In our tracking of Nigerian players abroad over the weekend – we were able to gather ten goals contribution from ten different sources.
Ademola Lookman scored the opener in the 68th minute in Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Genoa at the Gewiss Stadium in Serie A. Ederson shattered the belief of opposition’s comeback when he fired home the second in the latter stages, with assist created by Mario Pasalic. Lookman has now recorded three goals in the Iltalian Serie A this season and Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are sixth on the standings with 16 points after 9 matches.
Cyriel Dessers netted the fourth goal – assisted by Todd Cantwell in the 79th minute, that resulted in Philippe Clement’s Rangers thumping Hibernian 4-0 at the Ibrox Stadium in the Scottish Premiership. Dessers was subbed for Danilo in the 81st minute – and Senegalese international, Abdallah Sima (brace) and Belgian player, Nicolas Raskin were also on the scoresheet. Also, Leon Balogun was an unused substitute for Rangers.
Loanee from Watford, Samuel Kalu broke the deadlock for Lausanne 29 minutes into the game against Lausanne Ouchy as they played out a 2-2 scoreline – and was substituted for Romanian player, Rares Ilie in the 78th minute.
In a six-goal encounter between Fenerbahce and Hatayspor in Turkey, Bright Osayi-Samuel registered Fenerbahce’s second goal as they see out the game in 4-2 result at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. Similarly, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was also involved for Hatayspor but it was Bright who was amongst the superiors.
Elsewhere, Lucky Ezeh – who replaced Lukas Budinsky in the hour mark for Karvina hit home the decider 18 minutes upon his introduction versus Hradec Kralove. Adeleke Akinyemi (striker) and David Moses in midfield were equally heavily involved for the same team, managed by Juraj Jarabek – featuring all through the tie.
Solomon John, in an ‘harvest of goals’ clash was introduced for Mlada Boleslav, replacing Vasil Kusej in the late minute but he was able to find the back of the net for his side’s ninth goal before stoppage time as they override Zlin 9-5 at Stadion Letna.
George Ilenikhena registered the second goal for Royal Antwerp in the 77th minute at Charleroi in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League but they were defeated 3-2. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scored Antwerp’s first goal in the 56th minute, while Nikola Stulic (50th minute), Marco Ilaimaharitra’s brace (both penalties -65th and 88th minute respectively) made it count for Charleroi. Meanwhile, Alhassan Yusuf and Chidera Ejuke were substitutes for Antwerp. Yusuf was on for Dutch player, Owen Wijndal in the 75th minute and Ejuke took the place of Belgian international, Gyrano Kerk in the 76th minute.
Victor Boniface recorded his third Bundesliga assist of the season when he teed up Jeremie Frimpong for the opener thirteen minutes into the game in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg at Volkswagen Arena. Maxence Lacroix responded for the Niko Kovac’s team in the 41st minute, but Alejandro Grimaldo restored the lead for Xabi Alonso’s side via Frimpong’s assist in the 62nd minute.
In a related development, Moses Simon set up Kader Bamba to net Nantes’ second goal in the 74th minute in their 2-0 triumph against Montpellier at Stade de la Beaujoire. Florent Mollet registered the first goal for Pierre Aristouy’s tutored side in the 44th minute – and Akor Adams made Michel Der Zakarian’s team, he fired blank and was replaced by Kelvin Yeboah in the 58th minute.
Salernitana manager, Filippo Inzaghi ousted Federico Fazio for Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi in the 83rd minute versus Cagliari at Stadio Arechi – and it took him three minutes to find Boulaye Dia with a pass that led to his team’s first goal. Dia grabbed his second from a spot-kick before full-time – and Zito Luvumbo (79th minute) & Benito Nicolas Viola (88th minute) struck for Cagliari, hence it ended 2-2.
Tolu Arokodare had ten minutes under his belt for Genk, taking the place of Swiss player, Andi Zeqiri in the 80th minute against KV Mechelen at Cegeka Arena. Yira Sor didn’t get to feature for the same team but they decimated opposition 4-0.
The duo of Ahmad Ghali and Okoh Michael Chidera were present in Slovan Liberec’s game with Viktoria Plzen. Ghali played every minute and Chidera had only few moments when he replaced Luka Kulenovic. In the other end, Rafiu Durosinmi commenced the tie with Plzen – and subbed for Tomas Chory in the 54th minute after he was wrecked by injury. Liberec nicked it 3-0 and goals were registered by Lubomir Tupta, Luka Kulenovic and Lukas Cerv.
Frank Onyeka made it from start for Brentford as they play host to Burnley. Onyeka had a good outing before he was taken off for Saman Ghoddos in the 84th minute – and they pipped ten-man Burnley (second yellow to Conor Roberts in the 78th minute) by three unreplied goals. Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Ghoddos were on target for the Bees.
Anthony Uzodimma replaced Miguel Cardoso in the 80th minute for Kayserispor versus Rizespor at Kadir Has Stadium. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Olawoyin was in action for Rizespor and Okechukwu Azubuike missed action due to injury but it was Uzodimma who came out tops following a 3-1 result.
Defensive midfielder, Ededem Essien started for Pari Nizhny Novgorod against Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League at Otkrytiye Arena. Essien parted ways for Russian international, Ilya Zhigulev in the 46th minute. In the same vein, Victor Moses was subbed on for Mikhail Ignatov in the 76th minute for Moscow. Red card was shown to Pari NN player, Kirill Gotsuk in the late minute as Guille Abascal’s Moscow nicked a 2-0 win.
Bolu Ogunbayi started for Slavia Prague versus Slovacko at Fortuna Arena, but exited the game for Matej Jurasek in the 46th minute, while Muhamed Tijani was on for Lukas Masopust in the 75th minute. They were on the winning side in a 2-0 result following goals by Matej Jurasek and Vaclav Jurecka.
Kenneth Omeruo was in the heart of Kasimpasa’s defence at Sivasspor. Omeruo played the entirety of the game, covered well thereby helping his side to achieve a clean sheet and thus, they won 1-0 through Iron Gomis’ goal in the 53rd minute.
Abdullahi Tanko made Banik Ostrava’s team that faced Teplice. Tanko was substituted for Ladislav Almasi in the 71st minute and David Fadairo watched from the bench in the same team. Nemanja Micevic (Teplice) was red-carded before half-time break – and Almasi’s goal with assist provided by Filip Kubala in the 76th minute earned Ostrava the maximum points on the road.
At the Allianz Riviera, Terem Moffi led the line for Nice against Gennaro Gattuso’s Marseille. Moffi misfired and was subbed for Evann Guessand in the 73rd minute. While Marseille were diminished to ten men after Leonardo Balerdi’s second yellow in the 78th minute; Guessand connected with Pablo Rosario’s cross in the 79th minute to head in Nice’s winner.
Imanol Alguacil called upon Umar Sadiq; and subbed him on for Mikel Oyarzabal in the 84th minute as Real Sociedad welcome Mallorca at Reale Arena. Brais Mendez maximised Takefusa Kubo’s effort in the 64th minute to make Sociedad grab all three points.
Ola Aina managed two minutes of action after Steve Cooper ‘threw him’ in for Serge Aurier in Nottingham Forest’s face off with Luton Town at City Ground. Taiwo Awoniyi wasn’t available as a result of injury and both team shared the spoils (2-2). Chris Wood scored twice for Forest, while Lagos born Irish international, Chiedozie Ogbene and English forward, Elijah Adebayo made it even.
Olakunle Olusegun represented Krasnodar when he came on for Kady Borges in the 46th minute against Baltika at Rostec Arena. Unlike Olusegun, Moses Cobnan could only make the bench as the contest finished 2-2. Maksim Kuzmin and Angelo Henriquez registered Baltika’s goals, while Jhon Cordoba and Eduard Spertsyan made Krasnodar’s scoresheet.
Emmanuel Dennis replaced Deniz Turuc in the 67th minute in Istanbul Basaksehir’s colours at Samsunspor – and there was no goal recorded after full-time whistle.
Ifeanyi Matthew in Zurich shirt held his own in midfield battles with Raphael Wicky’s Young Boys before being subbed for Croatian international, Ivan Santini in the 90th minute. It ended goalless at Stadion Wankdorf.
In Belgium, Raphael Onyedika donned the jersey of Club Brugge KV in their visit to Kortrijk. Onyedika couldn’t salvage a point for his side as they lost to Isaak Davies’ finish in the 36th minute.
The duo of Jordan Torunarigha and Gift Orban were in action for Gent versus Cercle Brugge KSV at Jan Breydel Stadion. Jordan was available all through and Orban replaced Moroccan international, Tarik Tissoudali two minutes after the hour mark. Gent suffered a red card through Omri Gandelman in the 76th minute and also lost 2 nil.
Kevin Akpoguma stepped on the pitch for Hoffenheim to fill the gap for John Anthony Brooks in the 46th minute against Dino Toppmoller’s Eintracht Frankfurt, but they couldn’t take any point from the game, losing 3-1 at PreZero Arena.
Wale Musa-Alli featured for Ceske Budejovice in their clash with Sparta Prague at Epet Arena – and made way for Martin Sladky in the 90th minute. Quadri Adediran also played for the same team led by Marek Nikl – coming onto the pitch for Samuel Sigut in the hour mark. However, Victor Olatunji was unable to represent Brian Priske’s Prague due to suspension, though they claimed a convincing success (4-0).
