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- Aribo scores first goal in 450 days
- ·Arokodare’s brace sinks Antwerp
Nigerian footballers in England and Belgium had a field day on Boxing Day, resulting in a first goal in over a year for Joe Aribo, just as the country’s stars also showed up in the Jupiler Pro League, ABIODUN ADEWALE reports
ENGLAND
PREMIER LEAGUE
OLA AINA (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
No thanks to the injury of striker Taiwo Awoniyi, Ola Aina is the only Nigerian available for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and the full-back is living up to expectations under new manager Nuno Espirito Santos. Aina was in action for the entire duration of the game as a Chris Wood hat-trick ensured a 3-1 win for them over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. Aina had a shaky start to the encounter when he gave away a penalty for Newcastle’s opener in the first half, but he was solid for the rest of the game as the Tricky Trees got their first win under their new manager. It was also Forest’s first win in five matches, leaving them two points above the red zone with 17 points after 19 games.
IWOBI, BASSEY, ADARABIOYO (FULHAM)
AFCON-bound Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, as well as Tosin Adarabioyo, endured a tough afternoon at the Vitality Stadium, where they lost 3-0 to high-flying Bournemouth on Tuesday. Justin Kulivert’s first half goal, a second half penalty by England-born player of Nigerian descent, Dominic Solanke, as well as another by Luis Sinisterra condemned the Cottagers to their third consecutive defeat in the EPL.
ADEBAYO, OSHO (LUTON)
England-born players of Nigerian descent Elijah Adebayo and Gabriel Osho were on the starting line up as newly-promoted Luton Town secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Sheffield United.
With three goals in his previous four matches, Adebayo was pumped up to continue his impressive run in the Premier League on Boxing Day as he led Luton’s attack. Although the striker couldn’t add to his tally, the Hatters secured a dramatic 3-2 win at Bramall Lane. Alfie Doughty’s first half goal gave Luton the lead but the Blades responded through Oli McBurnie before Anel Ahmedhodžić put the hosts up 2-1.
The game took another twist when Doughty’s wicked delivery was headed into his own net by Jack Robinson in the 77th minute to level the scores. Anis Ben Slimane put the ball in the back of his net again to break the Bees’ hearts and hand Luton a back-to-back win. Despite the win, Luton are still in the relegation zone with 15 points from 18 games.
Osho, who plays in the midfield and defence, has one goal in eight EPL games while Adebayo currently has five goals and one assist in the EPL this season. Having not played for England at any level, both players are still eligible to play for Nigeria.
CHAMPIONSHIP
ARIBO, EDOZIE (SOUTHAMPTON)
In the Championship, Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo scored his first goal in the Championship for Southampton on Boxing Day, leading the Saints’ 5-0 win over Swansea. It was also his first goal for the club in over a year, since scoring in their 2-1 loss to Everton in the EPL on October 1, 2022.
Aribo, who started Southampton’s last four games before Tuesday, repaid coach Russell Martin’s confidence in him as he opened the scoring in the 17th minute, before England youth international of Nigerian descent, Samuel Edozie, added the second after the restart for his third in their last four matches. Ryan Fraser, who came on as a second half substitute in place of Edozie, added a brace in the second half to make it 4-0 while Che Adams put the icing on the cake with the fifth goal.
Aribo seems to be in good shape ahead of the AFCON after struggling for form since he joined the Saints in the EPL. The win moves them up to third in the table with 48 points from 24 matches.
JAMILU COLLINS (CARDIFF)
Left-back Collins was in action for the entire duration of the game as Cardiff City were held 2-2 at home by Plymouth on Tuesday. Their visitors gave them a run for their money as they scored first in the 18th minute through Morgan Whittaker, before an own-goal from Matt Butcher saw them level. Karlan Grant put Cardiff in the lead after the restart, but Whittaker snatched a point for Plymouth with another goal in the 66th minute.
Collins has been regular for Cardiff this season and has three assists in 21 Championship games.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU (WATFORD)
Former U-20 midfielder, Dele-Bashiru was taken off at halftime as Watford were beaten 4-1 by Bristol City at Vicarage Road. The midfielder has one goal and two assists to his name in 16 Championship appearances.
SEMI AJAYI (WEST BROM)
Playing just for 30 minutes, Ajayi was rock-solid at the back for West Brom as they secured a 1-0 win over 10-man Norwich City on Tuesday. With their visitors reduced to 10 men as early as the 30th minute, the Baggies struggled to break them until Brandon Thomas-Asante found a way in the second half. The 30-year-old Ajayi has played 16 games in England’s second tier this season, scoring two goals plus one assist.
BELGIUM
AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)
Lanky striker Tolu Arokodare played only 21 minutes for Genk in their 3-0 win over Royal Antwerp on Tuesday, and that was enough time for him to score a brace. Arokodare replaced Ghana’s Bonsu Baah in the 69th minute and grabbed his first goal in the 75th minute to make it 2-0 for Genk. He was assisted by compatriot, Yira Sor, who started the game. Two minutes later, Arokodare rounded up scoring with his brace to take his tally to six goals this season. He also has three assists.
Sor on the other hand has been in incredible form for Genk, scoring four goals and one assist in their last five matches.
YUSUF, EJUKE (ANTWERP)
AFCON 2023 hopeful Alhassan Yusuf and teammate Chidera Ejuke were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat against Arokodare and Sor’s Genk. Both Yusuf and Ejuke came on as second half substitutes, but they were unable to impact the scoreline in favour of their team, as the defending champions succumbed to their fourth defeat of the season. While Yusuf has two assists in 15 league appearances, Ejuke also has two league goals in 11 games.
ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
Uncapped Nigerian forward Gift Orban and his AFCON-bound Gent teammate, Jordan Torunarigha, were in action as Gent made it back-to-back wins with a 2-0 victory over Kortrijk. Torunarigha started the game in defence while Orban was introduced in the second half. Gent’s goals were scored by Tarik Tissoudali in the sixth and 55th minutes.