffered a 1-0 loss at RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie.
The Nigeria international was beaten by a strike from Michiel Kramer’s in the 89th-minute.
Okoye, who is yet to keep a clean sheet this season, has conceded 18 goals in 10 Eredivisie games. He has also been cautioned thrice.
SPAIN
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)
Samuel Chukwueze made his second substitute LaLiga appearance on Saturday, coming on for the injured Gerard Moreno in the first half, but he could not help Villarreal avoid a 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
It was Chukwueze’s third game since returning from a six-month layoff. He has scored once this term.
Sadiq Umar (Almeria)
Sadiq Umar came on as a substitute for Dyego Sousa in the 59th minute of Almeria’s 4-1 away win at Mirandes in the Spanish Segunda on Sunday.
Sadiq has scored seven goals with five assists in 12 appearances for the Spanish side this season.
FRANCE
Terem Moffi (Lorient), Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux)
Terem Moffi could not increase his season goals tally on his return for Lorient in their 1-1 draw against 10-man Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday.
The Nigeria international, who was in the starting lineup, came off for Sambou Soumano in the 85th minute. He has scored two goals in 10 matches and couldn’t hit target in five league games.
His compatriots, Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja did not feature for Bordeaux. While Kalu was an unused substitute, Maja is just recovering from an injury.
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Moses Simon played 89 minutes, but fired blanks as Nantes beat Clermont Foot 2-1 at the Beaujoire Stadium.
The former Levante winger did not add to his assist tally while he also missed one big chance.
TURKEY
Babajide David (Adana Demirspor), Kayode Olanrewaju, Leke James (Sivasspor)
Substitute, David Babajide, grabbed the headlines for the wrong reasons after being sent off in Adana Demirspor’s 1-1 draw at Sivasspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.
Babajide only featured for 28 minutes after coming on for Benjamin Stambouli in the 57th minute, before he was shown a straight red.
Striker Olanrewaju Kayode was on for 75 minutes before he was replaced by Sefa Yilmaz. His Nigerian teammate, Leke James, came on for Mustapha Yatabare in the 75th minute, but could not help his team find the winner.
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk)
Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa came on for Andrea Bertolacci in the 61st minute of Fatih Karagumruk’s 1-1 draw with Hatayspor on Saturday.
ITALY
David Okereke, Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia)
David Okereke scored his second league goal of the campaign, but it was a mere consolation as Venezia crumbled 3-1 at Sassuolo.
Okereke, who netted the winner in his side’s 2-1 win at Empoli on September 11, opened the scoring for Paolo Zanetti’s men just over ten minutes before the halftime break.
But three goals from the home side after the interval condemned Venezia, who also paraded Nigerian full-back Tyronne Ebuehi, to their fifth Serie A loss.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Victor Osimhen failed could not score his 10th goal of the season as Napoli were held 0-0 by AS Roma on Sunday in the Italian Serie A, which put an end to their perfect start to the season.
The Nigeria international was on from start to finish. In the 88th minute, he thought he had scored the winner, but the referee correctly ruled him for offside at the Stadio Olimpico.
There was more action on the touchline than the pitch, as both Roma coach Jose Mourinho and Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti were sent off. The game was Osimhen’s eighth of the season. He has scored five goals in the league while netting nine times in all competitions.
Simy Nwankwo, Joel Obi (Salernitana)
Simeon Nwankwo failed to add to his Serie A goal tally as Salernitana suffered a 4-2 loss to Empoli, their seventh defeat of the season.
The Nigeria international, who scored his first goal of the season in the club’s 2-1 loss to Spezia last week, was rewarded with a starting berth but fired blanks. He came off for Milan Djuric in the 67th minute. His compatriot, Joel Obi replaced Wajdi Kechrida in the 46th minute and helped the club from conceding further in the second half.
