Nigerians in Europe (Weekend Recap)
Nigerians were in action again in Europe during the weekend. While some have continued to produce goals for their clubs, others weren’t able to find the back of the net, but they impressed nonetheless.
Taiwo Awoniyi has continued to fire for Union Berlin in Germany, Noni Madueke made an instant impact as a substitute in the Dutch Eredivisie, and Joe Aribo scored a splendid goal for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.
Here’s a rundown of how Nigerian players fared in Europe during the weekend:
Taiwo Awoniyi
Taiwo Awoniyi scored in Union Berlin’s 2–2 draw at Hoffenheim during the weekend. He’s now scored a goal in every match since returning to Berlin. His side was down 2–1 at halftime, but Awoniyi levelled matters two minutes after the break.
The striker has registered four goals and two assists in four competitive games since his permanent transfer to the Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim had Kevin Akpoguma in action from start to finish. The Nigerian defender scored his side’s first goal, with a fine header in the 14th minute.
Noni Madueke
Madueke scored for PSV Eindhoven only three minutes after coming on in their 4–1 victory over Cambuur in the Dutch top division.
The attacker has now scored two goals in the Eredivisie this season and is looking primed to have a splendid season.
Frank Onyeka
Though Brentford were held to a goalless draw at Crystal Palace, Onyeka largely impressed for 70 minutes at Selhurst Park. The midfielder was involved in four-shot creating runs and completed two of three dribble attempts.
Alex Iwobi
Iwobi played quite well in Everton’s 2–2 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road. Before his substitution in the 75th minute, the Nigerian completed the second-highest dribbles (two) and also managed the second-highest pass accuracy (87.5 per cent).
Joe Aribo
Aribo scored his first league goal of the season, thanks to a superb strike in the 15th minute, as Rangers defeated Ross County 4–2 on Sunday. He was substituted in the 79th minute, but before then the midfielder created another big chance.
Anthony Nwakaeme
The Nigerian striker was on target as Trabzonspor defeated Sivasspor 2-1 in a Super Lig match on Monday. Nwakaeme doubled his side’s lead in the second half with his second league goal of the campaign.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi
Iheanacho came on as an 81st-minute substitute for Leicester in their 4–2 defeat against West Ham. Prior to the fixture, the striker has been involved in four goals in the last four appearances against the Hammers. But he couldn’t improve on that stat on Monday night.
Ndidi, meanwhile, started in defensive midfield.
Emmanuel Dennis, Oghenekaro Etebo and William Troost-Ekong
Dennis, Etebo and Troost-Ekong were in action for Watford in their 2–0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday. Dennis, in his opening game of the season, registered a goal and an assist against Aston Villa, but couldn’t replicate that level of performance against Brighton.
Victor Osimhen
Osimhen began his season for Napoli on a rather disappointing note as he received a red card in the 23rd minute for violent conduct during a corner kick against Venezia.
The Nigerian striker could miss his side’s next two games.
Elsewhere in the Italian Serie A, Simy Nwankwo and Joel Obi made their debuts for Salernitana in their 3-2 defeat to Bologna on Sunday. The Nigerian duo joined the newly-promoted club this summer.
Simy and Obi started on the bench, but the former was introduced in the 64th minute, while Obi came on with eight minutes left on the clock.
Kingsley Ehizibue
Ehuzibue provided an assist for FC Cologne’s second goal in their 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich in their Bundesliga match on Sunday. The 26-year-old defender played in a cross for Marc Uth to finish, which put the two teams level at 2-2 in the 62nd minute.
The Nigeria defender completed the third-most tackles and also made the joint-most clearances (five).
Ahmed Musa
Nigeria captain Musa was in action for Fatih Karagumruk in their goalless draw against Rizespor in a Turkish Super Lig encounter.
After scoring the match-winning goal for his side in their opening league fixture last Saturday, Musa was stopped by the hosts at the Estadio Caykur Didi. He registered only a shot on target.
Chidera Ejuke
Chidera Ejuke scored the second goal for CSKA Moscow in their 2-0 triumph over Akhmat Grozny on Saturday. It was the 23-year-old’s second goal in the Russian Premier League this season, after he opened his account against Dinamo Moscow two weeks ago.
