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An action-packed weekend witnessed several Nigerian footballers produce some of their best performances for their respective European clubs this season. While Genk forward Paul Onuachu continues his impressive form, defender William Troost-Ekong scored for the first time for Watford in 23 months. EBENEZER BAJELA monitored the performances of top Nigerian stars in Europe…
ENGLAND
EPL
Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Onyeka endured a torrid time as Brentford were pummelled 4-0 by manager-less Aston Villa at the Villa Park on Sunday.
The midfielder was in action for 45 minutes but couldn’t stop the Bees from the humiliation in front of 41,693 fans, who came to cheer the home side up despite having seen their manager Steve Gerrard sacked on Thursday.
Manager Thomas Frank sent in Josh Dasilva in place of the Nigerian after seeing his side go into the break with the score already 3-0.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham)
It was another decent performance for Adarabioyo as Fulham picked up a vital three points away from home on Sunday.
The Nigerian was in action for 90 minutes as the Cottagers defeated Leeds United 3-2 at Elland Road.
Despite the late surge from the home side in search of an equaliser, the defender, alongside Tim Ream, helped the newly promoted side hold on to the one-goal lead to claim all three points.
Joe Aribo (Southampton)
Not the best of performances from Aribo on Sunday, but it was enough to help Southampton claimed a valuable one point against leaders Arsenal.
The former Glasgow Rangers midfielder played a role in the build up to the Saints’ equaliser by Stuart Armstrong in the 65th minute.
The Nigerian was, however, substituted in the 73rd minute for Che Adams as the Saints looked to hold on to the one point.
Iheanacho, Ndidi (Leicester City)
Super Eagles duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi were not in action on Sunday as Leicester City continued their resurgence.
While Ndidi was not on the match-day squad, following an injury, Iheanacho was an unused substitute as Brendan Rodgers side beat Wolves 4-0 away from home.
Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Awoniyi was the hero after he netted the only goal as Nottingham Forest stunned Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at the City Ground on Saturday.
After scoring against his former club, Awoniyi becomes the first player to score in his first three Premier League starts at home for newly promoted Forest.
The goal was his third in 11 EPL games since he arrived in the summer.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game Awoniyi said, “For me, I’m happy but the most important thing is the three points.
“To score against Liverpool is a day I will never forget. I will always be grateful to Liverpool for scouting me from Nigeria and scoring against them is amazing.”
Alex Iwobi (Everton)
At Goodison Park, Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi put up a decent performance as Everton ended a run of three successive defeats with an impressive 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.
Iwobi, who was named the man of the match after he assisted both gos, now boasts five assists in the EPL this term and sits second behind Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on the assists chart.
Iwobi had 100 per cent tackles won and an 87 per cent pass accuracy from 53 touches in the game.
The former Arsenal forward also made 13 final third passes, four ball recoveries and three key passes.
Iwobi, who was deployed in the No.10 role, was one of the two players rated highest (nine) alongside Seamus Coleman by the Liverpool Echo.
Championship
Troost-Ekong, Kalu, Okoye (Watford)
While Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong played a crucial role in Watford’s 4-0 thumping of Luton Town in a Championship fixture at the Vicarage Road on Sunday, his compatriot Samuel Kalu had a five-minute cameo to help the Hornets maintain their lead.
Troost-Ekong scored the second goal of the game with just seconds to the end of the first 45 minutes to double their lead.
The Nigerian defender’s goal was his first for Watford in 23 months and his second for the Golden Boys.
Troost-Ekong’s first-ever goal for the Hornets was in the 3-2 defeat of Coventry City November 7, 2020, also in the Championship.
With the points already sealed, Kalu was brought on in the 85th minute for Ismaila Sarr and had little or nothing to do while Maduke Okoye once again was an unused substitute.
Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town)
The English player of Nigerian decent had a good game against Watford despite Luton’s 4-0 defeat. The 24-year-old could have had an assist registered to his name when he set up Luke Freeman in the 35th minute in what was their best chance of the game, but the forward headed over the bar.
Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City)
Ojo was in action for Cardiff City on Sunday as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The 25-year-old former Liverpool man was on the pitch for 46 minutes before he was replaced by Mark Harris.
BELGIUM
Paul Onuachu (Genk)
Onuachu has returned back to his best after he delivered a man-of-the-match performance to spur KRC Genk to a deserving 3-1 win at Royal Antwerp on Sunday afternoon.
Onuachu was one of the talking points ahead of the face-off between league leaders Genk and second-place Antwerp.
The Super Eagles striker hit the target in the 33rd minute to double the visitors’ lead 20 minutes after Bryan Heynen had opened the score.
Vincent Janssen halved the deficit for Antwerp just before halftime, but Onuachu sealed the three points for Genk after scoring his second of the encounter with a fine header that beat goalkeeper Jean Butez in the 77th minute.
With his latest brace, Onuachu has now scored eight goals in his last five matches after failing to score in his first five games.
ITALY
Ola Aina (Torino)
Aina scored his first goal of the 2022/23 season as Torino secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Udinese in a Serie A match at the Dacia Arena, Udine on Sunday.
The Chelsea academy product opened score in the 14th minute, following a fine assist from Aleksey Miranchuk.
It was the Nigerian’s second career goal for Torino in the Italian topflight and interestingly, against the same opponents.
Defensively, the Nigeria international was also solid as Torino held on to the one-goal advantage to take the maximum points away from home.
Success, Ehizibue (Udinese)
Nigerian duo Isaac Success and Kingsley Ehizibue also featured in Udinese’s 2-1 defeat to Torino at home on Sunday.
While Success started from the kick off and was substituted in the 65th minute with Beto, Ehizibue only featured for nine minutes, after coming on for Nehuen Perez in the 81st minute.
Lookman, Okoli (Atalanta)
Ademola Lookman could only watch as Atalanta saw their 10-game unbeaten run in Serie A come to an end on Sunday. The Black and Blue suffered a 2-0 defeat to Lazio at the Gewiss Stadium.
The former Leicester City forward, who scored in three consecutive league games for the Italians, was not at his best on Sunday and was replaced in the 71st minute for Duvan Zapata.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Simon once again grabbed an assist as Nantes played a 1-1 draw with Lille at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday. It was a solid performance from the winger, who set up Ignatius Kpene Ganago four minutes after the break to hand the away team the lead before a 97th minute equaliser from Nicholas Pepe from the penalty spot handed the hosts a point.
The Nigerian was, however, substituted in the 71st minute with Mostafa Mohamed.
Folarin Abiodun (Reims)
The English player of Nigerian decent was on target again for Stade de Reims as the six-time French champions defeated Auxerre 2-1 at the Stade Auguste Delaune on Sunday.
Balogun’s first half strike against Auxerre, his seventh of the season, meant only PSG superstars Kylian Mbappe and Nyemar, Lille’s Jonathan David and Lorient’s Terem Moffi have managed to score more goals than him in the French topflight.
Innocent Bonke (Lorient)
It was a descent performance from Bonke who grabbed an assist in Lorient’s 2-2 draw against Troyes in Ligue 1 at the Stade de l’Aube on Sunday.
The Nigerian midfielder assisted Stephane Diarra in the 50th minute as the away side drew level after Julien Laporte had scored an own goal in the 34th minute.
Few minutes after he registered the assist, the 26-year-old was replaced with Quentin Boisgard by manager Regis Le Bris.