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Nigerian stars put up impressive performances this weekend in Europe with Isaac Success scoring his first goal in a year. ANTHONY NLEBEM writes on how the players performed for their various clubs
Italy
Success, Ehizibue, Udogie, Dessers, Okereke (Udinese, Cremonese)
Isaac Success finally broke his goal jinx as he scored the third goal for Udinese in their 3-0 home win over Cremonese on matchday 31 of the Serie A fixture played at the Dacia Arena – Stadio Friuli on Sunday.
The 27-year played 29 league matches without a goal and finally hit the net in the 36th minute and was substituted in the 42nd minute.
The goal was the player’s first goal in a year since his last found the back of the net against Bologna on April 24, 2022.
Kingsley Ehizibue and Destiny Udogie were also in action as their effort ensured the Bianconeri sealed three points.
Udogie played the entire duration, while Ehizibue had 85 minutes of action.
Compatriots Cyriel Dessers and David Okereke were in action but could do nothing to help Cremonese from losing.
The 28-year-old Dessers played for 61 minutes before coming off for Giacomo Quagliata, while Okereke was a second-half substitute.
Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli)
Defender Ebuehi was handed a starting role by Paolo Zanetti but could not stop Inter Milan as Gli Azzurri lost 3-0 at home in a Serie A fixture played at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Sunday.
The 27-year-old defender has made 20 league appearances and scored two goals this season.
William Troost-Ekong (Salernitana)
Defender Troost-Ekong was a second-half substitute for Salernitana in their 3-0 home win against Sassuolo in a Serie A fixture at the Stadio Arechi on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was introduced in 72 minutes for Matteo Lovato.
Belgium
Victor Boniface (Union St.Gilloise)
Forward Boniface provided the assist for Union St. Gilloise’s goal, as his side lost 2-1 away to Kortrijk at Guldensporenstadion in the Belgium Pro League on Sunday.
The 22-year-old has been in fine form for his Belgian side this season and has registered seven goals with six assists in 31 league appearances for Union 60 in the 2022/23 season.
Gift Orban (Gent)
Orban got a starting role for KAA Gent but could not get a goal to his name and came off for Laurent Depoitre in the 76th minute in Gantoise lost 2-1 to Oostende in the Belgium first division fixture on Sunday.
The 20-year-old, who signed for the Belgium side in January from Norwegian club Stabaek, has scored nine goals and registered two assists but has not scored in three consecutive league matches.
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
Midfielder Onyedika was in action for Club Brugge in the Belgium first division as his side recorded a 7-0 win over Eupen in a Belgium Pro League fixture at the Jan Breydel Stadion on Sunday.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder made his 26 league appearances since joining from Midtjylland last summer.
The result takes Brugge to fourth on the table with 59 points from 34 matches.
Turkey
Henry Onyekuru (Adana Demirspor)
Winger Onyekuru was on the scorer’s sheet as Adana Demirspor thrashed Kayserispor 5-3 in the Turkey Super Lig at the Yeni Adana Stadyumu on Sunday.
The 27 scored the fifth goal from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute to increase his goal to seven in 25 matches this season.
The Blue Lightnings continue to chase European football action for next season and are fourth on the log with 57 points from 30 matches.
Russia
Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow)
Winger Ordega was very impressive for her side over the weekend and netted a brace to take her goal numbers to five in six appearances as CSKA Moscow women demolished Rubin Kazan 8-0 in the Russian Women’s Football League on Saturday.
Chinonyerem Macleans (Lokomotiv Moscow)
Forward Chinonyerem Macleans netted the opener as Lokomotiv Moscow women comfortably dispatched Krylya Sovetov women 3-0 in the Russian Women’s Football League on Saturday.
The 24-year-old has been impressive in the Russian league and has scored six goals in six league matches this season.
France
Folarin Balogun (Reims)
Arsenal loanee Balogun was handed a starting role but fired blank as Reims suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Strasbourg in a French Ligue 1 fixture played at the Stade Auguste Delaune on Sunday.
The Arsenal star had full-time action but could not add to his 18 goals scored this season.
Balogun is the fourth top scorer in Ligue 1, four goals shy of Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé who is the leading scorer.
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Winger Simon was in the starting line-up as Nantes were held 2-2 at home by Troyes in a Ligue 1 match on Sunday at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
The 27-year-old was in action for 86 minutes but could not break his 15-match goal drought.
Terem Moffi (OGC Nice)
Moffi was included in Didier Digard’s squad as OGC Nice suffered a 2-1 home defeat to visiting Clermont Foot on match-day 32 of their Ligue 1 fixture on Saturday at the Allianz Riviera.
The 23-year-old striker, who has been in impressive form this season, played the entire duration of the match.
Moffi has scored 16 goals in 28 Ligue 1 appearances this 2022/23 season.
Holland
Calvin Bassey (Ajax)
John Heitinga handed Bassey a starting role as Ajax fell 3-0 to PSV PSV Eindhoven in a derby match played at the Philips Stadion on Sunday.
The 23-year-old defender, who made his first appearance for Lucky Ajax since he returned from international duty with Nigeria for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea Bissau in March, played for 46 minutes before coming off for Brian Brobbey.
England
Ndidi, Iheanacho, (Leicester City)
Kelechi Iheanacho was on the starting lineup and netted for Leicester City in their 2-1 win against Wolves at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Iheanacho scored the equaliser from the penalty spot in the 37th minute to take his goal tally to five this season and also hand the Foxes their first win under new manager Dean Smith.
Wilfried Ndidi was also in action as he came on for Youri Tielemans in the 67th minute to help Leicester move out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Dennis, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis were in action as Forest lost 3-2 to Liverpool in a Premier League fixture at Anfield on Saturday.
The 25-year-old had 87 minutes of action before coming off for Andre Ayew.
Compatriot Emmanuel Dennis was introduced three minutes before full-time but see little action before the blast of the final whistle.
The result saw Forest drop back into the relegation zone in the 19th.
Alex Iwobi (Everton)
Midfielder Iwobi started for Sean Dyche’s side and was impressive as 10-man Everton were forced to a goalless draw by Crystal Palac in a Premier League fixture played at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Onuachu, Aribo (Southampton)
Paul Onuachu was a second-half substitute as Southampton were held to a 3-3 draw by leaders Arsenal in a Premier League fixture played at Emirates Stadium on Friday.
The 28-year-old striker came on for Adam Armstrong in the 77th minute but was unable to register his name on the score sheet.
The Nigerian striker is yet to register a Premier League goal for the struggling Saints after nine matches
Onuachu’s compatriot Joe Aribo was an unused substitute. The Saints are bottom of the Premier League table with 24 points from 32 matches.
Spain
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenin)
Striker Oshoala was not on the score sheet as Barcelona recorded a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
The 28-year-old, who missed Barca’s clash against Atletico Madrid last weekend due to injury, was introduced when she came on for Caroline Graham Hansen in the 85th minute.
Oshoala has scored 23 goals with two assists in 21 league appearances this season. She has also registered five goals in matches in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Czech Republic
Olayinka, Ogbu, Olatunji (Slavia Prague)
Peter Olayinka returned to the starting XI and scored the second goal for Slavia Prague in their 3-0 win against Bohemians 1905 in the Czech First League fixture at the Stadion U Nisy on Saturday.
The goal took his tally to 11, with five assists this season.
Also, defender Igoh Ogbu was on for 90 minutes and helped the Salivates to secure a clean sheet.
The win lifted Slavia Prague back to the summit of the standings ahead of city rivals Sparta with two rounds of matches to the end of the season.