It was another opportunity for Nigerian players abroad to prove their mettle over the weekend, however, not so many lived up to the billing as we gathered seven goal contributions for this piece – 4 goals and 3 assists.
Few days after being crowned the African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen headed home Napoli’s first goal through Mario Rui’s cross nine minutes after the hour mark – and set up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the second six minutes later. Meanwhile, Leonardo Pavoletti struck for Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari in the 72nd minute to see the game end 2-1 in the favour of Walter Mazzarri’s side. Osimhen was substituted for Gianluca Gaetano with eight minutes of action remaining. The 24-year-old striker has now registered 7 goals and 2 assists in the Italian Serie A this season.
Victor Boniface broke the deadlock for Bayer Leverkusen in their 3-0 thumping over Eintracht Frankfurt at Bay Arena. Boniface netted in the 14th minute with the efforts of Florian Wirtz; and teed up Wirtz for the third in the 57th minute, while Jeremie Frimpong grabbed the second in the 51st minute. Xabi Alonso subbed Boniface for Patrik Schick with 18 minutes left and Nathan Tella also tasted action, replacing Frimpong in the 83rd minute.
Yira Sor scored for Genk as they put four unreplied goals past Kortrijk at Cegeka Arena. Sor got the second goal through Patrik Hrosovsky’s pass in the 49th minute, and he was taken off for Swiss international, Andi Zeqiri in the 65th minute. Joseph Paintsil’s brace in the 23rd and 54rh minute, coupled with Bryan Heynen’s spot-kick in the hour mark completed the job for Wouter Vrancken’s men. Tolu Arokodare was on the bench for the winners.
In a related development, Victor Olatunji, who was subbed on for Lukas Haraslin in the 79th minute got the late winner for Sparta Prague versus Teplice in a 2-1 result at Epet Arena. Mohamed Yasser had earlier put Teplice in front after 13 minute, and Ladislav Krejci equalized for the host before Olatunji later sealed it for Brian Priske’s team despite being a man down after Lukas Sadilek was given a red card four minutes into the contest.
Kelech Nwakali saw every minute of the game in Chaves’ shirt against Casa Pia in Portugal. Nwakali provided the assist that earned Joarlem Santos a goal in the 45th minute but they were outscored, thereby losing 3-1 at home.
Samuel Chukwueze had ten minutes under his belt when he was subbed on for injured Noah Okafor in the 80th minute in AC Milan’s clash with Raffaele Palladino’s Monza at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Chukwueze had little to do as Milan maintained their three-goal lead to clnch a three nil triumph. Tijjani Reijnders (3rd minute), Jan-Carlo Simic assisted by Rafael Leao (41st minute) and Okafor in the 76th minute recorded the goals for Stefano Pioli’s side.
Two Nigerian internationals were involved in the tie between Banik Ostrava and Slavia Prague. Abdullahi Tanko led the line for Ostrava and he ended the game with a red card in the 67th minute, while Muhamed Tijani was the striker for Prague, though no goal in his name and he was subbed for Mojmir Chytil in the 76th minute. Jindrich Trpisovsky’s Prague claimed a 3-2 success over Pavel Hapal’s men after full-time whistle. David Buchta (27th minute) and Tomas Rigo (29th minute) scored for Ostrava, while Vaclav Jurecka (26th minute), Mick Van Buren (before first-half whistle) and Jan Boril (59th minute) registered the goals for Prague.
Raphael Onyedika was available in Club Brugge’s midfield against Gent at Jan Breydel Stadion. Onyedika shielded the backline so well and they kept a clean sheet in the process, winning 2-0. Though, he sustained an injury that ended his time on the pitch in the 86th minute and he was replaced by Eder Balanta. Igor Thiago’s brace in the 24th and 41st minute made the win possible for Brugge – and Gent were short of a man after 40 minutes following Ismael Kandouss’ sending off.
Former Flying Eagles star, Akor Adams was the point man for Michel Der Zakarian’s team, Montpellier at Metz in the French Ligue 1. Adams was well marked by opposition defenders, hence no goal and was ousted for Kelvin Yeboah in the 86th minute, though Maxime Esteve’s header from Teji Savanier’s cross nine minutes into the game secured them the maximum points.
Kingsley Ehizibue and Isaac Success featured for Udinese versus Alessio Dionisi’s Sassuolo. Ehizibue was on for Hassane Kamara in the 71st minute and Success for Lorenzo Lucca in the 90th minute. Martin Payero was red carded for Udinese a minute before the hour mark and it was 2-2 after full-time whistle. Goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye didn’t make it beyond the bench for Gabriele Cioffi’s side.
Chinwendu Johan Nkama replaced French player, Yanis Cimignani in the 46th minute for Lugano at Servette in the Swiss Super League. Nkama was later sent off in the 67th minute and Cameroonian international, Gael Ondoua was also shown a red card for Servette in the latter stages – and it was two goals apiece at the end of hostilities.
At the Letzigrund Stadion in the Swiss Super League, Francis Momoh was on the left wing of the attack for Grasshoppers against Yverdon. Momoh could not punish the visitors and he was subbed for Theo Ndicka Matam in the 83rd minute. The tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes of action.
Chidozie Awaziem held his position in the centre-back in Boavista’s colours as they welcome Vitoria Guimaraes. Awaziem and his teammates let in one when Jota Silva scored in the 30th minute, while Tiago Morais converted a spot-kick to restore parity for Boavista with few minutes left on the clock, thus they shared the spoils in a one-all result.
Chidera Ejuke started for Royal Antwerp against Anderlecht in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. Mark Van Bommel left Ejuke on the pitch till the end, but he failed to register a goal and his teammate, Alhassan Yusuf was an unused substitute. Both teams shared a point in a 1-1 result at Bosuilstadion. Theo Leoni hit home the opener for Anderlecht after eight minutes and George Ilenikhena level terms in the latter stages of the clash.
Imanol Alguacil sent in Umar Sadiq for Andre Silva in the 58th minute as Real Sociedad play host to Real Betis at Reale Arena. Sadiq misfired upon his introduction and the encounter ended goalless.
The duo of Wale Musa-Alli and Quadri Adediran were substitutes for Jiri Lerch’s Ceske Budejovice in their visit to Bohemians (Dolicek in Prague). Wale replaced injured Samuel Sigut in the 41st minute and Adediran took the place of Zdenek Ondrasek in the 58th minute. Jaroslav Vesely’s side failed to score at home and it ended in a stalemate contest.
In another goalless encounter, Adeleke Akinyemi featured upfront for Karvina as they travelled to Jablonec. Akinyemi had it tough and Juraj Jarabek subbed him for Matej Franko in the 90th minute after suffering an injury. In the same team, Lucky Ezeh was introduced for Martin Dolezal in the 74th minute and Emmanuel Ayaosi was an unused substitute.
Tyronne Ebuehi occupied the right back position in Empoli’s tie with Torino at Stadio Olimpico. Ebuehi witnessed every minute of action for Empoli, but they fell short of victory through Duvan Zapata’s goal in the 25th minute.
Solomon John played from the left flank of Mlada Boleslav’s attack versus Slovacko in Czech Republic. John failed to make it count for his side and exited the game for Lamin Jawo in the 76th minute. They lost to Matej Valenta’s finish in the 59th minute at Lokotrans Arena.
Bonke Innocent’s presence in Lorient’s midfield wasn’t enough for Regis Le Bris team as they lost 2-1 to Patrick Vieira’s Strasbourg at Stade du Moustoir. Innocent was subbed for Jean-Victor Makengo in the 79th minute.
Thomas Frank threw in Frank Onyeka for Mikkel Damsgaard in the 68th minute in Brentford’s home game with Aston Villa. The tie had two red cards, each for both teams and it was Ben Mee who received a red card for Brentford’s in the 71st minute – and Boubacar Kamara for Villa before full-time whistle. Unai Emery’s men came out top in a 2-1 scoreline. Keane Lewis-Potter recorded Brentford’s goal in the 45th mins; and Alex Moreno (78th minute) and Ollie Watkins (85th minute) did it for the visitors.
Moses Simon was in action for Nantes all through the clash against Brest at Stade de la Beaujoire. It was a ‘bad day in the office’ for Simon as he wasn’t able to claim a point for his team. As a result, Brest claimed a 2-0 glory with goals coming from Hugo Magnetti (49th minute) and Steve Mounie (57th minute).
Pellegrino Matarazzo introduced Kevin Akpoguma for Ozan Kabak in the 75th minute in Hoffenheim’s face-off with RB Leipzig at Red Bull Arena. However, Marco Rose’s men came out victorious in a 3-1 scoreline.
Moses Emmanuel was 66th minute substitute, coming on for Jan Fortelny as Sigma Olomouc welcome Viktoria Plzen to Andruv Stadion. Emmanuel couldn’t turn things around for the side managed by Vaclav Jilek, hence they lost 3-1 at home. Meanwhile, Rafiu Durosinmi was unavailable for Miroslav Koubek’s team owing to injury.
Alex Iwobi’s presence on the pitch for Fulham could not yield a positive result as they were defeated 3-0 by Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, though Marco Silva subbed him for Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the 77th minute. Lewis Miley (57th minute), Miguel Almiron (64th minute) and Dan Burn (82nd minute) scored for Eddie Howe’s team. Fulham played most part of the tie with a man down after Raul Jimenez was red carded in the 22nd minute.
