Nigerian Players Abroad: Lookman, Tanko Net Brace as Sor, 4 Others Record a Goal Each

The Nigerian players abroad featured in this week’s piece had 13 goal contributions – 4 assists and 9 goals.

Ademola Lookman netted twice to see Atalanta edge AC Milan in a 3-2 result at Gewiss Stadium. Lookman scored in the 38th and 55th minute with the efforts of Teun Koopmeiners and Charles De Ketelaere – and Gian Piero Gasperini subbed him off for Aleksey Miranchuk in the 82nd minute. Similarly, Samuel Chukwueze started for the visitors before Stefano Pioli replaced him with Ismael Bennacer a minute before the hour mark. Luis Muriel scored the third for Atalanta before full-time whistle, while Olivier Giroud (late first-half goal) and Luka Jovic in the 80th minute were the goals for Milan. David Calabria ensured Milan finished with a man less after his red card with few minutes left on the clock.

Abdullahi Tanko registered a brace for Banik Ostrava as they pipped Hradec Kralove 3-2 away from home in Czech Republic top division. Tanko recorded his team’s second and third goal seven minutes apart (82nd and 89th minute respectively), both assisted by Jiri Klima and Ewerton was behind the first goal for Pavel Hapal’s team after seven minutes of action. Daniel Horak (14th minute) and Vaclav Pilar (before the end of first period) recorded the goals for the host. Tanko featured for 90 minutes and teammate, David Fadairo was only present on the bench.

Yira Sor and Tolu Arokodare found the back of the net for Genk against Eupen in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. Sor struck for his side’s first goal on the stroke of half-time and Arokodare slot in the third before full-time whistle in their 3-1 victory on the road. Joseph Paintsil recorded the second goal for Genk in the 55th minute, while Regan Charles-Cook registered Eupen’s goal in the 64th minute.

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi donned the jersey of Filippo Inzaghi’s Salernitana as they play host to Bologna at Stadio Arechi in the Serie A. Ikwuemesi was substituted for compatriot, Simy Nwankwo, who netted his side’s only goal in the 75th minute. Joshua Zirkzee scored twice (9th and 20th minute) respectively as Thiago Motta’s side claimed a 2-1 success.

Cyriel Dessers fired home Rangers first goal in their 3-1 victory over Dundee FC at Ibrox Stadium in the Scottish Premiership and was later subbed for Jamaican International, Kemar Roofe in the 72nd minute, while Leon Balogun featured all through. Jose Cifuentes had Philippe Clement’s Rangers play the rest of the game with a man down when he was red-carded before half-time break.

Chidera Ejuke was on target for Royal Antwerp’s second goal in the 57th minute, assisted by Dutch international, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp – and they defeated Cercle Brugge 3-1 at Jan Breydel Stadion. Fellow countryman, Alhassan Yusuf, who took the place of Arthur Vermeeren in the 81st minute teed up George Ilenikhena for the third in the latter stages. Ekkelenkamp had earlier hit home the first goal in the 20th minute – and Ahoueke Denkey scored Brugge’s goal.

The duo of Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi started for Fulham versus West Ham United. Bassey witnessed every minute of the game on the pitch, while Iwobi made way for Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the 78th minute. Before his substitution, he set up Willian for the second goal in the 31st minute as they humiliated David Moyes’ side 5-0 at Craven Cottage. Rail Jimenez (22nd minute), Tosin Adarabioyo (40th minute), Harry Wilson (60th minute) and Carlos Vinicius (88th minute) were the other goalscorers for the host, led by Marco Silva.

Umar Sadiq made Imanol Alguacil’s team that kicked-off Real Sociedad’s game with the Yellow Submarine, Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica. Sadiq misfired and departed the tie for Carlos Fernandez in the 78th minute, but they see out the game in a three nil result. Mikel Merino (38th minute), Martin Zubimendi (41st minute) and Takefusa Kubo, on the stroke of half-time made it count for Sociedad.

Victor Boniface led the attack for Bayer Leverkusen as always, this time at Sebastian Hoeness’ Stuttgart (MHP Arena). Boniface provided the assist that saw Florian Wirtz score in a one-all result, though he was subbed for Patrik Schick in the 73rd minute. Nathan Tella only made the bench of Xabi Alonso’s team.

Forward, Francis Momoh replaced Tim Meyer in the 58th minute for Grasshoppers at Basel (St. Jakob-Park). Upon his introduction, he assisted Dorian Babunski for the only goal witnessed in the game in the 72nd minute as they won 1-0. The opposition played most part of the tie with ten men after Taulant Xhaka was sent off in the 18th minute.

Hein Vanhaezebrouck called upon Gift Orban and Jordan Torunarigha in Gent’s home game with RWD Molenbeek in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. Torunarigha was solid defensively, while Orban couldn’t get a goal and was replaced by Moroccan player, Tarik Tissoudali in the 77th minute. It ended 4-0 in favour of Gent at the end of proceedings.

Ahmad Ghali represented Lubos Kozel’s Slovan Liberec, replacing Dominik Preisler in the 66th minute versus Zlin, while Chidera Michael Okoh didn’t get to taste action but they were on the winning side as it rained goals in a 5-3 scoreline at Station U Nisy.

Paul Onuachu started for Trabzonspor as they travelled to Gaziantep. Onuachu failed to score – and was subbed for Enis Destan in the 74th minute, but they recorded a 3-1 triumph.

Right-back, Bright Osayi-Samuel maintained his place for Fenerbahce as they slugged it out with Besiktas at Tupras Stadium. Bright was replaced by Mert Muldur in the latter stages – and they finished off the game with an away win (3-1).

While Igoh Ogbu was available in defence for the entirety of the tie, Jindrich Trpisovsky introduced Muhamed Tijani for Mick Van Buren in the 71st minute as Slavia Prague welcome Mlada Boleslav to Fortuna Arena. Bolu Ogungbayi didn’t play for Prague due to injury – and Solomon John didn’t go beyond the bench for Boleslav. Prague were 2-0 winners at the end of hostilities.

Loanee from Lorient, Terem Moffi was upfront for Nice in their battle with Reims at Allianz Riviera in the French Ligue 1. Despite playing all through the tie, Moffi fired blank but they secured a 2-1 glory at the end of action.

The duo of Olakunle Olusegun and Moses David Cobnan were in action for Krasnodar against CSKA Moscow in the Russian Premier League. Olusegun played every minute and Cobnan exited the game for Russian player, Aleksandr Koksharov two minutes after the hour mark. They won by a lone goal in front of their fans.

Ifeanyi Matthew had a decent outing in midfield for Zurich in their tie with Luzern – and they played out a 1-1 draw at Letzigrund Stadion.

Former Flying Eagles star, Akor Adams fired blank in Montpellier’s attack against Lens at Stade de la Mosson. The tie finished goalless with both sides sharing a point.

Ronny Deila subbed on Raphael Onyedika for Casper Nielsen in the 57th minute in Club Brugge’s away clash at KV Mechelen. No goal was recorded by both teams, thus it ended in a stalemate.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was involved for Hatayspor from the onset versus Istanbul Basaksehir and departed the game for Rayane Aabid in the 85th minute. Fisayo was on the losing end as they lost to Mehdi Abeid’s goal in the 11th minute. Jerome Opoku (Basaksehir player) was given a red card with few minutes left.

Bonke Innocent had 90 minutes under his belt in Lorient’s contest versus Marseille at Stade du Moustoir. Innocent’s presence in the middle of the pack wasn’t enough, hence they let in four and lost 4-2 in a six-goal thriller. Marseille played with ten men for some minutes following Jonathan Clauss’ sending off in the 80th minute.

In Portugal, Bruno Onyemaechi was deployed in the left-wing role in Boavista’s colours as they face-off Estrela, the host. Onyemaechi had enough time on the pitch, thus witnessed the end of the game, though they were pummeled 3-1. Chidozie Awaziem didn’t feature for Boavista owing to injury.

Jocelyn Gourvennec had Moses Simon in his line-up for Nantes and completed the game against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc Des Princes. Simon, who played from the left side of the attack was kept in check by opposition defenders, thus he couldn’t score – and they were beaten 2-1. Bradley Barcola (41st minute) and Randal Kolo Muani (83rd minute) struck for Luis Enrique’s side and Nantes’ goal came through Mostafa Mohamed in the 55th minute.

Victor Osimhen couldn’t salvage a point for Napoli as they lost to Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus by a lone goal, following Federico Gatti’s finish, who was found by Andrea Cambiaso in the 51st minute.

Frank Onyeka played 46 minutes for Brentford in midfield before he was subbed for Yegor Yarmolyuk by Thomas Frank versus Sheffield United. James McAtee’s late goal in the first-half made the difference for Chris Wilder’s men at Bramall Lane.

Kingsley Ehizibue stepped onto the pitch for Jordan Zemura with few minutes left in Udinese’s visit to Inter Milan (Giuseppe Meazza Stadium). Ehizibue had little or no impact in their 4-0 loss and Maduka Okoye didn’t make it past the bench, while Isaac Success was also unavailable. Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez made the scoresheet for Simone Inzaghi’s side.

Kelechi Nwakali tasted every minute of action for Chaves, but they were outclassed, thereby suffering a four nil defeat in the hands of Estoril in the Portuguese top-flight.

Quadri Adediran and Wale Musa-Alli filed out with Ceske Budejovice in their visit to Viktoria Plzen at Doosan Arena. Adediran made way for Zdenek Ondrasek in the 72nd minute and Wale exited the game for Vojtech Hora with five minutes to go. Plzen came out tops, netting five unreplied goals – and Rafiu Durosinmi wasn’t available for Plzen as a result of injury.