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…as top stars fire blanks in Europe
Several Nigerian stars failed to score for their clubs on Sunday. ANTHONY NLEBEM takes a look on how Nigerian players in Europe performed for their respective clubs over the weekend
England
Iheanacho, Ndidi (Leicester City)
Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho was in Brenden Rodgers’ starting line-up but fired blanks for Leicester City in their 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 26-year-old had a fair game and came off for England striker Jamie Vardy in the 75th minute as the Foxes could not sustain their winning momentum after dispatching Tottenham Hotspurs 4-1 at the King Power stadium last Saturday.
His compatriot Wilfred Ndidi was an unused substitute, the midfielder just recovering from an injury that ruled him out for weeks.
Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)
Akpom continued his excellent form and scored a brace as Middlesbrough thrashed Queens Park Rangers 3-1 in the English Championship fixture played on Saturday at the Riverside Stadium.
Akpom scored the opener for Boro in the 64th minute, following an assist from Dan Barlaser and added the second goal 13 minutes later to take his tally to 20 goals in the English Championship.
The 27-year-old former Arsenal youth star played the entire duration of the game and got a yellow card in the 65th minute.
The win saw Middlesbrough move to within four points of Sheffield United as Michael Carrick’s side made it five wins in a row to continue their promotion chase.
Alex Iwobi (Everton)
Nigeria international Iwobi provided the assist for Seamus Coleman’s goal that gave the Toffees a 1-0 victory against Leeds United in a Premier League match at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The midfielder had a great game in the centre of the park with 62 touches, three key passes, three successful dribbles and five tackles.
The win lifted Everton out of the relegation zone as they bounced back from the Merseyside Derby defeat to Liverpool.
Onuachu, Aribo (Southampton)
New striker Paul Onuachu was in the starting line-up as Southampton earned a shock 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League match played on Saturday.
Onuachu was impressive in the encounter as he helped his new team claim the crucial three points, before coming off for Sekou Mara in the second half.
Compatriot Joe Aribao did not make Ruben Selles’ squad as the Nigerian midfielder was missing in action.
The win gave the Saints their first Premier League double against Chelsea in 35 years. They last achieved that feat courtesy of a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in 1988, a match in which a 17-year-old Alan Shearer made his league debut.
Dennis, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Emmanuel Dennis was an unused substitute for Nottingham Forest, who denied Manchester City the opportunity to return to the top of the Premier League as Chris Woods’ late goal earned the Tricky Trees a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.
His compatriot, Taiwo Awoniyi was not listed for the game due to an injury.
Eze, Olise (Crystal Palace)
Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, two Palace players of Nigerian descent, were in action in the 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Eze came on for Olise in the 65th minute and had a good game, scoring the opener for the Glaziers to take his goals tally to four in 23 Premier League matches in the 2022/23 season.
Italy
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Forward Lookman was again in the starting line-up as Atalanta suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to visiting Lecce at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday in a Serie A fixture.
The Nigeria international played the entire duration but fired blanks as the Nerazzurri were looking to continue their winning streak after suffering successive defeats to Inter Milan and Sassuolo.
The win moved Atalanta to fifth place on the table after 22 rounds of matches.
Lookman has 12 goals and six assists in Serie A this season.
Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli)
Defender Ebuehi started for Empoli in their 1-1 draw against Fiorentina in a Serie A fixture played at the Artemio Franchi, Firenze on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Nigeria international had a good game and played for 90 minutes.
Ebuehi has so far managed 14 Serie A matches and registered one goal as Empoli sit in 10th position on the tablewith 30 points from 23 matches, one point above Juventus.
William Troost-Ekong (Salernitana)
Troost-Ekong was not in the squad for new club Salernitana, who suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Lazio on Sunday at the Stadio Arechi stadium.
The 29-year-old, who is nursing an injury, is expected to be out for two weeks.
Ehizibue, Success (Udinese)
Kingsley Ehizibue was in action for Udinese, who lost to Inter Milan 3-1 in a Serie A fixture played at the Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday.
The 27-year-old right-back played the entire duration of the game but could not stop the rampaging Nerazzurri side.
Also, Nigeria international Isaac Success came on from the bench but was less impressive as the 27-year-old striker continues to find his first league goal of the season after 22 matches.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Osimhen set a new personal benchmark in goals scoring with a virtuoso display in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo on Friday at Stadio Mapei – Citta del Tricolore.
Osimhen, making his 197th appearance for both club and country, scored his 100th career goal — 85 for club, 15 for Nigeria — in the 33rd minute to double Napoli’s lead after a wonderful solo effort from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had shot the Naples-based club into the lead after 12 minutes as Napoli’s relentless charge to the Scudetto continues.
The goal was his 18th Serie A goal of the season in 19 games. Osimhen was replaced in the 83rd minute by Giovanni Simeone.
France
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Nigeria international Simon was in the starting line-up as Nantes lost 3-1 to Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in their French Ligue 1 match played on Sunday.
The former Levante forward was substituted in the 78th minute by Marcus Coco.
The 27-year-old winger has featured in 20 Ligue 1 matches and has five goals and two assists for the Canaries this season.
Moffi, Balogun (Nice, Reims)
Folarin Balogun missed a second-half penalty for Stade Reims’ who were held to a goalless draw by Nice, who paraded Terem Moffi at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday. Balogun had used his body intelligently to win a foul from Jean-Clair Todibo inside the box. The Arsenal loanee then got up to take the resultant penalty, but his effort was comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel, before he came off for Kaj Sierhuis in the 90th minute.
Nice new signing Moffi is still in search of his first goal for Les Aiglons. The striker had arguably the best chance of the game but made the wrong choice from close range, shooting, instead of feeding Khéphren Thuram, who was free in the middle.
Holland
Calvin Bassey (Ajax)
Bassey came on from the bench as Dutch champions Ajax comfortably trashed Sparta Rotterdam 4-0 at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in a Sunday fixture to secure three wins in the Dutch Eredivisie since the arrival of new manager John Heitinga.
The 23-year-old defender came on for Edson Alvarez in the 70th minute and has featured in 19 league appearances with one goal to his name.
Belgium
Gift Orban (Gent)
Sensational striker Orban got a starting role for KAA Gent in their 2-0 home victory to Oud-Heverlee Leuven in the Belgium Pro League match played at the Ghelamco Arena stadium on Sunday.
The 20-year-old, who signed for the Belgium side in January from Norwegian club Stabaek, was impressive and was aiming to get his third league goal, but got a yellow card in the 59th minute. He was substituted in the 67th minute.
Spain
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)
Nigerian winger Chukwueze was on target for Villarreal in their 4-2 home defeat to Mallorca at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Saturday.
The 23-year-old restored parity for the Yellow Submarine in the 50th minute and was on until the 67th minute, when he made way for Alex Baena.
The goal was Chukwueze’s second in LaLiga in 21 appearances this term. The winger last scored last December, when Villarreal pipped Valencia 2-1.