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Sor, Adarabioyo, Adebayo, Emegha on target as Nigerian stars score for fun
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Iwobi, Boniface grab assists
It was another prolific weekend for Nigerian stars abroad as they scored for fun for their various clubs. ABIODUN ADEWALE tracks their performances as some of them are already making statements for a place in Nigeria’s AFCON squad
SUNDAY
ENGLAND
ADARABIOYO, BASSEY, IWOBI (FULHAM)
Nigeria-eligible defender Tosin Adarabioyo marked his second start for Fulham this season with his second Premier League goal after scoring the third goal in their 5-0 rout of West Ham United at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Adarabioyo had only played 93 minutes before Sunday’s game after being injured since the start of the season.
Alex Iwobi also continued his impressive form for Marcos Silva’s men, assisting Willian for Fulham’s second goal. The Super Eagles midfielder now has three goals and one assist for Fulham in the EPL this season.
Defender Calvin Bassey also played the entire duration of the game as Fulham recorded a second consecutive clean sheet.
ELIJAH ADEBAYO (LUTON)
England-born player of Nigeria descent Adebayo made it back-to-back goals in the EPL on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to save newly promoted side Luton Town from a 2-1 loss against Manchester City. The 25-year-old, who didn’t represent England at youth level, has been consistent for the Hatters with four goals in the league.
FRANCE
TEREM MOFFI (NICE)
Moffi is yet to score for the third game running but has been regular for Nice in the French topflight as they won again on Sunday, beating Reims 2-1. He has four goals and one assist this season.
EMMANUEL EMEGHA (STRASBOURG)
The Netherlands-born forward Emegha scored for a second consecutive game for Strasbourg in the French Ligue 1 as his side secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Le Havre. Emegha opened the scoring before the half hour mark while Ivory Coast’s Abakar Sylla scored a late winner for Strasbourg after Yoann Salmier had levelled matters for the visitors. Emegha now has four league goals and he has represented The Netherlands at youth level.
SPAIN
RASHEEDAT AJIBADE
After leading Nigeria to the 2024 WAFCON, Ajibade returned to duty for Atletico Madrid Women and scored for the third game running in their 2-0 win over Betis Women. Ajibade, who turned 24 on Friday, scored the second goal for Atletico after Estefania Banini had given them the lead. She has three goals and two assists in the league this season.
GERMANY
BONIFACE, TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Four-time Bundesliga Rookie Award winner Victor Boniface turned up with another assist for Bayer Leverkusen in their 1-1 draw away at Stuttgart. The Nigerian was the provider for Florian Wirtz to level matters for Leverkusen in the 47th minute after Chris Fuhrich had given the hosts a first half lead. The 22-year-old now has eight goals and six assists as Xabi Alonso’s men lead the German Bundesliga with 36 pints from 14 matches. His compatriot, Nathan Tella was an unused substitute.
BELGIUM
SOR, AROKODARE (GENK)
Yira Sor was back among the scorers for the second consecutive week and Tolu Arokodare also scored for the first time in six games as Genk cruised to a 3-1 away win over Eupen at the Kehrwegstadion Stadium. Sor opened scoring in first half stoppage time and Ghana’s Joseph Paintsil added the second before Arokodare who replaced Sor in the 81st minute scored the third in stoppage time. Sor has scored three times in the Jupiler Pro League this season while Arokodare has four goals.
RAPHEAL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)
Onyedika was cautioned and taken off in the 57th minute as Club Brugge played out a goalless draw away from home against KV Mechelen. He’s been regular in the middle for Brugge but with no goal and assist in the league so far this season.
TURKEY
PAUL ONUACHU (TRABZONSPOR)
Onuachu played for 73 minutes but could not add to his season’s tally of seven goals for Trabzonspor in their 3-1 win over Gaziantep. Egypt’s Trezeguet scored twice for Trabzonspor while Anastasios Bakasetas scored the other goal.
FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (HATAYSPOR)
One-capped impressive midfielder Dele-Bashiru was in action for 85 minutes as his Hatayspor side lost 1-0 to Basakksehir in the Turkish Super Lig. He has four goals this season. Algeria’s Mehdi Abeid scored the only goal for the hosts in the game.
CYPRUS
FRANCIS UZOHO (OMONIA)
Super Eagles goalkeeper Uzoho got his first start for his club in the Cyprus league when they visited Nea Salamis and the Nigerian kept a clean sheet in their 2-0 win.
ISRAEL
ADEBAYO ADELEYE (Hapoel Jerusalem)
In Israel Adeleye was benched for the fifth consecutive game this season as his Hapoel Jerusalem side lost 1-0 at home against Hapoel Haifa.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)
In the English Premier League, Frank Onyeka was lucky to escape a sending-off during Brentford’s disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United.
NDIDI, IHEANACHO (LEICESTER)
Wilfred Ndidi netted his second Championship goal of the campaign and fourth in all competitions as Leicester City went on rampage with a commanding 4-0 win over Plymouth Argyle.
Ihenancho was not listed for the game.
MAJA, AJAYI (WEST BROM)
Josh Maja made the West Brom starting lineup for the first time, while Semi Ajayi came off the bench as the Baggies suffered a 2-1 loss at Sunderland in the Championship.
ITALY
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
Ademola Lookman took all the shine off compatriot Samuel Chukwueze as the former Everton man smashed a brilliant brace that lifted Atalanta to a thrilling 3-2 triumph over AC Milan. The 26-year-old opened scoring for Atalanta after 38 minutes with a solo effort that was helped in by a big deflection and he then regained his team’s lead at 2-1 in the 55th minute with a header from inside the box. He has now fired six goals in the Serie A this season.
OKOYE, SUCCESS (UDINESE)
Maduka Okoye watched from the bench as Inter Milan tore Udinese apart following a 4-0 win at the San Siro. Isaac Success was not listed after sustaining an injury last week.
SPAIN
UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)
Sadiq was unlucky not to add to his goal tally as Real Sociedad left Villarreal with all three points following a 3-0 win. The lanky striker showed great form again but failed to score, having scored in back-to-back games before Saturday.
TONI PAYNE (SEVILLA)
In the Spanish Women’s Division, Payne was one of Sevilla’s best players as they carved Real Madrid open with a 3-1 win.
MONDAY, OKORONKWO (TENERIFE)
Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo were second-half substitutes as UD Tenerife bagged a 2-0 victory against Granada.
FRANCE
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE (PARIS FC)
In France’s women division, CAF Women’s Goalkeeper Of The Year contender Nnadozie impressed in goal as Paris FC strolled to a 4-1 win away to Montpellier.
DEMEHIN, IMURAN, SEBASTINE (REIMS)
Tosin Demehin was a rock in defence for Stade de Reims as they kept a clean sheet in their 2-0 victory against visiting Fleury 91.
MOSES SIMEON (NANTES)
In Ligue 1, there was little joy for Moses Simon and Nantes in Paris as Kylian Mbappe and co-led PSG to a narrow 2-1 win at the Parc de Princes.
BELGIUM
EJUKE, YUSUF (ANTWERP)
Super Eagles star Chidera Ejuke continued from where he left off in midweek as he got the second goal for Royale Antwerp as they crushed Cercle Brugge 3-1 inside the Jan Breydelstadion in Brugge. Alhassan Yusuf laid the assist for George Ilenikhena to bag the third goal for the champions in the encounter.
ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
Gift Orban and Jordan Torunarigha both did their jobs well as KAA Gent made light work of RWDM with a 4-0 win.
SCOTLAND
BALOGUN, DESSERS (RANGERS)
Cyriel Dessers netted goal number five in 13 league appearances, while Leon Balogun was impressive in defence as 10-man Glasgow Rangers defeated Dundee 3-1 at the Ibrox.
